Appearance: dace are a small silvery fish and tend to occur in the lower reaches of rivers. They can sometimes be confused for a small chub. Check the lateral line scale count (chub have 44-46) and fin shape. Chub have a convex outer edge to their dorsal and pelvic fins, while dace have a concave outer edge. Chub tend to have a much more distinct wide mouth shape, but this should be used as an identification tool along with the other features given.
British record: 1lb 5oz 2dms (British record committee 2015)
Lateral line scale count: 47-53 (this is the dark row of scales along the central length of the fish's body)
Lifespan: six to 12 years
We like dace because: they tend to shoal in huge numbers
How to catch dace
Dace mainly feed on the river bed but will also come to the surface to catch flies and midges during hatching. Dace are a greedy fish and can be caught most often on maggots and bread punch. Light float tactics and small hooks (size 20) along with regular feeding will attract the attention of dace. Dace are normally one of the first fish to show up when fishing.
Where to catch dace
Dace are present in canals that have an association with river navigations. The best dace canal fishing is probably to be found on the Llangollen Canal.
