- Characteristic feeding habits and habitat of roach
- What do roaches bite on?
- Methods of catching roach
- Bait for catching roach
- Catching roach with a float rod
- Catching roach with a Bolognese rod
- Technique for catching roach using a bolognese float rod
- Catching roach with a fly rod
- Technique for catching roach with a float fly rod
- Catching roach with a match rod
- Technique for catching roach using a float match rod
- Catching roach with a plug rod
- Baits for catching roach on a float rod
- Bait for catching roach on a float rod
- How to spot a bite
- How to hook
- How to catch roaches
- How to choose a fishing spot
- What to cook from roach
- Video: secrets of catching roach in the fall.
Roach, roach, ram, roach and even chebak - all these are different names for the same fish, the common roach, the most common freshwater species on the Eurasian continent.
Catching roach with a float rod is popular among many fishermen. This fishing method is easy to use and shows good results not only when catching roach, but also many other fish. Catching roach with a float rod does not require any special preparation; it is enough to prepare your gear, bait and groundbait and you can go after the roach.
Roach fishing.
This is an extremely unpretentious fish: it lives equally well both in small rivers, almost streams, ponds and lakes, and in large rivers, and some of its species live even in the lightly salted seas - the Azov, Black and Caspian seas. But a large number does not make roach fishing easy. This fish is capricious, its habits change throughout the year, it is selective about bait, and bites carefully. Therefore, fishing for roach requires a lot of effort and knowledge from the fisherman.
Characteristic feeding habits and habitat of roach
The appearance of the roach depends on local habitat conditions and the age of the fish. Most often, the color of the back is black with a blue or greenish tint, the sides of the body and belly are silver-white, the dorsal and caudal fins are greenish-gray with a reddish tint, the pectoral fins are pale yellowish, the ventral and anal fins are red, the iris is yellow with a red spot at the top. The length of roach is usually 15-18 cm and for the most part does not exceed 30 cm. Weight is 50-300 g. However, under favorable conditions, that is, with abundant food and sufficient space in the habitat, roach is not inferior in growth to many other carp fish. In lakes, as well as in the Caspian and Azov seas, it reaches a much larger value, and in some Trans-Ural lakes it has gigantic dimensions - up to 50 cm in length and more than 2.5 kg in weight.
In spring, schooling roaches gather in places well-warmed by the sun.
In early spring, after the waters have opened, the roach stays close to the shore. In rivers, it very often comes out onto the floodplain, into oxbow lakes and flood lakes, where a significant part of it remains even when the water recedes. Like all other fish, the roach also has a tendency to rise up against the current, caused by the turbidity of the water, but at the first opportunity it tries to go out into the flood or into the mouths of tributaries and never goes far from its dens. Having spawned, the roach in the rivers initially stays everywhere except in rapids, but as soon as grass appears, it moves into bays, backwaters and channels, and in the absence of such, into holes with a weak current, to swimming pools, bridges and other surface structures. In the summer heat, the roach either goes deeper or gets buried under the shore and in the roots of coastal bushes.
The main food of roaches in rivers in summer consists of filamentous algae growing on piles, less often stones, in small currents. In addition, of course, various small animal organisms - small shells, fry and crustaceans - serve as food for roaches. With the onset of cold weather, in October or November, roaches, both river and lake, go to winter in deep holes, and again gather, if necessary, in large and very dense schools.
What do roaches bite on?
Roach is a fish belonging to the carp family. Accordingly, its diet is quite varied and depends on the time of year. Thus, in the summer, the diet of roaches is dominated by plant foods, supplemented by various small larvae and aquatic insects. This is the most fertile time, from a nutritional point of view, and the roach takes full advantage of it. It can be caught with equal success using a worm, maggot, bloodworm, mayfly larva, caddis fly, worm and bloodworm. At the same time, the roach responds with pleasure to various types of dough, bread crumbs, steamed cereals, as well as to some types of plants.
Roach is not a fish that digs through silt and other bottom sediments in search of food. Basically, its food is zooplankton, which lives in the water column and on plant stems. Therefore, if there is a choice between bloodworms and mayfly larvae, or maggots, the first will not be so in demand. Although, given the omnivorous nature of roach, bloodworms as bait also give good results.
Summer is the best time to offer plant food to roaches. Many fishermen, with the onset of the warm season, catch it with great success using filamentous algae, which cover the stones at the bottom and the walls of various hydraulic structures, dams, bridge piles, and concrete foundations with a continuous carpet. The peak of such activity occurs at the end of spring - beginning of summer, when roaches feed mainly on this grass rich in microelements. When gutting fish during this period, this is clearly noticeable - only greens are present in the stomach and intestines.
Anglers actively take advantage of this, using so-called “green bait” fishing near dams and bridges. This fishing is very productive and exciting, although it does not last very long. The roach is actively interested in mulberry for a relatively short time, and over the next few weeks it completely switches to other available food.
The roach's bite is extremely capricious: today it takes well, tomorrow it doesn't take at all for no apparent reason. This fish is very lethargic, and if it is full, it is reluctant to rise or fall behind the falling bait. One of the most successful ways of fishing for roach is on greens. It begins as soon as warm weather sets in and 4 cm of greenery appears on the stilts, and continues until September.
It has been noticed that with each not only strengthening, but also weakening of the current, the roach begins to take on the greens more greedily. The method of planting greenery is quite original. Take a strand no shorter than 9-13 cm, with a thickness of 2 to 5 mm, bend it in half and make a double loop in the middle in the shape of the letter P. Thread a hook into the hole in the loop, tighten the loop and cut the ends so that the length of the strand is at least 4 cm This lightest bait swims ahead and is swallowed before the fish feels the hook.
Anise, which is used as a flavoring, has a positive effect on the appetite of roaches.
If with animal baits everything is relatively simple - the size of the bait should correspond to the size of the fish, then with the use of various cereals, there are small nuances. Thus, the proposed bait should be softened, but elastic enough to stay on the hook.
To do this, pearl barley, oats or other cereals are pre-steamed. A thermos with a wide neck is best suited for these purposes. The cereal is pre-washed, poured into a thermos, poured boiling water, sealed and left overnight. By morning, the bait will swell and be ready for use. Cooking cereal is quite a troublesome task, since there is a high probability that the porridge will burn or not be cooked enough. In this case, it is best to use the so-called “water bath”, when the saucepan with the bait being prepared is placed in another, larger one, into which water is first poured. Roaches have a very negative attitude towards foreign odors, in particular the smell of burnt food. A water bath avoids this.
Choosing a place to catch roach is not difficult. The search for roach should begin at shallow depths, from 1 to 4 meters.
