Species of UK Coarse Fish
Dace
Freshwater fish anglers might come across when fishing the waters of the UK and Ireland
Fishing for Dace baits and methods
DACE (Leuciscus leuciscus) 1lb 5oz 2dr
2002 Simon Ashton, River Weir
2002 Simon Ashton, River Weir
Common name: Dace
Latin name: Leuciscus leuciscus
Family: Cyprinidae
Latin name: Leuciscus leuciscus
Family: Cyprinidae
Description and Habitat of Dace
The Dace is a fast, lively, active fish, nicknamed the Dart, because of the way it darts through the fast flowing waters.
The freshwater fish Dace is closely related to the Chub but is a more streamlined fish and distinguished from the Chub by its anal and dorsal fins which are both concave, whereas the Chub's anal and dorsal fins are convex and red in colour.
Young dace also closely resemble the Roach in appearance, both in size and shape but the Roach has red eyes and the Dace have yellow eyes.
The Dace have a slender body, narrow pointed head with large yellow eyes and a small mouth, the body has greyish blue back with silvery flanks, white belly and the tail is deeply forked. The ventral and anal fins are white, tinged with pale red and the dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins tipped with black.
Depending on local climate and water temperature dace generally spawn between March and May, laying their pale orange eggs on a sandy or gravel bed or on aquatic plants.
Known to hybridise producing Dace/Chub and Dace/Rudd hybrids, this hybridisation makes identification of dace rather difficult.
Dace do not grow to big heavyweights and a fish of 8 ounces is considered a good catch.
The British rod caught record Dace was caught by Simon Ashton in 2002 from the River Weir and weighed 1 lb 5 oz 2dr.
The average life span of Dace is around seven to ten years but can live to fifteen years old.
Dace prefer clean, well oxygenated water and can be found in shoals in mid water or the fast flowing upper layers of water especially around weirs and weir pools.
Although predominantly found in rivers and streams with a sand or gravel substrate, the Dace can also be found in lakes and stillwaters, probably introduced by man or through floods.
Natural foods for Dace is algae, worms, insects, larvae of aquatic insects, snails and small crustaceans.
Dace are often seen feeding from the surface taking flies and non aquatic insects which have fallen into the water.
Fishing Methods for catching Dace
Light fishing tackle and small hooks are order of the day. Dace are usually fished for in fast running water and the method I have used when fishing for them is stick float fishing.
Because Dace are quick to feel resistance on the line and tend to drop bait easily use the lightest stick float possible. In the summer the stick float, with shot spread evenly down the line, hook size 22 to 16 baited with single castor or maggot should be set to fish from just below mid-water, holding back from time to time to let the bait rise nearer to the surface. This rise and fall of the bait will often tempt the Dace into biting.
Feeding little and often keeps the Dace interested and as they become more confident they can become quite avid feeders with more confident bites.
In the winter it has been said Dace tend to hole up in potholes or depressions on the riverbed.
As I haven't fished for Dace in the winter I cannot advise what method is best.
Fishing baits for catching Dace
Because of their small mouth the main baits for catching Dace are casters, maggots, pinkies and squat's. Alternatively bloodworm, a small red worm, bread punch or small piece of bread flake can catch dace. Dace have also been known to be caught by fly fishermen using small flies although this was more by chance
Article Copyright 1993 J.Boswell
www.fish-uk.com All rights reserved
The Dace is a fast, lively, active fish, nicknamed the Dart, because of the way it darts through the fast flowing waters.
The freshwater fish Dace is closely related to the Chub but is a more streamlined fish and distinguished from the Chub by its anal and dorsal fins which are both concave, whereas the Chub's anal and dorsal fins are convex and red in colour.
Young dace also closely resemble the Roach in appearance, both in size and shape but the Roach has red eyes and the Dace have yellow eyes.
The Dace have a slender body, narrow pointed head with large yellow eyes and a small mouth, the body has greyish blue back with silvery flanks, white belly and the tail is deeply forked. The ventral and anal fins are white, tinged with pale red and the dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins tipped with black.
Depending on local climate and water temperature dace generally spawn between March and May, laying their pale orange eggs on a sandy or gravel bed or on aquatic plants.
Known to hybridise producing Dace/Chub and Dace/Rudd hybrids, this hybridisation makes identification of dace rather difficult.
Dace do not grow to big heavyweights and a fish of 8 ounces is considered a good catch.
The British rod caught record Dace was caught by Simon Ashton in 2002 from the River Weir and weighed 1 lb 5 oz 2dr.
The average life span of Dace is around seven to ten years but can live to fifteen years old.
Dace prefer clean, well oxygenated water and can be found in shoals in mid water or the fast flowing upper layers of water especially around weirs and weir pools.
Although predominantly found in rivers and streams with a sand or gravel substrate, the Dace can also be found in lakes and stillwaters, probably introduced by man or through floods.
Natural foods for Dace is algae, worms, insects, larvae of aquatic insects, snails and small crustaceans.
Dace are often seen feeding from the surface taking flies and non aquatic insects which have fallen into the water.
Fishing Methods for catching Dace
Light fishing tackle and small hooks are order of the day. Dace are usually fished for in fast running water and the method I have used when fishing for them is stick float fishing.
Because Dace are quick to feel resistance on the line and tend to drop bait easily use the lightest stick float possible. In the summer the stick float, with shot spread evenly down the line, hook size 22 to 16 baited with single castor or maggot should be set to fish from just below mid-water, holding back from time to time to let the bait rise nearer to the surface. This rise and fall of the bait will often tempt the Dace into biting.
Feeding little and often keeps the Dace interested and as they become more confident they can become quite avid feeders with more confident bites.
In the winter it has been said Dace tend to hole up in potholes or depressions on the riverbed.
As I haven't fished for Dace in the winter I cannot advise what method is best.
Fishing baits for catching Dace
Because of their small mouth the main baits for catching Dace are casters, maggots, pinkies and squat's. Alternatively bloodworm, a small red worm, bread punch or small piece of bread flake can catch dace. Dace have also been known to be caught by fly fishermen using small flies although this was more by chance
Article Copyright 1993 J.Boswell
www.fish-uk.com All rights reserved
www.Fish-uk.com
