A small fish of the carp family. The second name is oatmeal, but there are many local names. It is the only representative of the genus Leucaspius. Due to its size it is of no commercial value. It is also not a popular prey for amateur anglers. It is often used as live bait or in “cutting” for catching predatory fish. It can be used as an object of fishing for young anglers.
In the daytime, it lives in flocks in the upper layers of the water, from which it got its name. At the surface, it feeds on flying insects. In the evening, it sinks closer to the bottom, where zooplankton becomes the object of its hunt. It is believed that the topfish can eat caviar of other fish. The maximum size of the fish ranges from 6-8 cm. It prefers slow-flowing water bodies, where it is often the main food for medium-sized predators. Actively spreading. Verkhovka can be a carrier of parasites (larvae of methorchis) dangerous to humans. You need to be careful about eating this fish in its raw form. Verkhovok is often kept in aquariums.
Ways to catch the top
As a rule, amateur fishermen avoid catching the top on purpose. Except when it is used as live bait or for fishing for pieces of fish meat. Nevertheless, the tops can be successfully caught on summer gear. Young anglers get a special joy from angling. It is caught on traditional float rods, sometimes on bottom rods. Complex and expensive gear is not needed. A light rod, a simple float, a piece of fishing line and a set of sinkers and hooks are quite enough. If there are frequent hooks, it is possible to use a thinner leash. The fish often becomes a by-catch when fishing for crucian carp, it pulls the bait if it cannot swallow the hook. In winter, it is inactive, captures are random. For use as live bait, they are caught using various lifts. This is facilitated by the fact that the fish keeps in the upper layers of the water. When fishing with a rod, it is worth considering the size of the fish and, accordingly, the size of the tackle, especially hooks and baits, which can affect catchability.
Baits
Verkhovka can be caught on various baits, but it takes worse on vegetable baits. Best of all, she pecks at a piece of a worm or bloodworm. It is easy to lure the fish with soaked bread.
Places of fishing and habitat
The natural habitat is Europe: in the basin of the Baltic, Caspian and Black Seas. In the early 60s, fish, together with young carp, was introduced into reservoirs and pond farms in the Novosibirsk Region. The introduction was accidental, but the fish spread widely across the waters of Western Siberia. For farms where fish are grown for commercial purposes, it should be borne in mind that the upper head can have a negative impact. Often lives in closed, overseas water bodies, in case of deterioration of the oxygen regime, mass death occurs.
Spawning
It becomes sexually mature in the second year of life. Spawning takes place in portions, starting from the end of May and can stretch until July. Females lay eggs at a shallow depth on bottom plants and various objects, which are glued in the form of ribbons. Very high fertility for small fish.