Catching roach with a float rod and rigging tackle for summer fishing for roach

Of course, every fisherman dreams of big trophies. But they are not caught too often. To catch a huge carp or, for example, a silver carp, you need to have special gear, bait and, in general, spend a lot of effort. In addition, you will not find trophy specimens in every body of water and not at any time.

Either it's a roach! Thanks to it, the fisherman will always be able to enjoy fishing and return home with his catch. Moreover, without using any fancy gear for this, but having only a good old float rod at hand.

Advantages of catching summer roach on a float

First of all, catching roach with a float rod in the summer is always an excellent vacation, allowing you to combine business with pleasure. You spend time on the pond, enjoy nature and at the same time end up with a catch, without making much effort, if, of course, you comply with the following conditions:

find the right place on the shore;
collect the appropriate gear;
choose effective bait and properly feed the fishing spot;
You will get a catchable bait depending on the fishing conditions.

The good thing about roach, or roach, as it is also called, is that it can be caught in a wide variety of conditions, regardless of the type of reservoir. It bites well on the river and in the lake, in ponds and reservoirs, on the current and in its complete absence.

Being a representative of the carp family, roach is divided into the following subspecies:

chebak or Siberian roach;
vobla;
ram.

In large reservoirs, individuals weighing up to a kilogram can be caught. But catching specimens weighing two hundred to three hundred grams on small rivers is no less enjoyable.

Another advantage of fishing for roach is the ability to catch it almost all year round. However, in the cold season, roach is in a passive state and much more effort has to be expended to catch it. The roach comes to life in the spring, from the moment the buds on the birch trees swell. Active roach bite continues until late autumn. Therefore, the most productive time for catching roach with a float rod is considered to be the summer period, when the water warms up the most and the fish activity becomes maximum.

Well, the key to a good catch is the right equipment. The float tackle has always been considered the most catchy in this type of fishing. To properly assemble the float tackle for roach, you need to pay close attention to every detail. And, despite all the apparent simplicity of this type of fishing, neglect of details can cause a complete lack of results.

Roach baits

Before spawning, the fish is very hungry, by the way, just like after it, so it can basically eat everything that is offered to it. It can be oats, pearl barley, bloodworms, worms, dough and even noodles.

With the arrival of summer, the fish's tastes change, so it pays attention only to plant food and does not pay attention to animal food. With the arrival of autumn, everything returns to normal again. In summer, roach can be caught using a float rod using ordinary seaweed or canned corn. As for algae, they are wound in such a way as to carefully cover the sting.

In the cold season, the ram should be offered burdock bloodworms, maggots, ordinary bloodworms, dung worms, etc. Sometimes the fish does not disdain bread and dough.

Types of float rods used

Catching roach with a float involves the use of all types of the best float rods.

Fly feathers. They are characterized by blind rigging, when the scaffolding is fixed at the end of the form. Allows the angler to cast tackle over two lengths of the fishing rod being used. They are distinguished by very accurate casting, but when fishing for large specimens there is a risk of equipment breaking.
Bolognese fishing rods are equipped with guides and a powerful reel. The stakes are located along the entire length of the form and evenly distribute the load on it when fishing for large roach. They are used for long casts, which are easy to do even for novice anglers. The telescopic design makes it easy to transport, since when folded, such fishing rods are very compact.
Match rods. More powerful than Bolognese, with a rigid action, large rings and a reinforced handle. Used with spinning reels for casting bait over long distances. Allows the use of a sliding float and type of equipment.
Plug-in. They are made up of several elbows into a rod with a length of nine meters or more. Additional stands are required to hold them in your hand.

Among the presented models, the most popular are Bolognese and fly rods. They are easy to use, easy to transport and have proven themselves among amateur fishermen.

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Roach fishing rods must meet the following basic requirements:

A light weight. The roach bites often, so the fisherman has to re-throw the gear again and again. The lighter it is, the less your hand gets tired.
Strength. The rod must withstand the loads that arise when fishing in windy weather, in difficult conditions and when fishing for large specimens.
High sensitivity. This characteristic is necessary for recognizing the most subtle bites. A heavy and rigid rod does not provide such an opportunity.

Taking into account these requirements, the equipment of a float rod for catching roach is selected. It should be light and respond well to the most “gentle” touches of the fish.

