Freshwater · Late spring through summer, plus ice fishing in winter
Baikal Dace
Leuciscus baicalensis
A small Leuciscus that in China lives only in Xinjiang's Irtysh River and Ulungur Lake — the basic, everyday catch of the Irtysh group in this guide, sharing its water with Amur pike, European perch, zander and tench.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Small, streamlined silvery cyprinid with large scales and a small, terminal mouth
- Dorsal fin mid-body; no adipose fin and no barbels
- Fins mostly pale, with only a faint tint in breeding fish
- Body slimmer and smaller than an Amur ide's, with a plainer silver colour
- Lateral line complete; tail moderately forked
Habits
- Schools in mid-water in the river and lake, moving along edges to feed
- Feeds on insect larvae, small crustaceans and algae
- Spawns in late spring in shallow margins and tributary mouths
- A common ice-fishing catch on Ulungur Lake and slow Irtysh backwaters in winter
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Slow Irtysh runs and backwaters
- Ulungur Lake margins and bays
- Through the ice over lake flats in winter
Where they live
How to catch them
Small-hook bait fishing River
Rig: Light float rig with size 12-16 hooks and tiny baits in slow runs and lake margins
Bait/lure: Small worms, maggots and soft dough
Key tip: Keep the bait in mid-water and loose-feed sparingly to hold the school.
Ice fishing Lake
Rig: Short ice rod, fine line and tiny jigs over Ulungur Lake flats
Bait/lure: Insect larvae and small dough bits
Key tip: Jig gently just off bottom and move holes until a school is found.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light float rod or short ice rod
- Line: 4-6 lb mono
- Terminal: Fine floats, tiny jigs, size 12-16 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 5-8 inches; large specimens about 10 inches
On the table
Fair — small and bony; eaten locally, often in soups or dried, but valued more as an everyday catch than a table prize.
Similar species
Amur IdeAmur ide is its larger north-eastern relative of the Heilongjiang, Nenjiang and Liao systems; Baikal dace is smaller and, in China, found only in the Irtysh and Ulungur Lake
Pale ChubPale chub is a stream fish of eastern and southern China with a strongly upturned mouth and a faint lateral stripe; Baikal dace is a plain silvery lake-and-river fish of Xinjiang's Irtysh onlyRegulations 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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