Roach fishing in late April early May. Catching roach in April Where to catch roach in April
What is the secret of catching roach at the end of April and how to catch roach at the beginning of May. The answer is simple - in the spring, roach is found in shallow places, where the result can be affected by rough tackle, unsuitable bait, and not very careful actions of the fisherman. Therefore, experienced fishermen take the process very seriously - successful roach fishing in April depends on many factors. They select the thinnest possible tackle, prepare an appetizing bait and develop original techniques for presenting the bait.
Roach fishing in early May
At the beginning of May, a lot of roach accumulate in well-warmed, grassy, shallow bays. She swims to the bays to feast on ulcer and pike caviar and other food. The roach itself prepares for spawning in such places as well. Along with roach, bleak can also be caught near the grasses, but there is still very little of it.
- What you need to catch roach in May
Please note that in high water it is not always possible to reach fish from the shore. Sometimes the angler has to go into the water to throw the bait all the way to the edge of the grass. Here it is necessary to take into account the requirements to fish exclusively from the shore during the period of spawning ban! You will also need to take with you: a rod stand, a fish tank with a pin, a bait stand, a bag for bait, a plastic bag for packing your catch, a hand towel and a box for spare tackle.
Tackle for catching roach in May
- rod for catching roach in May
The longer the rod for catching roach in April - May, the less often you will have to go into the water. If you have a fishing rod measuring 7 - 9 meters, the option of going into the water may completely disappear.
- equipment for catching roach in April - May
Equipment for catching roach in May is selected depending on fishing conditions. If you fish along the edge of the grass, you can throw the bait over your head. In this case, the length of the equipment should be on average 15 centimeters shorter than the rod. Casting into small windows must be very accurate; for this, the equipment will have to be shortened by the length of one or two lower legs.
- float and sinkers for catching roach in May
Since roach fishing in April - May occurs at a relatively shallow depth (0.5 - 1.5 meters), light floats and sinkers are used, but if a strong wind blows towards or from the side, a medium float with an appropriate load is used. The float is immersed in such a way that only the antenna is visible from the water.
- fishing line for roach in May
For equipment, a fishing line with a diameter of 0.12 - 0.13 mm is used, and a leash with a diameter of 0.10 - 0.12 mm. The length of the leash should be 10-15 centimeters, hooks No. 2.5-3.5. In stock you need to have several similar equipment with light and medium floats. After all, fishing in the grass is fraught with snags, entanglement and breakage of the gear.
Where to catch roach in April - May
When choosing a place for spring roach fishing, you need to notice one of the areas and explore all the approaches to it. If it is muddy, you need to find a board or driftwood on the shore and press it well into the ground or press it with a stone. If this is not done, your feet will sink into the ground and water may soon flow into your boots.
Places for catching roach are usually chosen such that the float is beaten by the wind to the edge of the grass, and the bait is placed so that it pulls the roach away from the thickets, as it was written above, fishing at the edge is fraught with multiple snags. When fishing in windows, the wind should blow from the back or from the side and blow the bait towards the far or side edge of the window. It is preferable to choose windows with space; in small windows there is a lot of algae that the tackle will cling to.
Baiting roach in spring and fishing techniques
After choosing a fishing spot, you need to equip the fishing rod and explore the fishing area using a depth gauge. If the depth and purity of the water are suitable, you need to throw several balls of bait into the fishing zone. Groundbait is usually made from small bloodworms, which are mixed with ground breadcrumbs. The mixture should be slightly moist but not sticky. When hitting the water, the balls should break and then slowly sink.
When fishing for roach, the float should always move in the fishing zone. In calm weather, this movement is carried out by pulling the rod towards you or to the side. In the presence of wind, the windage of the fishing line is additionally used. During the fishing process, the working place is determined, the area where the bite is as good as possible and there are no snags. This is where the bait needs to be concentrated. The fish can rise closer to the surface or, conversely, sink to the very bottom for bait. Therefore, if the bite decreases, you need to vary the length of the descent.
To effectively catch spring roach, first of all, you need to choose the right body of water. Information coming from familiar fishermen helps a lot in this, because, unlike early spring fishing, when the bite lasts only two or three days, now the main thing is that the roach begins to bite more or less actively. Therefore, if there is information, then it makes sense to follow it immediately. The good news is that the bite can be erratic or intermittent depending on the weather throughout the day, but the roach can quickly move to another area.
