Learn to distinguish ide fish from roach, chub and asp

Differences from roach

Ide, as the most interesting representative of the ray-finned family, is classified as a freshwater species, but sometimes it can also be found in slightly salty water. Juveniles are commonly called roaches. These fish are among the hardiest river inhabitants that can withstand sudden temperature changes and difficult weather conditions.

In Russia they are considered one of the most popular fish. This semi-predator leads a mainly gregarious lifestyle. But he begins to organize flocks only after reaching a certain age.

Quite often, ides are confused with another representative of the carp family - roach (photo). The value of this fish lies in its excellent taste and the benefits that the substances contained in its meat bring.

Ide and roach have quite a lot in common, as can be seen from their descriptions. For habitat, both species choose fresh or slightly salted water bodies. Both ide and roach belong to the category of long-livers, which in natural conditions live up to 15 years without problems.

As for the exterior features, both fish have similar body shapes. It is not so easy to distinguish them. They have equally elongated and rounded bodies. Both representatives of the carp family have the same number of fins - five, located in the same parts of the body, pairs:

tail;
dorsal;
abdominal;
chest;
anal.

The main difference between ide and roach is the color of the scales. In the first, it is cast in a rich yellow color. Roaches, on the other hand, have scales that are pale silver in color.

Both fish are quite bony.

How to easily distinguish an asp from a chub

There is an opinion among beginning spinning fishermen that the difference between these predators is minimal, and therefore finding the differences here is very difficult. Let's try to dispel this myth.

Appearance

Asp and chub are typical predators of large and small Russian rivers. This is where their similarities end. We list the main differences:

The chub has much larger scales and has a golden-green hue. In the sheresper it is silver, with a pronounced blue.

It is logical that a fish that got its name because of the shape of its head should have a rather unusual head. In the chub it is disproportionately large and has a rounded shape. The asp is more harmonious in its proportions. It is appropriate to mention here one of the main differences - the jaws. Asps, having the status of a predator, have rather weak “offensive weapons”. With a powerful jaw, almost all of its teeth are nothing more than a semblance of tubercles or protrusions. The chub is more dangerous in this regard. Moreover, his pharyngeal teeth (those located at the very throat) are extremely powerful. They are located in two rows.

On a note! Powerful jaws allow chubs to easily cope even with the chitinous shells of river crustaceans and mollusks.

Another sign that allows you to distinguish an asp from a chub is the color and shape of its fins. The first one has a truncated anal fin and is much narrower, but nature did not spare red paint for the second one.

Habits

To be fair, we note that these predators are not only different in appearance. The differences in habits and disposition are obvious here. Sheresper is clearly stronger and therefore, when chasing prey, he even manages to jump out of the water. Its prey can include butterflies, beetles and other insects flying low over the water surface, as well as small birds.

The chub is more careful in this regard. His tactics are to attack from cover or from deep.

Difference with chub

The second type of fish with which ide is often confused is chub (smut). They are both predators who prefer to hunt closer to the surface of the water during the warm season. The favorite delicacy of these skilled hunters are fry, swimmers and small insects that accidentally find themselves in the water.

Even though chubs love fresh water, but unlike roaches, they will never choose stagnant bodies of water to live in.

It is especially difficult to distinguish an ide from a chub if both fish are small. When they reach adulthood, the difference becomes more noticeable. Thus, the body length of a chub usually reaches a length of 50–80 cm; its brother rarely reaches 50 cm. On average, the length of its body is 40 cm. As for weight, there are differences here too. The average weight of an ide is 2-2.5 kg, that of an opponent is about 8 kg.

The difference is also present in the structure of the body and the color of the scales. The chub's head looks blunter and wider. Its brother has a more pointed head shape. He already has a mouth and the body itself is much smaller. The scales are much wider in smuts, while in ides they are smaller. As for the color, the color of the chub’s back is dark green, their fins are orange. Yazi are distinguished by a lighter back and reddish fins.

Chub, description

The chub also belongs to the carp family. It can reach more than 50 cm in length and weigh up to 8 kg. It is often confused with ide, but the main difference between them is the shape of the head.

The chub has a large mouth, teeth arranged in two rows, powerful jaws. Like many cyprinids, they have pharyngeal teeth.

Thanks to its large mouth and teeth located in the throat, the chub easily copes with the hard chitinous coverings of crustaceans.

The body is cylindrical, elongated and slightly compressed from the sides, which allows it to feel good in the current.

The back is dark, the body itself - the sides and belly are light. The scales are quite large and thick. The fins near the head are almost orange in color, while those on the belly are red.

With age, the pectoral fins and tail change color to a darker one.

Chub are sensitive to water purity, oxygen saturation and acidity.

It lives in rivers with fairly fast currents or in flowing lakes with a hard bottom.

It prefers to hunt from ambush, while hiding from other predators and birds.

In addition to small fish, the diet also includes various insects (flies, mosquitoes, butterflies, beetles, etc.), eggs of other fish, worms, larvae and caterpillars, and filamentous algae.

In small individuals, vegetation and insects predominate in the diet, which is why they grow longer, while adults almost completely switch to small fish.

Dissimilarity with asp

Asp is another representative of the carp family. It belongs to the category of popular commercial fish, a natural predator, like the ide. Both fish live in similar conditions and have almost similar lifestyles. However, ides are longer and thicker, have a shorter head and a smaller mouth. They have a dark and rich stripe on their back, and their sides are not blue.

Chub, description

The chub also belongs to the carp family. It can reach more than 50 cm in length and weigh up to 8 kg. It is often confused with ide, but the main difference between them is the shape of the head.

The chub has a large mouth, teeth arranged in two rows, powerful jaws. Like many cyprinids, they have pharyngeal teeth.

Thanks to its large mouth and teeth located in the throat, the chub easily copes with the hard chitinous coverings of crustaceans.

Benefits and harms

Ide is recognized as a fairly common species of large river fish. It can be purchased without much difficulty at any specialized store. Various dishes are prepared from the meat, baked in the oven, dried or salted. However, it is important to remember that, like any other product, it can have benefits and harm.

Beneficial features

Heat-treated ide fillet is a source of a number of valuable micro- and macroelements. Each of them is completely absorbed by the human body, regardless of age and gender. The composition also contains nutrients that improve the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, nervous, cardiovascular, circulatory and endocrine systems.

The meat of only those carp representatives that arrived in environmentally friendly reservoirs can be beneficial. Much depends on nutrition.

Ide fillet should be consumed at least 2 times a week. This way you can reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis, heart attack and even the formation of malignant tumors. Boiled ide meat is recommended to be included in the diet of people who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases. This is explained by the fact that fish is digested very quickly. Usually the process does not take more than 2 hours and the digestive tract does not receive any stress.

Ide is a tender and tasty river fish.

Ecologically clean ide meat also has the following beneficial properties:

strengthens teeth and promotes proper formation of the skeleton;
reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis;
stimulates digestion and increases appetite;
helps to avoid vitamin deficiency;
reduces nervous excitability;
improves blood circulation and increases vascular tone;
reduces cholesterol levels in the blood.

It will be useful for older people to eat ide fillet. For them, it acts as a preventive measure for Parkinson's disease.

Possible harm from consumption

Negative consequences from eating ide meat can occur in the following cases:

The fish lived in a polluted environment. Tender meat could absorb heavy metals and toxic substances. In this case, it becomes completely unsuitable for consumption.
The bones in the fillet were poorly chosen. Yazzies are quite bony. When cooking, all bones must be removed from the carcass, otherwise you may choke. This must be done especially carefully when the dish is intended for use by children.
Individual contraindications. Salted or dried ide should not be consumed by people who suffer from hypertension or kidney failure.

Ide is devoid of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Its meat often causes allergies, spoils quickly and is often contaminated with worms.

Where does it live in Russia?

Finding representatives of this species is usually not difficult. In Europe, they inhabit almost the entire freshwater territory, with the exception of the southeastern territories and the extreme south. In Russia, predatory ide can be caught without problems in the central part of the country, in Siberia, the Urals, and the Sokha Republic. It is recognized as a popular fishing object in the tributaries of the Lena, Volga, Kuban, Ural and Ob.

The largest amount of fish is found in the rivers of the Azov, Baltic, Black Sea and Caspian basins. Crimea, unlike them, cannot boast of the presence of ide in its reservoirs.

Due to the fact that this fish adapts quite well to living conditions in slightly salted water, it can often be found in estuarine areas and bays.

Fishing Features

Both amateurs and athletes show interest in catching ide. Moreover, you can catch this type of fish all year round. Fish may not bite only in severe frosts and during the spawning period. You can fish with any fishing rod. The most effective include:

wired;
Bolognese;
flywheel;
spinning;
match.

In winter, the fisherman will have to stock up on special gear that will prevent the float from freezing to the ice.
The highest feeding activity usually occurs a week after the completion of spawning. This period usually lasts about three weeks. When choosing bait, it is important to consider that the ide has a small mouth. It is better to use those that are no larger than size two. The length of the spoon should not exceed 4 cm.

The description of the method of catching this fish requires adherence to special recommendations. So, you need to fish in silence, trying not to make unnecessary noise, since the ide is a very shy fish. It is advisable to camouflage yourself with the surrounding area. For float fishing, you can use plant-based baits and various wobblers.

In freedom he is very strong and agile. Once hooked, the fish begins to twist in every possible way and jump out of the water. Often he manages to cut the line with his fin and free himself from captivity.