Roach (Rutilus rutilus),

The Roach is a very hardy fish therefore being the predominant species in UK freshwaters. Roach feed on algae, invertebrates such as snails and insect larvae such as bloodworm. Roach will feed at all depths depending on the water temperature. In winter the Roach will feed in deeper water. In summer the opposite applies

The roach is typically a small fish, often reaching no more than about 35 cm (14 inches). Maximum length is 45 cm. The body has a blueish silvery color and becomes white at the belly. The fins are red. The number of scales along the lateral line is 39-48. The dorsal and anal fin has 12-14 rays. Young specimen have a slender build, older specimen get a higher and broader body shape. The roach can often be recognized by the big red spot in the iris above and beside the pupil. Colors of the eye and fins can be very bleach however in some environments.

The roach can most easily be confused with the common rudd, the dace and the ide.

Fishing for roach in Britain is relatively easy because the species is found in most rivers, lakes and ponds throughout the country. Larger specimens tend to be particularly elusive, but smaller individuals are easy to catch on relatively light line and with a bait such as maggot or worm. They also take particle baits such as sweetcorn and can be caught on a variety of different types. The only limit in type is regarding the size of the bait, because the mouth of the roach is relatively small and the pharyncheal teeth are not particularly strong. A popular bait particularly in France and Belgium is germinated cooked hemp seed.

Essential for good catches is regular feeding to keep the shoal active and feeding around the bait. For roach mostly fixed rods are used, and for larger rods also match rods and swim feeders. The line doesn’t need to be thicker than 0.12 mm and the hook not more than a size 12. Thinner lines and smaller hooks will produce more fish especially when the roaches are of small size. The best catches with fixed float fishing are often made when the bait is presented just a few cm above the bottom.

Boilies and luncheon meat are generally avoided by Roach because they are too large for them to swallow. Because it is a schooling species, it is not unusual for an individual fish to be caught many times during a single session, and sometimes a larger, specimen individual could be waiting outside the shoal. Roach are infamous for their ability to throw the hook during a catch, which further perpetuates the idea that larger roach are notoriously difficult to bank. The maximum recorded weight for the species in Britain is 4 lb 3 oz (1.90 kg) and any fish over a pound is regarded as a specimen individual.

It is possible to make large catches in harbours where large shoals are concentrated in the winter season. Flyfishing in such places with sinking artificial flies with a gold colored bead for a head on long leaders can produce good catches and often specimens are caught that way.

Tags: Roach (Rutilus rutilus), Roaches, Rudd, Rutilus Rutilus, Small Fish, Snails, Sweetcorn, Water Temperature