Which bait to choose

Having dealt with the roach fishing rod and bait, you can move on to bait. Some fishermen believe that they can do without it. Of course, it is possible, but without treats it will be much more difficult, because there are fewer and fewer fish in the reservoir, and the existing fish should be of interest in something, so it is better not to skimp on this. In addition, knowing that something tasty is being poured into the same place, the roach will automatically swim there from time to time to profit from something. Therefore, if you want to leave with a catch, you should pay attention to this moment.

The most important thing is that you should prepare bait that the fish will appreciate. Typically, the delicacies consist of cake, corn, pearl barley, as well as various flavorings such as dill, anise oil, cumin, garlic, honey and others.

There are fishermen who prepare something at their own discretion, and then add various flavors to it. True, if you don’t want to invent anything and spoil the products, then it’s best to go to a specialized store and buy everything you need there. Of course, it will be a little more expensive, but it is quick and easy.

If you want to catch as many fish as possible, then it is possible to make sure that catching roach with a float rod is carried out using several rods. However, at the same time, you need to very carefully arrange your gear so that fishing does not result in a number of problems and troubles. It’s not uncommon for rods to overlap each other and then the fisherman tries for a long time to untangle what happened. Some people don’t pay attention to this, but in vain, because instead of ramming, some large and strong fish may begin to bite, which, if it does not steal the tackle, will force the fisherman to fight for it. By organizing the work correctly, you can be sure that the roach will bite more than once.

How to equip a fishing rod for roach

The equipment is installed taking into account the time of year, type of reservoir and other fishing conditions.

What kind of fishing line is needed for roach

Roach is a small and cautious fish. Therefore, the line for catching roach should be thin and invisible. The braid is not used at all. The basis is a monofilament line with a diameter of 0.16 - 0.18 mm. There is simply no need for thicker fishing line for roach. A line thickness of 0.14 mm is allowed, but in this case there is a risk of breakage when catching large prey.

In clear spring water, you need to use a fast-sinking, transparent, almost invisible line so as not to scare away the cautious ram. In summer, in green, muddy water, you can use not only transparent, but also light green monofilament.

For leashes, monofilament fishing line is used, but of a smaller thickness - 0.08–0.12 mm.

Selection of hooks

Since roach is a small fish, small hooks are used for it. The basic rule for choosing this element of equipment is that the bait on it should sit firmly and completely hide the sting. The optimal hook number for roach is from fourteen to eighteen or, according to the European classification, from sixteen to twenty-two.

Hooks should have a thin, sharp point. If it becomes dull, the hook should be replaced with a new one - the fish will not come off it.

Floats for roaches

A fishing float is the most important part of the equipment, which not only serves as a bite indicator, but also holds the hook with bait at the required depth. It consists of a body to which the surface part is attached - the antenna and the underwater part - the keel, as well as a ring for attaching to the fishing line.

When choosing a float, there are a number of rules that must be followed for fishing to be successful. The choice of this part is influenced by the following factors:

distance from the shore;
depth;
weather during fishing;
type of rod;
Times of Day;
weight of the load.

Using a fly fishing rod involves choosing light, elongated floats with bright antennas. They are rigidly attached with rubber bands to the main fishing line. Such floats are highly sensitive and clearly signal the behavior of potential prey.

The use of a match fishing rod requires the installation of brightly colored alarms with a high antenna and a long keel, resistant to strong winds and fast currents. Thanks to the small passage rings, they can be mounted in sliding equipment.

Heavy barrel-shaped alarms are installed for fishing in currents, and long oblong ones are installed in still water.

The color of the float plays an important role in the success of fishing. The surface part of the alarm must be bright and clearly visible to the fisherman. The lower, underwater one is dark and invisible to ramming.

In order for the float to occupy the correct position in the water, it must be properly loaded. Loading the float is necessary so that its antenna is completely above the water and gives the angler the maximum idea of what is happening with the bait under water. Loading can be done at home, but it is better to do it directly on the pond.

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Coil selection

Flying and plug rods do not require a reel to be installed. When fishing with a Bolognese or match rod, spinning reels with a spool with a diameter of 2000–3500 are used. The winding speed also does not play a special role. It is important that the turns of the fishing line lie flat when reeling in and do not form “beards” during casting.

Match fishing rods are equipped with reels with a friction brake in case they manage to hook a massive fish.

