Matt had found a group of very big roach in this spot back in September, but waited until conditions were perfect to fish the float. Finally, the day arrived where he awoke to overcast skies and the right wind direction, he headed to the Stour for first light, confident of a fish or two. Looking at the pace and depth, he set up an 8 x No.4 stick float, fished on 3lb mainline with a 2lb hooklink and size 16 Drennan Carbon match.

Using maggots, he landed a few small dace before things went quiet. But after adjusting the depth slightly, he hooked what he initially thought was a chub. As the fish held midriver and didn’t make a dart for snags, as a chub would’ve, he began to wonder what he might’ve hooked. He eased the fish towards him and saw it roll, at which point he knew he’d connected to his target of a three-pound Stour roach. Matt played the fish patiently before slipping the net under a truly magnificent redfin of 3lb 10oz.

In shock, he sat down with a coffee, before seeing another roach roll out the corner of his eye. 20 minutes later, he hooked another fish, this time right under his feet, and after a hard fight another roach of 2lb 8oz lay in the net. Not bad for a morning’s fishing!

Well done Matt!