Dace (Leuciscus leucisus)

Specimen weight: 300g (0.66lb)
Record weight: 1lb 2oz, River Blackwater, Cappoquin, 1966

A smiling Terry Jackson with his 0.362kg dace from the River Nore, August 2002.

Dace are one of our more recent fish introductions but unlike roach have not become prolific throughout Ireland. They are still confined to only two catchments in the southern half of the country. Where they occur there is a good chance of taking a specimen and sport is always guaranteed.

Features:
The dace is similar in appearance to roach but is distinguished by the yellow, not red, eye and the slimmer body. Dace are confined in distribution to mainly the River Barrow and Cork Blackwater.

Spawning:
Dace are sexually mature after 2 years. They spawn in March at temperatures above 10 °C on river beds with a stony substrate. Egg size is 1.5 mm.

Fecundity:
Female dace produce 15,000-135,000 eggs/kg. Longevity (age): They live for about 9 years.

Diet:
Juveniles feed on plankton, adults feed on insects and crustaceans.

Best Angling Methods:
Float fishing with waggler or stick float; pole fishing.

Best Baits:
Maggots, casters, bread and a small range of groundbaits.