Personal Best River Roach!

An accidental meeting with a mate of mine, 'Welsh' Simon, in a Morrison's check out queue led to the capture of a personal best Roach from the Avon. He has recently converted to the dark side (match fishing) and he told me about a swim on the lower Avon that he has been nailing some big Roach from. Match fishermen are not as secretive as specimen anglers so had no problem giving me the exact swim, bait etc. I owe him a beer or several.
I stopped off at the garage and bought a fresh loaf of sliced white Warburton's (other makes are available) and wandered down to the peg in question. My confidence was at a low following a recent poor run of fishing results plus I have not fished with bread for many years but that was about to change.

I mashed some bread, threw three golf ball sized lumps into the middle and then fished open feeder, simple running rig to a size 8 paste hook with bread flake for bait. To say I was shocked to get a bite first cast is an understatement. I played it very carefully and after a good fight landed a Roach.

I knew before netting it that it was a pb but exactly what would it weigh?

Am I happy with that!

I didn't think they grew anywhere near that size in the Avon but apparently there are quite a few in the right stretches.
I fished on and had a few bites but did not connect to any more fish. Needless to say but I will be back for more.