Freshwater · Spring through autumn, plus ice fishing in winter

Amur Ide

Leuciscus waleckii

A silvery Leuciscus of the far north-east — Heilongjiang, Nenjiang and Liao rivers and the Hulun and Dali lakes — locally called 雅罗 or 华子鱼, and counted as the 'ide' among the north-east's prized 'five luo' (五罗) food fishes. Its European counterpart is a separate species, the ide (Leuciscus idus) of European rivers, which has its own page in this guide.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Amur Ide — Photo: Nikolay Przhevalsky, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons (Historical scientific illustration — the only clear Commons image of this species.)

Identifying features

Streamlined silvery cyprinid with large scales and a moderately small, slightly upturned mouth
Dorsal fin set mid-body and an adipose fin is ABSENT — it is a cyprinid, not a whitefish
Anal and tail fins often carry a faint reddish tint outside the breeding season, brighter in spawners
Body depth moderate — slimmer than a bream, deeper than a sharpbelly
No barbels; lateral line complete and gently curved

Habits

Schools in mid-water in rivers and open lakes, moving to shallows to feed
Feeds on insect larvae, small crustaceans, algae and small fish fry
Spawns in spring in shallow, vegetated water and tributary mouths
A regular ice-fishing catch in the northern lakes and slow rivers in winter

Distribution

Regional coverage expanding

Where to find them

Stream and river runs with moderate current
Lake shallows and reed edges in spring
Through the ice over lake flats in winter

Where they live

Heilongjiang and Nenjiang riversLiao RiverHulun and Dali lakes

How to catch them

Small-hook bait fishing in streams and lakes River

Rig: Light float rig with size 10-14 hooks and small baits in moderate current or lake shallows

Bait/lure: Small worms, maggots and soft dough

Key tip: Keep baits in mid-water where the schools travel and loose-feed a little to hold them.

Ice fishing Lake

Rig: Short ice rod, fine line and tiny jigs or hooks over lake flats

Bait/lure: Insect larvae and small dough bits

Key tip: Work several holes over flats and jig gently just off bottom.

Best baits & lures

Small worm and maggot baitsSmall dough baitsTiny insect larvae through the ice

Techniques for Amur Ide →

Baseline setup

Rod: Light float rod or short ice rod
Line: 6-8 lb mono
Terminal: Fine floats, tiny jigs, size 10-14 hooks

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 8-14 inches, around 1 lb; large specimens 3 lb

On the table

Good — one of the north-east 'five luo' table fishes: firm, tasty flesh, though with fine bones.

Similar species

Baikal DaceBaikal dace is its smaller western relative found in China only in Xinjiang's Irtysh and Ulungur Lake; Amur ide is the bigger fish of the Heilongjiang, Nenjiang and Liao systems

SharpbellySharpbelly is a tiny, slim upper-water fish with a sharp belly keel and strongly upturned mouth; Amur ide is far larger, deeper-bodied and mid-water

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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