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A schooling, semi-anadromous relative of crucian carp and carp, roach is found in many fresh and semi-saline bodies of water in Russia. The advantage of fishing for this peaceful fish is that it can be caught at any time of year, in virtually any weather conditions.
Roach isn't particularly popular on trophy fishing trips on the Putorana Plateau. When salmon and huge pike are abundant, this fish is often used as live bait. Many housewives love to cook all sorts of dishes with roach, and beer lovers enjoy it dried and smoked.
What does the individual look like?
Siberian and Ural fishermen call this peaceful fish "chebak." What distinguishes the roach from many of its relatives is that it has teeth. However, they aren't sharp like those of a predator and are located in the throat. This is what it looks like:
· The back is covered with dark green-blue tones, the rest of the body shines silver.
· On the body there are large, silvery scales.
· The mouth is located at the tip of the muzzle.
· The dorsal fin is located directly above the ventral fin.
The roach is very similar to its relative, the Caspian roach, but they differ in coloration. Chebak fish are more vibrant. The Caspian roach reaches large sizes faster and has a larger population after spawning.
The species lives up to 20 years and grows up to 40 cm in length. It can weigh up to 1.5 kg. Most often, medium-sized specimens are caught, weighing around 0.2-0.5 kg. These are mature fish that have lived for at least 5 years or more.
Habitat
The fish prefers bodies of water overgrown with abundant algae. You can catch roach in rivers, lakes, and seas. Chebak are found in the rivers and lakes of Siberia, the Urals, and Europe. Large numbers of these fish are found in Lake Baikal, as well as in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Figuratively speaking, you can catch chebak almost anywhere from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, especially early in the morning on warm spring and summer days.
How to catch roach?
Landing this fish is unlikely in extreme cold, but at any other time, roach will attack almost any bait. Maggots, worms, dough, bread, and much more can be used. Various baits (oilcake, oil cake, wheat, rolled oats, etc.) can be used to attract them to your fishing spot.
Fishing can be trophy-worthy with a float rod. It's best to cast your line to areas with lily pads and reeds. In spring, the fish move into bays or hang out near the shoreline. They feed near the bottom, so it's best to position your line close.
During the spawning season, roach become less vigilant and become prey not only on fishermen but also on many predators, such as pike-perch, pike, and perch. Experienced fishermen can even catch roach by hand when they spawn.
To catch a large number of roach in winter, use small jigs as bait. The action shouldn't be too active. They rarely attack lures that move rapidly underwater. As winter wears on, bloodworms are a more effective bait.
A few lines in conclusion
Although roach isn't particularly commercially valuable, many anglers and homemakers love this fish. Some use it as bait for hunting large predators. Others prepare delicious dishes from it. Fried roach or fish soup made from it are delicious.
The fish isn't particularly bony, especially the smaller ones. When frying, cooks make cuts on the sides of the fish, which allows the spine to cook through completely and become edible. Chebaki, like vobla, are an indispensable snack with beer.