Selection of float tackle

Roach is not a large fish, and its weight very rarely exceeds 1 kg. The most common bites are from fish weighing 150-400 grams. In this regard, the gear does not require particularly strong and thick gear that can scare away the wary spring roach.

Rod.

There are four main types of float rods: • Bolognese; • flywheel; • match; • plug-in. For roach, the first two types are most often used. This is due to the fact that in spring the fish stay close to the shore and do not require particularly long casts. The fly rod does not have guides or a reel, and the fishing line is tied directly to the end of the rod. The casting distance is determined by the combined length of the fishing line and rod. The Bolognese fishing rod is equipped with a reel and already has installed rings for passing the fishing line, which allows you to cast at different distances. The length of the rod depends on the fishing conditions and convenience for the fisherman and is usually 4-4.5 meters.

Coil.

Used when fishing with a Bolognese rod. A mandatory requirement is that the coil must be inertia-free. The remaining characteristics are selected at the discretion of the fisherman.

Fishing line.

Monofilament with a diameter of 0.12-0.15 mm would be optimal - in the spring the roach remains wary of winter, so an excessively thick line will easily scare it away. At the same time, a fishing line with a thickness of 0.14 mm is more than enough to catch fish weighing up to half a kilogram.

When fishing in areas with a lot of vegetation on the bottom, where there is a high probability of snags, you can use a thicker fishing line - 0.16-0.20 mm. Among the grass it will not be as noticeable as in open water, and will not frighten the fish as much. The same monofilament is also used in muddy water, where it is difficult to study the features of the bottom and places dangerous for hooks.

For leashes, a thinner line is suitable - 0.10-0.12 mm. The usual leash length is 10-15 cm.

Hooks.

When choosing hooks, you should take into account not only the size of the roach, but also the bait. In spring, fishing is usually done with delicate bloodworms or maggots, which are easily damaged by the thick wire of the hook. Therefore, it is worth taking sharp, high-quality hooks made of thin tempered wire in sizes 8-12.

Float.

Selected according to the weight of the equipment. Drop-shaped floats from 1.5 to 2.5 grams are optimal.

Small weight.

You can use a large olive weight and several small additional weights, or use 2-3 lead pellets. Their total mass depends on the size of the float. When installing the equipment, the weights are placed next to each other in the lower part of the main fishing line at a distance of 10-20 cm from the hook. This type of load is called concentrated.

Equipment for fishing on the current

A Bolognese rod is suitable for this kind of fishing, since it requires frequent casting of tackle. With a heavy swing or plug, this is quite tiring to do.

Some fishermen also use match fishing, but it is intended for fishing at a great distance from the shore, and since the float will be carried away by the current, the tackle will have to be re-thrown often.

Fishing process

Silence is the key to effective fishing. Try not to make noise when throwing gear unnecessarily. Don’t forget, bream is extremely cautious and shy. Avoid slapping the rod on the surface of the river, this will scare away the fish and ruin all your fishing.

The bait is placed in the same place where fishing will be carried out in the future. After casting it, you should give time to the fish to gather around the turbidity that the food will create. Don't rush to hook. It is necessary to wait until the float clearly falls on its side or moves to the side, and then sharply hook the bream.

Fishing on the current in the river

Depressions and weak currents are the main factors that guide bream when choosing a habitat. Pits or reaches located in rivers between lakes can most often be rich in this fish. As a rule, bream leaves its shelter and swims to the shore closer to the morning to find food.

For coastal fishing, pits with a depth of 3-5 meters are suitable. In the early morning, a large specimen can be caught at a much shallower depth. If the current is strong, then the fishing becomes more dynamic, and the bream reacts to bait from a greater distance, becoming more careless. Recommended tackle is a plug rod.

A few tips for successful bream fishing:

Be careful with flavorings. Use a mild powdered flavoring, if possible try to avoid it as fish are wary of strong odors.
The nozzle should lie on the bottom without moving
Complementary foods should be dense and break up into large fractions. A small fraction attracts small fish, which can reduce fishing efficiency
Fish the bream away from the feeding point; do not frighten the gathered fish.
The amount of bait directly depends on the strength of the current. With a strong current there should be more.

How to feed properly

Bait must be taken seriously. A wise choice will ensure a good bite. The food should be dense and viscous. To do this you need to add a little clay to the composition.

