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The Gudgeon can be found in stillwaters, canals and rivers feeding on bottom
dwelling organisms such as midge, caddis-fly and may-fly larvae. On either side
of it's mouth there is a short, single barbule, it's throat is scaleless. It's
back is brown, greyish brown or green with silvery or yellow sides adorned with
a row of six to twelve large, dark spots. The Gudgeon prefers a clean, gravel
bed and is nearly always found in large shoals. A sturdy fish, the Gudgeon has a
relatively short lifespan of around five years and can reach a length of 20cms
although 10 - 12cms is the norm.
Izaak Walton in 1653 wrote of the
Gudgeon:
"The GUDGEON is reputed a fish of
excellent taste, and to be very wholesome: he is of a fine shape, of a silver
colour, and beautified with black spots both on his body and tail. He breeds two
or three times in the year, and always in summer. He is commended for a fish of
excellent nourishment: the Germans call him Groundling., by reason of his
feeding on the ground; and he there feasts himself in sharp streams, and on the
gravel. He and the barbel both feed so, and do not hunt for flies at any time,
as most other fishes do: he is a most excellent fish to enter a young angler,
being easy to be taken with a small red-worm, on or near to the ground. He is
one of those leather-mouthed fish that has his teeth in his throat, and will
hardly be lost off from the hook if he be once strucken.
They be usually
scattered up and down every river in the shallows, in the heat of summer; but in
autumn, when the weeds begin to grow sour and rot, and the weather colder, then
they gather together, and get into the deep parts of the water, and are to be
fished for there with your hook always touching the ground, if you fish for him
with a float, or with a cork; but many will fish for the Gudgeon by hand, with a
running-line upon the ground, without a cork, as a trout is fished for; and it
is an excellent way, if you have a gentle rod and as gentle a hand."
Methods of Capture. Float fished
maggot or worm is the favoured method for these fish. A pole or whip used in
shallow water can produce large numbers of Gudgeon in a short space of time
provided the shoal can be kept interested by loose feeding. White maggot can
have good results as can bloodworm. |