Sometimes roach begins to be caught at sunrise, if the night was warm, sometimes closer to lunch, when the cooled water warms up, and sometimes only in the evening. The roach bite all year round is time-dependent not only on air temperature and atmospheric pressure, but also on the direction and strength of the wind. This, of course, is not one of the main weather links to the bite, but it is usually overlooked. It is not the geographic direction of the wind that is important, but the direction of the wind in relation to the fishing location.
When the wind is blowing at your back or there is a calm throughout the entire reservoir, it is better not to fish with a fly float rod, since there will be no bite. But as soon as the wind blows from any side, or even better - in the face, then roach, perch, bream, and crucian carp begin to be caught literally right at the shore. On rivers, in this regard, it is somewhat different, since here fish are caught in places without rough water, but still, even here, in “calm” conditions, they are more careful. It is characteristic that the fish does not leave calm places, but simply stops biting.
This is confirmed by the fact that as soon as calm gives way to rough water, the bite resumes with the first gusts of wind, so you should not leave the chosen and baited place if there are signs of an upcoming change in weather. With the onset of calm on the water, it makes sense to change the equipment to the thinnest and lightest possible, so that the most careful touches of the fish can be seen. On small ponds and lakes, where the water surface is almost always closed to the wind, roach is best caught from 16:00 to 19:00. Therefore, having chosen a body of water, you need to correctly determine both the time and the place of fishing.
In addition to the direction of the wind and possible changes in its strength and direction, other factors must be taken into account. The most important of them is the depth of fishing. If the reservoir is deep, with weak mixing of the water layers, then you need to look for roaches in the shallowest places with warm water.
Now the roach not only visits the thicket of underwater thickets, but also chooses more or less open places, but in close proximity to vegetation. But this statement is more accurate for reservoirs with undeveloped vegetation. Where the reservoir is heavily overgrown, the roach gradually moves and occupies increasingly open areas. Most often it can be found below the upper shore edge, but before the first deep edge. It is very good if the soil in such places is relatively hard. For example, it is good if the bottom is rocky, as is often observed near a dam on a reservoir, or clayey.
Roaches very willingly occupy “strong” places, perhaps finding caddis flies and other food on snags. In rivers and large flowing reservoirs, it is very likely to find large and medium-sized roaches on underwater hills, which the zebra mussel has chosen for its existence. In deep sand pits, roaches can often be found in the coastal zone near trees and bushes.
The chosen place almost without fail needs to be fed. While the water is not yet warm enough, the roach reacts relatively slowly to any bait. Often the time between feeding and the start of bites can reach one and a half or even two hours. It is also characteristic that additional feeding during the fishing process can lead to a complete cessation of biting. Therefore, a large amount of bait will not be needed now. The best and simplest option is to use a kilogram of the base mixture, diluted three times with soil, with the addition of a large handful of small or large bloodworms. Before fishing, you must immediately send five or six balls of bait into the water of such density that the lump as a whole reaches the bottom. With this feeding, the problem with small bleak is partially solved. If the bleak is not very annoying, then the roach’s bite can be easily activated by tossing small portions of maggots.
At this time of year, roaches love maggots the most.
At this time of year, you can add cocoa powder, thyme and dill to the bait, and even then not always, which depends on the reaction of the fish in a particular body of water.
Nowadays, roach fishing is one of the most difficult from a technical point of view. This is due both to the insufficient activity of the roach itself and to the activity of its competitor, the bleak.
On the one hand, in order for the bait to reach the roach safely and not be intercepted by the bleak, it would be necessary to use relatively heavy equipment with the load concentrated in the lower part, closer to the hook. But, on the other hand, heavy inertial equipment will inevitably alert the roach and will be insensitive to the careful touches of the fish. You have to put up with the presence and interference from the bleak and resort to using ultra-light and sensitive equipment, and this despite the fact that the bleak sometimes literally prevents you from catching. Very often, an angler catches small bleak and does not suspect that both roach and bream are below.