In addition to standard cereals, in summer another interesting attachment is used. This is thin pasta cooked until al dente. The pasta is cut into small pieces and placed on a hook with a stocking. This is a very affordable, effective and easy-to-use bait, which only requires proper storage to prevent it from souring and becoming too soft.
Closer to autumn, the roach switches to animal food and the best bait will be maggots, a piece of earthworm and various larvae. By the time of freeze-up, roaches are caught only with bloodworms and burdock larva, which is explained by a decrease in the daily food “doses” of wintering fish and the easy availability of these baits in winter. True, in some reservoirs, especially those that are often visited by fishermen, you can also catch roach using dough, which, for convenience, is pumped into a disposable medical syringe.
The unstable bite and general lethargy of roach, as well as any other fish, continues until spring, until the first warm days. During the last period of ice, and in the subsequent period of early spring, metabolic processes in the fish’s body accelerate and it is already quite possible to switch to heavier baits. The favorite among spring baits is, of course, the earthworm, or rather its small pieces that can be attached to a jig or used for float fishing. Then the food cycle repeats again.
In winter, roach is caught at great depths with float rods with a nod to a jig, using bloodworms and dough baits as bait. Before spawning, roach is caught using a worm and bloodworms. With the onset of post-spawning food and for about two weeks - on worms, bloodworms, caddis flies and maggots. In the summer you can also try steamed wheat grains, dough and barley. The best time to catch roach is in the morning and evening hours, and it can be caught with plant baits in the middle of the day.
What to catch roach with
Roach is an almost omnivorous fish, which is why the choice of bait for catching it is very large. Let's look at the most catchy roach baits that work best:
- maggot;
- muckworm;
- bloodworm;
- crawl out;
- mastyrka;
- dough;
- bread;
- corn;
- pearl barley.
As you can see, the list of baits is quite long, although it is still far from complete. In order for the roach to bite better, you can use various combinations of these baits, putting different baits on one hook and thus awakening the fish’s appetite. Very often, it is precisely such tricks that lead to a good result, when it would seem that there would be no wait for bites.
You should also consider the seasonality of each bait. So, in the spring, roach is best caught using maggots, bloodworms and dung worms, and in summer and autumn it prefers baits of plant origin - dough, semolina, pearl barley, corn.
In different bodies of water, the preferences of roach can be different. While in one body of water roach fishing is successful using bloodworms, in a neighboring one it can bite exclusively on plant baits.
The size of the roach is also one of the points that should be taken into account when fishing for roach. Usually only large roaches are caught with bait such as corn, since small fish will not be able to swallow it, especially if there are several grains of corn on the hook at once. But dough or semolina is bait mainly for small roach. So before fishing, you should determine what size roach is found in the fished reservoir and what size fish you plan to catch.
Small roach bites can follow one after another immediately after casting the fishing rod, but a large roach can wait for hours to arrive. If you are ready to wait quite a long time for a large roach to bite, then you should put several grains of corn or pearl barley on the hook, and if it is animal bait, then you should put such baits in bunches - several worms or 3-4 maggots, or a dozen bloodworms, etc. P.
Methods for attaching maggots to a hook
When you start fishing for roach in open water, the best bait for roach will be bloodworms and dung worms. These are the main baits for roaches in the spring. Maggot can also work, and roach is also distinguished by its love for the so-called sandwiches made of worm and maggot. The roach begins to take on plant bait only when the water is warm enough. It is best to start using vegetable baits already with the onset of summer, then corn, pearl barley, dough, etc. can be used. The advantage of vegetable baits is that when the roach begins to peck at them, then with the help of baits such as corn or pearl barley , you can filter out bites from small fish that can fray your nerves when fishing with bloodworms or a worm.
By feeding the area you will significantly increase your chances of success. Because with bait you will attract not solitary roaches, but whole schools of these fish. But you should not overdo it with this matter, so as not to overfeed the fish. It is better to throw the bait in small portions, not allowing the fish to leave the fishing spot.
The roach bite is recognizable. First, the float begins to jump slightly, and then goes under the water. If the float is light enough and properly loaded, then the roach bite will be noticeable in its first stages and you will not miss the moment at which it is necessary to hook. Catching roach with bottom gear also requires increased attention, since its bite on the bottom is not always noticeable. If there are no bites for a long time, it is better to check the bait; small roaches could have pulled it off or wet it. Happy fishing!
Roach fishing gear
They catch roaches with both float and bottom gear. A fishing line with a diameter of 0.15 mm is used, and a leash with a diameter of 0.1 mm can be used. You will need a small hook for catching roach, with a short shank. When the roach bites reluctantly and behaves cautiously, it is better to use a yellow hook; it will alarm the fish less. The float is light, with a camouflage color, since roach often has to be caught at shallow depths or even at the surface of the water.
Also, it is worth remembering that with the onset of summer, roaches begin to find fault more and more with both the bait and the tackle you are fishing with. Therefore, in order to catch roach better, the tackle must be made as inconspicuous and sensitive as possible. We set the hook as thin as possible, and the fishing line as well. It is also better to move the weight a little away from the hook. We hook the bait more carefully so that the sting of the hook is not visible.
Of course, when a roach bites, it also bites on rough equipment, not paying attention to either the noticeable float or the rough equipment. However, such a glutton is not always observed in roach, and you want to have a good catch every time, so you need to try and please the fish. As they say, you can’t catch a fish out of a pond without effort!
Methods of catching roach
The main method of fishing for roach is fishing with a long rod with a float, practiced in both still and slow-moving waters. The difference lies in the attachments. When using baits, roach fishing can last almost the whole year. In addition, roach can be caught at night - in the river with bottom fish, and in ponds with float rods, using lighting, which, at the same time, serves as fish bait. Roach is almost the only fish that is more convenient and profitable to catch from the shore than from a boat. The easiest way to catch roach is by wire, with a fishing line up to 14-18 m long and a light float.
Alternate baits, if the roach has become difficult to take on maggots, replace it with a worm or use it together as part of the so-called “sandwich”.
In general, the best depth for fishing for roach is 1.5-2 m; place - on the border of the grass, in clearings between the grass, in creeks and in weak currents. The most intense roach bite is in the summer, before heavy rain with thunder and lightning, when the roach greedily grabs almost any bait for about an hour. During the autumn heat, before the onset of frost, the roach takes bait throughout the day. Roach bites are very varied: sometimes it dips the float, sometimes even puts it on the water.
Features of catching roach in summer
In summer, roach bite better in the morning and evening, at noon, in the very heat, and rarely bite. Large specimens can also go out to feed at night. In still water, in addition to the traditional float fishing rod, you can also use a feeder with long casting. Fishing from a boat will be successful. Bolognese tackle with bottom wiring performed well in the current. It is also possible to catch roach using the increasingly popular nanojig. The favorite bait for roaches remains the maggot-bloodworm sandwich, but it can also be attracted to vegetable baits.
