Roach

With their silver bodies and distinctive fins, roach are the most abundant species in our canals and form a very important part of its ecosystem.

A large group of silvery fish swim close to the sandy floor of the water.

Roach are one of the most common fish found in lakes, canals and rivers.

Roach facts

Scientific name	Rutilus rutilus
Family	Cyprinidae
Diet	Insect larvae, snails and crustaceans
Predators	Predatory fish, cormorants and heron
Size	Up to 25cm
Weight	15-250g (4lb 3oz)
British record	1.9kg
Lifespan	7-12 years

Roach and our canals

Part of the carp family, the roach is a widespread freshwater fish found in England, but rarer in Wales and Scotland. They're found in canals, lakes and slow-flowing rivers.

How to identify a roach

A member of the carp family, roach are often mistaken for rudd, dace and chub.

Roach are small-medium sized fish that are silver in colour with red eyes and pelvic fins below the front rays of the dorsal fin.

The roach can be confused with rudd. The easiest way to tell a roach from a rudd is that the latter has a protruding upturned bottom lip. Roach will often breed with bream, producing unfertile roach-bream hybrids.

Lifecycle of a roach

Roach spawn between April and June, although this can change depending on water temperature.

They breed in shallow water on a stony bottom or over dense submerged weed, generally returning to the same place each year. In canals, offside vegetation is a particularly important spawning substrate.

Females can lay up to 100,000 eggs.

Where to find roach

The roach is a very adaptable fish, found large fresh water, like lakes, big ponds and canals. They're present in all of our canals and rivers, with the exception of the Swansea Canal.

Threats to roach

As with all species, there is an ever-present threat of pollution or poor water quality. Vandalism or open lock paddles draining pounds can also put roach and other fish species at risk.

When zander are present, they primarily prey on smaller, younger roach. This allows the surviving roach to grow larger because there's less competition for food among the reduced population. The exact opposite of the situation in canals without zander. The roach population tends to be larger in number but dominated by smaller individuals.

How to catch a roach

While you will catch some roach by fishing close to the towpath bank, you will have more success from the boat channel or far bank area.

Carl Nicholls, fisheries & angling manager

To catch roach successfully, use a fine fishing line and a small hook (size 20 or 22). The best baits for roach include pinkies, squatts, casters, bread punch, and hemp. To encourage the shoal to feed confidently, introduce a steady stream of loose feed – adding small amounts regularly works best.

While you can catch roach near the towpath bank, your chances improve significantly if you fish in the boat channel or far bank.