Sorting Out Silvers

This week’s Angler’s Mail match fishing columnist Darren Cox celebrates winter’s arrival with his sights fixed firmly on roach and bream.

- Darren Cox

THE first frosts have arrived. Leaves are vanishing fast from the trees, and my thermal clothing has already seen plenty of service.

Everything is going into winter mode. Some anglers dread this time of year, but I love it.

Why? Simply because I relish the chance to exploit the masses of silver fish that thrive in commercial fisheries.

I’ve had a lifelong passion for catching roach and bream, and winter’s arrival allows me to target them in lakes dominated by carp throughout the warmer months.

Whether pleasure or match fishing, targeting winter silver fish guarantees plenty of bites to keep you busy.

Match anglers who share my passion have never been better catered for. Across the UK nowadays there are lots of ‘silver fish-only’ opportunities, including the Garbolino Silvers League at Meadowlands Fishery, organised by Yours Truly.

Meadowlands, near Coventry, is stuffed with skimmers and roach, with some big perch that come to the fore while carp appetites diminish.

Both lakes are of a decent size, on a 17-acre site, and are exposed to winds, which keep the water circulating and thus force fish to stay active in all bar the very coldest conditions.

Ahead of the series, I had a few trips out to fine-tune my rigs. One was a match at Manor Farm, near Evesham, which runs silver fish-only Opens throughout winter.

Despite the aftermath of five days of torrential rain, most anglers had bites galore from roach and skimmers, me included, with a 15 lb net for second place. That’s a venue that I’ll certainly be revisiting very soon.

Target species

Whether you’re a pleasure angler who enjoys the comfort and security of commercial stillwaters, or a matchman seeking competition thrills, a netful of prime winter silver fish is always welcome.