Bleak
Alburnus alburnus
Bleak is a small, silvery cyprinid common in slow rivers, canals, lakes, and reservoirs across Europe. It feeds high in the water column on plankton, insects, and surface prey, and is often used as livebait where legal.
Identification points
- Slender, laterally compressed body with a distinctly silver flank sheen
- Strongly upturned mouth adapted for surface and midwater feeding
- Silvery fins and a relatively pointed head with a large eye
Habitat
Shoals in open water and along margins of lowland rivers, backwaters, canals, gravel pits, lakes, and reservoirs; most common in calm or gently flowing, well-oxygenated waters with plenty of small zooplankton and drifting insects.
Bait notes
Small hooks with maggots, pinkies, worms, bread flake, caster, and tiny bread or fly imitations all work. Light float tactics and tiny mormyshka-style or lure presentations can take bleak when they are feeding actively; it is not usually targeted as a main sport fish.
Behavior
A fast-moving schooling fish that often feeds near the surface or just below it, especially in warm weather and during insect falls. It is opportunistic on tiny drifting food and will rise readily to surface activity.
Caution
Rarely eaten as table fare in many fisheries because of its very small size and numerous bones; check local rules if using it as livebait, since livebait regulations vary. No major species-specific toxin is known, but observe local water advisories.
Fishing notes
Fish very light terminal tackle, small hooks, and a fine float set-up or pinch-depth near the surface. Feed sparingly with micro-particles, bread crumbs, or loose maggots to keep a shoal interested; in many waters it is taken incidentally while targeting roach or dace.