“It’s been a long-time dream of mine to catch a 3lb roach on the float” are the words from Simon Daley, well that dream became a reality when he banked this stunning 3lb 8oz specimen.

He told us “It’s been a dream of mine to catch a 3lb roach on the float and it finally happened on Christmas Eve, the conditions weren’t great so I decided to fish a swim with a far bank slack not a very big one but it had an undercut snag where the roach were hiding.

The northerly wind was making presentation very difficult but I was getting four or five good trots through an hour when the wind died down enough. The first bite I had resulted in a 2lb 1oz roach which on its own would have made my day but it didn’t end there. The next few fish were about a pound then a 2lb 2oz specimen giving me a brace of 2s and I was buzzing. What came next was something very special.

When I hit the bite the fish tried hard to get back into the snag, as soon as I managed to pull it out it darted into the fast water. I was very nervous as I’d seen the fish and thought it was a big 2. After a tense fight I drew it over the net and was just gobsmacked. I shouted over to a mate that I’ve got a 3 – the fish was colossal! I’ve never seen anything like it.

We got the weigh sling and put it on the scales they read 3.8 after a double check it was the same, a 3lb 8oz Hampshire Avon roach!! I’ve never been so affected by a fish, my mind was well and truly blown and still is.”