The bleak is one of the smallest Uk corase fish when it reaches maturity it seldom exceeds 5" long and the british record for Alburnus alburnus stands at a mere 4oz.
Bleak is well kown in Europe for the qualities of it's scales which are used in the manufacture of artificial pearls however it takes over 16,000 fish to make 1lb of this material which has lead to a dwindling of stocks in some areas.
Description
It is very similar to the dace but with a more upturned mouth. It is mainly silver with a greeny yellow tinge to the top of each flank and it has a forked tail fin.
Habitat
Alburnus alburnus are predominately a river fish in the Uk but can be found in lakes in the rest of Europe. They are the ultimate shoal fish living fairly close to the surface where they will eat plankton and also take flies from the surface.
Baits
Alburnus alburnus has become a target species for match anglers over the years particularly on the River Wye where they can be found in abundance. By using whip tactics using very small hooks and hook baits a large quantity of these fish can be caught amassing a match winning weight - providing somebody is not sitting on top of Chub!!
If you would like to submit a picture of your latest bleak
catch Click this link