The weight of the equipment is chosen to be minimal, but such that it is possible to control the equipment. For a fly rod it usually does not exceed one and a half grams, and for a plug it is from 0.2 to 0.6 g. It is better to take fishing line up to 0.1 mm thick. Of course, if you come across a large roach or the bream that often accompanies it at this time of year, you will have to show skill, but it is justified.
Since fishing occurs from shallow depths, it is better to use drop-shaped floats if the water is relatively rough, or long and thin if the water is calm. It is advisable to use the smallest possible hooks: for bloodworms, maggots, “crust” of bread No. 20-24, for a piece of worm, caddis fly and “rolled oats” No. 16-18.
As for baits, it is better to take with you bloodworms, maggots, worms, dough, bread, and rolled oats. Don’t forget about such baits that fishermen usually forget about during the winter - these are caddis flies and steamed hemp grains and pearl barley. As in the fall, the general rule now applies is that a small bait is better than a bunch of bloodworms on a hook, which, however, does not apply to caddis flies. It is preferable to choose a larger size caddisfly. On some paid reservoirs, roach in open water throughout the season prefers canned corn, to which fishermen have accustomed them.
How to neutralize annoying bleak
When supplementing feeding, before throwing in the next portion of bait for the roach, you need to throw aside several portions of a light and low-calorie mixture.
Such bait, which is prepared separately, distracts the bleak from the fishing point, although if there is a lot of active bleak, then this technique may not work. Then all that remains is to change the bait on the hook and hope that the roach will take it.
Catching roach in April has its own specific subtleties that every avid angler must know. There is no point in talking too much about roach fishing this month, since all the main points of roach fishing are described in detail. In this article, we will consider only the most basic nuances of catching roach at this time of year and learn how to catch roach, what bait to use and where to look for it in April.
April is a very favorable month for roach fishing. The thing is that this month the roach spawns, which means pre-spawning glutton. It is in April, with the full opening of reservoirs and the removal of ice from them, that the roach prepares for the continuation of its kind, before which it should have a good meal and gain strength.
If the spring is long and winter does not want to retreat, then the roach’s bite may be unstable and sluggish, but if the water has managed to warm up to a temperature of more than 7 ° C, the roach begins to feed very actively, greedily grabbing the bait.
So, in April, the fisherman has the opportunity to catch a large number of this fish, and the main bonus is, of course, roach caviar, which is especially tasty when drying roach.
Where to look for roach in April
The roach is a ubiquitous fish, it lives both in rivers and in standing reservoirs, and the roach can be one of the most numerous species of a reservoir. But this does not mean that it will be caught anywhere in the reservoir and at any depth. In order to successfully catch roach, you need to know its habits and behavioral characteristics depending on the season.
In April, roaches gather in dense schools off the coast, in shallow waters where the depth does not exceed 2 meters. The optimal place for catching roach during this period is in areas of reservoirs near reeds or other aquatic vegetation, where the depth does not reach 1 meter.
This behavior of roach in April and its accumulation in coastal zones with minimal depth is due to the fact that after winter the fish are attracted to warm water, and the water heats up most quickly in the shallows, under the rays of the spring sun.
Another reason for the accumulation of roach in such areas is the eggs of other fish that spawned in May, which the roach successfully eats. Fish eggs contain a lot of energy, which is so necessary for roach before their own spawning.
If roach fishing in April takes place on the river, then there is no point in looking for it in the current. The roach goes to sections of the river where the current is absent or practically not felt and, just like on lakes, does not sink to a depth of more than 2 meters. In general, again in places where the water is warmest.
What to fish with
During the roach’s feeding in April, it takes almost any bait very well, but still, as you should know if you are a frequent visitor to the Rybkolov website, in the spring fish prefer bait of animal origin, and roach is no exception. The simplest and most catchy options:
- muckworm;
- maggot;
- bloodworm.
One of these three baits will be quite enough to catch roach, but in order to find out what exactly the roach bites best on today and on this particular body of water, you always need to have several bait options, and ideally these are all 3 listed.
You can also try catching caddis flies, dragonfly larvae, bread and dough. On some reservoirs, roaches readily take such baits, but in any case, the 3 baits listed above are beyond competition.
