✅ Biting on Pripyat

Fishing in Pripyat: best places

The Pripyat River flows into the Kiev Reservoir, flows through Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, and has a total length of 775 km.
Pripyat is rich in more than 35 species of fish, famous for its mild currents and beautiful scenery. Experienced fishermen or amateurs have long chosen this place as the most fruitful, so to speak “fishy” place. The most popular fishing places are the shores of Belarus. Most of Pripyat, located in Ukraine, is considered dangerous, runs along the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and fishing is prohibited there.

Features of fishing in Pripyat

In addition to the fact that you can fish in Pripyat at any time of the year, there are a number of features that distinguish it from other bodies of water:

It runs along the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which means its waters are contaminated with radiation.
The waters of this river are the main source of radionuclides that flow into the Kiev Reservoir.
Increased levels of strontium/cesium are periodically observed due to Chernobyl.
The reservoir flows along the picturesque landscapes that the Republic of Belarus is so rich in.
More than 35 species of fish live here.
It is possible to catch fish of “trophy” size.
There is an opportunity to catch extremely rare species of fish, such as white-eye or bluegill.
The reservoir is perfect for any type of sport fishing.
Excellent bite all year round.
There are excellent bases along the coast that offer their services for a fee. This is more likely for fishermen who come from afar or for people who value their own comfort above all.

Location and climate

The main part of the river is located in Polesie (Belarus), but it originates in Ukraine (Volyn). The length of the reservoir across Ukrainian territory is about 200 km, most of which is located in the exclusion zone. On Belarusian soil it flows through Polesie, Brest, and Gomel regions.

General characteristics of the reservoir:

Make it a rule, on every fishing trip, the first thing you do is start.

The length of the river is about 775 km.
The width is about 50-75 m, and the maximum is 200.
The Pripyat River is the largest tributary of the Dnieper.
Low bank, muddy bottom.
In most of the river the current is moderate, only some areas are fast.
Navigable body of water.
It is filled mainly due to snow melting in the spring, sometimes due to underwater springs.
A large number of rifts/passes, mainly located near the “lower reaches”.
Early flood (from the beginning of spring).
Glaciation at the end of December/beginning of January.
The maximum water level occurs in April - May.
It has a number of large tributaries: Goryn, Stokod, Ila and others.

The climate in the area is considered moderate and characteristic of central Europe. This means that winters are relatively mild and summers are moderately hot.

Pripyat River today

As a result of the accident, the waters of the Pripyat River are very heavily polluted; today the river waters are the main natural source of cleansing the territory.

Due to this method of purification, radionuclides present in the soil are spread throughout the entire territory where the river flows, until the waters of the Dnieper River are contaminated.

The more water flows into the Pripyat River, the more territory is subject to flooding, and accordingly, the more harmful substances enter the water.

The largest release of harmful substances was recorded in 1999, and this was 13 years after the accident.

As a result of the accident, the soil absorbed two main pollutants: Cesium and Strontium.

The concentration of these substances in the waters of the Pripyat River reaches 100 Bq per cubic meter.

For comparison, as a result of the largest river spill, the concentration level of substances reached 10 TBq.

The concentration of these substances in the soil of the exclusion zone is so strong.

It is impossible to say that as a result of the accident, only the exclusion zone was contaminated; the river has many tributaries; they also took part in contaminating the rest of the territory.

At the moment, not only the banks of the Pripyat River in Ukraine are contaminated, but also in Belarus.

The water level in the Pripyat River is 2 meters in the upper reaches, 3.5 meters in the middle reaches, from 5 to 7 meters in the lower reaches.

What types of fish is the Pripyat River rich in?

In shallow waters, roach and perch are well caught; in the “deep” reed thickets you can catch pike, crucian carp, and bream. At the depths live pike perch, sabrefish, ide, and catfish. Pripyat is rich in the following species:

Main “fishing” places:

Gomel region, near Zhitkovichi, good fishing - crucian carp, roach, perch, bream, carp.
Gomel region, Mozyr district – catfish, sabrefish, pike, roach, crucian carp.
Brest region, near the village of Luninets – roach, burbot, pike, perch.