Bait for catching roach
Bait is more necessary in stagnant or semi-stagnant water - in ponds and lakes. In rivers, you can limit yourself to throwing bait while fishing. The fish standing downstream, encountering particles of food floating past, rises higher, to the very source, and here meets the fisherman’s hook with an even more delicious bait.
The best bait is bloodworms: in May, after the roach spawns, and then in August or early September. At the end of May and June, you can successfully catch roaches by feeding them with ant eggs. Both are usually crushed together with the clay. For bait, it is better to use not pure bloodworms, but together with algae and debris. The weaker the current, the looser and smaller the clay balls with bait should be.
Catching roach on rivers in summer
Summer roach fishing on small rivers has a number of features, in particular, aquatic vegetation provides an additional opportunity to search for parking areas, depending on many factors (relief, depth, current strength, and others).
The optimal tackle for catching roach on the river is bolognese, which allows you to make precise casts of the bait near aquatic vegetation, which is especially important for small rivers, often with a width of up to 10 meters. The roach prefers to stand in places with weak currents, in thickets of water lilies, in this case, this equipment is used: a 0.14 mm fishing line, a spindle-shaped float, a sinker, a short fluorocarbon leash (0.12 mm) of increased strength (as it often happens hooks on algae), hook size No. 15-18, depending on the type of bait. Sometimes the roach goes out to feed in the “corridors of the jets” of a strong current, in this case the equipment is slightly different, the following is used: a heavy keel float, an “olive” sinker. The length of the rod is about 6 meters, since the water in small rivers is usually clear and the fisherman is clearly visible from the water, so it is advisable to camouflage. Depending on the fishing conditions, you periodically have to let the tackle drift with the current, guiding it along the edge of the aquatic vegetation.
Read: How to successfully catch large roach
Baits for catching roach in rivers: corn, pearl barley, steamed wheat, dough, semolina, peas, worms, maggots, grasshoppers, etc. On small rivers bait is not used. If we take medium rivers (width about 60 meters, depth up to 2 meters), then roach often stays close to ribbon algae, along the entire width of the riffle, as well as along the edges where sedge grows, creating attractive places for fish to feed; these are the places that will be the purpose of wiring. Also, large roach stay on the border of dumps, transitions from shallow to deep water. On such rivers there is a stronger current, so tackle with a float with a heavy keel is used. For a good roach bite, it is advisable to attach it for several days. For August, during the period of maximum heat, steamed wheat is an attractive bait.
In the windows of water lily thickets, you can use bait in small quantities (wheat, bread); in this case, make an unloaded leash up to half a meter long so that the bait slowly sinks to the bottom, provoking the fish to bite.
It is also recommended to pay attention to sedge islands, usually sticking out near the shore or even in the middle of the river; wiring is done along the edge of these islands, downstream, since roaches often wait for food carried out by a stream of water.
Read: Catching roach in the canal
On wide rivers, as a rule, they look for small bays, oxbow lakes, suvodi, places where the current changes direction; usually there are algae on the border, and it is worth placing the gear near them. Roaches can also be found under cliffs of backwaters overgrown with aquatic vegetation. In such places, bait is actively used; store-bought mixtures can be used as a basis and ingredients can be added depending on the bait; by the way, the bait used is the same as on small rivers.
Catching roach with a float rod
Roach begins to spawn at water temperatures above 10-13 degrees. During spawning, fish can only be caught from the shore and only with float or bottom gear, although we note that during this period, the roach is not particularly concerned about food and the bite worsens.
Catching roach with a float rod is popular among many fishermen. This fishing method is easy to use and shows good results not only when catching roach, but also many other fish. Catching roach with a float rod does not require any special preparation; it is enough to prepare your gear, bait and groundbait and you can go after the roach.
If the roach stops biting, try throwing in an additional portion of bait and lowering the bait even deeper.
The roach bite changes depending on the season, so the equipment of the float rod also changes. For example, in the spring, using a light float, you can catch a dozen bleaks, but you will never see a roach. But summer roach, which does not urgently need food, or similar autumn roach, requires more delicate gear.
Catching roach with a float rod is possible using four different rods - Bolognese, fly, match and plug. For a beginner, it will be easiest to master Bolognese or fly fishing and, as you gain experience, move on to plug fishing. Match fishing is mainly used as a sport form of fishing.
The Bolognese or lapdog, as it is often called by fishermen, is a telescopic fishing rod with rings for fishing line and a place for attaching a reel.
The flywheel differs in that it does not have passage rings and a spool holder. The fishing line is attached through a connector at the tip of such a rod.
A pole rod is a long rod consisting of several legs that are connected to each other. It is used not only by amateurs, but also by athletes. A rod stand and a recoil roller are required.
To stimulate roach to bite, raise the float a few centimeters above the water and gently lower it.
A match fishing rod is used for long casts; its structure resembles a spinning rod. It is lightweight, has guide rings for fishing line and a place for attaching a reel. A special device is required for long-distance casting of bait; usually a bait slingshot is used.
The equipment of all fishing rods varies depending on the features of their structure. The main elements are fishing line, float, sinkers and hooks.
Catching roach using a spinning rod
Spinning. Techniques and tactics: all notes, notes from the author.
