New Venue

[Sportsman]

I was talking to a guy this morning that runs a commercial carp lake for week long bivvie sessions. Carp up to 50lb+ Because of covid they don't have many customers, so I phoned him to see if I could get a day ticket. The answer was yes. He started to tell me about all the big carp and then, as an afterthought, he said that the anglers sometimes catch other fish. Tench to 9lb, perch to 4lb and roach/rudd to 3lb
Now, I don't mind catching big carp, but sort of been there and done that. What I haven't done is a 2lb roach. So where do I start? I am thinking waggler with bread flake or corn. I can't get caster and maggots get nobbled by the tiny fish. I am also thinking banded pellet, 4.5 or 6mm, bearing in mind it is a carp fishery so they would see pellets and boilies every week.
So, how would you roach anglers approach it and how would you avoid the nuisance fish, like the 50lb carp

 

[smiffy]

I’m a bread head myself but I have yet to get a 2lber. I don’t think you can go wrong with the baits you’ve suggested. I‘m not convinced by the waggler approach though. It may be worth fishing a bomb also. It’s a widely accepted way of picking up large Roach. Maybe a maggot feeder to try and bypass the bits.
More knowledgable anglers will be able to point you in the direction of rigs I’m sure.

 

[squimp]

You (and us) could use a bit more information:

For example:

the owner says other species get caught ‘sometimes’ - what does that mean? Are there lots of big roach that nobody fishes for, or just a few of them ? The tench might get in the way too - if there are lots of them as well…..

How have the roach been caught in the past? Has anybody else targeted them specifically?

What are the fishery rules, do they have specific rules for carp vs non-carp fishing ? Many places do……

As far as catching them goes:

Standard specialist tactics for big roach are feeders and maggots -usually in the Winter when the bigger roach are easier to get at ( less small stuff Feeding). Carp/tench (and perch) eat maggots too……But big roach can be caught in really cold weather which helps stop the other species getting in the way.

Roach in carp waters obviously do eat carp baits - for example Ive caught lots on 11/12mm pellets by accident. Also small boilies would work. But, you will hook carp etc etc on those methods. So it becomes difficult deciding what strength gear to use (hence the question about the rules).

Ive targeted roach specifically on one big carp water by finding then before I fish. That involved walking round the lake (50 acres) at first light in the autumn, looking for rolling roach. Once found they were easy to catch on wag and mag at maximun catapult range. Had plenty of roach to mid 2’s (and a 2.15 roach/rudd hybrid) doing that. The fish would stick around for an hour or two only and then disperse. I tried feeder fishing the same place once it got cold -but couldn’t find them.

Theres nothing wrong with your bread/corn ideas - except that those baits are non-selective, just like most of my suggestions !

Good luck - it sounds like a fun project

 

[Neil ofthe nene]

As he has written two books on the subject @MarkW will probably have some ideas.

 

[Sportsman]

@squimp
I don't have a lot more info, he mentioned it as an afterthought. Most of the guys who come and bivvie for a week are out and out carpers, fixated on catching the 50lber, so anything else that takes there carefully placed bait is considered a nuisance. I would think most would be taken on pellets or boilies, or maybe daft things like artificial corn.
I am going to drive over later in the week and have a detailed face to face discussion about what I can do or can't do.
I'm thinking waggler because I like fishing the waggler

 

[Total]

@Sportsman .....I think you've got the right idea/attitude for something like this.....Have a detailed chat with the owner as said above and that'll set you out with a set of parameters to work with. Take your waggler rod and feeder rod and use your preferred bait and treat your visits to this lake as little adventures and learning sessions.

Early and late sessions would/could provide varying degrees of success or maybe even fast track that 2 pound roach for you, but a lot depends on so many other outside factors, venue opening and closing times and commitment from yourself being just two reasons....

For some reason I can't imagine you fishing in the colder months for roach which is probably the best time to angle for them.........Have yourself a compromise, Autumn can be a fabulous time to target big roach......I wish you much success....

 

[squimp]

@squimp
I don't have a lot more info, he mentioned it as an afterthought. Most of the guys who come and bivvie for a week are out and out carpers, fixated on catching the 50lber, so anything else that takes there carefully placed bait is considered a nuisance. I would think most would be taken on pellets or boilies, or maybe daft things like artificial corn.
I am going to drive over later in the week and have a detailed face to face discussion about what I can do or can't do.
I'm thinking waggler because I like fishing the waggler

Just remembered ano local water that we fished a while back.

It was a smallish trout water (with carp) - so we couldn’t start till the late autumn. Successful method was close range waggler fishing with light gear and maggots. I think my pal went down to .09 hooklink. I stuck on about .12

It was slow fishing- one or two bites per trip if you were lucky. Best we had was either 2.11 or 2.13 (my best was 2.05 I think).

 

[mickthechippy]

Worm could very well be the key, bread would be another good idea

and I would say that a feeder approach would more than likely be a winning method for a big dog

if the water has been fed with pellet, try a 6 or 8mm on the hook

 

[davylad]

Look up Lochnaw Castle, and follow their methods for massive roach.

 

[Silver fan 82]

I think because it's predominantly a big carp venue then a pellet and mini boilie approach could work very well on feeder tactics but as already mentioned the carp could be an issue and also what gear to use because of the carp.
Maybe in winter when the carp are less active you would have a better chance at targeting the big roach without too much worry?

 

[Sportsman]

I think the pellets and boilies may be the reason these fish have got to the size they are. They must see them as a natural food source.
When the tourists come over for their week they will often bring 50-75kg of pellet and 40kg of boilies and they will use all of it. That's six anglers a week, every week.
The owner doesn't mind, his very valuable carp are getting fed and growing heavier as you watch.
It's interesting to watch the fishery owners when they fish. Single baits and a small PVA bag of whatever is on the hook, crushed. Another favoured bait is a bunch of maggots.
Do you think these guys know something?

 

[smiffy]

I think the pellets and boilies may be the reason these fish have got to the size they are. They must see them as a natural food source.
When the tourists come over for their week they will often bring 50-75kg of pellet and 40kg of boilies and they will use all of it. That's six anglers a week, every week.
The owner doesn't mind, his very valuable carp are getting fed and growing heavier as you watch.
It's interesting to watch the fishery owners when they fish. Single baits and a small PVA bag of whatever is on the hook, crushed. Another favoured bait is a bunch of maggots.
Do you think these guys know something?

The Carp boys at my local ressy fish the same. PVA bags and single hookbaits. This is simply down to the amount of Bream in the venue. The Carp lads tell me “You only spod once”. How relevant it is for your venue I don’t know. I just find it fascinating that these anglers have the guts to fish 130 acres of water with a bag and single hookbait. Watercraft I guess. Hats off to them.

 

[Sportsman]

Great, I met with Russ, the owner. He is happy for me to fish the lake for €10 a day for carp or any of the other species, using any tackle or bait that suits me.
He has also invited me to fish a competition there this Sunday. I will have to think seriously about tackle and tactics for that. Do I fish match style with pole or feeder, or should I just go for the big carp with a boilie, PVA bag approach?
The last match on there was won by Russ, the owner, with 218lb on the method feeder.