Fishing methods in Pripyat

Due to the variety of fish species, fishing occurs in different ways, but the most preferred are:

Spinning fishing. The most popular type of fishing, you can catch perch and “average” pike with a spinning rod. If you try to go fishing on a big scale, you should stock up on a good gas engine, since the most trophy specimens live in the depths. In deep water/strong currents, you can catch large catfish, chub, pike perch, and asp.
Feeder fishing. Usually they are caught with a feeder in the Polesie regions. Thus, they “hunt” for ide, carp, silver bream, and bream.
Float fishing can be no less effective, the only thing is that you need to fish in shallow water, near the shore, or next to a small current, in all sorts of backwaters. Local residents prefer not to bother with “newfangled” fishing rods, but fish the old fashioned way with a float. And quite successfully! Their catch is no different from others. When fishing this way, you need to choose a fishing rod more than 5 meters long, and preferably 6-7 m.
Trolling. Some criticize this type of fishing, saying that for success you need a good motor and a wobbler. But that's not true. This method is indispensable for fishing at great depths and in open (vast) places. Trolling will “catch” pike, which live at a depth of up to 5 meters, and carp – up to 2. It is by trolling that you can catch truly trophy specimens. It is better to choose wobblers with a size of 6 – 12 cm, with a depth of up to 5 meters.

Fishing methods

In the summer, when the water level approaches the minimum mark, it is best to fish with a feeder.
Mostly bream, ide, carp and silver bream are caught on the feeder. Also, many fishermen on the river fish with spinning rods, most often in oxbow lakes. Perch and pike are successfully caught using spinning rods.

They rarely catch fish in these places using a simple float rod, only where the current is very slow. However, many anglers using a 7 m long fishing rod get a very successful catch and a lot of emotions.

Of course, you need to think about bait. Prepare with you several types of bait from different types of cereals. Bait made from peas, rolled oats, millet, pearl barley is perfect for catching on the Pripyat River.

However, you should not cook porridge in advance, since it is a perishable product that can turn sour during the long journey to the place of catch. Dung worms and maggots are also good baits for catching fish on the Pripyat River.

The best places for paid fishing

Unfortunately, almost all fishing is paid. There are practically no free places left, and even if there are, you can’t count on a good bite there. Fishing in Pripyat is taken completely under state control, and unauthorized fishing is subject to a large fine.

There are tourist centers and fish farms along the river; you can choose the right one through a travel agency or on your own. Among the most popular paid fish farms, it is worth highlighting the following:

JSC "Turovshchina" Another name is “Losiny Island”. The farm includes large hunting and agricultural lands, as well as 31 km of the Pripyat River. Hotels and tourist centers are located along the territory; the annual reception of guests ranges from 8-10 thousand people. The fishing industry is designed in such a way that fishing will be guaranteed. If you wish, they will show you “good” places and rent fishing rods, a boat or even a speedboat. It is possible to hire an experienced instructor who will help and give a master class on fishing. You can catch perch, burbot, pike, carp, chub, and roach.
Torka LLC. Located on the border with the Mozyr region, it owns almost 25 km of the river. Paid private fishing is available.
Ku PORKH "Luninets". The section of the river owned by this farm stretches from the river. Price up to river Smerd, the total area is only 9 km. Intensive fishing for industrial/personal purposes is available.
GPU NP "Pripyatsky". The total territory occupies about 37 km, located at the central mouth of the river. Fishing for personal purposes is available.

Best places

The Pripyat is considered one of the most fishy rivers in Belarus.
Throughout the entire river, in different places and areas for catching there are their own characteristics and nuances.

The time of year plays an important role in the fishing location. In the spring, for example, it is quite difficult to find an entrance and approach to the water, since the river spreads quite strongly. The spring flood lasts for several months. In addition, in the spring it is prohibited to enter the water due to fish spawning.

However, you can try fishing near large cities. And the question of the success of the catch during this period is ambiguous. Many anglers believe that at this time the fish leave to prepare for spawning.

