Finding the Bigger Roach

[@garynicholson2855]

That's was a good one Mark. Well done with that.

[@terrycousins3015]

Great video,lovely stretch of the Stour and pristine winter Roach 👍

[@davidredwood3260]

Well fished, Mark. You obviously managed to get a fair-weather window in this spell of wind and cold.

[@MarkWintleFishing]

It has been a case of picking the days and getting lucky.

[@marktunleytackletv]

Lovely Video Mark. Cracking Roach 👍

[@MarkWintleFishing]

It was enjoyable fishing; I tried a couple of different spots today and found some more good roach - the river had a bit more flow and lots more colour.

[@davep6286]

Winter roach, in that low, just warming sunshine. Cannot think of anything better, up till Thursday 28/1 the Severn at stourport, the water was very cold. Not many roach coming out. It’s warmed since but not seen latest results for Roach. Chub and barbel making the weights. Not long left to catch or 2lb beauties. 👍

[@MarkWintleFishing]

Certainly counting down the weeks now. I had a good day yesterday with a mixed catch of roach, dace and chub from a different stretch in mild conditions.

[@paulbryan1094]

Marvellous Roach . Do you use the Premier match for the bread Mark?

[@MarkWintleFishing]

Yes.

[@stephenfield4588]

Hi Mark, I was just wondering how often do you get bothered with pike especially once you get the roach feeding ? It seems with me this season as soon as I locate the roach I end up being plagued with pike, my better days roach fishing is when there’s colour in the river and I suppose that’s because the pike can’t see their prey so easily ? I watched a Jon Arthur video this season where he was fishing a match on the Thames he counted 23 pike strikes with amazing footage of the pike attacks

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I haven't had much bother with pike this season although on two of the last three sessions a jack has had a go at a dace or small chub. As I'm roving I move swims rather than allow a load of fish to be taken. What river are you fishing?

[@stephenfield4588]

@@MarkWintleFishing Hi Mark I’m in Kent so the Eden, Medway & Beult so all of these rivers full of pike at the moment. I should set up a pike rod and move them on but generally like you I just move swims. I wonder if you could help I am going to have a few days fishing down at Wimborne I wondered if there’s anywhere on the Stour you have free fishing or I was thinking of getting a Sturminster ticket and fish their waters on the upper Stour ? I use to have a RDAA ticket and loved Stourpaine

[@MarkWintleFishing]

The free water on the Stour is at 1) Wimborne - Dreamboats to the A31 on the North bank only (about .5 miles, 2) downstream of Longham Bridge, south bank only down to just below the first weir, and 3) at Muscliffe on South bank only, access from Muscliffe Lane - around 2 miles. The river has got low and clear so the last may be the best bet. If we get the rain which may yet happen then Wimborne improves significantly. RDAA lost Stourpaine some years ago though still have Havelins/Hanford. Some good fishing on the Sturminster ticket especially around Colber.

[@stephenfield4588]

@@MarkWintleFishing thank you Mark appreciate your time to reply, sorry I meant Havelins, park up just short of the footbridge many a time when we had packed up we would watch the roach topping from that bridge.

[@davidstott2666]

Great video Mark, really enjoy your Roach videos. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on using Stotz over normal shot and whether or not it would effect presentation?

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I got Stotz when I did my book on pole fishing but for my trotting I have yet to find a need to change from standard shot and olivettes. I suspect the difference in presentation would be immeasurably small.

[@davidstott2666]

@@MarkWintleFishing Cheers Mark much appreciated. I prefer shot but struggle with no8s and smaller hence considering moving to Stotz

[@MarkWintleFishing]

Worth trying a tub of no. 8 Stotz and seeing how you get on with them.

[@93eze2]

What stretch is that bud looks lush nothing like that where I'm from

[@MarkWintleFishing]

It's on the upper Stour; the river can be quite scenic, especially in summer.

[@niklasprice1049]

I'd be interested to know your thoughts on Big Roach movements over the winter, a river i know has big roach in the winter but only when the cold weather starts, it's a short section of river of approx 10 miles long that connects to largish lakes, why would the roach only move from the Lakes into the river when water temperatures hVe dropped considerably?

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I suspect it's part of a pre-spawning migration.

[@niklasprice1049]

@@MarkWintleFishing that's the strange thing is it happens end of November into December way outside of roach spawning cycle

[@MarkWintleFishing]

These autumnal migrations are quite common; quite how connected they are to spawning is debatable but certainly on several of my local waters there have long be movements of fish, especially upstream on tidal sections.

[@niklasprice1049]

@@MarkWintleFishing yes not sure the reasons for it but autumnal migration/concentration of bigger roach definitely occurs probably water level and temperature generated. The roach experts will know when and where to target them