Roach Fishing on the Hampshire Avon | Trevor Harrop | Above and Below the Surface

Following EA Fish Stock Survey confirmation that roach numbers in the Hampshire Avon had declined beyond natural recovery, two ordinary men, Budgie Price and Trevor Harrop, set about reinstating a self-sustaining population through their ground-breaking Avon Roach Project; addressing not only fish stock density, but associated environmental issues as well. A decade and a half of selfless dedication and determination and some truly pioneering techniques, they have returned the roach population in this iconic river to, arguably, the best it’s been for a generation. We went along to spend some time with one half of this extraordinary duo, Trev Harrop, to find out where the roach fixation started, what it means and what’s next. We get to glimpse below the surface of this affable character and, with his and Budgie’s guidance, the river too, with some very special underwater footage of their unprecedented success.