The rudd lives mainly in lowland, slow-flowing waters, but also inhabits the still waters of dams, ponds, pools and lakes.
The rudd is mainly a surface feeding fish due to its protruding lower jaw.
It spawns in May and June amongst aquatic plants.
They feed on plankton, water plants, insects, molluscs and fish fry.
The Rudd is an adaptable species, it is often one of the last species to survive in poor water conditions.

The roach is a very hardy fish therefore being the predominant species in UK freshwaters. Roach feed on algae, invertebrates such as snails and insect larvae such as bloodworm.
Spawning occurs between April and June.
Roach will feed at all depths depending on the water temperature. In winter the roach will feed in deeper water. In summer the opposite applies.

The perch is a predatory fish. Young perch feed on tiny crustacea and insect larvae such as bloodworm switching to a mainly fish diet consisting of fry as they grow.
The best bait to catch perch with is a worm.
They have a spiny dorsal fin which although not poisonous is very sharp.
Perch usually spawn between March and June.

Carp are mostly found in ponds and lakes but can now be found in many canals and rivers, which need to be in good condition in order to provide an adequate food supply.
Natural foods are plankton and crustacea and insect larvae.
Selective breeding over time has produced these quick growing fish which have three variants, leather, mirror and common.
Two barbules hang either side of their mouths, they have high backs, deep bellies and are shorter than the original wild carp.
They grow into extremely large fish because of their ability to gain weight quickly.

Eels are a cylindrical fish, the anal and dorsal fins are one continuous fin the only paired fins are the pectorals.
The scales are very fine and deeply embedded, only visible on mature specimens.
Spawned in the Sargasso Sea, the Gulf Stream brings the small larvae to our shores where they find their way into rivers where they develop into young eels called elvers, which in April migrate up river, to find a suitable place to settle, here they remain for many years before returning to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die.
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