Get Hooked On Fishing Midlands

Barbel

Elongated body, almost round in cross section but flat bellied. Head pointed and scale less, eyes rather small, set high on the sides of the head, lips thick with two pairs of fleshy barbels. Dorsal fin high but short based, strong spine at front of fin, anal fin short based and rounded.

Body covered with fairly small scales firmly embedded in skin, 55-65 scales in the lateral line. Coloration, a warm greeny-brown on the back, golden yellow on the sides and ventrally, fins dark, except pectoral, pelvic and anal fins which are yellowish orange.

Habitat: A bottom living fish in the middle reaches of lowland rivers. Particularly common in areas where the river bed is gravely and the current is moderate, often in weir pools. Typically most active at night, usually in schools.

Food: Bottom living invertebrates, particularly crustaceans, insect larvae and molluscs.

Breeding: Spawns in late spring following an upstream migration to clean gravel beds. The yellowish eggs stick to stones, usually in the interstices between them.

Statistics: The average size will be about 7-8 lbs, but there are many specimen fish to be caught by those who put the effort in. The current UK record is 19lb 6oz.

Bleak

Slim bodied and slender. Head scaleless, pointed, with an oblique mouth opening on the upper surface of the head. Eyes relatively large, scales large, very thin and fragile, easily dislodged, 48-55 in the lateral line.

Anal fin long based, concave at the edge, with 16-20 branched rays. Coloration, back and upper sides blue-green, lower sides and belly brilliant silver. The fins are greyish, white ventrally.

Habitat: Lives mainly in slow flowing mainland rivers, but penetrates well upstream to the middle reaches of rivers. Survives well in turbid and poorly oxygenated water but is then seen mostly on the surface.

Food: Eats animal plankton, especially small crustaceans, flying insects when they settle on the water. It is well equipped to feed at the surface of the water.

Breeding: Spawns in May or June in shallow water over stones or shallow weed beds.

Statistics: They are very small, but can be caught in large numbers. The current UK record is 4oz 9grams.

Bream

Very deep bodied with flat sides and high back, young specimens are more slender. Head is scaleless, relatively small, the eyes small and the mouth can extend ventrally to form a tube. Body scales small, 51-60 in the lateral line.

Anal fin long bases with 24-30 branched rays, its outline is strongly concave. Coloration, dark brown or greyish on the back, sides golden brown, young fish are silvery sided. Fins greyish brown, ventrally tinted with red.

Habitat: Lives in deep slow moving rivers, backwaters and in flood plain lakes, reservoirs and flooded gravel pits. It lives close to the bottom in schools. At night moves into shallow water to feed.

Food: Strongly dependant on bottom living insect larvae, worms, molluscs and crustaceans. The down turned tubular mouth is ideal for feeding on the lake bed.

Breeding: Spawns in late spring and early summer amongst dense plant growth, mostly at night, and in shallow water. Yellowish eggs stick to the weeds.

Statistics: Fish size will vary depending on the location. The current UK record is 18lb 8oz.

Chubb

A thickset, round bodied fish, with a broad head and shoulders, the snout is blunt and the mouth wide. Body fully scaled, scales moderatly large, 44-46 in lateral line.

Dorsal and anal fins similar in shape, short based, anal fin with rounded edge. Coloration, green or grey-brown on the back, sides silvery, ventrally white. Scales on back and sides outlined in darker colour, giving a network appearance. Ventral fins are yellowish.

Habitat: Typically lives in rivers, especially in the moderate currents of the middle reaches, but also common in the slow flowing lowland reaches and occasionally in still waters. A schooling fish when young but larger specimens are solitary.

Food: Very adaptable. When young, feeds heavily on insect larvae and aquatic invertabrates. Larger fish will eat fish, crustaceans such as crayfish, frogs and even young water voles.

Breeding: Spawns May-June in shallow water over plants and gravel. The eggs stick to plants and hatch in 8-10 days.

Statistics: The average size of fish will be about 1lb-3lb. there will be many larger fish, but tend to be more difficult to catch. The current UK record is 8lb 10oz.

Common Carp

Scaleless head and fully scaled body. Dorsal fin long based, free edge concave, a stout spine (with serrated rear edges as first ray) Mouth toothless but with 2 barbels at each side, second one longer. Coloration variable, wild fish usually greenish brown on back, yellowish on belly.

Habitat: Large lakes and slow flowing rivers in lowland areas. The native carp of eastern and central Europe are slender bodied compared with the fat, artificially reared specimens.

Food: Vegetation and bottom living insect larvae, snails, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding: Late spring in shallow, sun warmed areas over dense vegetation. The eggs and newly hatched young are attached to the plants.

Statistics: Can be found in most still waters and some rivers. The current UK record is 59lb 12oz (all carp)

Crucian Carp

Scaleless head and fully scaled body. Dorsal fin long based, the free edge convex, a lightly serrated spine at the front of the fin, 14-21 branched rays. No barbels at the mouth.

