Leuciscus leuciscus - Dace

Taxonomy

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Dace, once known as dart because of their speed, are found in many of the eastern rivers of Wales, including the Wye and the Monnow. They are shoal fish and often feed at the surface, taking flies and small beetles. When feeding below the surface their main quarry are the nymphs and larvae of aquatic insects.

Dace rarely grow to exceed a pound; a fish of half that size is considered a good catch. The British rod-caught record dace weighed 1lb 5oz 2drm (0.595kg) and was landed in August 2002 from the River Weirby Mr Simon Ashton.

The spawning season for dace is generally between March and May. They can hybridise with rudd and with bleak, and this can make identification rather difficult.