Roach - also known as soroga, soroga, chebak or chebak, is perhaps the most common fish in the catches of fishermen in the middle zone, previously considered an object of hunting for floaters, now it is often found in the catches of bottom fishers and even spinners. In sporting terms, a large roach is a very, very honorable trophy, firstly, a roach weighing more than five hundred grams is cunning, distrustful and careful, like an old fox, and secondly, a large roach is a serious source of adrenaline when fishing on a thin fishing line (it does not bite on a thick one) , and finally: thirdly, fried, dried or stewed roach with vegetables is a wonderful treat on your table. Describing the appearance and habitat of a roach is a thankless task; everyone knows a roach, and finding its description in the literature is as easy as shelling pears. Let's dwell on the main thing: the roach stays mainly at the bottom, feeding on insect larvae, crustaceans and mollusks; it rises to the top only during a mass flight of insects, but it should be noted that for every one roach that took an insect from the surface, there are a dozen feeding on the nymphs that float to the surface, In summer, roaches feed on filamentous algae, the so-called mulberry. A large roach will never miss a tasty fry, will not disdain a molting crayfish, and will happily swallow a large shell. Naturally, we are primarily interested in roach as an object for spinning fishing. So, different remarks about fishing for roach with a spinning rod. Catching roach with a spinning rod involves delicate tackle, the so-called. "ultralight". This means that you use spinning rods with a test of 0.7-5 grams, fish with the thinnest fishing lines and cast the smallest baits. Line The use of braided lines with any bait weighing up to 5 g is simply not recommended, and there are several reasons for this. First of all, super thin cords are very difficult to find. But even the thinnest existing ones have very high strength and significantly exceed the value recommended by rod manufacturers. It is not worth putting them on ultralight tackle, since in this case there is a very high risk of breaking an expensive rod. In addition, when fishing in clear water, any cords are very noticeable. Many fish, in particular ide and chub, react very negatively to the line, and the number of bites is noticeably reduced. It is much better to use monofilament fishing lines, preferably the softest and always of high quality. The diameter is usually between 0.12 and 0.14 mm. Only if the weight of the baits is 10 grams or more, you can use fishing line up to 0.16 and even 0.18, but this is the limit. This line can also be used when fishing in heavily overgrown reservoirs. Among those offered in our stores, we can recommend products from Japanese companies Owner and Gamakatsu; they satisfy all the necessary requirements. Lures This is the main, if not the most important, part of our gear. First, let's look at the least attractive, but not hopeless bait - a wobbler. With a wobbler, even the smallest one, there are significantly fewer bites than with other baits, which I will discuss below. Apparently this bait, no matter how much the manufacturers make it smaller, still remains quite large, especially for roach. Although you can fish with it, and quite successfully. The advantages of a wobbler include the fact that fish are more confidently caught on it, sometimes swallowing the tee entirely, while the size of the fish is slightly larger. For fishing, you can use any wobbler with a size not exceeding 3-4 cm. It also does not matter whether it is floating or sinking, each of these models has its own advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, a large fastener placed on wobblers of this size turns them from floating to sinking. In addition, you can install a small deepener on the line in front of the wobbler. I have a feeling that the reader will ask me to name specific models of wobblers or at least the manufacturer. I don’t really want to do free advertising for manufacturing companies, but I have to (the companies could give me a wobbler or 2 for this). For example, this is “Salmo”, “Ugly Duckling”, “Vuoksa” or any other wobbler of the above-mentioned size. A beetle wobbler with a single hook at the end and a streamer also performed quite well. Please do not get hung up on the color of the bait, it is different everywhere, and the rudd is not that picky. The bite on the wobbler occurs both with uniform wiring and during temporary stops; unfortunately, in this case it is detected a little less. Spoon. I won’t lie if I say that this bait is the most common in Russia, and, judging by its undiminished popularity, it will remain so for the next few years. Of course, when talking about spinners, I mainly mean spinners. Spinner baits are mostly designed for catching larger fish than roach. So, the pinwheel. Which size should I choose? The roach's mouth is not that large, and accordingly the size of the spoon, or rather the tee, must not exceed a certain size. I consider spinner No. 0 to be the maximum according to the Mepps classification. A roach can even chase number 1, but it will be problematic for it to be detected. Be that as it may, I consider turntable No. 00 optimal. Once again we have to mention manufacturing companies. The main ones are Mepps, Blue Fox, Konger, Dragon, etc. From Mepps, I often choose Aglia Mouche and Black Fury Mouche, their tee is equipped with a fly, and sometimes bites happen immediately after the spoon falls on the water, when the spinner has not yet had time to turn on its speed . Even when fishing with such small spinners, I was not satisfied with the number of fish caught. I improved the spoon a little by breaking off two of the three tee hooks; this had a positive effect on the bite. If we talk about Blue Fox, then a significant advantage is the casting range, but the bait is cast quite deep due to its weight, and in some reservoirs the number of bites from other fish, such as perch, was equal to bites from rudd. By the way, when buying a lure from not particularly well-known companies, replace the tee or sharpen it, I’m sure it won’t make things worse. When guiding the turntable, from one to a dozen bites occur. The fish seems to hit the spoon without grabbing it. You can notice this when fishing in shallow water. Mini Jig. A good mini-jig is hard to find on sale and in most cases you have to make them yourself. One day, I tore off all the jigs I had with me and rummaged through the box, I found a couple of hooks and a set of weights for a float rod. At first I thought of attaching the sinker to the hook itself, but then, having decided to experiment, I attached it to the fishing line 20-30 cm from the hook, and lo and behold, the fish bit better. The main disadvantage of this gear was the casting range. The twister can be any color, I caught it in different colors, my favorites are red and yellow. What’s interesting is that there are not much fewer bites even on a twister with a torn tail than on a new one, therefore, I advise you not to immediately throw away the bait that has been spoiled by fish, but to make several test casts. Also, this is already from the category of a float, I sometimes dripped a few drops of flavoring, or, as they call it now, an attractant onto the twister. Front sight. Many will say that this is a fly bait, not a spinning bait, and in many ways they will be right. But it is ideal for catching roach. Here it’s difficult for me to describe all the names of flies or methods of making them; I’m not a fly fisherman, and I don’t intend to become one, at least in the near future. I can only say with some accuracy that each of the flies I used, including those whose appearance did not inspire confidence in me, worked flawlessly on roach. How to cast a fly. The simplest way, remember the case with the jig, is to attach a sinker to the fishing line. Another, more optimal one we will borrow from fly fishermen is using a strike indicator. The most common of them is a plastic float filled with water. We strengthen it in the same way as a sinker and fill it with water to our liking. Instead of such a float, you can use the favorite tackle of Italian fishermen - “sbirulino”. Fishing with it was written about in No. 2 of SR for this year. What else needs to be mentioned. K. Kuzmin about roach fishing: “Bleak is a more pronounced predator than roach. At least I caught roach with a spinning rod in the Moscow region only sporadically, and bleak systematically, in fairly large quantities. The problem is that the bleak itself is small, and its mouth is relatively even smaller. Therefore, if the average roach normally sits on the “null”, then the bleak needs “000” and “0000” with the smallest tees. But the roach, which is in the Lower Volga, etc., is not an indicator. There are all kinds of tarashka eating everything, including wobblers...” Fishing Online, 2007
Catching roach with a Bolognese rod
Rod. Catching roach with a float rod using a Bolognese rod is perfect for a beginner. To make your hand less tired, you need to choose a lightweight carbon fiber rod. The choice of length depends on the distance at which you are going to fish. For fishing from the shore, it will be enough to use a rod 5-7 meters long. In addition, the rod has an action and test. The test allows you to find out what weight of equipment you can use when casting without fear of damaging the rod. To catch roach, 3-15 grams or 4-20 grams of dough will be enough. Action determines the shape of a rod's bend under load. For a Bolognese rod, choose a medium or medium-fast action, this will allow you to better control the fish when playing.
Coil. An inertia-free reel with a well-tuned friction brake that allows you to regulate the load. The choice of reel depends on the diameter of the fishing line used. A universal option for a Bolognese rod when fishing for roach would be a reel size 1500-2000 according to the Shimano classification. The reel also has such a characteristic as the gear ratio, which means the number of revolutions that the spool with fishing line makes per revolution of the reel handle. A reel with a ratio of 5.7:1 will do. A similar reel is also suitable for a match rod.
