Yuri Gorbenko, one of the fishermen, shared that when they pulled the fish ashore, they initially thought it was a huge roach. However, they soon discovered that it was a completely different fish: its scales were small and greenish, and its toothless mouth was adorned with whiskers, resembling a carp. The fishermen were pleasantly surprised by this find.
Alexander Sosnovsky, an ecological specialist, explained that the caught fish is a chub, a member of the carp family. This species is widespread in the large rivers of Eurasia, from Yakutia to Europe, excluding the southern regions. The chub has also been acclimatized in North America, where its population continues to grow. “This fish prefers warm and calm waters, so it cannot be found in the mountain rivers of Kyrgyzstan. The chub inhabits areas of medium depth with slight currents, while adult individuals find shelter in the deep holes of rivers. In winter, the chub does not hibernate and actively searches for food. This species is omnivorous: its diet includes plants, insects, worms, crustaceans, and fish fry. How did it end up in the Big Chui Canal? It was likely brought in from fish farms where carp are bred,” noted the expert.
Most likely, chub fry were brought from Kazakhstan, where they inhabit rivers, and they grew in local water bodies before reaching the Big Chui Canal. The chub indeed resembles a large roach. In spring, its scales have a golden hue, while in summer they are silvery. This fish can reach lengths of up to 50 centimeters and weights from 2 to 3 kilograms, although specimens weighing 6-8 kilograms are sometimes encountered. In sport fishing, chubs measuring from 20 to 40 centimeters and weighing from 400 grams to 1 kilogram are most commonly caught,” added Sosnovsky.