Body deep in larger specimens. Coloration, olive-green with bronze tint on the sides. Ventral fins have reddish tinge, other fins are dark greeny-brown. Forms hybrids with carp and goldfish.

Habitat: Lives in marshy pools, overgrown lakes and backwaters of rivers. Tolerates high and low temperatures as well as low oxygen levels and can survive in shallow, stagnant water where few other fish could survive. Usually associated with heavy plant growth.

Food: Mostly plants, also eats insect larvae, crustaceans and molluscs. Young feed on planktonic crustaceans.

Breeding: Spawns in May and June. The golden eggs are stuck to plants. Young fish hatch out in 5-7 days but stay on the plant for a further several days.

Statistics: A species that is not so common these days. The current UK record is 4lb 8oz.

Dace

Slim bodied with a relatively small head and mouth. The body is fully scaled, the lateral line curving downwards following the outline of the belly, with 48-51 pored scales. The origin of the dorsal fin is directly above the pelvics.

Anal fin short based, with 8-9 branched rays, outline concave. Coloration, greenish-olive on the back, the sides conspicuously silvery, whitish below. Dorsal and tail fins greyish, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins yellow to pale orange. Iris of the eye yellowish.

Habitat: Typically found in middle reaches of rivers and upstream brooks. Usually found in moderately clean running water, but, being adaptable, can be found in slow flowing lowland rivers.

Food: Eats insects, both flying and in their larval aquatic stages, takes large numbers of small arthropods which fall into the water from bankside trees and vegitation.

Breeding: Spawns early in the spring, usually in shallow water. The eggs are small, pale orange and drop between the stones in the gravel. They take up to 25 days to hatch.

Statistics: The average size is about 6-8 oz, can be caught in large numbers. The current UK record is 1lb 4oz.

Grayling

Adipose fin present. Body flat sided and moderately deep, but with a small head and pointed snout. Dorsal fin high (especially males) and many rayed 17-24 rays.

Scales moderately large. Coloration on the back steel blue to greeny brown, sides silvery but with faint violet stripes. Dorsal fin with rows of dusky spots.

Habitat: Lives in clean, cool, well oxygenated rivers, can also be found in some natural lakes, often in mountainous regions.

Food: Bottom living insect larvae, crustaceans and even molluscs. Also eats insects and other animals that fall into the water from the bankside or over hanging trees.

Breeding: Spawns in spring on gravelly shallows. The coloration of the male is brighter at spawning time and there is some display, the males dorsal is wrapped over females back.

Statistics: Can be found through out the UK, mainly in rivers. The current UK record is 4lb 3oz.

Minnow

A small fish with a rounded body and rounded, blunt snouted head. The dorsal and anal fins are short based with rounded outlines. Body covered with very small scales, lateral line curved downwards following the belly outline, but incomplete with gaps in its course towards the tail.

Coloration, back and upper sides olive brown, ventrally creamy white. A series of dusky blotches along the sides, the darkest nearest the tail. Breeding males have red bellies and black throats.

Habitat: Small streams, often high up in the headwaters and occasionally in high altitude lakes. Most common in regions where the temperature is low and the oxygen levels high, but it is found in small numbers in large rivers close to shallow water.

Food: Eats a wide range of small crustaceans, insects including those that fall into the water from the backside vegetation, algae and water plants.

Breeding: Breeds in spring (April June) on gravel shallows often below a riffle, the eggs are shed amongst the stones.

Statistics: They are widespread throughout the UK, can be a nuisance during the summer months. The Current UK record is 13.5 grams.

Perch

The shape of the body varies, depending on nutrition, mostly slender bodied with a short head, rounded, blunt snout. Two dorsal fins, the first with 13-15 long spines, joined at the base to the second dorsal. Anal fin is short based with 2 sharp spines at the front. Pelvic fins are set close together, each with a spine in it. Teeth in the jaws are numerous, but small, no large canines.

Colouration, back greeny-brown becoming green on the sides and creamy on the belly. A series of dark vertical bars run along the sides and an intense dark spot at the end of the spiny dorsal fin, ventral fins are deep orange.

Habitat: Lives mainly in lowland lakes and slow-flowing rivers, can be found in all types of still water, in which it will survive but not thrive. When young, they form small schools which gather under bridges or over hanging trees or bushes, older fish tend to be more solitary.

Food: Young Perch eat large numbers of planktonic crustaceans, later feeding on aquatic insect larvae. Older fish will feed on small fish (including Perch) but will also feed on insects.

Breeding: Spawns April to May in shallow water. Their eggs are shed in long strands which are woven around plants and tree roots.

