Roger's Angling Pages
The Roach Rutilus rutilus		Carp family Cyprinidae

The Roach is widespread throughout Europe, except for the region south of the Alps, and is one of the most numerous fishes in slow-flowing or still, muddy waters. Its confusion with the Rudd is easily eliminated as the Roach's dorsal fin is situated in front of the ventral fins, the iris is deep red and the ventral, anal and caudal fins are yellow to light red. The mouth is relatively small and is centrally situated, whibt its pharyngeal teeth are in a single row. In some land-locked waters without predators it can multiply so fast that its growth becomes stunted and at the same time intensifies the competition with other more valuable species in the quest for food. It usually reaches a length of 20 to 30 cm, weighs barely 1 lb, rising to 2 lb in exceptional cases, and lives for up to 15 years.

Breeding takes place from the end of April to the beginning of May depending on the water temperature. The female lays spawn on water-covered plants and the roots of trees. In old darns without a layer of vegetation it even spawns on the rock bed or gravel deposits near the shore. According to her size the female sheds several thousand pink eggs, about 1 mm in size. When breeding, it gathers in large shoals so that the spawning grounds are usually covered with whole 'carpets' of spawn. Initially the Roach lives on plankton, but later graduates to insect larvae and insects swimming on the surface.

From an angling standpoint it is a very significant and highly prized fish in various club competitions. It very nearly has a perpetual appetite and so it can be caught nearly all the year round, within, of course, limits specified by local regulations. It is possible to catch it even when the water is frozen. Groundbait is always very helpful and the best is made from bread crumbs or wet bread. In cold weather, bait such as maggots or worms is more effective, while in summer bait such as bread paste or hemp seed is better.

It pays dividends to change the bait. For best results, hollow glass or cane rods with a fine tip, a very thin line of about 1 lb breaking strain, and a small float are used. The hook is very fine and the float always very small and sensitive. Real experts in the field fish for Roach with only one rod and try to keep the bait moving all the time. Baiting, hooking, reeling in and rebaiting are carried out with a regular almost monotonous rhythm. It is possible to buy bait pastes with additional ingredients in angling shops. Anglers have developed their own secrets of how to prepare colourful and scented pastes. Today the Roach is a fish which has forced anglers to develop sophisticated techniques as no other species before. In eastern and north-eastern Europe it is one of the most popular angling fishes and is even caught under the ice.