The roach, a not-so-easy fish
The roach (Rutilus rutilus) is a cyprinid fish often of small size, 10 to 20 cm for a weight of 20 to 100 grams, but which can reach 40 to 50 cm for 1 to 2 kilos. It has beautiful red fins and eyes ranging from yellow to deep orange. Living in groups of several dozen or even hundreds of individuals, it is the prey of all predators. In winter, they descend into deeper waters to reach temperatures more acceptable to their bodies. Fishing for roach in winter requires a great deal of subtlety, and the slightest technical error can result directly in failure. You'll need to take the perfect sounding, set the perfect line, adopt the right baiting technique and choose the right baits for the season. It's all in a day's work before you see your first bites and scales.
Find the right spot and adapt the line
Fishing takes place in waters around 1.80 m deep with no current. When the water is cold and fishing is difficult, the first thing to do is find the right spot and choose the right line (float weight and line diameter). A calm spot on the river, an area sheltered from the current and a sunny spot will be perfect. For winter roach fishing, fine line is the best choice. Use a 10-centimetre line body and an 8-centimetre leader with a 0.80- to 1.5-gram tapered float, set so that the tip is only a centimetre above the surface of the water, so that you'll be able to spot the slightest nip. Use n° 22 and 24 fine hooks for all fine and delicate fishing.
Sounding and priming
Surveying the fishing spot requires the utmost attention. Roach are fish that require a demanding technique. The bottom should preferably be even throughout the cast. To start with, you should fish flush with the bottom, but as you go along, don't hesitate to change the depth by removing a few centimetres if the fish are slightly unstuck.
As for the groundbait, prepare 8 to 10 small balls, which will work more or less quickly on the bottom. You can also put some mud worms in your groundbait to make the fish react more quickly. The groundbait should be very fine, so don't hesitate to pass it through a sieve or a food processor to obtain the perfect granulometry.
Holding the line
Since you'll be fishing in an area where there's no current, use a short leader to be sure you're fishing as accurately as possible and to guarantee faster hook-ups. With the rod raised, slowly lower your line to the tip, slowing the descent slightly to allow the line to settle perfectly. By slinging a few pinkies from time to time, you can select the size of small roaches. To increase the size of the catch, add 2 to 3 cm of bottom and consider putting up to three pinkies on the hook.
To guarantee a great winter fishing trip, pay close attention to the fishing spot and its exposure, and be rigorous in your choice of line and its adjustment. A good baiting and retrieving strategy will ensure a successful session.
