Roger's Angling Pages
The Crucian Carp Carassius carassius		Carp family Cyprinidae

This fish differs from the Carp in that it has a smaller head, no barbels, a silver iris and there is usually a dark fleck in front of the caudal fin, particularly in young fishes. In places where there is a deficiency of food it has a low body form, whereas in a good environment it is distinguished by the high, arched structure of its body.

The Crucian Carp exists nearly all over Europe and eastwards as far as the river Lena. Together with the Carp it has even been introduced into Asia and America. It breeds profusely in still, densely overgrown, muddy waters. It grows more slowly than the Carp, has smaller measurements and weighs up to 8 oz, although the larger specimens can weigh 12 oz. In the U.S.S.R., in Lake Chulom near the Volga, Crucian Carp of up to 10 lb have been caught. Spawning occurs at the end of spring or the beginning of summer. The female gradually lays, in the course of several days, 100,000 to 300,000 eggs on various types of water vegetation. The dwarf variety grows to a length of 10 to 12 cm and begins to spawn. when only 7 cm long. Crossbreds between the Carp and the Crucian Carp can be found, which in some cases can even be fertile. They grow more slowly than Carp, but more quickly than Crucian Carp. Such crossbreeding is sometimes performed deliberately to obtain a suitable strain to populate waters where other species have found it difficult to survive.

The Crucian Carp is a valuable angling fish. It is also an excellent bait when fishing for predators, especially Pike, as it remains and even plays about in position on the hook beneath the float. It can also withstand transporting over large distances.