Roach is one of the most common fish in our reservoirs. It can be found both in transient rivers and in reservoirs, ponds and lakes. She does not stop and does not slow down her life cycle depending on the time of year, therefore they catch her year-round. But still in the spring, when the roach is most active, fishing on it is a real pleasure.
But do not think that catching it is simple. Roach is quite cunning and finicky fish. If you are going for spring fishing after it, first of all, you should take care of the bait mixture, because it is the success of your hunt that will largely depend on it.
In this article, we will talk about how to cook roach bait in the spring at home.
Roach in spring
Roach, already leading a mobile lifestyle throughout the year, is activated at the very beginning of March, when ice begins to melt. With food, of course, during this period things are not very good, but when the first streams flow, they will bring enough fodder in their waters. These are earthworms, larvae, insect corpses and grass seeds.
The need for roach in protein at this time is very high. Being exhausted during the winter, and preparing for spawning, which will begin in late May, she is glad to take any opportunity to profit from food of animal origin.
Based on this need, anglers build fishing tactics during this period. In accordance with it, both bait and bait for roach in spring should contain protein. By the way, this postulate is applicable to most fish.
Why bait is needed
Some anglers argue that feeding the place is an absolutely unnecessary activity, which consists in simply feeding a hungry fish instead of attracting it with high-quality bait. In fact, this is not so, or not quite so. Yes, if you take an incomprehensible feed mix and feed them a place, it will happen. But if you take into account all the necessary nuances and correctly select or prepare the mixture, and even submit it in the right amount to the right place, this will only play into your hands.
Spring bait is designed to attract fish with its appearance and smell, and also to keep it in place for as long as possible. To achieve this effect, you need to choose and balance the ingredients correctly. To do this, you need to understand what the bait mixture should consist of.
Buy or cook yourself?
Today fishing shops are full of a wide variety of bait mixes for any kind of fish and for any fishing conditions. But they are not cheap, especially if it is a truly high-quality product.
Some anglers prefer not to use purchased goods, and not only because of the price. Well knowing the characteristics of the reservoir and the natural diet of fish, you can independently prepare a mixture that will be several times more effective than purchased. Moreover, preparing bait for roach in the spring with your own hands is not so difficult, and you will always find some ingredients for it in your kitchen.
The composition of the bait mixture for roach
The right bait for roaches in spring should include:
- basis (crushed seeds, cereals, crackers);
- feed base (boiled cereals, natural animal feed);
- sticky substances (flour, starch, sugar, etc.);
- attractants (flavorings);
- pigments (dyes).
The basis of the mixture is designed to attract fish through small particles, "soaring" in the water and forming a far visible "cloud". The food base is needed in order to keep the roach in place. The purpose of adhesive components is to hold all the ingredients together. Flavors attract fish by their smell, and dyes by color.
Here we need such a simple set to get an effective bait for roach in the spring.
What else is needed for self-preparation of the bait mixture
To prepare the mixture at home, you will definitely need a coffee grinder or any other device that will allow us to grind our base as much as possible. In addition, you will need a thermos and an ordinary kitchen pot. In them we will steam and cook cereals. Here, in principle, and all, except for some components that make up the bait components. Have to go to the market and buy something.
Consistency Features
Bait for roach in the spring with their own hands is prepared using the basis of the smallest particles in the mixture. This is necessary so that the mixture, when it enters the water, “dusts”, attracting fish from a maximum distance. However, two factors should be considered here: current intensity and fishing depth.
With a strong flow of water, the usual mixture will be washed off in a few minutes. Therefore, the bait for catching roach in the spring during the course must contain a large amount of sticky substances: starch, flour, sugar, etc. If it is planned to fish at a depth, the mixture must be additionally weighted with clay.
When fishing in stagnant water on the shallows of adhesives will require a minimum. It is enough that a lump of food, without crumbling, fly to a certain place.