Line and leash . For catching roach, monofilament fishing line with a diameter of 0.12-0.18 millimeters is used. The choice of thickness depends on the fishing location, fishing season and weather conditions. In thickets, a fishing line with a thicker diameter is used, and in a clean reservoir, where there are no snags, for example, a thinner fishing line is used. It is advisable to completely fill the reel spool with fishing line. For the leash, we take a thinner fishing line, a diameter of 0.08-0.1, sometimes 0.12 millimeters and a length of 25-30 centimeters will be enough.
Sinker. Sinkers hold the bait at the required depth and are selected based on fishing conditions - depth and current. The weight of the load must correspond to the load of the float. Loading can be carried out both on a pond and at home. The small and lowest sinker is placed at a distance of 5-7 centimeters from the main ones. The pellets used are lead and are made with a small slot where the fishing line is inserted and then compressed with pliers. If you squeeze too hard, you can damage the line.
Hooks. The hook will be used in sizes No. 3,4,5,6. These hooks bend easily, so you should always have spare hooks with you. For large baits, choose a larger hook.
Float. The choice of float depends on the fishing conditions. In calm weather with a light current, a float with a load of 0.4 grams is used, and in strong winds it is recommended to use a float with a load of 1 gram or more. In addition, this weight is also suitable for long casts. Regarding the attachment of the float, it is better to choose not the option with a ring, but the option with a tube that passes through the entire body of the float, this is more reliable.
Features of roach fishing
Roach is a common fish, but it is not easy to catch. Especially in warm water when there is plenty of food. The optimal gear for catching roach is considered to be a float rod or plug. What you need to do to successfully catch roach with a fishing rod...
About fishing tactics
Two tactics can be used.
- With a light fly rod, you can carefully and secretly move along the shore, looking for promising places for catching roach and predicting the possible movements of a school of this fish. The most catchable areas are considered to be the border of aquatic vegetation or windows in it.
- If you don’t want to constantly move, then you will have to use the second technique - feeding and holding the fish at one point using bait.
Feeding issues
The roach is omnivorous, feeding on both aquatic vegetation and larvae. But she is always very careful and picky. Changes its preferences depending on the time of year and current activity.
Therefore, the amount of food supplied, the method of its supply, and the composition of the bait itself must be adjusted depending on the activity of the fish.
Activity is influenced by many factors. For example, the weather - cooling or warming of water, rain and strong wind mixing layers of water - always affects the behavior of fish.
You can always increase your chances of fishing success if you follow a few simple feeding rules. Regardless of whether the roach is currently active or not, it is better to do the following.
Rules for feeding roaches
- It is impossible for the bait to be on the bottom in balls. It should settle to the bottom in the form of separate particles. The accuracy of feeding is very important. Scattering bait around will immediately lead to a decrease in the concentration of fish at the fishing point, and to a significant reduction in the bite.
- For active roach it is necessary to create and maintain a column of bait in the water column. In accordance with this, the composition and dryness of the bait is selected. As well as the frequency of feeding and the size of one dose. Sometimes it is necessary to feed every minute or every time you recast, sometimes a little less often. Let us remind you that this feeding method is also used when catching bleak. To create a column of bait in the water, you need to use dry and light bait. Its lump should quickly disintegrate when it gets into the water and settle to the bottom in the form of bait dust very slowly.
- If the fish is passive, then it is better to feed the point in advance, and use a minimum of bait - a couple of balls the size of a small orange. Supplementary feeding - accordingly, occasionally in very small doses. Now it will be preferable to use mainly animal ingredients - bloodworms and maggots.
Also, the composition of the bait should vary depending on the season. In spring and autumn, special foods that differ from summer mixtures work better in cold water. This is due to the change in preferences of white fish as the water cools.
Working with a rod
To provoke more bites, you can set a certain movement for the nozzle. The simplest and most common is to slowly lower the bait to the bottom. This technique is especially effective in the bait post. A special distribution of weights on the fishing line will help create a smooth descent. The speed of lowering is regulated by moving the weights in one direction or another. But more often than not, lowering the bait as slowly as possible is preferable.
For example, such a load is possible. The under-grazing is installed 20 cm from the hook, and the load distributed over 0.5 meters from several pellets is no closer than 0.5 - 1.0 meter from the under-grazing. You need to cast so that the line stretches out in a line, then the bait will drop in an arc, smoothly and slowly. It is in the last seconds of the bait falling (when the float has already established itself under the influence of weights) that the roach is most likely to bite.
In addition, the movement of the equipment can be determined by the wind, surface current, or the general movement (current) of water. If the float moves under the influence of the current, then it becomes possible to make artificial play. It works like this. The float floats a couple of tens of centimeters, then you hold its movement with a rod. At this moment, the bait will rise under the influence of the current. When the float moves again, the bait will slowly fall to the bottom again. Periodic holding of the floating rig creates a special play of the bait.
You can also use an artificial retrieve by moving the rod smoothly and slowly to the side. You can track the speed of the retrieve using the float, which should not rise out of the water by more than a couple of millimeters when pulled.
Roach fishing tackle
For roach fishing, it is better to choose three fly rods, light and with a moderately fast action. Lengths - 3.5 - 5 - 7 meters. Such rods will allow you to adapt to various fishing conditions, accurately deliver bait to the bait point, and carefully work with heavy fish on a thin line. The first length will come in handy if you try to catch roach by walking, moving along the thickets.
Roach caught on a fishing rod
But in most cases, for catching roach, it is preferable to use a light, not very long plug. It’s much easier for them to set the retrieve and deliver groundbait and groundbait exactly to the same place.
Rough equipment when fishing for roach is not acceptable. Hooks should only be installed small, very thin and very sharp. You should not use hooks larger than number 16, even with bulky bait. It is also not recommended to use a load weighing more than one gram, and a leash thicker than 0.08.
If you need stronger gear (passing bite of heavy roach, bream, bream), then keep in mind that some of the bites with a thicker leash will “go away” from you. The use of very fast rods for catching roach requires a conscious delay before hooking. This should increase the percentage of caught fish and reduce the number of fish kills. This is what some fishermen recommend. Those. After registering a bite with a float, there is a second pause before hooking. With soft rods, such a pause occurs by itself.
Technique for catching roach using a bolognese float rod
Fishing must begin with baiting the selected area on the reservoir. The main technique for fishing with a lapdog is dragging the bait along the bottom or retrieving it in the water column. The bait should slowly swim across the feeding area, attracting roaches. This will increase the number of bites.
When fishing with a match rod, use a sinker specially designed for this purpose to probe the bottom.
