Last week I fished a reservoir famous for decent-sized rudd, and was pleased to catch four, three of which were azurines (aka lemon-finned rudd)

The three azurines were 1-12, 1-8 and 0-8, with a conventional rudd of a pound.

Now I have only come across azurines in two other waters, and they don't grow very big in either. One water is a slow stream, the other a commercial fishery.

The reservoir has never to my knowledge been stocked with anything but trout, so the assumption is the azurines occur there naturally.

I would be very interested to hear of any other places containing azurines - I'm not asking you to divulge exact locations - just say how many waters you have caught azurines from, in what county(counties), what type of water, and if known, how the fish might have got there (ie commercial or club stocking from a fish farm, - or if they might be naturally occuring) and how big they grow in your waters.

The Azurine is also known (misleadingly) as the Blue Roach -there is a nice picture of one in Houghton's "British Freshwater Fishes"

Thats interesting,I have never heard of this let alone caught or seen one even.Are they a true rudd but with a colouration deffect(?) or are they a sub species?

nor i ,but being a girlie southerner probably know they existed

Most likely put there by a livebait transporter.

I cant as yet find an online picture of this fish, doeas anyone have a pic..Did you take any photos Vagabond?

The only reference I can find online is this..

azurine
or blue roach
Bony freshwater fish distinguished by its slate-blue back, silvery-white abdomen, white fins, and the straw-coloured iris of its eye. It is found in rivers throughout mainland Europe and is a variety of the rudd.

Classification
Azurines belong to the Cyprinidae or carp family, in the order Cypriniformes.

I've never ever heard of this and its raised my curiosity somewhat...

Thanks for the interest folks. The pictures are still in the camera, and I've only just started the 36 frame film, so it will be a while before they get put up here.

The azurine is very obviously a rudd - identical to a true rudd in all visible external features except colour. (Houghton also states the pharyngeal teeth are identical with rudd's teeth)
As far as I know it is just a colour variety of rudd in the same way that Golden Rudd are.

Golden rudd are quite common in commercial fisheries - obviously there has been some selective breeding at fish farms, and anglers are quite pleased when they catch one.

On the other hand Azurines seem rare, and there is no obvious commercial reason why fish farmers should selectively breed them - their colouration is subtle and elegant rather than striking. Not a compelling sales point.

I assume a recessive gene is involved in the colouration - like, say, the combination of red hair and green eyes in humans.

I won't be fishing that reservoir again until January, but will post an update then.

I would agree with this description except for the fins. They are not "white" The lower tail lobe, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins have a very pleasing lemon-yellow colouring - hence the alternative name. Everywhere that is crimson on a conventional rudd is yellow on the azurine.

There is a very delicate blue sheen to the sides - a casual glance might miss it. That is the origin of the name "Azurine"

The iris is straw coloured, as it is in the true rudd. Why the Latin name "erythrophthalmus" (meaning "red-eye") was given to the rudd is a mystery. It is the Roach that has a red iris.

never knew they existed !!
damn thats another fish to add to the list of targets i have not caught.

Found an Image of these Azurine Rudd on a French site, but can't put it up if anyone who can would like this image, I could mail it to them.
Or even go here to look.

http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Azurine+Rudd&ac=none&xx=0&qid=CB69F91DCEB4734E89DABC036FCBA3CA&p=0&s=4&sp=ix&fn=t&b=0&fo=2&r=10&io=4&fp=4&fr=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusers%2Eskynet%2Ebe%2F livresdepeche%2Fmain3%2Ehtm&adurl=://http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Azuri...n3%2Ehtm&adurl=://http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Azuri...n3%2Ehtm&adurl=://http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Azuri...n3%2Ehtm&adurl=://http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Azuri...n3%2Ehtm&adurl=://http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=Azuri...n3%2Ehtm&adurl=