In the summer, when Pripyat enters its shores, fishing enthusiasts increase significantly. In autumn, Pripyat is famous for its successful pike fishing.

Since the famous Chernobyl is located in the lower reaches of the river, fishing in most suitable places is prohibited, because. there is a threat of radioactive substances entering with water and sludge. In the upper and middle reaches the river is quite clean from radiation. Therefore, it is here that fishing is in great demand and pleases fishermen, impressing with the abundance of fish.

During flood periods, the area in the upper reaches of the river is flooded and is an excellent spawning ground for fish.

The character of the landscape and river banks becomes completely different when the middle flow begins. These areas have mostly sandy shores and a hard bottom. In these places there are much more fish than in the upper reaches.

However, it is worth considering that the current itself becomes faster and you need to fish using heavier equipment. Here you can find sabrefish, ruffe, burbot, carp, catfish and other types of fish.

Places on the oxbow lakes of the Mozyr region, as well as south of the city of Luninets, are popular for fishing at any time of the year. In summer, popular places are near the village of Konkovichi, as well as in the Zhakhovichi region. In autumn, fish bite well south of Zhitkovichi. The area around Petrikov is also considered fishing spots.

They fish in Pripyat both from the shore and from a boat. Since the banks of the river are sandy and low, they are flooded during floods, forming shallow lakes. When the water recedes, the sandy shores become beaches for relaxation and fishing.

However, not all vacation spots will offer successful fishing. Many beaches are not suitable for fishing at all. The fact is that the topography of the beach bottom plays a big role. Large fish go into the depths, and small fish are found in shallow water. Since the bottom topography of the Pripyat River is heterogeneous, it is better to study the bottom for shoals or dumps before choosing a place for fishing from the shore.

Conditions and cost of fishing

Due to the increase in poaching, the government of the Republic of Belarus has tightened the rules for fishing in Pripyat. For example, 20 years ago, there were about 65 species of fish in the river, among them 20 were included in the Red Book, now 35. Of which only 2 species are included in the Red Book. In addition to paid fishing, there are a number of restrictions that make it possible to regulate the fishing of rare varieties.

Basic and mandatory fishing rules:

It is strictly forbidden for one person to use a rod with more than 5 hooks.
Fishing ban in the Brest/Gomel region from March 1 to May 18.
Mogilev region from April 10 to June 8.

Amount of fines for poaching:

Burbot – 1,350 thousand Bel. rub.
Pike, bream, silver bream, sabrefish – 450 thousand BYN. rub.
Carp, ide, catfish – 900 thousand BYN. rub.

Location, characteristics and main features of the Pripyat River

The Pripyat River originates in the Volyn Upland in the Lyuboml region of Ukraine. Downstream, after two hundred kilometers, it crosses the Belarusian border and continues to move along the Polesie lowland, in the Brest and Gomel regions.

Note: The length of the reservoir in Belarus is five hundred kilometers.

It is characteristic that the last forty-nine kilometers of the Pripyat flow again through Ukrainian territory and flow into the Kiev Reservoir.

The main and distinctive feature of the reservoir is that the mouth is located in the exclusion zone, which arose as a result of the largest accident in the history of mankind at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. However, the river is considered to be fairly clean in the middle and upper reaches.

Characteristics of the river:

total length seven hundred seventy-five kilometers;
the maximum width reaches two hundred meters, the average from fifty to seventy-five meters;
the largest tributary of the Dnieper;
predominantly low banks;
winding riverbed;
moderate, sometimes strong current;
navigable (five hundred and ninety kilometers from the mouth);
many rapids (especially in the lower reaches);
mixed diet, but mostly snow;
flood occurs in early March;
maximum increase in water level in April;
freezes towards the end of December;
has many tributaries: Lan, Ila, Ubort, Goryn, Stokhod and others.