It is recommended to keep the line slightly tight, since the effectiveness of hooking depends on this. Casting must be done smoothly, as the tackle can get tangled. After casting, we wait a little, letting the tackle go with the flow, and then make one or two turns of the handle to reel in the line and bring the float into working condition. Large roach prefer a stationary bait that is located on the bottom.
Roach on a spinning rod
Back in 1880, the first mention of spinning tackle appeared in Sabaneev’s journal. A few years later, this “article” by Pavel Gavrilovich Cherkasov is published on the pages of the book “Fishes of Russia”, legendary in the fishing world. Pavel Gavriilovich described the tackle that today we call fly fishing.
The spinner of “that time” pulled the line from the reel and laid it on the ground in rings, after which the “ritual” of casting was performed. This is how they “spun” in the 90s of the century before last. Later, a “note” (on 10 sheets) by Henry Bartels was published, in which the Moscow fisherman gave a description of spinning tackle and casting technique in our usual understanding... How many changes spinning tackle has undergone since then is sometimes scary to think about.
Another “spinning revolution” for me was catching peaceful fish. Rudd, white bream and even crucian carp were repeatedly present in the microjig bycatch. But I haven’t had the opportunity to purposefully catch this fish yet.
Having examined my mormo arsenal the other day, I decided - better late than never!) There is a small lake just within walking distance from the house. As it turned out, the reservoir is not of particular interest to spinning anglers, but it is in demand among float fishing enthusiasts. The catch consists mainly of roach, bream, crucian carp and small perch. I have never caught a roach with a spinning rod, so I chose it as the target fish.
In spring, roach stays in shallow water, near the reeds. Prefers a hard sandy bottom and the presence of underwater vegetation. With polarized glasses and adequate visibility, such places can be found without problems. The proximity to perch does not bother this fish at all, so places with a concentration of fry are also interesting to us.
I liked the area of the reservoir where a spring flows into the lake. The water in this area is much clearer, and 3-4 meters from the shore there is a gentle slope. There are reeds growing on the sides, which provided a little protection from the wind (which is very useful when casting and retrieving a light jig). The first cast and away we go.
When fishing with nano jigs, I always start scouting with jigs weighing 0.5 g. The spinning rod I use throws this weight perfectly and gives quite acceptable feedback. And for some reason it seems to me that this is the optimal weight for this type of fishing. Literally on the first postings you can immediately understand what to do: get smaller, get larger, or everything is ok.
The first casts did not bring any results. The bait quickly reached the bottom and there was practically no hovering phase during retrievals. I switched to a technique more commonly used in mormo-spinning – dribbling. A couple of rhythmic movements did not bring any results. But as soon as I lengthened the pause, I immediately pulled out an eyelet the size, in the literal sense of the word, of the size of my little finger. I repeat the “manipulation” and get a few more bites, but without implementation. The picture becomes clear: the depth is literally up to half a meter, the jig quickly rushes to the bottom, where from time to time small perch show interest in it. Not quite what I would like.
I'm trying to look for roach in the pelagic. I tie a 0.25 g jig. Due to its lighter weight, the bait “floats” longer in the water column and there is a chance that the whitefish standing in the pelagic layer will show interest in it. And it worked. By “imitating” step-by-step retrieving, I begin to get bites just during the hovering phases, and as soon as the bait reaches the bottom, the bites stop. After the next cast, I lift the rod up and, with a very slow reel (on the verge of breaking the game), I begin to perform animation with the tip of the rod in the form of smooth movements to the left and right. This gave the long-awaited result. Brisk bite, spinning in an arc, the clutch screams - everything is as it should be! The first redfin fish is parked. In the same spirit, I park about 7 more tails, after which the alarm clock on my phone tells me that it’s time to pack up the spinning rod and return to the harsh workdays. The target fish was caught and traditionally released, the pleasure was 200 percent, but a wagonload and a small cart remained with questions. I will definitely plan more targeted trips to lingerie and sort this topic out “on the shelves.”
Spinning tackle has come a truly amazing path from the moment it appeared to the present day. And when microjig appeared, it would seem, what else can you come up with, so let’s catch the predator with gram weight heads? This week I purposefully caught fish with a spinning rod and artificial bait, which, according to the classics of the genre, is caught with a float rod using maggots. I wonder what will happen next? Where will the spinning evolution curve lead?
Gear used:
- Rod: Zetrix Forra 632 XUL (from 0.5 to 2.5 grams)
- Reel: Abu Garcia Cardinal 51FD
- Cord: Sunline Siglon #0.2 PE
- Fluorocarbon leader: sasame samuline 0.08 mm
- Tungsten jigs 0.25 and 0.5 g (Tula)
- Lure: Valmel “mormo style” in colors “A”, “M” and “Y”.
Author: Valery Melnikov.
Catching roach with a fly rod
Rod. Catching roach with a float rod using a fly rod is very popular. For it, it is better to choose the lightest possible rod that will allow you to cast without spending a lot of effort. A 6-7 meter long stick is perfect for catching roach.
The equipment of such a rod is attached to the tip through a connector, which is fixed with glue. The connector, like its analogues, can be made yourself or bought in a store.
Line and leash. The choice of fishing line diameter is absolutely similar to the choice of fishing line for a Bolognese fishing rod. A monofilament line is used, with a diameter of no more than 0.18 millimeters, the leash is taken thinner than the main line - from 0.08 to 0.12 mm. The golden rule is that the thinner the leash, the better the roach bite.
Hooks. The rules for choosing a hook are similar to Bolognese fishing. During the current, you can take larger hooks.
Float. For fly fishing, take a float in the shape of a drop or a goose feather, which is mainly used for still water. But for currents, a float in the shape of a reverse drop is perfect. Just like in other types of float fishing, the carrying capacity of the float is selected based on the fishing conditions - depth and current.
Loading. The weight of the weights must be selected according to the carrying capacity of the float. It is better to attach the pellets spaced apart, at different distances from each other.
Fishing technique
Everything is as simple as that - we set the most suitable depth, if we want to catch a trophy or something similar in size, then the depth is 20 centimeters from the bottom. We bait the hook, cast it and wait. At the same time, you can manipulate the rod a little, performing a leisurely retrieve. Small fish usually start a battle for the bait, while large fish behave more sedately and cautiously. If the float begins to move to the side or sink, it’s time to hook. A short jerk with the rod and careful fishing is performed; the line must be kept taut so that the fish does not come off.
There are several main types of bottom fishing rods that require special equipment:
- Flywheel. The simplest one, without rings and a reel, with a light rod. The fishing line is attached to its tip using a connector. It is better to use a monofilament with a thickness of 0.18 mm and a droplet float, in the case of a flow - in the form of a reverse drop. We also select an adequate weight. Flying tackle is used most often on bodies of water with weak currents or without it at all, at short distances.