Statistics: The average size that many people will catch will be up to about 3/4 lb, but for those who persue better fish 3lb and over is not impossible. The current UK record is 5lb 9oz (2002).

Pike

Long, torpedo shaped body with dorsal and anal fins close to the tail fin. Head pointed from side view, snout flat. The lower jaws with several massive fangs, hundreds of small sharp teeth on palate.

Coloration, greenish brown above, the sides greenish, flecked with golden lines and speckles on sides, sometimes forming bars. The colour pattern is specific to the individual.

Habitat: Lakes and slow flowing rivers or canals. Young fish often lie close to the surface amongst plants, adults lurk in deep water under cover, typically lie hidden in vegitation.

Food: Juveniles eat invertabrates, young fish, tadpoles, etc, adults eat fish, frogs, water voles, and the largest will eat ducklings and other water birds occasionally.

Breeding: Spawns in the early spring. Often 2-3 males accompany the much larger female. The eggs are shed over water plants. They will mature in 2-3 years.

Statistics: Can be found in many waters in the UK. The current UK record is 46lb 13oz.

Roach

Moderately deep bodied with a small head, young fish are more slender. Head scaleless, body with large scales, 42-45 in the lateral line. Dorsal and anal fins both short based, anal fin with 9-11 branched rays.

The dorsal fin lies vertically above the base of the pelvic fins. Coloration, distinctive, iris of the eye red, pelvic and anal fins orange to bright red, pectoral fins reddish. Dorsal and tail fins dusky. Back blue greeny brown, sides intensely silver.

Habitat: Lowland lakes and rivers, especially slow flowing rivers. Particularly common where there is good weed growth.

Food: Eats aquatic insect larvae, insects, crustaceans, snails and a lot of plant matter. Young will eat small crustaceans such as water fleas.

Breeding: Spawns April-June, shedding its yellowish eggs over plants, algae and even tree roots. The eggs stick to the vegitation and hatch in 9-12 days.

Statistics: Another species which can be found throughout the UK. The current UK record is 4lb 3oz.

Rudd

Deep bodied with a rather small head. Head scaleless, the mouth steeply angled to open on the upper edge of the snout. Dorsal fin short based, rather high, its origin vertically behind the level of the base of of the pelvic fins. Anal fin with 10-11 branched rays. The scales across the belly form a sharp keel.

Coloration, deep greeny brown on the back, sides bronze yellow, ventrally creamy. All the fins are reddish, the pelvic and anal fins are blood red. Iris of the eye golden with a red fleck above it.

Habitat: Lives in oxbows and backwaters of large lowland rivers, also in lakes. Has been widely introduced to less typical waters. Thrives in heavily weeded waters and survives in areas where dissolved oxygen is low.

Food: Juveniles eat invertabrates, young fish, tadpoles, etc, adults eat fish, frogs, water voles, and the largest will eat ducklings and other water birds occasionally.

Breeding: Spawns April to June amongst dense vegetation and at the edges of reed beds. The eggs stick to the plants and hatch in 8-15 days.

Statistics: Can be found throughout the UK, but may prove to be a challenge to catch. The current UK record is 4lb 10oz.

Tench

A thickset, heavy bodied fish, which is distinct from all other members of its family. Body rounded, tail deep. The head is relatively large, the mouth terminal with a single barbel at each corner, the eyes are small and reddish. Fins all rounded, body scales tiny and deeply embedded.

Coloration, deep greeny brown above with bronzy sides and a yellowish tinge to the belly.

Habitat: Found mainly in lakes and pools, and sometimes lower reaches of rivers. It can live in heavily silted, densely weeded areas, where few other fish could survive. Very tolerant of high temperatures and low oxygen levels.

Food: Mainly a bottom feeder eating crustaceans, aquatic insects, molluscs and a considerable amount of plant material.

Breeding: Spawns in late spring and early summer, laying its eggs amongst vegetation. The eggs are greenish in colour and hatch in 6-8 days.

Statistics: Found in many still waters in the UK. The current UK record is 15lb 3oz.

Zander

A long slender fish with a comparatively large pointed head. The body and most of the head are covered with scales. Two dorsal fins, the first contains 13-15 strong, long spines and is seperate from the second which has 2 spines and 19-24 branched rays. Both fins are long based and high. The head is pointed, the eyes large mouth very large, containing many small sharp teeth.

Coloration, greeny brown on the back becoming lighter on the sides and white ventrally. Dorsal fin and tail spotted.

Habitat: Most abundant in lowland rivers and some large still waters, mainly in turbid waters. It lives in mid water, most active in twilight conditions.

Food: When young, eats insect larvea and young fish, later in life becomes entirely fish eating.

Breeding: Spawns in April-June over sandy or stoney bottom and amongst roots of aquatic plants.

Statistics: Can be found throughout the UK in rivers and still waters. The current UK record is 19lb 5oz's.