Post by Daz on Feb 3, 2013 14:31:21 GMT
Vital Statistics:
Scientific Name: Phoxinus phoxinus
Maximum Weight: 13.5dr
Average Weight: 5dr – 8dr
Maximum Length: 10cm
Life Span: 8 years
Roach
'The reliable roach'
Its tolerance of moderate pollution and low levels of dissolved oxygen has helped the roach thrive. It is now one of the most abundant lowland fish in England.
minnow Characteristics:
Minnows have small, slender bodies with a blunt nose and a small down-turned mouth. They have dark green/brown backs and flanks that have dark blotches along them and a gold stripe; the belly is a creamy white/yellow in colour. The fins are very pale brown and the caudal fin is deeply forked. They have quite large eyes to allow them to be ever watchful for predators.
Females grow larger than the male Minnows, which are generally very small and those caught will be between 5-7cm, with a 10cm fish being a specimen. Interestingly, the British record Minnow was actually caught from a lake in Durham in 1998.
Where to find minnow:
Minnows are one of the most abundant British fish, inhabiting clean, well oxygenated water and are mainly found in streams and rivers, occasionally being found in clean lakes and ponds.
Generally swimming in shoals that range in size considerably, forever alert and darting quickly in response to food or danger that they face from every angle. They form an important part of the food chain for Kingfishers and are also predated by all predatory fish, when alarmed they can instantly turn very pale as a defence.
Feeding Habits:
Minnow eat tiny crustaceans, freshwater shrimps, insect larvae and algae and aquatic plants.
minnow baits:
Maggot best all round bait
How to catch minnow
Fish for any other species whatsoever on a river and the Minnow will find your bait, unless it is heavy enough that they cannot move it or so hard that they can not gain anything from it, they are likely to attack it remorselessly ! To catch them, simply put on a size 20 hook and a single maggot when using a small float just off the main flow: you will often see them attack free offerings, its just a matter of a few seconds for your float to go under.
Keep a couple of Minnows in a bait box in fresh water and a spare rod with a simple perch live baiting rig, so it can quickly be cast if you see the shoal suddenly disperse in all directions or jump clear of the water.
Minnows are the bait robbers extraordinaire, somehow capable of consuming bait much larger than appears possible.
Scientific Name: Phoxinus phoxinus
Maximum Weight: 13.5dr
Average Weight: 5dr – 8dr
Maximum Length: 10cm
Life Span: 8 years
Roach
'The reliable roach'
Its tolerance of moderate pollution and low levels of dissolved oxygen has helped the roach thrive. It is now one of the most abundant lowland fish in England.
minnow Characteristics:
Minnows have small, slender bodies with a blunt nose and a small down-turned mouth. They have dark green/brown backs and flanks that have dark blotches along them and a gold stripe; the belly is a creamy white/yellow in colour. The fins are very pale brown and the caudal fin is deeply forked. They have quite large eyes to allow them to be ever watchful for predators.
Females grow larger than the male Minnows, which are generally very small and those caught will be between 5-7cm, with a 10cm fish being a specimen. Interestingly, the British record Minnow was actually caught from a lake in Durham in 1998.
Where to find minnow:
Minnows are one of the most abundant British fish, inhabiting clean, well oxygenated water and are mainly found in streams and rivers, occasionally being found in clean lakes and ponds.
Generally swimming in shoals that range in size considerably, forever alert and darting quickly in response to food or danger that they face from every angle. They form an important part of the food chain for Kingfishers and are also predated by all predatory fish, when alarmed they can instantly turn very pale as a defence.
Feeding Habits:
Minnow eat tiny crustaceans, freshwater shrimps, insect larvae and algae and aquatic plants.
minnow baits:
Maggot best all round bait
How to catch minnow
Fish for any other species whatsoever on a river and the Minnow will find your bait, unless it is heavy enough that they cannot move it or so hard that they can not gain anything from it, they are likely to attack it remorselessly ! To catch them, simply put on a size 20 hook and a single maggot when using a small float just off the main flow: you will often see them attack free offerings, its just a matter of a few seconds for your float to go under.
Keep a couple of Minnows in a bait box in fresh water and a spare rod with a simple perch live baiting rig, so it can quickly be cast if you see the shoal suddenly disperse in all directions or jump clear of the water.
Minnows are the bait robbers extraordinaire, somehow capable of consuming bait much larger than appears possible.
