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Dave Gladwell on Roach and Perch

With Winter creeping off out of the way the last few weeks of the River Season are almost upon us now. With the birds singing and snowdrops pushed through the roach are plump and pleasant in the hand. Their bright colours gleam and glisten in the strengthening sun as laid gently to admire. Small ones, average ones and the pound plus beauties like this fine Waveney Roach off The Bungay Cherry Tree's water below the Weir at Wainford Maltings. An eight year old beauty at 1 lb 6 ozs taken on caster and stick float.

There are some really good dace there too. For those who like an out of the way venue without flow the Falcon Dykes have been the place to be. The Broads Authority have been very busy cutting back trees on the bank opposite to the Free fishing and removing some of the big ones which had leant and fallen down over the water in places.

With the extra light now returning in place of the deep shade, no doubt much of the weed will come back and bring with it the huge tench that abound in the area. This shallow area has been packed with roach, dace and chub up to 7" with a few handy chub creeping in too. It is amazing how fish adapt their habits formed over years and inherited from their elders to survive in times harsh weather, flood, or invasion from predators.

Up to a few seasons ago most roach shoals sought out the deeper water in Winter as had been the vogue for many years past. With the Cormorants hassling them and decimating numbers the roach shoals changed their lifestyle. On lots of waters, Wainford and the River Thet at Thetford being two good examples, the shoals now hole up in shallow water near or under a bridge.

The Cormorants are unable to dive for them in two feet of water so easily and do not like to be trapped by bridgework overhead. Nine times out of ten bridges will also attract regular human activity and traffic which put the black pests off too.This has been a valuable tip to track down fish this year and will be so next year too. Even at Ellingham Mill the fish have hugged the first three shallow swims in preference to the deeper weir pools. 

At Earsham Gravel Pit owner Jimmy Bennet says up to eighty of these birds at a time roost and feed there and are eating their way through the fish shoals. Here too fish are trying hard to avoid being savaged, leaving the central 16' of depth, and are seeking solace nearer and nearer to the edges where what little cover exists gives something of a haven.

The Perch on the River this year have been tremendous too. Fat and fiery, full of colour like a tropical species almost. Pound and a half fish are common now and mop up a small lob worm after a few chopped up ones have been introduced in a small ball of sifted molehill. A pretty good wrinkle here also is to not use a whole worm but pieces identical to that which has been thrown in. These bites are then bold and with less caution, the hungry big mouthed stripey are far more easily hooked.

Fighting perch of half a pound even really take some beating as they lunge and bore down with the deeper bodies and strong fins creating quite a force to tame before netting. This little batch of beauties up to 2 lbs 3 ozs came from the margins of D Pit at Broome Pits - what bait - well that old favourite lob worm of mine again!

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