Tackle
As for the gear, although the roach very greedily takes bait in April before its spawning, coarse gear can still significantly reduce the number. If roach in your pond rarely comes across more than 300 grams of weight, then using a fishing line thicker than 0.1 mm is unnecessary. If you still come across fairly large specimens of 0.5 kg or more, then you can load a fishing line of 0.14-0.16 mm, but not thicker than 0.2 mm.
During spawning, do not forget about the ban on fishing with gear with more than one hook. This is quite enough to catch the greedy April roach. It is advisable to use a sensitive float in the shape of a goose feather, a leash of no more than 15 cm and small hooks; according to the domestic numbering, No. 4-5 is enough, and the use of smaller hooks will allow you to catch even the smallest roach or bleak. Although these fish are caught with great success using large hooks.
Lure
No matter what they say, bait has always had a flawless effect on the roach, activating its bite and attracting entire flocks to the fishing spot. In April, the action of the bait can only be hampered by the movement of the roach to the spawning site if the fishing takes place on the river, but all the same, the bait will delay the school of roach for some time, giving the angler the opportunity to catch a dozen or two specimens.
When it comes to bait, roaches are absolutely not picky and the simplest ingredients will do. The following can be used as bait for roaches in April:
- bread;
- bran;
- halva;
- makukha;
- any porridge.
Store-bought bait works great, and no matter what kind of fish it is designed for, roaches eat bait for any type of fish. You shouldn’t overuse bait, adding it only when the bite is fading.
So, in April you can actively catch roach for about two weeks, after which the roach goes to spawn, during which it does not bite and does not feed at all. Having rested a little after spawning, it will begin to be caught again, but now it will become more careful and picky about the bait, so the tactics for catching roach will change a little.
Video of roach fishing in April
I propose to see how deftly the man pulls one small roach after another, and the fish are quite decent in size. Here it is - a pre-spawning glutton!
Roach is a very common fish in our waters. Under favorable conditions, it can grow to impressive sizes, although a roach of three hundred grams is already considered quite large. Roach can be caught throughout the year, but in this article we will look at the features of roach fishing in April.
Roach spawning.
April is a full-fledged spring, with warm and fine days. The sun gradually warms the water, forcing underwater inhabitants to begin to lead an active lifestyle. Roach in this case is no exception. The main action for this fish, namely spawning, occurs precisely in April. As soon as the water warms up to ten degrees, schools of roach rush to spawn. In rivers this happens closer to the mouth, in bays among flooded vegetation or in backwaters. In lakes, spawning occurs mainly in the coastal zone; the fish lays its eggs on the roots of bushes or old grass. This is why April is important for the fisherman; you cannot miss the period of active biting of this fish before spawning.
Where do roaches stay?
In April, after the rivers and lakes have completely opened up, you need to look for roach in the coastal zone, which is where the water warms up faster. Also good places where fishing is most promising are quiet places near bays with weak currents. The depth at which you should expect a bite should be up to 2 meters; the roach does not go deeper at this time. April roach In April, active roach fishing begins as soon as the water warms up to 7-8 degrees, and lasts for two weeks. At this time, the roach bites confidently, the bites are decisive and clear. The bite subsides only just before spawning and stops completely during it. Fishing resumes ten days after the end of spawning, but not a trace remains of the former confidence; the fish begins to be picky in choosing bait.
What to use to catch April roach?
Fishing for roach in April can be most successful if you have the minimum required baits in your arsenal. This minimum consists of maggots, bloodworms, dung worms, dough and a loaf. With these attachments, you will not be left without a catch. We should not forget about such baits as dragonfly larva and caddis fly; sometimes they become the most catchy, attracting large roach.
Using bait.
We figured out the bait, but if we talk about bait, then there are some nuances here. If fishing takes place on a river, then bait does not always bring the desired result, because during this period it can only hold the fish in the right place for a short time. The roach goes to the spawning grounds and does not stay in the same place for a long time. But after she spawns, bait will come in handy. As bait, you can use ready-made mixtures purchased at a fishing store, the main thing is not to forget to add the intended bait (bloodworm, maggot, worm, etc.) to the composition.
Tackle.
