Roger's Angling Pages
Alburnoides bipunctatus		Carp family Cyprinidae

Alburnoides bipunctatus penetrates further up river than a similar fish, the Bleak. It is commonly found with Trout, in tranquil places such as pools and above weirs, and usually in the company of Minnows. Its body is laterally flatter but deeper than the Bleak's, and the mouth position is central rather than on top. The eyes are large and the fin roots are pink. The predominant colour is dark silver. The lateral line bends behind the head and is accompanied along its whole length by dark stripes. This fish does not exceed 10 cm in length and only rarely lives to an age of 6 years. It is not found in the northern or southern countries of Europe, nor in England or Ireland.

Anglers often are not aware of its presence in the river; it never multiplies so fast that it outnumbers other species. It breeds in May, when the female lays several thousand eggs in the peaceful, slow-moving stretches of the river. It lives on various small aquatic organisms, such as insect larvae and dead insects.

A. bipunctatus has no economic importance but forms the prey of predatory fishes. As such it is useful as live bait when fishing for predators. It is most likely to be caught in inlets, pools and places with a slow current, on a small hook with the thinnest line and by float fishing.