It is important that the color of the seal matches the color of the bottom

If the bait does not have sufficient viscosity, it will disintegrate before reaching the bottom and attract unwanted small things. Having molded the first ball, it is worth checking it by throwing it near the shore. If it disintegrates only after sinking to the bottom, the consistency is correct and it can be used.

If this is onboard fishing, then it is worth using a net, which allows you to make a more accurate cast and reduces the erosion of the food by the current. The mesh feeder can be filled with porridge. Keep in mind that the bait must be on the bait path, otherwise the effectiveness of the bite drops significantly.

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Equipment for fishing in still water

This type of fishing allows the use of any of the listed float rods. The form is chosen based on the distances at which the tackle will be thrown. Preference should be given to the least heavy ones.

The weight of the float is also selected depending on the distance (the further the cast, the heavier the float). It must be remembered that the lighter the float, the higher its sensitivity.

Optimal equipment option:

Bolognese rod four to five meters long;
spinning reel with 2000 spool;
main line 0.16 mm thick;
five-gram float;
hook size 16–18.

In reservoirs with calm water, roach behave more cautiously and suspiciously than in the current, so the tackle should be light and inconspicuous.

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Correct tackle and rigging for roach

There are four types of float rods:

fly tackle - a fishing rod with a blind rig; the fishing line is attached to the tip of the rod, the rig can be cast approximately 2 rod lengths;
Bolognese tackle - a fishing rod with rings and a reel, allows you to make longer casts than with fly tackle;
match tackle - a rod with a spinning reel for long casts and fishing with a sliding float;
plug tackle is a long rod, from 9 meters in length, with many elbows, and fishing takes place on a special stand; the tackle allows you to carefully deliver the equipment directly to the fishing point under the tip of a long rod;

For amateur fishing, the first two options for fishing with a float are best suited: fly tackle and lapdog. There is no need for complex devices, the tackle is mobile for transportation and it is very easy to catch roach, which is very often found in coastal waters.

Catching roach with a fly float rod

Read a detailed article on fishing with a fly float rod and how to equip it with a blind rig.

The gear looks like this:

A fishing line the length of the rod is attached to the tip of the fishing rod;
The float is attached to the fishing line with a rubber cambric or cambrics;
Next come lead pellets;
A leash made of thinner or fluorocarbon fishing line and a hook.

Fishing with a Bolognese rod

A lap dog requires the presence of rings on the rod, and therefore a reel is needed. You can use a spinning reel or a small drum just for storing fishing line.

Why is inertialessness not a mandatory attribute of a lapdog and can negatively affect fishing? The fact is that in a Bolognese fishing rod, if you are going to fish at too long distances, then your tackle will most likely be similar to a match one, but the classic Bolognese fishing rod does not involve casting heavy equipment that can fly tens of meters, so the constant intervention of the reel is not necessary. The reel in the lapdog is used to store fishing line.

But everything changes upside down when you catch big fish. Without the friction brake of a spinning reel, when catching specimens weighing over a kilogram, it is difficult to expect successful fishing.

But you can catch roach using the smallest reel reel; a spinning reel is of no use here and will only make the tackle heavier.

The fishing technique is not very different from the fly rod, only the structure of the gear is different. How to properly equip a fishing rod with rings is described in the article linked above.

When fishing with a Bolognese fishing rod, it becomes possible to make longer casts. You can unwind the line from the reel and tighten it with your left hand while holding the rod in your right hand. Having swung and cast, release the line with your left hand and it will fly along the rings to the equipment, thus, the casting distance can be increased by a significant 1-4 meters.

How to catch roach with a float rod

Of course, the right equipment is a very important component of successful fishing. But far from the only one. In addition to this, there are a number of factors that influence the result.

How to choose a fishing spot

To choose a fishing spot wisely, you need to know the habits of potential prey. Where is it most likely to find roaches? Of course, where she feeds. This means that the best places for fishing are areas bordering reed thickets or islands of water lilies.

What bait to use

The food preferences of roaches are very diverse and depend, first of all, on the time of year. In spring and autumn, this fish, like many others, prefers food rich in animal protein, so the most catchy baits during this period will be:

maggot;
bloodworm;
various types of worms - dung or river;
caddisfly;
burdock.

Bloodworms and maggots are strung with two or three larvae on a hook so that the sting is completely hidden.

Few people know that at the end of spring, a bait made from Colorado potato beetle larvae works great. The bright red color of the larva is liked by fish. And the larva itself holds firmly on the hook and can be used for several casts.