Main features of the Pripyat River:

Make it a rule, on every fishing trip, the first thing you do is start.

the most fishy in Belarus;
flows through a picturesque area;
sometimes there is an acceptable excess of cesium and strontium values, especially in the Chernobyl region;
passes through radiation-contaminated areas (territory of Ukraine);
is a key source for the transfer of radionuclides to the Kiev Reservoir.

For reference: in the thirties of the last century, most of the Polesie swamps were drained by the waters of the river.

Pripyat River

Pripyat is not only a city near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The city received its name due to the river on which it was located.

The Pripyat River is the right tributary of the Dnieper River, it is the longest and largest in terms of water content and basin area of all the tributaries.

It flows into the Kiev Reservoir, whose area is 922 square kilometers.

The length of the Pripyat River is 775 kilometers and covers the territory of two countries.

The Pripyat River basin has a size of 114 thousand square kilometers. It has a developed floodplain along its entire length and two terraces above the floodplain.

Pripyat begins on the Volyn Upland, where the villages of Budniki and Rogovye Smolyary are located.

In total, there are 254 kilometers of the river on the territory of Ukraine; the rest of the Pripyat River flows through the territory of Belarus.

The first 204 kilometers from the source go to the border of the two countries, after which the river is on the territory of Belarus, the last fifty kilometers pass through the territory of Ukraine and flow into the Kiev Reservoir.

Fishing in Pripyat

Features of fishing in Pripyat:

home to more than thirty-five different species of fish;
Trophy specimens are often caught;
the opportunity to catch a very rare individual, for example, a white-eye or bluegill;
good catch at any time of the year;
ideal place for sport fishing;
beautiful area;
For those who like more comfortable fishing, there are many paid bases with different pricing policies.

You can catch:

It is worth remembering that in thickets of reeds and snags it is easier to catch pike, crucian carp, and bream. The areas of maximum depth are inhabited by catfish, pike perch, and ide, while the shallow waters are predominantly inhabited by roach and perch.

Features of winter fishing

Fishing on the Pripyat River in winter has many features:

the likelihood of a rich catch of roach;
good bite, despite the snow and frost;
It is better to choose areas with weak currents;
strong winds are often observed;
Can be caught using artificial bait.

Bites well:

Fishing takes place from the ice. The main thing is to choose the right gear; winter fishing rods and jigs are considered the best this season. It has been noted that it is good to use silicone baits, only with a special aroma, worms, chicken liver, and predatory fish species bite well on small crucian carp and spinners.

If fishing is done with live bait, then the main condition is its mobility, despite the cold water.

Important advice: the rod should not exceed more than one meter.

Fishing Features

The Pripyat River is very popular among amateur fishermen in the region and visiting tourists. It’s worth noting right away that free fishing on the river is not possible everywhere. Significant areas of the basin and riverbed are under the control of various forms of ownership. We should not forget about the fairly strict legislation on environmental management in the Republic of Belarus. Before traveling to the Pripyat River, be sure to check the permitted periods and places for recreational fishing, as well as fishing methods. For visiting fishing tourists, it will be quite difficult to deal with various conflicts of local rules, so we strongly recommend using the services of local recreation and fishing organizers. Moreover, the specifics of the reservoir do not allow easy access to any section of the river. The lack of a developed transport network is associated with natural conditions, which is probably one of the positive factors for the favorable development of ichthyofauna. However, amateur fishing in Pripyat is very interesting and rewarding. The wide variety of species and river conditions allow for a variety of fishing methods. For catching “peaceful” fish, a variety of bottom gear, in particular a feeder, are most suitable. The most popular fishing in Pripyat is for various predators: pike perch, pike, perch, catfish and others. At the same time, we should not forget that the recreational conditions of Belarus are conducive to family vacations. This is facilitated by the magnificent nature and well-developed tourist infrastructure. For most residents of large cities, holidays on the reservoirs of the Republic of Belarus, and on Pripyat, in particular, will be filled with vivid impressions of fabulous nature, the hospitality of the owners of guest houses and bases, as well as record catches.