- Bolognese fishing rod. The classic version of such a fishing rod involves the presence of guide rings and a reel. Well suited for posting, so it is used when catching roach in the current. Combines well with silicone baits.
- Match. This form looks like a spinning rod in appearance, as it has a short length and a reel. In a classic match, a special sliding float is used. Match gear is convenient for fishing at long distances and great depths.
Catching roach with a match rod
Catching roach with a float rod using a match rod allows you to catch fish at a great distance from the shore, in the bottom layer, including at a depth exceeding the length of the rod. In this way it resembles feeder fishing, only here a feeder is not used. A match rod resembles a long spinning rod with a large number of rings. For catching roach, a match rod 4.2 meters long is suitable.
Coil. It is best to take a spinning reel, with a shallow spool and a gear ratio of at least 1:5. This will help you catch fish at a fast pace.
Line and leash. Here a special match line is used, usually dark in color, which sinks. The cross-section of the fishing line for roach fishing is 0.12-0.16 millimeters. The diameter of the leader is always thinner than the main line. The length of the leash is at least 20 centimeters; usually a long leash is used, up to 60 centimeters.
Hooks. It is selected in the same way as fly or Bolognese fishing.
Float. A special float is used, called a waggler, from 3 to 25 grams. In summer the float is lighter, in cold weather it is heavier. It has its own burden. Some of these floats have the ability to change the load, which is very important when fishing conditions change. For match fishing, a sliding float rig is used, in which the float is limited by a special stopper or a thread knot on the main line only from above. Such a stopper is installed at a distance from the bait corresponding to the fishing depth.
Loading. For match equipment, part of the weight falls on the float itself; additional weights are usually attached to the fishing line above the leash.
Tackle for roach on a small river
In strong and moderate currents, various donks and feeders are used. The largest roach is often found in such places, especially at the beginning of summer. But at the same time, long medium-class rods and even pickers more than three meters long here are disproportionate to the sections of the coast, which often represent a patch of sand or a clay toe, with willow bushes hanging behind it. That is, there is often simply no place to fit and adapt a classic feeder, not only perpendicular to the shore, but also along it. Therefore, to catch large roach on such a small river, it is better to use various donks and modifications of donks with the application to be called a feeder.
These types of donks are presented in the photographs, and it is these tackles that have shown themselves to be the best in catching roach on a small river. They are compact and work very sensitively. One feeder bottom is made from a Chinese telescopic spinning rod, where the thin tip has been removed and instead of a quiver tip, a guard made of piano wire with a spinning “tulip” at the end is installed ( read more about manufacturing here ). As practice has shown, such a pseudo feeder reacts sensitively to any bite and at the same time allows you to throw a feeder of any weight, that is, the versatility of the gear is obvious. And spare rods and replaceable quivertip tips are not required here.
Another type of rod is even more compact and is suitable for fishing in difficult places where it is impossible to swing a long rod to cast. This tackle is made from a side rod, and the length of such a short feeder is just over a meter. At the same time, the tackle is fully functional and allows you to throw the feeder at a distance of up to twenty meters or more, which is quite enough for a small river and even with a reserve ( how to make a feeder from an onboard fishing rod ). But such a rod must be attached to a stand or to a peg stuck into the shore, otherwise a passing carp can easily drag the tackle into the water. And in many small, but deep and clean rivers, carp have taken root well and often destroy the gear of floaters and bottom fish that are waiting for roach. And the carp reach such a size that they often don’t even seem to notice that they are hooked on a roach. And they just move on. And at the angler on the shore, the bell on the guard is raised, the rod shakes, as if it had been kicked by a boot, and at the end of the braided cord there is only a feeder dangling without leashes or hooks.
Technique for catching roach using a float match rod
Catching roach with a float rod using a match rod always starts with bait. Balls with bait are thrown using a slingshot. You need to start fishing by studying the bottom of the reservoir; for this, a special depth gauge is used.
Roach requires constant feeding; in order to keep it in the fishing area, feed the mixture in small portions, otherwise you can overfeed the roach and it will leave.
The tackle is cast at a short distance from the bait site, as a loud splash can scare the roach. Match tackle allows you to make long casts. After casting the float, close the handle on the reel and recess the line with the tip of the rod. Keep the line taut.
Roach biting in spring
With the onset of spring, ice begins to melt on reservoirs, and from the first days of March, in many regions fishing begins on the last ice. During this period, the basis of the roach's food base is animal organisms. Therefore, fishing for roach in March from the ice is carried out using jigs with attached bait. Bloodworms, maggots and worms are used as replanting. If you can get a caddis larva, it will be an excellent bait in early spring. A caddisfly larva at the bottom of a reservoir is a good sign of the presence of roach. When fishing on the last ice, you can count on the fish being able to bite on the prepared fishing dough.
After the water warms up above 10 degrees, roach spawning begins, which is preceded by a pre-spawning feast. This is the best time for effective roach fishing. During this period, the fish actively moves around the reservoir, so to keep it in the fishing spot, you should use roach bait. An excellent roach bite in the spring is observed on bait of animal origin.
Catching roach with a plug rod
Rod. The length of the plug rod depends on the fishing location. The choice of length will depend on where the roach is located. The optimal length is considered to be 9-10 meters. Subsequently, this length can be increased.
Line and leash. Monofilament with a diameter of 0.1-0.12 mm is used as the main fishing line. The diameter of the leash is usually 0.08-0.1 mm. It is better to use a rubber shock absorber that is not too thick - about 0.8 mm.
Hooks. The hooks used are small, made of thin wire, approximately No. 18-20.
Float. For fishing with a plug rod, fairly light equipment and floats with a small carrying capacity from 0.5 grams for still water to 6 grams for current are usually used. For fishing with a plug rod in the current, special flat floats are used.
Loading. The load is selected for fishing conditions in the same way as in other types of float fishing. The lightest sinker is usually placed on the leash as a catch, the remaining pellets are distributed higher on the main line at a distance of 10-15 centimeters from each other.
Bait for roach
Roach responds well to bait, which will require a fair amount for fishing, since its purpose is not only to attract fish to the fishing spot, but also to keep it in one place for a long time.
Naturally, the components of bait differ greatly from each other depending on the season, water and air temperature, current strength and other factors.
- In spring, bait components must be as small as possible so that the fish cannot eat them. You can add finely chopped worms, maggots, and bloodworms to the bait, the presence of which will help keep the school of fish in one place.
- In summer, bait may contain large fractions. With the onset of heat and warming up of the water, a lot of bait will be required, since the roach does not suffer from a lack of nutrition during this period and it becomes more difficult to keep it in a certain area.