April is the time when you can successfully use all summer gear, but the most effective at this time, especially for catching roach, is float gear. Therefore, we will look at how a fly rod should be structured, which is usually used for roach fishing in April. In most cases, fishing is done with a retrieve, so you should choose a rod that is as light as possible. Its length should be within 4-6 meters with dough from 5 to 25 grams. For convenience, the rod should be equipped with a light, inertia-free, medium-sized reel. With such gear, you will be able to make long casts without any problems, while using thin fishing line.
The float should also be light with a load of no more than 1.5 grams. The shape of the float should be selected based on the fishing conditions: if there is strong excitement in the reservoir, then a drop-shaped float is suitable; in calm weather, a thin spindle-shaped float performs well. A diameter of 0.12 to 0.14 mm is suitable for the main line, and a line with a diameter of 0.08 - 0.1 mm is needed for the leash. The optimal leash length for roach fishing is from 10 to 15 cm.
Roach (popularly called Sorozhka, due to its abundance in Russian water bodies) is one of the most common fish in our rivers and reservoirs. But, despite the abundance of this fish, not all fishermen manage to unravel the secret of catching roach. And even in the spring, when, according to anglers, it is easiest to catch fish, not everyone manages to fill the fish tank.
On a float rod
Catching roach requires a certain skill and agility, especially fishing for small and medium-sized roach. A large roach takes it fairly accurately, drags and dips the float quickly, and therefore it is quite easy to catch it. As for small and medium-sized roaches, their bite is very indecisive and noticeable only with good, sharp vision.
Fishing tackle should be very light and not rough: a light long rod, thin line, a light small float and a small thin hook.
You can catch roaches with a wide variety of baits: worms, bloodworms, maggots, ant eggs, steamed grains of oats and wheat, as well as crumpled white and black bread. Moreover, some odorous substance should be added to the bread: honey, camphor, anise oil, vegetable oil - sunflower or hemp.
The bread must be crumpled as tightly as possible so that it sits firmly on the hook and is not quickly washed off with water. The last circumstance when fishing for roach is very important, since the roach always strives to pull the bait from the hook and only large specimens take the bait right away.
The most productive bait for catching roach is the greenery that grows on piles and stones. Greens are used when they are young and thin. Fishing with this bait begins in early summer - in June.
Using bait when fishing for roach gives excellent results. Bait, regularly thrown to the bottom of a fairly deep place, especially steamed wheat grains, attracts large roaches, which can be caught here at the very bottom. It is necessary to catch using selected grains of bread (wheat, rye) or feed (oats), which make up the bait.
The fish learns to boldly take the bait that is familiar to it, takes it quickly, decisively, plunging the float.
The best time for catching roach, like any other fish, is the dawn hours, cloudy and slightly windy days. It is also good to fish in the evening, towards sunset.
In general, it should be noted that roach is a very capricious fish and is not easy to catch.
We can safely say that anyone who has become accustomed to catching roach will be able to catch any other fish and will quickly comprehend all the intricacies of various fishing methods.
To the feeder
You can catch roach in the spring using both float and bottom tackle. Here, every fisherman has his own preferences. I prefer to catch roach in the spring on a feeder. Let me make a reservation right away: I do not claim to be an expert in this field. I’ll just describe my practice-tested gear.
Rod for catching roach. To catch roach in the spring, I use a 360cm long rod. In terms of action, I prefer a rod with a rather slow action. Let's leave the faster, high-graphite, and therefore more expensive rods to the athletes. My personal preference is Salmo Taifun, in my opinion, the best combination of price and quality. Test of my rod 120-140g. This test allows me to use feeders weighing from 60 to 110g.
Tackle for catching roach. As the main line I use a cord from Salmo - ø0.15. For the leash I take ø0.14 fishing line. The thickness of the leash line and its length depend on the size of the fish and its caution at the time of fishing. To select the length of the leash, I use a proven rule - if the hook of the caught fish is deep in the throat, I shorten the leash, and if the number of empty bites has increased, I lengthen the leash. In the spring, when fishing for roach in places especially frequented by fishermen, the length of the leash reaches 1 meter. I put hooks No. 12 – 14.
As for the installation of the feeder, my personal preference is a paternoster. I consider its main advantage to be the absence of unnecessary parts, and as a result, better camouflage at the bottom.