Reviews from anglers

Alexander, Gomel “I constantly fish on the Pripyat River, and more than once I managed to catch large bream, perch, and catfish. I come in the summer and, as a rule, spend the night. In July I caught a three-kilogram pike perch on a feeder.”
Vsevolod, Minsk “A stunning place, especially for winter fishing. We came with a large group in January, and no one left without a catch. We caught a large number of roach and pike using winter spinning rods. I bit excellently on spinners and silicone baits.”
Mikhail, Vitebsk “In August we caught it in the Mozyr region. We were left under a great, and most importantly, pleasant impression. We fished with a feeder and float rods, and after half an hour the first perch bit on an ordinary worm. Then we managed to pull out a large ide and several bream.”
Oleg, St. Petersburg “The most pleasing thing is fishing in Pripyat in September, when the weather is excellent and the same bite is observed. Using a spinning rod using maggots and bloodworms as bait, we caught a two-kilogram bream, several medium-sized perches and pike perch.”
Nikolay, Rybinsk “In December, roaches were amazingly biting on jigs. Two hours later there was a rich catch, only one thing marred the fishing - a strong wind rose.”

Thus, we can conclude that on the Pripyat River fishermen can expect a good catch in any season, and the opportunity to observe an excellent bite on all kinds of bait makes the process even more exciting.

Fishing in Pripyat

Fishing in Pripyat: is it possible or not?

The exclusion zone is crossed by Pripyat from north to southwest. Near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, its bed was replaced so that it would cool the power plant.

In this place, the Pripyat River widens to 400 m. On average, the depth is 3-4 meters, while there are holes up to 8 meters.

Within the exclusion zone, its length is 60 km.

The river area is a real Eldorado for fishing lovers. About 42 species of fish are found here.

The most valuable for fishermen are such river species as: crucian carp, tench, perch, bream, burbot, pike perch, pike, etc.

Important! Predatory fish species contain more radionuclides than herbivorous fish.

Important! There is the Uzh River, and in it you can catch 6 times more than in the Pripyat River, although the river itself has a lot of all sorts of tributaries and lakes.

Since there were no people in Pripyat for a long time, the river abounds in fish, which in turn attracted poachers.

It doesn’t take much effort to catch a lot of fish. During the night, a group of 4-5 people can catch up to 1 ton of fish.

Although radiation is inherent here, fishing in Pripyat is quite popular, local workers especially love it and fish purely for themselves, in clean places.

There are also fishermen-tourists who come to the exclusion zone for leisure. They are not interested in fish in the form of a trophy; they caught it, photographed it, and released it back.

Near the cooler, the pollution is higher, so there is no such fishing here, although there is an abundance of fish here and they are not shy.

This is where the famous catfish of Chernobyl are found, lazily swimming along the surface.

Most people believe that their size is due to radiation exposure. In fact, they are of normal size and the catfish itself grows throughout its entire life, and if it is not caught, it may well live up to 100 years.

Features of fishing for roach in autumn on the Pripyat River

In the second half of October, when many amateur fishermen stop visiting reservoirs and wait for freeze-up, a rather short, but very productive time begins for catching the much-loved roach. During this period, roach fishing

occurs on float, feeder and even spinning gear.
But the most popular equipment for fishing for roach in the autumn is a float rod. Those who have had the opportunity to fish in Pripyat are well aware that there are many excellent oxbow lakes there, and the deepest of these oxbow lakes in the autumn become a good temporary shelter for a large number of roach. Local fishermen determine the autumn run of roach by the condition of the maple tree. As soon as this tree begins to shed its leaves, it is time to look for autumn roach. Autumn fishing for roach
lasts about a month, and at the same time trophy-sized roaches weighing 500-700 grams are actively biting.

If you catch roach not in the oxbow lakes, but in Pripyat itself, then the best places where you can find this fish are those where there are flooded tree trunks, bushes sticking out of the water, piles from destroyed bridges, etc.

In autumn, the best roach bite occurs at dawn and, with changes in activity, lasts until noon, and then subsides. Then the bite of this fish resumes about two hours before sunset. This is especially true when the days are sunny and fine. As a rule, it is possible to catch trophy specimens immediately after dawn or just before sunset.

