Hi Guys

I went up the canal tonight the intention was to try and tempt a perch........... turned out for the first time this year there was a huge shoal of roach mostly 4"-5" the odd 1/2lb- er and a couple of monster underneath these !

I cast all manner of small i.e size 14 as i had my trout stuff with me, i had my mates 12 year old with me he was casting very well indeed and wanted to cast any thing and every thing at them, he put on a size 10 B110 grubber okey dokey white with orange head ............ they went daft !! i could see them chasing, bumping it and biting it sadly the hook was way to big but the lad really enjoyed it as he could feel the roach tugging at the fly

I was very interested in there reaction, tried size 14 black buzzer, red buzzer ........ No interest at all ?? Tried a size 14 hot head daiwl bach.......nothing ...........

Got back just tied up a buch of size 16 and 18 white and orange okey dokeys , hope the roach are playing tomorrow night.............

Oh i tried the size 10 okey dokey New Zealnd style under a small white mudder so they could have a better look ............ seem ed to scare the #### out of em

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Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

Hi Englander, go smaller...way smaller
Roach on canals are notoriously fussy about the flies but it's size more than pattern that is key.
Anything very small and very slow sinking should get you a few, especially as you say they were interested not just sulking.
I was out today, for under an hour, on the local cut...roach everywhere and they were being easy for a change. I managed about 12/15 plus bumped/pricked twice as many. Even the bigger 4-6 oz fish were having a go, they are normally very sly.
I caught on little black & peacock spiders #20 and a #22 PT buzzer with a tiny glass bead head.(If needs be I'll go right down to #30 but #22s usually produce)
Like I said small flys are the key, they can be very simple though and obviously use a suitably light tippet to match the tiny irons.
Dee

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It's not flyfishing if you're throwing bait in....learn to do it properly

Just out of interest mate what is the smallest fly caught fish you have had ??

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Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
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Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Hi

Yes smaller ....... Below is the size 10 they went daft at ! As you can see ive tied up a few on 16's and 18's but ive just found a box of size 20



Now been thinking, yes i know i should be careful im not convinced ultra small is really whats needed ! of course im saying this as someone whos never caught a roach on the fly My hypothesis is it NOT the size of the fly thats the problem, its the canny fish. Let me explain, if i float fish 2 red maggots on a size 16 hook i can catch these same roach !! now thats a big mouthful, i therefore guess its not that they cant fit a fly that size in there mouth it more likely they dont like the hook ??

How about a hair-rig fly like the carp guys use boilies ?? i.e the fish wont feel the fly ??

Maybe im way off the mark but these little beggers are driving me crazy

__________________
Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

Has anyone any thoughts on leader length and make up for canals? Myself I use a 7 or 8 ft leader (7ft rod #4) from a cut down shop bought tapered one. I also tend to use either Co polymer or flurocarbon tippet on the odd occasion I use a nylon leader.

The canal I fish is quite narrow with plenty of bushes and trees on both sides of the bank. The water clarity is not good. Six to eight inches down and I've lost sight of my fly.

Ernie

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May the fluff be with you

Hi Guys

Popped up the other night to try out my new "mini" flys size 16,18 and 20........... bright sun lots of roach, but sadly very little interest ? even in okey dokey,PT ,Diawl bach etc all 18 or 20 ??

Re- leaders i was fishing 4lb mono down to 2lb tippet about 12 ft ............ out of interest the other day when they went crazy the lad had 6lb fluoro on didnt seem to bother them one bit ??

The Forth and clyde is often "Gin clear" and deep 6ft-10ft deeper in places and full to bursting with "tiny" jack pike 6"- 12"

It seems i need to change my tactics and flys to get my first roach on the fly

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Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

I had a bash at them yesterday at a pond nearby, saw literally 789 gazillion roach and rudd right on top, even a few perch. could i catch one? could i phuck! I resorted to big boy rods and caught a few pike on poppers instead