To the wiring
In the spring, before high water and after the water clears, roach likes to feed on fast and medium streams. To catch roach in small field and forest rivers, it is preferable to use a Bolognese fishing rod up to 6 m long. On rivers 25–50 m wide, despite the fact that roach prefers to stay away from rapids, it becomes necessary to use longer rods. When fishing in slow-water oxbow lakes, backwaters, and coastal waters of enclosed reservoirs, you sometimes have to use extra-long rods, 9-10 m long, since here roaches often choose places for feeding that are significantly removed from the shore.
The tactics for catching roach in fast and medium-speed currents are very different from the tactics for catching this fish in weak currents. The equipment of the fishing rod is also different. For fast and medium water we use a float with a short spherical or slightly elongated body. Moreover, the faster the flow, the closer the body of the float should be to a spherical shape. This float is more stable on the water; In addition, the roach takes the current quite sharply, and the float with a spherical body is a good signal of a bite. The body of a float for catching roach on medium-speed jets can resemble an olive, an onion or a short candle, significantly thicker at the bottom. For calm and very calm currents, you can take a foam float in the shape of a cigarette if fishing is carried out close to the shore, or a float with a short elongated body and a metal elongated keel if fishing is carried out far from the shore and at great depths. The fact is that a heavy float flies further, and this makes casting easier. In addition, when in calm water the roach reacts only to a falling bait, it is necessary to have as few weights on the line as possible, and the float with a long metal keel is already self-loading to some extent. In this regard, lightly weighted floats are suitable for long-distance fishing. They are good because they are very sensitive to the bite of roaches, which are often cautious in calm waters.
The load for fishing on fast and medium-speed jets can be concentrated, when all the sinkers are moved to one place near a short leash, and distributed, when the main sinker is placed 20–25 cm from the leash, enclosing the float by about a third, and additional pellets of the same the weights are installed on the fishing line at intervals of 5 cm. For the second option, it is better to use leashes with a length of 20 to 35 cm - then during holds the nozzle flies off more smoothly from the bottom, and this does not alarm the roach. The main line should be 0.14-0.16 mm in diameter, the leash should be 0.12-0.13 mm in diameter, and the hook should be No. 13–18. The size of the hook is selected depending on the nozzle; Since during spring fishing you often have to experiment with bait, leashes with hooks of different sizes should be easily attached to the main line through a carabiner. A small swivel at the end of the main line doesn't hurt either. Leashes should be stored on a wide, comfortable reel from which they can be easily removed. It is convenient to fix the hooks on the reel using a rubber band.
When wiring, the nozzle is placed 3-10 cm from the bottom. Holds must be done after every 2–3 m of swimming. You only need to stop the wiring for 2–4 seconds, depending on the speed of the water flow. The faster the flow, the shorter the delay. A fast flow in 1–2 seconds can lift the bait 60 cm from the bottom, and this is quite enough for it to then begin to glide attractively to the bottom. The gliding movement of the bait looks natural for the roach, since in the spring its main food is aquatic organisms crawling out of their winter shelters, which often escape into the current.
In calm waters, especially in areas near trees overhanging the water, you can successfully catch roach using a bait floating from the surface. In order to reach the habitats of large, cautious roach, on narrow rivers you have to cast to the opposite bank. For ease of casting, you can use a float in combination with the main sinker, which surrounds the float by half the body, but it must be moved at least 1/2 the distance from the float to the hook. Below the main sinker, 3-4 more pellets can be placed on the line at intervals of up to 50 cm, decreasing in the direction of the hook. The mass of pellets decreases in the same direction. Sometimes it is enough, in combination with the main sinker, to use the tiniest pellet attached near the leash. The recommended leash length for this type of fishing is 30–50 cm.
Equipment
Roach is a cautious and timid fish, so the preparation of fishing rod equipment for spring roach must be appropriate - the tackle is made as light and thin as possible.
The basis is taken with a fishing line no thicker than 0.14 mm. The main criteria when choosing a fishing line are the expected casting distance and the weight of the entire equipment.
Float
The float is selected depending on the current. Considering that fishing takes place on a weak water current, choosing a drop-shaped float will be just what you need.
