The asp (otherwise known as rap) is the only classical predator of the carp family found in Poland. It is also the fastest growing among them - from half a kilogram to a kilogram in a year. It inhabits a large part of Europe and Asia. It is a typically river fish; it is also found in dammed reservoirs and oxbow lakes, and can also be found in lakes through which rivers flow. In rivers it loves places with a strong current, and that's where anglers should usually look for it.

Its victims are most often bleaks. By the way, he himself looks like a large bleak, but grows to a much larger size - he reaches several kilograms and several tens of centimeters. The official Polish record is 8.49 kilograms (Sylwester Głos, 2014), while the Polish record of the "Angler's World" is 99 centimeters (Janusz Forkel, 1997). Medal norms - 3, 4 and 5 kilograms and 70, 80 and 85 centimeters, respectively.

When foraging, it is in constant motion, which significantly distinguishes it from many other predators, such as the pike. In search of prey it penetrates a large area of the river (usually in the surface sphere, hence so many bleaks in its menu). It swims at an almost express pace, so the bait to lure it also usually has to be guided very quickly. Chasing its prey, it makes a great commotion in the water and under the very surface. The noise is sometimes so powerful, as if someone threw huge stones into the water. Even catfish do not hunt so loudly. The asp attacks with the force of a bullet, which means that it often jams itself and very rarely falls off the anchor during the haul.

In the past, for a long time there was an opinion that asp cannot be caught with a fishing rod. Indeed, this is a difficult but feasible task, and professionals manage to accomplish it quite often. It is best to tempt asps with elongated, medium-sized floating crankbaits, resembling bleak; bright, preferably silver spoons of similar shape, pearl rubbers and even ice spinners used for spinning can also be effective. The fisheries that are best to visit to catch Bolen are large lowland rivers; small ones should rather be avoided, as there won't be too many there. As with catfish, a trip to the Vistula, Oder, Bug, Warta or Zegrze (Narew) rivers can yield good results. Residents of southern Poland also have their asp eldorado, which is the Rożnowski Reservoir. In the river, some of the most attractive asp spots are the headwaters, braids and overflows.

A maximum of two asps can be taken from the fishery per day. The protective size of this fish is 40 centimeters, while its protection period coincides with that of pike - it lasts from January 1 to April 30 (earlier, in April, asp spawn; they lay five hundred thousand eggs on the bottom covered with gravel, resulting in rub wounds). The start of the asp season arouses similar emotions in anglers as the pike season. Asps in May bite great, and they also bite well in the following months until October. The best of them is September. The taste of asp is not worth mentioning, as it is not commonly considered a culinary delicacy; it is a typically sporty fish.