Decades ago, Norfolk’s River Wensum was one of the nation’s very best roach venues. Made famous by the late John Wilson, it held superb fish, but after years of decline, the waterway has fallen off the radar of many roach anglers.
But there are still some special fish in there, as Stephen Gibbons proved on a recent trip with this superb fish of 2lb 8oz 8dr.After spending a biteless morning perch fishing in the Fens, he dropped onto a stretch where he’d seen a shoal of good fish years ago during the closed season. Finding the river up slightly and nicely coloured, he fed heavily with hemp and sparingly with maggots and trotted two reds on a size 14 hook and 3lb hooklink down to a weed raft.
Stephen had his first bite after an hour and landed several decent roach before hitting into what he thought was an interloping chub. Eventually, the fish surfaced in front of him, and he looked in amazement at the thick-set and characterful fish.
Well done Stephen!