Big roach.

[Richard Brown]

Hi there .
What is the best month of the year you would think is the best time to target big roach on the Thames or Kennet please ?

 

[Tim Marks]

Either high summer or the last month of the season would be my pick.

Somebody I know catches them in the summer whilst barbel fishing.

My own experience is that roach (any roach!) are very catchable on the Thames right through the colder months as long as the water is reasonably warm and is carrying a bit of colour.

Perhaps a bigger issue for the big fish is location - I barbel/chub fish all over the place and have only consistently caught decent roach as bycatch on one stretch. I keep hoping to find a (carp) angler who will tell me that he catches monster roach by accident - but it hasn’t happened yet.

Of course there are stretches with historic big roach form - so that might be the place to start….

 

[Graham Elliott]

Above the weir at LB on the Kennet was a top spot.
Also Sonning on the Thames, immediately below the road bridge.

And time of year.? Now to season end.

 

[Richard Bruton]

I can't comment on the Thames and Kennet but my three biggest roach from the Hants Avon have all been January fish.

 

[Ian Grant]

I found mild spells during winter best, but i think the biggest problem catching big Roach is little Roach, all of my biggest roach have been the first fish out of a swim ... anyone else find that ? after that it's back to mediocre Roach, it seems the bigger ones are cute enough to know other fish are being caught, and shy off ! I suppose the only solution is keep moving, far enough that you're sure you're away from the shoal, maybe not too far though the bigger one may hang around on the edges... I don't think I've had enough 'big' ones to prove it, it's just a theory !