In April 2018 I decided to try and catch some good roach from a local lake. For my first few sessions I used corn on the float. My first session produced 18 very small tench, a brown goldfish and only 3 roach. My results on the next few sessions were similar with the best roach weighing 1-15.
Something different was called for and after a chat with my local tackle dealer, Richie from Ringwood Tackle, I stocked up with 10mm Hinders Tutti Fruiti boilies. I used these on light ledger tackle and my first session produced 6 roach and also avoided the small tench, result. The first roach was what we now call a Desmond (2-2), my first two from the lake. This was soon followed by a superb specimen of 2-9. A great start on the Tutti’s.
The roach kept coming and I finished the year with 11 two’s and many very near misses so a very successful campaign.
As well as the roach other good fish were caught including carp to 23-8. I also caught some good tench, which I didn’t know were in the lake, while avoiding the small ones. In addition to these I also caught my first grass carp, which came in a session which included another 2lb roach, a 20 plus mirror and an 8-5 tench, quite a day.
My 2019 campaign hasn’t been quite as successful to date, possibly partly due to the weather, but I have still caught a few two’s, the first of the year weighing 2-6. I also caught a male tench of 8-0 on one of my sessions plus a few decent carp.
I have been trying something different on my more recent sessions and am using Tutti’s on the float. This has been quite successful so far but, unfortunately, I have lost a couple of big roach at the net. One of these looked well over 3lb.
I see that the 10mm Tutti’s have been discontinued. I still have some left and once these have been used will be trying the new balanced 12mm ones. Steve assures me that these should work even better!
Dave Salter
