PŁOĆ
Where to look for roaches?
It occurs basically in all watercourses from the land of grayling to the land of bream, but most of all it finds suitable conditions in warmer waters with a calmer current, in the lower sections of the rivers. The requirements for environmental conditions are modest. Mainly inhabits waters with a weak current, deeper and with a hard bottom. He likes to stay on the border of the zone of flowing and stagnant water, and at the same time on the border of depths and shallows and in pits washed out in the channels. In warm, summer days are drawn to the shallows with the current; at high water levels, especially during a flood, when the river flows out of the bed, stays in flooded areas, even if it's not too deep there. In low-temperature water, the roach moves to deeper positions, which are usually located far offshore in dam reservoirs. Feeding and catching roaches at positions approx 30 meters from the shore requires special skills and the mastery of various fishing methods. The largest roach weighing approx 0,5 kg are mostly caught in dam reservoirs. In Poland, roach is the most numerous and the most common fish both in rivers, as well as in dam reservoirs and lakes. It usually occurs en masse in whitefish lakes, bream, zander and tench and pike. It is missing in the little ones, shallow, aspirated lakes. The roach has great growth potential, because record specimens (mostly caught in lakes) reach a mass much greater than 1 kg.
When to fish for roach?
Roach takes all year round, from early June until autumn, except during the summer heat. In the winter months, they take especially larger roaches. In winter, it feeds around noon (warming and snow blizzard are beneficial), at other times throughout the day. During the thaw and snowfall with rain, the roach does not take up. The actual season starts in October and lasts until March.
Equipment for roach fishing.
It does not require any special equipment, however, it must be very sensitive: long, sensitive rod (enabling the bait to be guided and set to hook firmly), vein 0,15 — 0,20 mm, Cristal hooks no 8 (with short shaft), in winter, a little hook no 16, small, carefully balanced float. In flowing water, a dry and wet fly can be used; good results are obtained with the use of nymphs. Mormyshka is good in still water.
Methods of catching roach.
A cross-flow with a balanced float and bait led at the bottom, or, depending on the situation, just above the bottom or on 2/3 depth. You can fish for a starter without a float, if the roaches stay further from the shore. By the method of raising and lowering the bait without a float, you fish in overgrown places or there, where there are a lot of snags. Vertical spinning with a marmoset and fly fishing with nymphs can be used. Low temperature fishing with a float has no chance of success, because the roaches are then very far from the shore. The basis of your success is limited, but systematic baiting according to the principle - not enough, but often. The decisive factor in the middle of the roach is quick bite recognition and a timely bite. The sensitive bite indicator is essential here. Suspended wire floats with a sliding load work best.
Lures on the fence.
The roach is an omnivorous fish and is therefore often overeated in the summer, if only he finds food in abundance. In warmer periods, we use baits of plant origin, in colder ones, and even frosty ones - animal lures. At the beginning and end of the season (including the winter months) the slurries are good, insect larvae, little leeches, and even bits of worms or white worms”. In the middle of the season (until the water cools down for the first time) we use boiled dough, bread or other bakery products, potatoes, pea, cereals, rice, Oatmeal; groats and cooked hemp seeds are very effective. On the hook no 1 we punch two white worms”, a and nr 6 - only one. The point of the hook may protrude from this bait.
Other comments.
The roach is very skittish, distrustful and takes very carefully. It grows on average up to 15-25 cm and weighs approx 0,25 kg. Good roach fishing results can be achieved with this float positioning, so that the bait touches the bottom or is suspended just above it. This requires careful measurement of the depth of the fishery. During the fishing itself, it is good to move the bait from time to time, to get the attention of the roaches. The line should be constantly taut, to jam immediately when the float is started. Taking roach often looks similar to catching the bait with a hindrance. If we don't have bites at our stand for a long time, we should change the depth or the bait. If we don't get bites after that either, we change position. Roach is wanted, favorite sport fish, especially thanks to this, that it is still very numerous, and this is also why, that it can be fished all year round. Its popularity is also based on this, that its catch requires a lot of experience, patience and good reflexes. Roach is similar in appearance to a rudd. In Poland, roach is a common prey for both professional fishermen, and anglers. Its protective dimension is 15 cm. There is no protective period and its catches are not limited in terms of quantity.