Roach
Roach - detailing one of the UK's most prolific species, with info on habitat, breeding, feeding & diet and fishing tactics
Roach
rutilus rutilus
Cyprinidae
Appearance
The roach is a relatively small fish with silver/grey scales with a pearlescent sheen. The eye is an orange/golden red colour - which is said to give the latin name rutilus rutilus - positioned at the front of the head with a good feild of vision. The pelvic and anal fins vary in colour from burnt red through orange and pink. A pretty fish, the roach is considerably longer than it is deep. Roach are a shoal fish often said to group by age. The species has been landed to over 4lb but this size fish is extremely rare, with the average being between 4oz and 1lb 8oz depending on the fishery.
Diet & Feeding
Roach feed on small food objects and can be described as omnivorous - taking from a wide larder, such as filamentous algae, daphnia (water fleas), water snails, small molluscs, silk weed, bloodworm and other insect larvae.
Bread intended for ducks also provides a dietry supplement, as does anglers bait intended for larger species, such as pellets.
Habitat
Roach are found in every type of waterway, from rivers and canals, to ponds and natural lakes, all across the UK. Roach are found often in great numbers, breeding successfully in even poor water conditions, as has been observed in the Trent when it was polluted by power stations and factories.
Roach are low on the foodchain, being predated on by fish-eating birds, pike, zander, perch, chub and even humans. As such, they are more prone to feeding in low light conditions when they probably feel more comfortable to feed.
Reproduction
Male roach reach maturity at between two to four years, displaying white tubercules at breeding time. Females reach their maturity a year later. Spawning takes place during april-june when the water temperature is between 12-14℃. The female releases 50,000 to 100,000 eggs which are deposited onto plant matter such as tree roots or other vegetaion, while being fertilized by the male.
Fishing
Roach are caught on a variety of tactics, including float fishing, the pole, legering and feeder fishing. Light lines are adequate for this small species, from 1.5lb to 4lb depending on the size of fish present. Hook sizes range from 10 to 24 depending on bait.Successful baits include maggots, squats and pinkies; hemp & tares, bread, worms etc. depending upon the target fish size. With the advent of carp baits, small pellets and even boilies have been known to produce larger than average fish.