Verkhoglyad is a freshwater fish, a predator of the cyprinid family. It is somewhat reminiscent of a large herring or Korean tarpon. This gluttonous vertebrate is an inhabitant of the water bodies of the Amur basin and eastern Asia. This species of fish is also found in rivers in western Sakhalin.
What does it look like?
Verkhoglyad is a descendant of tropical fish. He is well adapted to cold temperatures and feels great in winter. As mentioned above, Verkhoglyad is a large predator that lives in freshwater bodies of water. Adult individuals of this species grow up to 100 cm in length and have a weight of more than 10 kg.
The long body, which has a topper (fish), is flattened from the sides. It is all covered with small scales with rims of black dots. The back is greenish-gray, almost flat, without a hump. The sides and abdomen of the fish have a silver tint. The fin is darker than the back. And he has in his structure a thick bone spine. The fins of the abdominal cavity are yellowish, sometimes with a pink tint. There is a keel at the back. The anal fin is quite long and almost touches the tail. It is painted in the same way as the ventral fins.
A very interesting structure of the head and eyes has an overhead. Its description is as follows: silver-golden eyes are located very high, it seems that the fish looks only up (hence its name); the head is very small compared to the body, the mouth is also directed upwards.
This type of fish prefers middle and upper layers of water. In lakes, the vertebral rarely approaches the shores, as it loves open spaces. Verkhoglyad is a flock of fish. The smaller the individual, the larger the joint. Large fish prefer to be alone. Also, the large toadfish rarely rises to the surface of the water, it is a lover of depth.
Nutrition
This type of fish lives in the water column. The main food of the Upper-eye predator is small fish, here are the main ones:
- Gudgeon.
- Crucian.
- Eastbelly.
- Killer whale.
- Chebak.
- Smelt.
- Podust et al.
The young growth is first fed by plankton and insect larvae, and then in the process of growth it goes on to feed on small vertebrates. In addition, the eagle (fish) eats flying insects, which during the flight over the water surface en masse fall into the water and become very easy prey.
Spawning
Puberty comes quite late - at the age of five with an increase of 30-40 cm. This characterizes all large species of fish. Verkhoglyad begins to spawn in June-July. With the advent of summer floods, the water in the reservoirs heats up to an average of 20 degrees. The breeding of the Upper-eye in the Amur basin occurs in river beds near sandy braids.
On average, the Upper-eye female spawns more than 500,000 eggs. Caviar floats freely in the depths of the waters and does not stick to stones. Males during spawning period become brighter. The upper part of the fish - the back, fin and tail - turns black.
After spawning, individuals migrate into river channels and lakes for feeding, and young growth is introduced by the current into the backwaters. After biting, the fry feed on small invertebrates, reaching 7 cm, go on to a predatory lifestyle.
High eye fishing
What does the topper look like? The fish is very appetizing, albeit with bony meat. It has a relatively high fat content - up to 18%. Especially a lot of fat on the inside of the abdominal surface. Fish is used both in fresh and in frozen form for the manufacture of dried, smoked or any other products.
The best time of day for fishing is evening or morning dawn, as well as night. Verkhoglyad does not fall into hibernation, and therefore it can be caught all year round. The best period for this is a summer flood. The beginning of September is a time when the upper guard is also well caught. How to catch a fish? It is best to catch spinning or bait fish. In the second case, it is necessary to use a float. Live bait is allowed to a depth of 40-50 cm. Also, local residents use seines and fixed nets to catch this fish.
Top-eye baits may include:
- Wobblers with a slight deepening.
- Spinning and oscillating baubles.
- Poppers.
In winter, the toadfish (fish) is caught by winter fishing rods, preferably on fry. Keep during fishing you need a moderate course.
It is very important to remember that the upper guard is a strong fish, and without resistance it does not give up. The larger the individual, the deeper it dwells. When the fish is on a hook, it can easily be broken. Therefore, you need to pull it out slowly.