Features of adding flavorings
Flavors are not a mandatory component in the composition of the bait, however, the right odors and the appropriate concentration significantly increase the effectiveness of the mixture. Spring roach does not like pungent odors; it likes light natural flavors: vanilla, almonds, hemp, sunflower, black pepper, cloves, etc.
Add flavorings to the bait should be very careful. It’s better not to overdo it than to overdo it.
Features of adding dyes
Bait for roach in the spring at home is prepared with the mandatory use of dyes (pigments). But here it is necessary to take into account some nuances. The main one is the color of the bottom. The bait should not stand out against its background, otherwise the fish will be wary. Therefore, refrain from applying too bright colors.
Beta-carotene or home-made pigment from dry ground rosehips is ideal as a dye for a sandy bottom. If the bottom is dark, add a special black dye to the mixture.
About the benefits of pigeon droppings
As an additive that increases the appetite of roaches, dried and chopped pigeon droppings are perfect. But not just wild birds, but cultural ones, specially fed with seeds of flax, hemp, sunflower and corn. Due to the digestion of the pigeons, the seeds are not completely digested in their stomachs, so the litter itself can attract fish, and the gastric juice of birds shows an unusual appetite in roaches. In addition, this substance, when soaked, is an excellent bonding element for bait.
Roach bait in spring: a recipe for deep fishing
Essential Ingredients:
- ground sponge cake or cookies - 3 parts;
- breadcrumbs - 1 part;
- wheat bran - 1 part;
- corn flour - 1 part;
- dry ground clay - 1 part;
- small maggot - 0.5 parts;
- bloodworm - 0.5 parts;
- salt - 0.2 parts;
- caraway seeds - 1 pinch.
This is the standard roach bait in early spring for bottom fishing. As you can see, here you don’t even have to grind anything except cookies. Bloodworms can be replaced with chopped worms, and clay with sticky earth.
Shallow fishing recipe
Ingredients:
- wheat bread crackers - 3 parts;
- chopped cookies - 2 parts;
- corn grits - 1 part;
- corn flakes - 1 part;
- pigeon droppings - 0.5 parts;
- sunflower meal - 0.5 parts;
- crushed pumpkin seeds - 0.5 parts;
- crushed flax seeds - 0.5 parts;
- bloodworm - 0.5 parts;
- ground black pepper - 1 tbsp. a spoon;
- beta-carotene - 2 tbsp. spoons.
This is the best bait for roach in the spring, if fishing is carried out at a depth of up to 1.5 meters. If you add chopped cloves (0.5 parts) to the mixture, it will work perfectly on spring bream as well.
Recipe for Passive Roach
Ingredients:
- rye bran - 3 parts;
- crushed rye crackers - 2 parts;
- wheat bran - 1 part;
- chopped hemp seeds - 1 part;
- cornmeal - 1 part;
- bloodworm or caddis flies - 0.5 parts;
- pigeon droppings - 0.5 parts;
- salt - 0.2 parts;
- coriander - 2 pinches.
The prepared bait for roach in early spring with their own hands from these components copes well with its role in clear water during periods of low activity of the fish.
The above recipes are not binding; they are intended to show how to prepare a bait mixture and what to look for.
How to properly feed roaches
Bait for roach and bream in the spring should be kneaded directly at the place of fishing using water from the reservoir where it is planned to catch them.
If you are fishing with a float rod at a shallow depth, form balls the size of an orange from a moistened mixture. Next, throw 3-4 such balls into the place of fishing, and then pause for 10-15 minutes. This is necessary so that the fish, frightened by the splash from the fallen bait, calms down and becomes interested in it.
In the process of fishing, systematically feed the place, otherwise the roach will simply leave it in search of food for another part of the reservoir.
When fishing with donkey, fill the feeder with bait and make a few single casts without bait to deliver the mixture to the desired site. If you fish with feeder gear, before starting fishing, also feed the place manually or using a special slingshot. Then pause for 10-15 minutes, then safely throw the tackle.