A little about gear for autumn fishing. Fishing for roach in autumn

has its own characteristics, without knowledge of which one cannot count on a good bite. For example, many amateurs use summer gear in the fall, and are very surprised that the fish stubbornly ignores their baits and attachments. They simply do not take into account that the external environment changes in the fall, cooling occurs in both air and water, which means that the water becomes more transparent. And the gear, which is very sensitive in the summer, is already quite rough in the fall for catching roach.

To catch roach in the fall, the tackle should be as light and thin as possible. So the diameter of the fishing line should not exceed 0.12 mm, and the float should have a weight of no more than 2 grams, and a thin antenna. As for the leash, its cross-section should be no more than 0.10 mm, and ideally 0.08 mm. Hooks should also be used small No. 3.5-4 according to the domestic classification. This type of equipment is best suited for catching roach in the fall.

For such equipment, you should select carbon fiber rods with a length of 5-6 m. It is best to use a monolithic rather than a standard tubular whip; when hooking, it has excellent shock absorption and also protects the equipment from breaking. Usually, a landing net is not needed to catch roach; when landing, even large roaches offer little resistance. What you need to have with you is a fish tank.

Of course, successful autumn roach fishing in Pripyat

, as indeed in other bodies of water, is impossible without the use of bait. However, in the fall you need much less of it than in the summer; you still shouldn’t overfeed the fish. If you decide to buy bait in a store, then you need to make sure that its packaging indicates that it is intended for winter fishing. After all, you will have to feed the roach in cold autumn water. The consistency of bait for catching roach in the fall should be loose; when it falls into the water, such bait leaves behind a noticeable trail that attracts roach.

Many fishermen prefer to prepare bait with their own hands, using the following recipe, in which some deviations from the rules are possible. For 1 kg of ground rye crackers, add 1 cup of oatmeal, semolina, ground sunflower seeds, and dry milk. Then all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed; no flavorings should be added, an exception can be made for cocoa. You can add 1 tablespoon of salt to the entire volume of the mixture. And at the reservoir, an animal component is added, bloodworms, chopped worms or maggots.

Fishing points should be fed with 2-3 balls of bait the size of a small apple. It should be taken into account that in autumn the roach will approach the bait point slowly. It may take more than half an hour before the first bite occurs. It is recommended to feed several places that you think are promising, and fish there one by one. When the bite subsides at one point, they move to another. Fishing for roach in autumn

will always be successful if you feed the right place correctly.

Baits and baits play an important role in autumn fishing. For catching autumn roach, a medium-sized maggot is best suited, and the smaller it is, the more excitedly the roach bites on such bait. Many fishermen use bloodworms for bait, however, despite the fact that the bite on such bait is always good, in most cases small roach bite. A “sandwich”, a worm and maggot, or maggot and bloodworms work well for roaches.

Local fishermen who constantly fish in Pripyat are excellent at catching roach using rye bread and believe that this is the best bait for catching roach. At the same time, trophy specimens are often caught on black bread, and not just small roach. Therefore, such a “summer” bait remains very relevant in the fall.

Autumn fishing for roach is a rather exotic activity. If the place is baited and no roach bites occur, you need to pay attention to the condition of the bait on the hook. It often happens that it is somewhat wrinkled. The thing is that in roaches the receptors responsible for taste are located deep in the oral cavity. In autumn, the fish's metabolism slows down very much, and it can hold the bait in its mouth for ten minutes or more without doing anything. It often happens that this fish simply hangs on the hook if an attempt is made to re-cast the tackle.

However, by using one cunning method you can provoke the autumn roach to bite. If there are no bites, after a pause, you need to lightly pull the rig in your direction, and then pause again. As a rule, after 2-3 pulls a bite may follow.

When everything is done correctly and roaches have gathered in the baited area, then bites will follow when the bait reaches the horizon where the roach stands. If the bite stops at a given point, you need to immediately follow to another feeding point and in this way you can catch several points and get a significant catch. Autumn fishing for roach

– this is the best time to catch it.