Species · Coarse · Leuciscus idus
Ide
A close relative of the chub, introduced from mainland Europe in the nineteenth century and now mainly a stocked-fishery fish. Deep-bodied and silvery with reddish fins and a yellow iris - it feeds hard in autumn and winter when other silvers go quiet.
Where and when
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Stocked stillwaters and commercial fisheries, slow rivers |
| Best time | Evening/Night (autumn-winter) |
| Category | Coarse |
Baits and tactics
- Tactics: Float, Freelining, Leger
- Baits and flies: Bread, Cheese, Meat, Worms
Tackle that suits
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Hooks | 12-16. Strong wire. Wide gape for meat, round bend for bread |
| Mainline | 0.16-0.20mm. 4-5lb. Mono - reliable on rivers |
| Hooklength | 0.12-0.16mm. 8-12". Mono - step up near snags |
| Shotting | Heavy leads for trotting - gets the bait down in the current quickly. |
| Field notes | Ide feed hard in the cold months - November to February is prime; Freelined bread or cheese through the deep runs is devastating; They sit deep under overhanging trees - stealth is key; Red lower lip and dark back separate them from the chub; Trotting with a loafer float keeps the bait on the fish; Elastic: 8-10 solid for the strong first runs |
More coarse species
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