Roach species guide • Freshwater fish • Very easy (2/10)

Roach junior fishing guide

Rutilus rutilus

A clear, plain-English guide to roach for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Roach catch
Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons
Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Very easy (2/10)

Perfect for first-ever fishing trips with young juniors.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

2–8 oz common; fish over 1–2 lb possible.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

Roach

Beginner baits

Bronze Maggot, Pinkie, Red maggot …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Rivers, canals
Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.
Catch your first roach with confidence

Catch your first Roach in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

  1. Step 1

    Pick a comfy peg on a canal or lake

    Choose a safe, flat swim with 4–6 ft of water, ideally on a canal or stillwater with silver fish topping or dimpling the surface. Keep juniors well back from the edge.

  2. Step 2

    Set up a light float rig

    Use a light whip or short pole with 0.08–0.10mm hooklength, size 18–20 hook and a small, sensitive float dotted down so only the tip shows.

  3. Step 3

    Feed little and often

    Start with a pinch of maggots or a tiny nugget of groundbait every few minutes. Drop the rig just past the feed and strike gently when the float dips or sails away.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

👉 Swipe sideways to view different setups.

Pole

Beginner tip: Start with a short pole length, ship in and out slowly and keep the top kit over the net when unhooking fish.

IDEAL

Rod: 8–13 m elasticated pole with top kits matched to species size.

Reel: Not used; pole uses elastic and rig only.

Line: 0.12–0.18 mm main line with lighter hooklengths through elastic.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Pole float"
  • "shotting for slow fall"
  • "fine wire hook size 18–22"]

Extras

  • ["Pole roller"
  • "pole socks"
  • "landing net and side tray"]

Elasticated pole setup for silverfish and light carp work on stillwaters and canals.

Whip

Beginner tip: Keep the whip short to start, swing small fish gently to hand and always use a landing net for anything bigger.

IDEAL

Rod: 3–5 m whip or telescopic pole with soft tip.

Reel: Not used; whip is fixed line.

Line: 0.10–0.14 mm main line to light hooklength for small fish.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Simple whip rig"
  • "fine wire hook size 20–24"
  • "small pole float"]

Extras

  • ["Small side tray"
  • "disgorger"
  • "landing net and handle"]

Simple whip setup for small silverfish and junior friendly fishing on canals, ponds and commercials.

Junior Combo Rod

Beginner tip: Let juniors practice casting on grass first, then start short and close-in on the bank.

GOOD

Rod: 7–9 ft soft-action junior combo rod.

Reel: Small fixed spool reel pre-loaded with mono.

Line: 4–6 lb mono mainline.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Small waggler or simple bomb rig"
  • "Size 16–18 hook"
  • "Basic split shot"]

Extras

  • ["Ready-tied hooklengths"
  • "Plummet"
  • "Disgorger and unhooking mat"]

All-round junior combo – simple, forgiving and safe for first sessions.

Match Rod

Beginner tip: Plumb the depth carefully then fish just overdepth with steady loose feed to build a shoal.

GOOD

Rod: 11–13 ft light match or waggler rod.

Reel: 2500–3000 size fixed spool reel.

Line: 3–4 lb (0.12–0.16 mm) mainline with slightly finer hooklength.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Slim waggler float"
  • "Size 18–20 fine hook"
  • "No.8–No.10 shot spaced down line"]

Extras

  • ["Small plummet"
  • "Catapult"
  • "Disgorger and unhooking mat"]

Light float rod is ideal for roach, rudd and mixed silverfish work on canals and lakes.

Waggler Rod

Beginner tip: Cast just past your feed area, sink the line and watch the float carefully for small lifts and dips.

GOOD

Rod: 11–13 ft light waggler rod.

Reel: 2500–3000 size fixed spool reel.

Line: 2–4 lb mono main line with lighter hooklength for silverfish.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Insert or straight waggler"
  • "shotting pattern matched to depth"
  • "small hook size 18–20"]

Extras

  • ["Rod rest or seat box arm"
  • "landing net"
  • "disgorger"]

Waggler float rod setup for fishing midwater or near the bottom on calm or slow moving venues.

About the Roach

Roach are classic silverfish with red fins and bright scales. They form shoals and respond well to regular loose feed, making them ideal targets for float fishing and small feeder tactics.

Junior tip

Keep the feed going in little and often, and fish small hooks with maggots, casters or bread. Watch the float carefully – roach often give quick, sharp bites.

Logged a Roach recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

Fish Health & EA Advice

Linked conditions and guidance for Roach.

Schyzocotyle acheilognathi
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Schyzocotyle acheilognathi

Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, or the Asian tapeworm, is a long ribbon-like parasite that lives inside the intestines of carp and other freshwater fish. It attaches to the gut wall and steals the fish’s food, which can slow their growth, weaken them, and even block the intestine completely. Young fish are especially at risk, and heavy infections can cause serious health problems or death, so good fishery management and biosecurity are important to stop it spreading.

Read full advice
Argulus mongolianus
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Argulus mongolianus

Argulus mongolianus is a newly discovered fish louse recently found in the UK. It attaches mainly to the gills, mouth, and head of fish, causing irritation, stress, and sometimes deaths. It has already been confirmed in carp, roach, and bream, and may infect all freshwater species. Because it is new and potentially harmful, reporting any suspicious lice or fish behaviour is very important.

Read full advice
Blackspot
Parasite 🟢 Low risk

Blackspot

Blackspot is a common parasite that forms tiny black cysts on the skin and fins of freshwater fish. It looks alarming but is normally harmless and part of a natural cycle involving snails and birds. Only very heavy infections or small fish are affected. In most cases, blackspot is nothing to worry about.

Read full advice
Chilodonella
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Chilodonella

Chilodonella is a fast-spreading parasite that attacks the skin and gills of freshwater fish. It can cause heavy mucus, grey patches, breathing problems, and even death if untreated. It thrives in poor water quality, overcrowded waters, and when fish are stressed. Good fishery management is the best way to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice
Ichthyobodo necator
Parasite 🟠 High risk

ichthyobodo necator

Ichthyobodo necator (Costia) is a rapidly spreading parasite that attacks a fish’s skin and gills. It causes lethargy, breathing problems, weight loss, and can be deadly—especially for young or stressed fish. It thrives in both cold and warm water, so good management and low-stress conditions are essential to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice

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