Post by Daz on Feb 3, 2013 5:45:19 GMT
Vital Statistics:
Scientific Name: Rutilus rutilus
Maximum Weight: 4lb
Average Weight: 4-6oz
Maximum Length: 14inches
Life Span: 10-15years
Roach Characteristics:
It is easy to mistake a roach for a rudd. Both have large scales and greenish backs. But the flanks of the roach are silvery whereas the rudd has a golden sheen. The upper lip protrudes slightly, the sign of a bottom feeder. The eyes are red and all the fins are a red-orange.
Where to find Roach:
Roach can be found almost anywhere. They thrive in each type of coarse fishing water - from still waters such as lakes and gravel pits to canals to fast moving streams and rivers.
Feeding Habits:
Roach are basically a bottom feeding species but there are occasions when the roach will rise, sometimes to the surface, in search of food. This reversal of normal feeding pattern only occurs during hot weather when the oxygen content of the water is low or when the surface of the water is think with spent insect life, upon which the roach can feed. The smaller roach are more prone to this surface feeding than big fish.
Roach live for the most part on various types of insects: caddis grub, nymphs, and larvae being the mainstay of their diet. Roach will also eat worms, weed and bread. They will also eat small water snails and tiny swan mussels. Very big roach occasionally show a predatory streak, and more than one 2lb roach has been taken before on a minnow intended for perch. Many fish show these cannibalistic tendencies, usually just after the spawning period when the water is thick with small fry.
Roach Baits:
Maggot is regarded as the most widely used of all coarse fishing baits and one of the most popular of all roach baits. The roach is predominantly an insect eater and shows marked preference for caddis grubs, which maggots closely resemble. Loose maggots can be used to groundbait a swim.
Few anglers realise that a lively redworm or brandling is one of the finest of all roach baits. Roach are very fond of bread based baits and will feed readily on crust, flake or paste. Hempseed is also a deadly bait, so deadly in fact that some fisheries and angling societies banned its use on their waters. When smaller fish are feeding well on maggots, it is often worth trying sweetcorn to get in amongst the bigger roach. Cheese, cheese paste and luncheon meat are effective roach baits.
baits:
Maggot best all round bait - but only for small stuff. Sweetcorn, luncheon meat or break flake/paste/punch for the better quality roach.
How to catch Roach - Techniques at a glance:
Float fishing, ledging and freelining,and fly fishing
Scientific Name: Rutilus rutilus
Maximum Weight: 4lb
Average Weight: 4-6oz
Maximum Length: 14inches
Life Span: 10-15years
Roach Characteristics:
It is easy to mistake a roach for a rudd. Both have large scales and greenish backs. But the flanks of the roach are silvery whereas the rudd has a golden sheen. The upper lip protrudes slightly, the sign of a bottom feeder. The eyes are red and all the fins are a red-orange.
Where to find Roach:
Roach can be found almost anywhere. They thrive in each type of coarse fishing water - from still waters such as lakes and gravel pits to canals to fast moving streams and rivers.
Feeding Habits:
Roach are basically a bottom feeding species but there are occasions when the roach will rise, sometimes to the surface, in search of food. This reversal of normal feeding pattern only occurs during hot weather when the oxygen content of the water is low or when the surface of the water is think with spent insect life, upon which the roach can feed. The smaller roach are more prone to this surface feeding than big fish.
Roach live for the most part on various types of insects: caddis grub, nymphs, and larvae being the mainstay of their diet. Roach will also eat worms, weed and bread. They will also eat small water snails and tiny swan mussels. Very big roach occasionally show a predatory streak, and more than one 2lb roach has been taken before on a minnow intended for perch. Many fish show these cannibalistic tendencies, usually just after the spawning period when the water is thick with small fry.
Roach Baits:
Maggot is regarded as the most widely used of all coarse fishing baits and one of the most popular of all roach baits. The roach is predominantly an insect eater and shows marked preference for caddis grubs, which maggots closely resemble. Loose maggots can be used to groundbait a swim.
Few anglers realise that a lively redworm or brandling is one of the finest of all roach baits. Roach are very fond of bread based baits and will feed readily on crust, flake or paste. Hempseed is also a deadly bait, so deadly in fact that some fisheries and angling societies banned its use on their waters. When smaller fish are feeding well on maggots, it is often worth trying sweetcorn to get in amongst the bigger roach. Cheese, cheese paste and luncheon meat are effective roach baits.
baits:
Maggot best all round bait - but only for small stuff. Sweetcorn, luncheon meat or break flake/paste/punch for the better quality roach.
How to catch Roach - Techniques at a glance:
Float fishing, ledging and freelining,and fly fishing
