Steve Hemingray had a busy day winning the third round of the Hajac Winter League on the Fens with 12lb 3oz of roach. 

The Team England star found himself on the first peg at Factory Bank on the 66-peg event and with some extra colour in the water opted for a groundbait and pinkie attack. He alternated between two swims – a 4m whip and a 7m short-pole – feeding both with regular balls of groundbait and loose feeding hemp over the top.

He opted for a 0.75g float on the whip and an old 0.3g Drennan Canal for short lining, both on 0.10mm Double Strength line to a 0.08mm Supplex Fluorocarbon hooklength and size 20 Kamasan B511 hook.

“I didn’t count my fish but I had loads, probably getting on for 300,” he explained. “I had almost all roach with just a few tiny perch and ‘pommies’ amongst them and only netted one fish all day, which was a 4oz roach. Great fishing at this time of year!”