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How to catch Asp

Leuciscus aspius (Linnaeus, 1758)

About Asp fishing

The asp is a large predatory freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae. It features a long, laterally compressed body, a pointed head with a projecting lower jaw, and a greenish back that fades to silvery flanks and a white belly. Reaching substantial proportions, specimens can grow up to twelve kilogram extremes, though a fifty-five centimetre length is much more common. This species inhabits open waters of large lowland rivers, deep currents, weir pools, and large lakes, preferring flowing environments where it can ambush prey. Unlike most cyprinids, the asp is a dedicated piscivore, feeding primarily on small schooling fish such as bleak and smelt. Adults are largely solitary or hunt in small packs, undertaking significant upstream spawning migrations during spring into fast-flowing gravel reaches.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    55 cm TL

  • Habitat

    Freshwater, Brackish

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Autumn

  • Also known as

    Aral asp

Asp

Caudal Shape

Deeply forked caudal fin helps identify this predatory cyprinid.

Pelvic Insertion

Pelvic fin insertion is noticeably positioned before the origin of the dorsal fin.

Asp fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    55 cm TL (max 120 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    1.5 kg (max 9 kg )

  • Depth

    10–50 m

  • Longevity

    11 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Vulnerability score

    43.5

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Peak

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Peak

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Active

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Low

When to fish for Asp

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Asp

Tips for catching Asp

Targeting this powerful freshwater predator requires covering extensive water with active presentations that mimic fleeing baitfish. Spinners, long-casting minnow plugs, and metal spoons retrieved at a fast pace across turbulent currents near bridge pillars, weir pools, and river bends yield the best results. Fly fishers can succeed by casting large streamer patterns on sinking lines across strong current seams where these fish lie in wait. Early morning and late afternoon hours during the warmer months offer peak opportunities when asps actively hunt near the surface. Anglers should maintain a stealthy approach and use strong leaders, as these wary predators possess exceptional eyesight and give hard, fast strikes when hooked.

Other names for Asp

Local and alternate names anglers use for Asp.

  • Asp
  • Aral asp

Best equipment to catch Asp

Compare fishing methods for Asp — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 1.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Asp

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Asp migrates — Potamodromous

Migrates within rivers and lakes only. Fish upstream runs and seasonal lake movements, not saltwater.

How Asp migrates — Potamodromous 1. Eggs: Laid on gravel or weed upstream or in flooded shallows. 2. Larvae: Fry drift or swim down to slower water. 3. Adults: Feed in the main river or lake. 4. Spawners: Move upstream or into the shallows to spawn.
Upstream Main river or lake

1 Eggs

Upstream

Laid on gravel or weed upstream or in flooded shallows.

2 Larvae

→ Main river or lake

Fry drift or swim down to slower water.

3 Adults

Main river or lake

Feed in the main river or lake.

4 Spawners

→ Upstream

Move upstream or into the shallows to spawn.

The whole cycle stays in fresh water.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Asp

  • Diet

    Top predator

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Dawn · Morning · Dusk

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of Asp

Prey is what Asp eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Baitfish

  • Carassius auratus juv./adults
  • Alburnus alburnus juv./adults
  • Leuciscus leuciscus juv./adults
  • Osmerus eperlanus juv./adults
  • Rutilus rutilus juv./adults

Where Asp lives

Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.

Habitats
Freshwater, Brackish
Depth zone
10–50 m
Water column
Benthopelagic
Just above the bed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Asp

Mapped fishing spots where Asp is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Leuvehaven

RotterdamZuid-HollandNetherlands

Nassauhaven

RotterdamZuid-HollandNetherlands

Lemstergeul

De Fryske MarrenFryslânNetherlands

Dunavac

PalilulaVojvodinaSerbia

Jojkićev Dunavac

PalilulaVojvodinaSerbia

Mirijevski

PalilulaVojvodinaSerbia

Rukavac Dunava

PalilulaVojvodinaSerbia