Fishing for roach is carried out in the bottom layer at a depth of more than 2 meters, so we take an olive for the main load (for quick delivery of bait), and make a supplementary load from 3-5 small pellet weights located at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other.
The leash consists of a fishing line with a diameter of 0.06-0.08 mm and a thin, sharp, small hook. Choose the thinnest hooks, because you will be fishing with delicate baits, which will simply become unusable with thick hooks.
On the jig
Time to catch. The best time to catch roach is immediately after the rivers have opened up from ice. The influx of melt water, saturated with oxygen, activates the fish after winter, forcing it to move upstream, against the current. At the same time, the fish gather in large schools and actively feed. The taste of roach remains good while the water has not yet warmed up. During the heating process, the transparency of the water sharply deteriorates due to various suspensions, particles of last year's rotted algae, etc. Most of them make up the roach's diet, negating its taste value. The fish smells like mud, swamp and tastes unpleasant.
Fishing place. As a rule, any fish chooses quieter places, in holes, behind natural obstacles with a reverse current. It will not be difficult for an experienced fisherman to identify two or three promising places on the river for fishing. Considering that roach is a schooling fish, you can quickly determine by the intensity of the bite your chances of catching at this point.
Floats for the current Fishing method and equipment. This is where many options arise. From a float rod to a feeder, or even a fly rod. Personally, I am a supporter of a float rod with a blind rig. Moreover, there should be enough varieties of equipment for different conditions and fishing objects.alt
Floats for fishing in currents, except for specialized ones (assembled individually for left or right currents), have proven themselves quite well with a spherical body and a thin antenna. There are a great variety of them on sale in weight and color. The optimal float for medium currents is 2.5-3 degrees.
The thickness of the main line does not exceed 0.16-0.18 mm. Accordingly, the leash is 0.08-0.1 mm. You shouldn’t strengthen the tackle in the hope that something worthy will bite. With proper, leisurely fishing, even quite respectable specimens have no chance of salvation. Well, rough tackle leads to a loss in the number of bites. Don’t forget that we are fishing at the beginning of spring, when the water is still clear and a thick line can alert the fish.
A leash, 25-30 cm long and of course a hook, for example No. 14kamatsu.
However, for several years now, instead of a hook, I have been successfully fishing with a small jig. It is clear that the weight of the jig must be taken into account when loading the float. The jig is almost never swallowed by a fish, as happens with a regular hook, which leads to a loss of time for retrieval. And it’s more convenient to string bloodworms onto a jig. During retrieving, it clings less to bottom debris and grass. In general, try catching roach and crucian carp with a jig and you will be pleasantly surprised by your catches.
Lure. Personally, I always feed them, including during the current. The only difference is that I add clay or soil from the bank of the river where I fish to the bait. Of course, you need to feed a little higher upstream, depending on the depth at the fishing site. The column of fragrant turbidity from the bait balls will hold the fish for a long time.
Wiring. After casting, the current will begin to carry the float away. Fish react poorly to bait if it moves with the current. It is necessary to lightly hold the float with the rod. Now the roach simply cannot resist the curiosity of looking, “Well, who’s lagging behind?” What follows is a bite, a hook, a frying pan and bon appetit.
In April
April is a month of warm days. When the water reaches a temperature of 10 degrees, the roach begins active activity in the reservoir. At this time, she lays eggs. Moreover, it does this in the roots of flooded bushes, so fishermen should not miss this biting moment.
Since roach most often lays play in the roots of aquatic vegetation, it can be caught on the river bank. The best depth is usually no more than 2 meters. Of course, you can put on higher boots or swamp boots and stand in the water, waiting for a bite. But this method is not always effective, since when you enter the water, you, of course, muddy it and scare the fish.
Another way to catch roach in April is fishing from a boat. This is the only way you can silently swim to the shore and calmly wait for your prey.
As bait for catching roach in April, you can take maggots, bloodworms, dung worms or regular dough. A few words about bait: it has its own nuances. If you catch a roach rushing along the river in search of a place to lay eggs, then you will be wasting your bait, because... she will simply get lost in such a commotion. But if she has found a parking spot, then the bait will be just right. Bait will greatly help a young angler, because when a roach lays eggs, it does not move away from this place, and if it sees your bait or groundbait nearby, then of course it will not be able to refuse to swallow it. Then it’s up to the fisherman; the main thing here is not to get confused.
