Bitterling species guide • Freshwater fish • Very easy (1/10)

Bitterling junior fishing guide

Rhodeus amarus

A clear, plain-English guide to bitterling for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Bitterling catch
Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons
Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Very easy (1/10)

Perfect for first-ever fishing trips with young juniors.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

5 - 8 cm; very small species.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

Bitterling

Beginner baits

Bronze Maggot, Pinkie, Red maggot …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Quiet ponds, canals and stillwaters with plenty of weed and freshwater mussels.
Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.
Catch your first bitterling with confidence

Catch your first Bitterling in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

  1. Step 1

    Pick quiet, weedy ponds or canals

    Bitterling thrive in calm, plant-filled margins. Choose a safe bank or platform where juniors can sit close to the water without risking slips.

  2. Step 2

    Tiny hooks and delicate rigs

    Use ultra-fine line, a very small float and size 22–24 hooks. Single pinkies, small maggots or a tiny bread punch are ideal for such small fish.

  3. Step 3

    Short sessions and gentle returns

    Focus on short, fun sessions with minimal handling. Show juniors how to unhook in the water where possible and tip fish back carefully from a low level.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

👉 Swipe sideways to view different setups.

Whip

Beginner tip: Keep the rig short, feed little and often, and strike by just lifting the whip – no big swings.

IDEAL

Rod: 3–5 m whip or telescopic pole with a fine solid tip.

Reel: ❌ Not used (fixed line / elasticated top only).

Line: 0.08–0.10 mm mainline with 0.06–0.08 mm hooklength.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Size 20–24 fine wire hook"
  • "0.1–0.3 g slim pencil float"
  • "Shirt-button shotting pattern"]

Extras

  • ["Small bait tub with maggots or pinkies"
  • "Catapult for regular loose feed"
  • "Disgorger and small landing net"]

Whip fishing for small silvers is all about speed, rhythm and keeping fish coming safely close in.

Match Rod

Beginner tip: Plumb the depth carefully then fish just overdepth with steady loose feed to build a shoal.

GOOD

Rod: 11–13 ft light match or waggler rod.

Reel: 2500–3000 size fixed spool reel.

Line: 3–4 lb (0.12–0.16 mm) mainline with slightly finer hooklength.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Slim waggler float"
  • "Size 18–20 fine hook"
  • "No.8–No.10 shot spaced down line"]

Extras

  • ["Small plummet"
  • "Catapult"
  • "Disgorger and unhooking mat"]

Light float rod is ideal for roach, rudd and mixed silverfish work on canals and lakes.

Pole

Beginner tip: Keep the pole low over the water to stop the rig swinging and ship back smoothly, not fast.

GOOD

Rod: 6–8 m elasticated pole with light top kit.

Reel: ❌ Not used (pole, fixed line only).

Line: 0.10 mm mainline with 0.07–0.09 mm hooklength and soft no.4–6 elastic.

Terminal tackle

  • ["0.2–0.4 g pole float"
  • "strung-out shotting pattern"
  • "Size 20–22 fine wire hook"]

Extras

  • ["Pole roller or simple roost"
  • "Pole sock or tulip rest"
  • "Soft landing net"]

Short pole fishing gives juniors control and precision for catching lots of small silvers.

Waggler Rod

Beginner tip: Plumb the depth carefully then fish just overdepth with steady loose feed to build a shoal.

GOOD

Rod: 11–13 ft light match or waggler rod.

Reel: 2500–3000 size fixed spool reel.

Line: 3–4 lb (0.12–0.16 mm) mainline with slightly finer hooklength.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Slim waggler float"
  • "Size 18–20 fine hook"
  • "No.8–No.10 shot spaced down line"]

Extras

  • ["Small plummet"
  • "Catapult"
  • "Disgorger and unhooking mat"]

Light float rod is ideal for roach, rudd and mixed silverfish work on canals and lakes.

About the Bitterling

Bitterling are tiny, colourful coarse fish that lay their eggs inside live freshwater mussels. They are important for teaching juniors about fish life cycles and conservation in weedy ponds and canals.

Junior tip

Use very fine tackle and tiny hooks with single maggots or small pinkies if targeting small species sessions, or simply observe them when fish are being kept temporarily in teaching tanks or trays. Stress that they must be returned carefully and never moved between waters.

Logged a Bitterling recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

Fish Health & EA Advice

Linked conditions and guidance for Bitterling.

Chilodonella
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Chilodonella

Chilodonella is a fast-spreading parasite that attacks the skin and gills of freshwater fish. It can cause heavy mucus, grey patches, breathing problems, and even death if untreated. It thrives in poor water quality, overcrowded waters, and when fish are stressed. Good fishery management is the best way to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice

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