Not may anglers would argue that the rudd is one of our most beautiful coarse fish, with buttery gold flanks and red tipped fins. Unfortunately rudd often interbreed with both roach and bream, so it is very difficult to find a  true rudd. To recognise a true rudd check that its lower lip protrudes noticeably beyond its upper. The best place to find them is in the shallow lakes in England and reed fringed Southern Irish lakes and loughs. Rudd fishing has been in decline these last few years, due possibly to a decline in their numbers.

Rudd like to pick insects off the surface of the water so one of the most deadly ways of catching them is to fly-fish using small flies or slow sinking nymphs. The coarse angler must locate the rudd by floating casters downwind along the reed bed until the fish start to show themselves. Once found use a waggler float, fixed bottom end only, allowing the line to sink between the rod and float eliminating any surface drift. Remember to use a transparent float, then feed the swim with maggots or casters. To further increase your chances, fish floating maggots ( to make the maggots float, place maggots in a tub, in an inch of water, cover with a lid.To avoid drowning they will absorb air and within five minutes will be floating. The floated maggot bait will either fload or sink slowly, deadly!