Buffalo fish: how it looks and where it lives, difference from crucian carp, tips for catching

Russian anglers sometimes catch American buffalo fish, which looks like trophy carp of an unusual size. However, this species is in no way related to fish from the cyprinid genus. From the common they have only a distant external resemblance. In order not to confuse the ictiobus with other local inhabitants of rivers and lakes, it is important to understand its physical features, behavior and how you can catch it.

What kind of fish is this

Buffalo fish, which is regularly confused with crucian carp, is a noteworthy representative of the Chukuchanov family. Contrary to popular belief, she is not a relative of the crucian and was not created by mating with another species.The buffalo is native to lakes and rivers in the US and Canada. Three varieties of this fish are successfully cultivated in Russia.

Looks like

This fish bears some similarities to the traditional largemouth carp or crucian carp, but also has distinct characteristics unique to this American migrant. It's worth taking a closer look at these features.

The American Buffalo has the following features:

• body length from 30 to 130cm;
• max weight up to 36kg;
• life expectancy 13-19 years;
• body shape is either flat or resembling a cylinder;
• medium or large head size;
• arched back;
• big and protruding eyes;
• small mouth;
• long 6 and 7 rayed dorsal fins that look like a sickle when viewed in profile;
• dorsal and lateral color varies from light gray to dark bluish. At the same time, females have a brownish tinge;
• belly is usually white or gray;
• round gray fins;
• short round tail.

Lifecycle

Representatives of the Chukuchan family are not hybrids - they are a full-fledged, independent species of fish. They prefer reservoirs with warm and muddy water, especially in silted places. Compared to carp, buffalo needs higher temperatures to grow and reproduce. During the summer months, the ictiobus goes into algae-covered areas of water.

Buffalo can be found in river bends, lakes, floodplain ponds and large rivers. When fishing on large rivers, it is recommended to stay away from areas with fast currents. Buffalo usually live in groups and swim in the upper layers of the water.

Habitat

Buffalo comes from the slow flowing rivers, streams and lakes of North America, which contain a lot of algae and other aquatic plants on their bottom. The largest number of all three species of the Chukuchan family can be found in Ohio and Tennessee.

The large-mouthed buffalo can be found in Canadian rivers and lakes. The smallmouth is especially at home in the Hudson waters. In the 1980s, ictiobuses were imported to Russia, but unfortunately the climate was not suitable for them to breed successfully, as they do in America. Fortunately, they were able to adapt well to life in the waters of the Saratov region in southern Russia and in the Don River basin.

Fish farming has become a popular activity, fish farms are looking to increase the ictiobus population. These aquatic creatures are usually easy to find:

• in places with slow moving muddy water;
• in algae-grown riverbeds;
• and also in pockets near the thresholds.

Similarities and differences with carp

Fishermen often confuse goldfish and ictiobus. However, there are some clear differences between buffalo and cyprinids.

1. The scales of buffalo fish come off easily, so if handled roughly, it can lose part of the protective shell. On the other hand, the scales of the crucian carp are very strongly attached to its skin; when cleaning, it's usually easier to cut it off than trying to clean it off.
2. In terms of taste and nutritional value, buffalo fish surpasses all other cyprinids, including crucian carp. In addition, the buffalo has much less bones in its muscle tissue compared to crucian carp.
3. Besides, the shape of their head is quite different. The buffalo has an oval snout with prominent eyes and voluminous stubble lips, while the whiskers at the corners of the mouth are absent.
4. Furthermore, if you look at both species in profile, you can see differences in their dorsal fins. While the dorsal fin of cyprinids remains level at the top, the dorsal fin of the ictiobus is characterized by an extended anterior margin that sticks out above the rest of the fin.
5. Another difference between the two fish is in the shape of their tails: the buffalo's tail is short and rounded, while the crucian's is long and thin.
6. They also differ in coloration - buffalo's back appears to be bluish, and the body is dark gray with shades, while carp do not have such shades.
7. Finally, adult buffalo can weigh up to 36 kg, while carp usually do not exceed 3.8-4.2 kg.

Varieties

There are three varieties of ictiobuses that differ in their characteristics: large-mouthed, small-mouthed and black. All these species are found in Russian rivers, ponds and lakes. At the same time, the large-mouthed ictiobus looks the most attractive to amateur anglers because of its large size.

Smallmouth buffalo

This is the type of fish that has the most nutritional value. It grows more slowly than its large-mouth relative and reaches sexual maturity by the third or fourth year of life. Due to short, sparse stamens, this fish is unable to filter plankton through its gills. Young individuals feed mainly on zoobenthos, which makes up half of their diet when they weigh up to one hundred grams. Two-year-olds feed mainly on larvae of other aquatic life. This species also happily devours detritus. Suitable for him and carp food.

Big Mouth

Buffalo bigmouth grows faster than other species. This fish has a planktophage gill apparatus and is completely covered with scales. The mouth is set high, it is wide, there are villi on thick lips.

