Read the article with FishingTheSpot: the three spined stickleback
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See the fishing tripsThe Three Spined Stickleback
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The three spined stickleback belongs to the Gasterosteidae family. The usual size of the three-spined stickleback is 4 to 5 cm for females, with males being a little smaller, about 3 to 4 cm. The life span of the three-spined stickleback varies from 3 to 5 years in natural environments and up to 8 years in captivity. Spawning season extends from March to June. Fertility is 200 to 400 eggs. It is fished from June to March.
The three-spined stickleback is a tiny fish with a tapered, laterally compressed body. Its head is quite small, with fairly large eyes, and ends in a narrow mouth that is slightly oriented forward and upwards. The caudal peduncle of the three-spined stickleback is very narrow with a slightly indented caudal fin. The long dorsal fin is set far back, plumbing the anal fin. The dorsal fin of the three-spined stickleback is preceded by three spines, two long and one short, placed on the back of the fish. A curved spine also precedes the implantation of the anal fin. The pelvic fins are replaced by two thorns. The color of this fish is greenish brown for the back, with metallic reflections, silvery for the sides and whitish for the belly. Along the lateral line of the three-spined stickleback, there are no scales but bone plates called "badges", a kind of natural shielding that accompanies the thorny defenses of this fish.
The Three-Spined Stickleback Lifestyle
The three-spined stickleback has a varied diet but is related to its size. It consists of worms, small crustaceans, insects, fish eggs and small plants. It is a very territorial fish that attacks everything that is not supposed to enter its territory and swallows up any prey small enough to be swallowed.
During the breeding period, the male turns a bright red color, the female a pink color. Spawning season extends from March to June. The male builds a tunnel-shaped nest from plant debris and mucus. Several females will follow one another in the nest where they will lay between 200 and 400 eggs each, which will be fertilized by the male's milt. The latter will provide ventilation and defense of the nest until the eggs hatch, throwing himself at any opponent who tries to disrupt the growth of his young.
The Three-Spined Stickleback Habitat
The three-spined stickleback has a very wide distribution, extending across Western Europe from the Iberian Peninsula, southern Italy to Scandinavia, to Central Europe and to the countries bordering the Black Sea.
In the Far East, this fish colonizes the waters of northern Japan and further west, all of North America's waters, including Greenland and Mexico north of the 30° parallel.
It is a fish that appreciates the shallow waters of rivers, lakes and ponds, especially if there is abundant vegetation. It survives very well in brackish waters and even in salt water.
The three-spined stickleback is a gregarious fish that becomes solitary again during the spawning season.
The Three-Spined Stickleback Angling
The three-spined stickleback is caught by the stroke, due to its size, with ultra-light and ultra-thin material. In areas where this is permitted, it is also fished with nets.