- In winter, bait is used very rarely and exclusively in reservoirs with a current, since in stagnant water it can begin to sour at the bottom, scaring the fish away from the fishing spot. Typically, fishermen use ground crackers, milk powder, and special commercial baits for cold water. In addition to bait, it is recommended to periodically add small portions of food bloodworms or maggots into the hole.
Baits for catching roach on a float rod
The choice of bait depends on the fishing season. In the summer, the roach prefers plant baits, and in the spring-autumn period, when the roach is about to spawn or prepare for wintering, it chooses bait of animal origin.
Of the plant baits, the most catchy ones are:
- chattel (semolina);
- dough;
- bread;
- pearl barley;
- corn.
And from animals:
- maggot;
- worm;
- bloodworm.
When baiting the bait, it is best to cover the tip of the hook. This is more likely to improve the roach's bite.
When to catch roach
Roach fishing lasts all year round. She does not lose her activity even in winter. And fishing for it in open water begins immediately after the ice begins to melt. Gradually, as the water warms up, the roach begins to prepare for spawning, its appetite begins to grow and soon develops into a glutton. This period is the best time for roach fishing. Catching roach in the spring is notable for the fact that the fish stops looking closely and picking at the bait and becomes less careful. This occurs approximately at the end of May-beginning of June. Also, having been a little sick after spawning, she will again begin to eat intensively, restoring her strength after spawning. The periods before and after spawning are the most favorable for catching roach.
It is best to catch roach in the spring , when its post- and pre-spawning feast passes. But this does not mean that it is very difficult to catch it in the summer. In order to successfully catch roach in both summer and spring, it is necessary to take into account the fact that roach becomes more cautious and more demanding of bait.
In order to satisfy the whims of the roach and provide yourself with a catch, you should now take a more careful approach to the gear. It is necessary to use a thinner line and a smaller hook. A fishing line that is too noticeable, as well as a hook made of thick wire, can have a detrimental effect on the number of roach bites, especially on specimens of decent size, which may not approach the bait at all, suspecting something is wrong.
Roaches are just as picky in the fall. Starting to move to deeper places before winter frosts, she is also wary of rough gear, and you also need to guess with the bait. We’ll talk about what’s best for catching roach and how it depends on the season a little later.
Bait for catching roach on a float rod
Catching roach with a float rod also requires the use of bait. It is important to lure a flock of roaches to one place and after that you can start fishing. The composition of the bait mixture, as well as bait, varies depending on the fishing season. In the warm season, bait with a large number of plant components is used, but in the cold season, a mixture with protein food is popular.
The same goes for flavoring. Its quantity varies depending on the water temperature.
The amount of bait depends on the reservoir and fishing conditions. In strong currents, use large balls once every 10-15 minutes, and in calm water use 2-3 small balls, throwing once every 25-35 minutes.
Since roaches have very delicate lips, when removing the hook, use an extractor to avoid damaging them.
Starter feeding is used if you are aiming to catch large roach. According to consistency, in warm weather we use loose complementary food, in cold weather it is denser. You need to add soil and clay to the bait. The mixture must be stirred using a bowl from a specific reservoir. It is important to keep the fish in one place; if you overfeed it, it will simply leave.
When purchasing a ready-made mixture, pay attention to the fishing season and type of fish. This information is indicated on the packaging.
Do you need bait to catch roach?
People often ask: is it necessary to feed roaches while fishing? It’s not at all necessary - if you come across a school of feeding roach, you can successfully fish without bait. But in all cases, catching roach using bait is much more effective. In the summer, experienced fishermen use various oil cakes (hemp or sunflower oil cakes are especially effective), porridges, boiled or steamed cereals, and slightly undercooked potatoes as bait. The addition of roasted and crushed sunflower or hemp seeds to such baits has proven itself to be excellent. As the water temperature drops, the roach's menu changes - it begins to switch to protein-rich animal food. At this time, crushed worms, maggots, bloodworms, chopped chicken giblets or boiled shrimp should be added to the bait.
It is important to consider the following - when planning to catch roach, do not add “dusty”, light components to the bait. By doing this, at a minimum, you will save yourself from bites from annoying small fish: bleak, small sabrefish and bream.
How to spot a bite
The roach has acquired the title of capricious fish. A small roach tries the bait piece by piece, biting off small pieces. At the same time, it can be very difficult to notice the movements of the float. You might think that it is the wind or the current that is pushing the float.
Let's note 3 options for possible roach bite:
- when the float rises a little;
- when the float twitches frequently;
- when the float began to move to the side.
If you notice such changes in the behavior of the float, you need to immediately hook it.
How to choose a fishing spot
Roaches can be found in rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs, ponds, and abandoned quarries.
Smaller individuals prefer small rivers with weak currents. A good and accessible food supply and an influx of fresh water increase the likelihood of encountering a particularly large specimen.
In a school consisting of small roach, most often there are no more than two large individuals, or even one. The behavior and habits of this fish depend on the reservoir and the presence of predatory fish in it.
It is better to look for roach in holes or in those areas of the reservoir where the depth differs from usual by 50-60 centimeters.
In hot weather, you can catch a good specimen in reed thickets or in places where there is shade from overhanging trees.
Although roaches inhabit reservoirs with different bottoms, the largest individuals prefer sand or gravel; they try to ignore places with muddy bottoms.
What to cook from roach
This wonderful fish can be dried, salted, dried, smoked, stewed, fried and boiled. Unpretentious to store, roach has more than once saved people from hunger during hard times. There was even a monument erected to Voble in Astrakhan. Roach meat contains 19% protein, 0.4% fat and 0% carbohydrates. Roach protein is absorbed by the human body much better than beef protein. Low fat content and complete absence of carbohydrates allow this fish to be used in the diet of people suffering from diabetes or obesity. Roach contains large quantities of vitamins A, C, B1, B2, PP and E.
If catching roach in the spring brings results, it’s time to prepare the trophy at home or learn how to prepare it in the field.
It is also rich in various macro- and microelements: nickel, chlorine, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium, molybdenum, fluorine. Just 100 g of roach meat can meet a third of an adult’s needs for vitamins PP and A, as well as completely cover the need for chromium. Roach is considered a unique fish in culinary terms, however, if certain rules are followed, even the most demanding connoisseurs of good cuisine will like it. The main disadvantage of roach is the incredible number of small bones. And the easiest way to deal with this is to marinate the fish. The acid will soften the seeds and after frying they will be invisible. Roach often tastes bitter in the ear. The culprit of this bitterness is her eyeballs, which need to be removed. When salted and dried, roach turns into the roach adored by our people. For its preparation, the best fish is one that has not yet spawned, that is, with caviar. And finally, one more interesting fact: roach caviar, it turns out, is widely used in cosmetology. It contains substances that improve the condition of skin and hair.