aka Rutilus rutilus
A member of the carp family, the roach can be confused for dace, chub and rudd due to its slim body and silver flanks. Seen gathering in large shoals in lowland ponds, lakes and slow-flowing rivers, the silvery roach is widespread across Europe except for areas surrounding the Mediterranean waters. As a smaller freshwater fish, roach boasts a small mouth with an extended top lip to indicate its preference for bottom-feeding. The roach stands out by its bright silver flanks with a pale cream underbelly and orange-brown fins.
As a favourite food for many fish-eating birds, roach are commonly targeted by a tapeworm parasite called Ligula. This parasite wants to reach the bird's belly but uses the roach to get there. An infected roach will have a bloated belly and be much more vulnerable to bird or predator attacks.
Stats
Status
Habitat
Near aquatic vegetation, at the bottom of a rivers and lakes.
Bait
Maggots, casters, hemp, sweetcorn, worms & bread flakes.
Fishing Tackle
Native or Invasive
Native
Where
Found in freshwater lakes, rivers and large shoals in shaded areas. Distributed throughout Europe, Asia, stretching to S
Video
Blog Highlight
UK Specimen Roach Fishing - The Insiders Guide
About roach fishing in the UK:The roach (Rutilus rutilus), is a fresh- and brackish-water fish of the family Cyprinidae, native to most of Europe and western Asia.How to identify a roach: A moderately deep bodied fish with silvery...
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