Freshwater · Late spring and summer
Bleak
Alburnus alburnus
The bleak is a tiny surface shoal fish — a classic match-fishing species and the prime food of the asp. Shoals of thousands feed on plankton and wind-blown insects at the surface, flashing silver in the sun, and on the whip with fine hooks it is pure summer fun at a fish a minute.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Tiny, strongly compressed silvery body with a green-blue back
- Upturned mouth for surface plankton feeding
- Very long anal fin with a concave edge, much longer than the dorsal
- Large silvery scales that shed easily; sharp belly keel
- Pointed snout and relatively large eye
Habits
- Huge surface shoals feed on plankton and wind-blown insects
- Silver flash of turning shoals is visible from high banks
- Prime natural food of asp, perch and pike-perch
- Classic match-fishing species: hundreds can be caught on the whip
- Moves to deeper, slower water in winter
Distribution
Where to find them
- Surface shoals on river glides and weir runs
- Reservoir open water in summer
- Canal bridges and boat moorings
Where they live
How to catch them
Whip and pole fishing over shoals Shore
Rig: Pole or short whip, size 20 hook, tiny float set shallow in the layer where the shoal feeds
Bait/lure: Single maggots or pinkies fed very loose
Key tip: Feed to a rhythm — a few maggots every few casts — and keep the tempo high; bleak fishing is rhythm.
Light float fishing on lakes over open water Lake
Rig: Small waggler or pole float on light tackle, size 18-20 hook, bait falling slowly through the upper layer over a cloud of groundbait
Bait/lure: Maggots or tiny bread punch over a groundbait cloud
Key tip: Keep the depth shallow and keep working the float; shoals follow the bait cloud.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light pole or 12 ft whip/float rod
- Line: 1-2 lb mono
- Terminal: Size 18-22 fine hooks, tiny wagglers and pole floats
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 1-3 oz (0.03-0.09 kg), 4-6 in (10-15 cm); large fish to 8 in (20 cm)
On the table
Very poor — tiny and bony; released or used as predator bait where legal.
Similar species
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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