Specimen roach have made a massive comeback over the last few seasons, and now there's a good chance that a river or stillwater near you contains big fish, perhaps even topping the magical two or three pound mark.
While traditional roach baits like maggots and casters are still exceptional for catching big roach, a few modern baits might surprise you but are just as effective.
Casters
Casters have always been and will remain a classic bait for roach. They have a unique ability to consistently pick out the better fish in a shoal, and slipping on a caster can often result in a quality roach. Whether you choose to fish them on a feeder, a float, or even on the pole, the humble caster is hard to beat when it comes to targeting roach.
Roach tend to prefer a darker caster, though whether that's due to the way it falls or because it offsets the weight of the hook is unclear—but they're certainly worth trying first. If nuisance fish become a problem, consider banding a caster or using a rubber version. There are some excellent options on the market now, and the fish find it very hard to tell the difference.
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Maggots
You would be hard-pressed to find a fish that doesn't like a maggot, and roach are no exception. Big roach, in particular, seem to consistently fall for maggots, especially when fished in a feeder, and they are well worth keeping in your bag whenever you're targeting specimen roach.
Live maggots tend to outperform dead ones, and red is always a fantastic colour favored by many of the top specimen anglers in the country. A great tip is to fish with two live maggots and a buoyant rubber maggot; not only does this make the hookbait lighter, but it also ensures you always have some bait on the hook.
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Pellets
Whilst not necessarily associated with roach, small 3-4mm pellets are an excellent bait for targeting specimen roach on rivers and lakes. Pellets are highly nutritious, and roach recognise this, with fish in some venues actively seeking them out before any other bait.
Roach tend to favor high-oil versions, such as halibut pellets. A combination of 3mm and 4mm pellets in a feeder can be a highly effective tactic, particularly on rivers. Another advantage of pellets is that they are more selective than traditional baits like maggots and casters, making them ideal when there are lots of nuisance fish around.
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Boilies
Boilies were originally developed for carp fishing and were often used to avoid roach, but in waters where both species coexist, roach have begun to favor these baits. Used in smaller sizes, like 10mm and 12mm, they can be highly effective, and more and more big roach are being caught on boilies.
The fish don't seem to show a preference between fishmeal or sweet boilies, instead, the size of the boilie tends to dictate how many you will catch. Fishing with a simple hair rig on a scaled-down carp setup, similar to how you might target tench, is a very effective way to catch big roach in carp waters.
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Bread
No list of roach baits would be complete without including bread—the fluffy, soft bait that seems to be irresistible to roach. Being such a versatile bait, it can be fished effectively on any venue you choose. Whether you mash it up for use on rivers, blend it into a crumb for canal fishing, or use a big lump of flake under a float on a stillwater, if roach are in the vicinity, they will seldom turn their nose up at this baked wonder.
Hemp
Considered more of a feed than a hook bait, but hemp can be a highly effective hook bait, it's nutrient-rich and ideal for targeting specimen roach. Its potent aroma and protein-rich composition can create an irresistible attraction for these wary fish.
By imitating natural food sources, hemp excels in creating a feeding frenzy. Precision feeding, delicate presentation, and patience are key to capitalising on this versatile bait's potential for landing a giant specimen.
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Tares
Tares, a bit of a forgotten classic but offers exceptional potential for targeting specimen roach. Their soft, palatable texture and natural sweetness make them highly attractive to larger roach.
While often used in conjunction with hemp to enhance attraction, tares can also be effective as a standalone hook bait. Again, accurate feeding combined with a stealthy presentation are key when employing tares to tempt cautious roach.
