The Roach, commonly known as the 'redfin' due to the orange/red fins which stand out beneath its sparkling silver flanks, is perhaps the best loved coarse fish of all.

It may be a relative minnow when placed alongside freshwater giants such as Pike and Carp, yet there are many thousands of anglers who value a specimen roach above any other species. Small Roach can be quite suicidal, grabbing at any bait placed in front of them. But once a Roach reaches about 8 oz in weight, it has been caught and returned several times and has learnt plenty. It becomes a wily old fox, which will turn its nose up at any suspicious looking offering.

To catch big Roach you must combine skill with fine tackle and water craft, and if you do fool a fish over the 1lb mark, you can be proud in the knowledge that you have succeeded where hundreds of fellow anglers have failed. Catch big Roach, two pounds, and its time to take the camera out of the bag. And if you are ever lucky enough to slip the landing net under a magical 3lb, plus Roach, savor every moment. This is a fish of a lifetime.