CRUCIAN CARP

[oddy]

Here is a widespread misunderstanding that crucian carp are not native to Britain. The reasons for this are uncertain, but may be because of confusion between the names crucian and Prussian and the known introduction of true carp.
Nevertheless, there is no reason to believe that crucians are an introduced species. Their native range is very similar to several other native freshwater fish such as the bleak, silver bream, spined loach, ruffe and burbot. All are - or were - common in eastern England, roughly confined to the area bounded by the Thames and the many Yorkshire rivers flowing into the Humber estuary. From this region some have been redistributed by man or through man's interference with nature - cutting canals for example.
Even today - after several centuries of rivers changing course - crucians are still more common in eastern counties and the south of England. They are absent from Scotland, most of Wales and the whole of Ireland.
They are most accommodating little fish, able to survive in the smallest of pools. They thrive in densely overgrown, swampy waters with a soft, muddy bed - often places where no other fish can exist.
Being remarkably hardy, they have the ability to lie dormant through the severest winters and worst droughts. Pools and rivers which have virtually dried up during periods of drought have been known to hold live crucian carp among the roots of reed mace. During winter they can survive being frozen under ice, buried deep in the mud or in shallow swamps; as soon as the ice melts they 'wake up' again. Crucian carp can also live for extensive periods in water with very little oxygen. In these conditions their growth is stunted and they can only reach about 10-12cm (4-5in) in length. But in large lakes where there is plenty of food crucians become very deep-bodied and can grow to an exceptional 46cm (18in), with a weight of 3.2kg (7lb). They are not at all fussy about what they eat, except when very young. At this stage they feed only on planktonic crustaceans. As crucian carp grow their diet widens and eventually they eat most insect larvae, molluscs, crustaceans (such as water slaters) and a lot of plants. Such unfussy feeding habits are an advantage when living in small ponds where potential food sources can be limited. Mature at three to four years old, crucian carp spawn in May-June in the margins of ponds and lakes. The beautiful golden-coloured eggs stick to fine-leaved weeds (or, in poor conditions, thin tree roots growing in the water). The eggs hatch in a week but the young fish stay attached to the plants for two or three days more until they use up the rest of their yolk sac, when they swim off.
For the first weeks of life crucian carp form small schools, living at the edges of weed beds and under lily pads. With the onset of winter these groups break up. Crucian carp form hybrids with common carp and also with their close relative the goldfish. The former are fairly easy to identify because the hybrids have a small head - like crucians - but are equipped with one or two, and rarely three, small barbels like the common. For some reason, nearly all common/crucian hybrids are male. Patience is essential if you are fishing for big crucians, but you must also stay alert. Bite indication is often nothing more than a tremble on the float, so be ready. If you get it right, the reward might be a fine brace of  fish like these. Crucian carp grow to a maximum of around 2.7kg (6lb) in British waters. But in small farm ponds they rarely reach more than 285g (10oz) since they tend to overbreed in shallow water. Fish of this size provide a lot of fun for youngsters, but estate lakes and mature gravel pits with a good growth of lilies, weed and overhanging bushes and trees are a better proposition for the specimen hunter looking to catch a good fish of 0.9-1.4kg (2-3lb). Crucian carp are native to eastern England, the Midlands, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Scattered introductions are found in south-western and northern England and parts of Wales. The crucian carp has a deep body and fairly small head. Its back is olive green to golden brown and the bronze sides fade to a yellowish belly. The long, straight dorsal fin has 14-21 rays. There are 31-36 scales along the lateral line. With its well developed sensory nostrils and downward pointing mouth, the crucian carp is an effective bottom feeder. Unlike the common carp, the crucian does not have barbels. Crucian carp inhabit ponds, lakes, canals and slow-flowing rivers in south-eastern and northern England. Here are a few for you to try. Crucian carp are usually found in densely overgrown ponds and lakes where they feed on plants, insect larvae and water snails. They are hardy fish and can endure pollution, winter cold and oxygen deficiency better than most freshwater fish. In the depths of winter they may bury themselves in soft mud and hibernate. Then it is time to spawn they move into the shallow, weedy areas, especially lily beds.

[davey]

i have a few questions for the forum about crucians,,,,are there any cruc in blue and the whithy pool?best place in telford to catch a 1and a half plus cruc?....has anyone ever caught a cruc,,on ledger or bolt rigs?

[carl]

the wide waters in dawley proberly has the biggest crcian population and in the past i have cort them to  2lb10oz, this was on a bolt rig on bread with a 2.5lb hooklength its best in the summer when the lillys come up but you can catch crucians all year around on a fine float and maggots

[carl]

another good place for crucians is on legomery pool in the summer on meat less than a rod length out on float but a lot of bream and tench to be cort on a swim feeder

[davey]

nice crucian carl,,,,

[carl]

thxs, in the summer all the people that go down the wide fishing for carp with 10mm baits of corn just get nice crucians all day they call them nusance fish i supose they are when your not fishing for then whats your p.b crucian?

[davey]

my personal best is 2lb 15oz,,from a place called chigbourgh lakes,in essex,a very unusual place,,its owned by cemex angling and has a row of lillies runnning through the middle..about 2 acres..it has an island which has a resident,colony of terrapins,,only fished it once for a weekend with a group of angling buddies,,this fish looked a real old codger,,a right caracter felt privillidge to catch,it didnt go back again coz,,on the last day,the ballifes turned up with there boats and started moving the liily patches<they where in pot.>and spoilt my weekend, nice of them aye,,

[oddy]

you are wrong about (the wide waters in dawley proberly has the biggest crcian population) the blue pig canal and the AUDCO canal has the bigest population of crucian.

[carpaddict13]

Plenty of crucians to well over 3lb in the Withy as well , 3lb 6oz is the best i've had out of there

[carl]

Plenty of crucians to well over 3lb in the Withy as well , 3lb 6oz is the best i've had out of there

nice fish what did you catch it on?

[carpaddict13]

Plenty of crucians to well over 3lb in the Withy as well , 3lb 6oz is the best i've had out of there

nice fish what did you catch it on?

sweetcorn mate , baited up in the margins every day for a week with a tin of corn , had 19 out in 6 hours from just over a pound upto the 3lb 6oz

[carl]

good angling mate