The skill of the fisherman largely contributes to successful roach fishing in April. As previously written, in mid-spring roach is very cunning, and it will be difficult for a beginner to catch it. But a professional who knows how to hook correctly and what bait is best to choose will not have much difficulty in catching his trophy.
The best gear for catching roach in April is fishing rod. The length of the fishing rod should be approximately 4-5 meters. The float should weigh from 1.5 to 2 g, since only in this case the roach will not be able to drag it with it to depth. Moreover, the float should always be located in the fishing zone. In windy weather, an indicator such as the windage of the fishing line is used, and in calm weather this movement is made by simply pulling the rod up and to the side. You cannot use a fishing line that is too thick, as it will be visible in the water and this will only interfere with fishing for roach. You need to understand that colored fishing line will be much better than regular fishing line. Green fishing line is ideal for roach fishing in April, because... it camouflages perfectly with the color of algae and duckweed. The fish can rise to the surface, or, conversely, sink to the very bottom for bait. If the bite begins to decrease, you need to change the length of the descent.
As for the necessary equipment, to catch roach in April you will have to stock up on: a rod stand, a fish tank with a pin, a rack for baits, a bag for bait, a plastic bag for packing the catch, a hand towel and a box for spare tackle.
In May
In order for roach fishing to be successful, it is important to know that roaches come out to feed only in the shallows. The quality of the gear should never be neglected; the same applies to bait. In addition, when you arrive at the place, you should behave as quietly as possible, otherwise the fish will be frightened by the noise and will leave the fishing area you have chosen.
In early May, roach gather in large flocks and go out to the shallows, where, hiding among the vegetation, they bask in the spring sun. Roaches swim to the shallows not only because the water is warm there, but also to feed on small worms and pike caviar.
It is not always possible to get quietly and unnoticed from the shore to the roach's mooring site. Very often you have to go into the water and throw the bait over the grass, and then stand motionless for several minutes waiting for a bite. Since fishing mainly takes place in water, the tackle should be as light as possible. Of course, a special fishing rod stand will help make the task somewhat easier.
In spring, when fishing for roach, you should give preference only to long telescopic fishing rods. The equipment is selected based on the conditions in which the roach will be caught. If the bait is cast over the head, then the length of the main line should be 20 cm longer than the rod. If you need to make precise casts, then it is recommended to make the equipment 20 cm shorter than the length of the rod.
Since fishing is carried out in areas where the depth does not exceed 1 meter, a light float is used. The main thing when choosing is to select options that are not brightly colored. For fishing in such conditions, it is recommended to use floats made from a piece of goose feather. It is necessary to approach the weight responsibly. It is important to select the weight so that after casting the float instantly takes a horizontal position and only looks out of the water a third of its length.Monofilament with a diameter of 0.2 mm is ideal as the main fishing line; it is recommended to install a leash, for the manufacture of which you can take a fishing line with a diameter of 0.12 mm. The length of the leash should be approximately 20 cm. Hooks are used in 3 or 2 numbers, the main requirement is that they must be sharp.
It is better to choose a place for fishing the day before. Having noticed a promising area, you should prepare it. It is important to note that the place should be chosen so that the wind blows at your back - this will help when casting the bait to the fishing point. Fishing places should be chosen near the reeds, since this is where the largest concentration of roach will be.
First of all, the tackle is cast without bait until the exact depth in the selected fishing area is determined. After this, a small amount of bait is thrown into the selected place, which must contain the bait used for fishing in a certain ratio. As a rule, in spring roach can be successfully caught only with bloodworms. The larvae are placed on the hook by the head. It is important that they remain alive, since it is their movement that attracts roaches.
After casting, if there are no bites for several minutes, by pulling the rod towards you, you can move the bait, which is guaranteed to not go unnoticed by the roach, and it will swim up to it with interest. Bait in minimal quantities should be thrown into the water once every half hour, provided there is no bite. If bites occur, then it will be enough to send a ball of bait to the fishing point once an hour.