Freshwater

Ide (orfe)

Ido (cachuelo dorado)

Leuciscus idus

FreshwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

1–3 lb.

Depth

3–20 ft.

Best time

Evening.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A deep-bodied, silvery to brassy fish with a small mouth, a slightly concave anal fin, reddish fins and yellow eyes; the golden orfe of garden ponds is the same species.
Typical size: 1–3 lb.
Maximum size: Over 2 ft and up to about 8 lb.
Diet: Insects, snails, shrimp, small fish and plants.
Behavior: Schools in slow rivers and brackish Baltic bays; in spring big ide run up small streams to spawn and are a famous fly and spinning target in Sweden and Finland.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Northern & Central Europe, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan, Black Sea & Caspian, United Kingdom & Ireland and France. Large rivers, lakes and brackish Baltic bays from the Rhine to Siberia's Lena; stocked in parts of Britain.
Habitat: Large rivers, lakes and brackish Baltic bays from the Rhine to Siberia's Lena; stocked in parts of Britain.
Depth: 3–20 ft.
Fishing depth: Near the surface to mid-water.
Best season: Spring spawning runs (April–May) and summer.
Best time: Evening.
Best tides: No tide.
Best weather / conditions: Warm spring evenings.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Feeder Hooks Float Net

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Large rivers, lakes and brackish Baltic bays from the Rhine to Siberia's Lena; stocked in parts of Britain.
Rig up: Light spinning rod or a 5–6 weight fly rod. 4–6 lb tippet or fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Worms, maggots, bread and sweetcorn. Lures: Small spinners, spoons, nymphs and dry flies.
Fish it: Cast small spinners or flies to fish rising in the evening, or fish worms on the bottom in slow river pools.
Time it: Evening. No tide.

Fishing techniques: Cast small spinners or flies to fish rising in the evening, or fish worms on the bottom in slow river pools.
BigJoe's tip: In spring, find the mouths of small streams flowing into Baltic bays: big ide gather there.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Bony; eaten fried or smoked in Finland and Russia, but usually released.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Harmless.
Regulations: A license or local permit; some spring spawning streams are closed. Freshwater fishing in Europe always needs a permit: a national or regional license where one exists (for example the rod licence in England and Wales or the French carte de pêche) plus a permit or day ticket from the club, lake or river owner.
Conservation: Mostly released.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits