Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)

Specimen weight: 1 kg (2 lb 4 oz).
Record weight: 4lb 8oz Coney Lake, 1996.

The rudd, gold scaled and red finned, is one of the most striking native Irish fish. It thrives in the crystalline loughs of County Roscommon where fish of over 4lbs have been caught.

Features:
Rudd are characterised by their golden green hue, scarlet fins and protruding lower jaw.

Spawning:
They are sexually mature after 3 or 4 years and spawn from mid May to early June. Egg size is between 1.4-1.7 mm.

Fecundity:
The average rudd produces 108,000 -211,000 eggs/kg. Longevity (age): They can live for up to 17 years.

Diet:
Rudd is a shoaling species which feeds at or beneath the water surface. Surface feeding rudd are easily located by looking for the ripples they cause as they rise to the surface to feed on floating insects.

Best Angling Methods:
Float fishing mainly with small waggler floats. Are known to take small dry flies meant for trout.

Best Baits:
Maggots, bread, sweetcorn, etc., and a small range of bread based groundbaits.