In summer, the roach becomes a “vegetarian” and prefers bait made from pearl barley, wheat, dough, bread balls, and hominy. She also likes artificial baits.

The most simple summer bait option is filamentous algae wound on a hook. The main thing is to wind them so that they hide the sting.

Baiting and feeding roaches

In order for fishing to be effective and enjoyable, the fishing area must be pre-fed. For this purpose, use either special mixtures purchased in the store or homemade fertilizer.

The basis of the bait mixture for roaches is made up of “dusty” elements. The store-bought mixture should consist of small particles, the color of which should not differ from the surrounding water and should not have a strong odor.

The basis of “homemade” bait is porridge - barley, millet or semolina; flour - corn, wheat or pea, flour, breadcrumbs. If the goal of fishing is large trophies, it is advisable to add canned corn, green peas, pearl barley porridge, maggot or finely chopped worm to the bait.

The bait is moistened with water from the reservoir where fishing takes place, balls are molded from it and thrown by hand or using a special slingshot. The balls should disintegrate not in flight, but when they hit the water, creating a column of turbidity in it with a smell that attracts the track.

Roach behavior depending on the season

Sorog is a fish with different behavior in each period of the year. Of course, it is caught in spring, summer and autumn, because... In winter, flocks hide deep under the covers of ice.

1. Spring. In the spring, roach is one of the first fish to begin to bite the bait. At this time, fish are found mainly in shallow waters. It is in such places that you can easily catch a sorog. This behavior for roach schools in early spring is typical for all types of reservoirs in which they are found.

Closer to May, the end of spring, roach tends to swim upstream to spawn. During this period, the sorog can be easily caught everywhere. In bodies of water with standing water, the sorog tends to move closer to the shore: thickets, snags, trees and bushes. In late spring, roach catches break all records.

2. Summer. By the beginning of summer, the roach is already located in its usual habitats. For example, in rivers - in the exits of pits, on the boundaries of bays and islands near the riverbed.

In standing reservoirs the situation is different. The flocks move along a special route that cannot be predicted. However, this does not prevent them from occasionally appearing in shallow waters.

However, experienced fishermen have noticed that the bite weakens in July and August.

3. Autumn. The onset of cold weather does not frighten schools of roach. They “come to life” again and noticeably increase their movement compared to summer. Fish fatten up before the cold period, descending to winter moorings. Roach activity lasts from October to early November, but this depends on the weather.

In autumn, roach is found in all ecosystems. In still water, schools of chebak move in a circular path, slowing down over time and shortening their route.

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Features of fishing by season

As already mentioned, roach behave differently depending on the degree of warming of the water and air, and therefore fishing methods differ markedly in different seasons of the year.

in spring

Winter fishing for roach is not the most popular pastime, since in cold weather this fish is weakly active. The main season opens in the spring, when the reservoir warms up to at least six degrees and natural food appears for the roach. Fishing is carried out in shallow water, using bloodworms and maggots as bait.

The bait is thrown in carefully. Initially, three to five balls are sent, and then two to three balls every thirty minutes.

Catching roach on a float in summer

At this time of year, the track does not bite very actively, since it does not lack food. In the heat, she goes into the grass or into holes in search of coolness. Therefore, in summer it is best to catch roach in the early morning or in the evenings.

In summer it is good to fish from a boat using the “race” fishing method. It is used in currents and consists of passing the equipment far down from the anchored craft. A mesh feeder with bait is lowered to the bottom along with the load, leaving a fragrant trail along the current.

Tackle float

Roach bites are weak and non-aggressive, so you can’t do without a sensitive float. The size and shape directly depend on the conditions where roach will be caught in the summer using a float rod. If you have to cast the bait far, you should pay attention to an element weighing 1 gram or more. In another case, a part weighing about 0.4 grams is ideal. During currents or strong winds, you should make sure that the float is several times heavier, otherwise it will constantly be blown away and carried away.

Speaking about color, it should be noted that it should be a “soft” shade that does not hurt the eyes. Therefore, you can choose a green, flesh-colored, blue, white and similar product. This rule is especially important when you have to fish in the shallow area.

You can choose any fishing rod, but you should pay attention to such important details as:

Using almost invisible and thin fishing line. It is better to pay attention to the fluorocarbon element, which performs best.
The hook is sharp, but small.
The float is selected based on the above requirements.