Species › Europe, UK & Ireland · Freshwater › Rudd

Freshwater

Rudd

Scardinius erythrophthalmus · common rudd, golden rudd, redfin

Water temp
61–75°F
Peak season
May–Aug
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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Rudd (Scardinius erythropthalmus 2009 G1.jpg)

Photo: George Chernilevsky · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Rudd look like a roach dipped in gold: brassy flanks, blood-red fins and an upturned mouth built for feeding at the surface. Native from Britain east to the Caspian basin, they thrive in weedy lakes, broads, fens, drains and slow rivers, and they have been introduced to a few US waters. Shoals cruise the upper layers on warm evenings picking off insects, and they are a favorite target for float anglers and fly fishers who enjoy visual fishing. A fish over 2 lb (0.9 kg) is a specimen.

Typical size4–12 oz (0.1–0.35 kg); 7–11 in
Trophy2 lb+ in the UK and Ireland; 3 lb+ is rare
Table farePoor — bony; catch and release

Where & when

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Rudd spawn in late spring and feed best in warm, settled weather from May to September, especially in the last two hours of daylight.

Norfolk Broads, United KingdomShallow reedy broads and rivers; historic rudd waterRiver Shannon, IrelandLough-and-river system with big golden ruddLough Ree, IrelandWeedy bays hold shoals of 2 lb-class fish

How to catch

Slow-sinking float fishingSet a light waggler shallow with no shot near the hook so maggots or bread flake sink slowly through the top 2–3 ft. Fire a few loose maggots over the float each cast and watch for the float to slide away as fish take on the drop.
Dry and emerger fliesOn calm evenings, cast small dries or unweighted buzzers to rising rudd along weed edges and reed margins. Use a 4–5 wt rod and a long, fine leader; rudd are easily spooked by line flash.

Gear

Rod12–13' float rod or 9' 4–5 wt fly rod
Reel2500 spinning or 4-wt fly reel
Line3–4 lb mono; 5X tippet on the fly

Lures

small dry fliesunweighted nymphs and buzzersmicro spinners

Baits

maggotsbread flakesweetcorncasters

Regulations

A rod license and a fishery permit are the norm in the UK and most of Europe; Ireland requires no state license for coarse fish but local permits often apply. Rudd are released in nearly all fisheries.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

How do you tell a rudd from a roach?

Look at the mouth and fin placement. A rudd has an upturned lower jaw that protrudes beyond the upper, and its dorsal fin sits well behind the base of the pelvic fins; a roach has a level mouth and a dorsal that lines up directly above the pelvics. Rudd are also more golden, though the two hybridize and odd fish can be hard to call.

Bite forecast — Rudd

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Rudd.

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