This type of ictiobus usually lives in rivers or ponds and is not found in s alt water.In America, these fish are kept in ponds among fields of corn and sorghum, reaching marketable weight within one to two years, with an average weight of thirteen kilograms. However, there is evidence that individuals grew to 33-46 kilograms.

The spawning season starts in March and continues until the water temperature drops to 14-16˚C at the end of summer. The female fish lays small, sticky eggs on aquatic plants. Young fish mainly consume small crustaceans for food, while adults feed on zooplankton and larvae of other aquatic creatures. It is known that in artificial reservoirs they willingly eat combismes prepared by man.

Black icthiobus

This species reaches sexual maturity in the fourth or fifth year of life. Like carp, they gather in large numbers during the spawning period, as well as in autumn, when the water temperature drops to 13-15 ˚C. Fish stay near the bottom in groups and actively consume food.

Spawning and reproduction

Male buffalo fish become sexually mature at the age of three or four years, while for females this period is different. This usually happens around the age of five. The weight of an adult individual can vary between 2-3 kilograms. Spawning occurs once a year, but only when the water temperature is between 15-23°C. The reproductive period begins around mid-March and continues until the end of summer.

Buffalo fish spawning includes several features.

1. Females, recognizable by their brownish backs and pale sides, lay their eggs on rocks, underwater roots, and aquatic vegetation, while males make loud jumps out of the water to get attention.
2. Only one male is allowed to fertilize the eggs; after fertilization they look like crucian caviar.
3. From the moment of fertilization to reaching the larval stage, it takes about a week, after which the fry move to warmer surface waters. In the first month of life, these fry feed on plankton, small crustaceans and water beetles.

Tips for fishermen

Buffalo fishing is an interesting and exciting activity. There are three varieties of these fish, and all of them are popular with anglers. These fish reach large sizes in a relatively short period of time, which increases the chances of catching a conspicuous specimen.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionTo achieve maximum success, you need to choose the right rod, jig, bait. In addition, depending on the time of year there will be some differences in the methods of catching ictiobus, which must be taken into account.

Spring fishing

The best ictiobus fishing should be expected towards the end of April. It is better to look for fish in coastal waters with a leisurely course in shallow water.For successful fishing during this period, a fly fishing float rod with a telescopic rod with a length of at least 6-9 m should be used; use a 4 kg weight as the main line.

The weight capacity of the tackle should be about 2 g. Use a carp hook under the 10th size. Shot weights are the most popular choice.

When you go buffalo fishing, it's a good idea to use fast spinning rods that can withstand the power of big fish. Soft telescopic rods are preferred, as they absorb pulling pulls and prevent the line from breaking. In the spring, you should use a worm as a bait, adding almost no additional flavors.

Summer

Fishing in the summer season is especially successful, because ichthyobus fish prefer warmer water. When the water temperature rises, the fish accumulate at a depth of 2 to 4 meters. To take home a trophy catch, it is best to use a feeder rod with a test from 30 to 70 g, a reelless reel number three thousand five hundred.Also twisted cord D=0.13 mm as a thread, feeder weighing from 50 to 70 g.

In summer, the ichthyobus chooses places with a strong current. When choosing rods for fishing, it is important to purchase those that are powerful and reliable. As for bait, a good choice would be:

• boiled corn;
• various types of porridge;
• dough.

Also, sweet bait mixes with various flavors tend to be successful. The most effective time for fishing is just before dawn or at night.

Autumn

The activity of the buffalo changes dramatically depending on the temperature. At the end of October, when the first frosts come, the fish swims near the pits where they are going to spend the winter. On warm and sunny days, you will be able to see a few bites on mormyshka, but this is hardly called successful fishing.As winter approaches, buffalo go into a dormant state, and attempts to catch the coveted fish will fail until all the ice is gone from the lake.

When choosing baits and lures, you should remember that buffalo is an omnivorous fish whose main diet consists of zooplankton. The same bait that is used for catching carp, carp, bream or carp will be effective for buffalo. For best results when using plant-based groundbait, bloodworms can be added to the mix.

Common ictiobus lures include:

• worms;
• boiled or canned corn;
• porridge: pearl barley, barley, semolina;
• various types of dough.

Success of fishing depends on caution and the ability to keep the caught trophy in place. Casting the bait at the right time is essential to avoid scaring off the buffalo.Making bait in the form of small balls of moderate density is a great option. The bait must be able to maintain its shape for a long time without sinking to the bottom of the water.

Natural flavors will help attract fish and make them bite better. But you should be careful when adding flavorings, as too strong a smell will have an adverse effect. Hemp and cumin extracts are known to work well as flavorings.

Application

In Russia, breeding this species on an industrial scale has not been successful due to their increased susceptibility to diseases.

One of the most devastating is lerneosis, which is caused by a type of crustacean that attaches to fish during hibernation. This problem usually occurs in ancient reservoirs with a littered bottom.

For efficient breeding and growing in industrial conditions, it is necessary to treat reservoirs with chlorophos weekly and equip them with first-class filtration systems.

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