In the European part of Russia, the Don River ranks third in length after the Volga and Ural. The source is located in a small lake in the Tula region. The length of the Don is 1800 km.
The Don River flows through the territory of the Tula, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Volgograd and Rostov regions, and fishing in each region has its own characteristics.
Map of the lower Don in the Rostov-on-Don region:
Each part of the river has its own characteristics. In the upper reaches the channel is very winding. The presence of riffles is not uncommon here. Here Nepryadva, Sosna, Voronezh and Krasivaya Mecha flow into the river. In the middle reaches, the Don flows calmly and measuredly through flat terrain.
Don in the upper reaches of the Ryazan and Tula regions - online map:
After the confluence of the Sosna to the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, the river is replenished by the waters of a large number of tributaries: the Black Kalitva, Bogucharka, Ilovlya and Medveditsa. On the territory of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, the Don and Volga connect. Here fishermen can travel by boat between the basins of these two rivers.
The Tsimlyansk Reservoir in the lower reaches of the Don is also a promising fishing spot:
The Don in its lower reaches is characterized by the presence of significant depths. The average depth is 15-20 m. In this part, the Don is fed by the water of the Sal, Manych and Seversky Donets.
Fishermen love to fish on the Don, as there are many fishing spots and more than 90 species of fish live here. The most common species are crucian carp, sabrefish, bream, roach and pike perch.
During the period when spawning occurs, a good catch of herring, ram, roach, fish and shemai is available.
Fishing on the Don along its entire length can not only provide a good catch, but is also an opportunity to have a good rest, enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature.
Law on fishing on the Don
Fishing rules are based on the provisions of the recreational fishing law. They are formulated in detail in the corresponding regulatory document for each region of Russia.
Fishing on the Don is regulated by the “Fishing Rules for the Azov-Black Sea Fishery Basin.” They were approved by Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 1 of January 9, 2021.
Download document:
Fishing rules for the Azov-Black Sea fishery basin
A fisherman, before going fishing, must carefully study the relevant rules. In particular, he must take into account the following:
- You cannot have prohibited fishing gear on board the boat.
- It is not permitted for the boat to contain fish species that are prohibited from catching.
- It should be taken into account that the use of motor vehicles in a certain place may be prohibited.
- Prohibited fishing methods must not be used. For example, this applies to scarring, the use of explosives or electric fishing rods.
These and other restrictions are fully listed in the current fishing regulations.
Fishing ban
When conducting recreational fishing, in particular, the following prohibitions apply:
- Fishing with nets is not permitted.
- Passive fishing gear must not be used in areas where trout are caught.
- The total number of hooks on all fishing rods for one citizen cannot be more than ten.
- It is not permitted to use dredging or trawling fishing gear.
- Fish cannot be caught with firearms, bows or crossbows.
- Explosives are not permitted.
- When trolling, you can use no more than two baits at a time. In this case, the vessel cannot use a sail or motor for propulsion.
- One person cannot have more than 10 circles or circles.
- You cannot make dams or similar structures that block a reservoir completely or partially.
If a fisherman discovers prohibited fishing gear, he cannot independently remove or transport it anywhere. They must be reported to the fisheries authorities.
There is a list of places where motor boats cannot be used for transportation. The ban is valid from April 1 to May 30. For example, it includes the following places:
- The Don River near the city of Bataysk.
- In the administrative district of Myasnikovsky on the Dead Donets River.
- In the area of the left bank of the Tsimlyansk reservoir.
- Bokovsky district
- Other areas specified in the Rules.
There are areas where such movement is limited throughout the year or for other periods of time. There are places where fishing is partially or completely prohibited. In particular, this applies to some wintering pits.
A complete list of restrictions with all necessary clarifications is contained in the “Fishing Rules...”. Before you go fishing, it is recommended that you read this document, as set out in the latest edition.
Violators are subject to various penalties depending on the severity of the violation. In most cases we are talking about fines, but in some situations we can talk about imprisonment. To avoid these problems, it is beneficial to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements in advance.
Fishing calendar for pike fishing by month.
| January | This is the winter month when this predator is far from the most active. Large individuals are at depth, small squinting behaving very sluggishly, you should not expect some kind of crazy bite and a huge catch this month. |
| February | The pike appears to have a slight interest in feeding, but it is very short-lived (about 20 minutes a day). You shouldn’t go to the river for fishing; try to choose a pond or lake; if this is not possible, then pay attention to the confluence of rivers and streams - perhaps this choice will be the best for you. |
| March | After the ice melts, the pike begins to enter the active feeding phase, and it becomes possible to fish in open water, but the fish still does not rush at anything. In this case, I would recommend actively playing baits, you can try with live bait or wobblers of the Minnow and Crank series. |
| April | In the first half of the month, the predator becomes active in preparation for spawning. When choosing a fishing spot, you should pay attention to the fact that in the middle of the month pike likes to swim into backwaters. At this time of year, she is very fond of live bait; she likes artificial baits a little less. Well, in the second half of the month, when the shallow waters along with small lakes begin to warm up, the predator chooses the same places for feeding and spawning. |
| May | Perhaps one of the most active months for pike, it bites on a variety of baits; during the spring feast, the fish tries to renew the energy spent during spawning and get as much food as possible. Don’t be surprised if you can find some small fish in the belly of a caught predator. |
| June | Thickets of grass appear on reservoirs and the pike goes there to fatten up. It is very well caught from a boat when casting along reeds or sedges. |
| July | In mid-summer, biting activity begins to decline, and the fish take a kind of break before the autumn activity. The time for fishing should be chosen either in the evening or at dawn, when the fish comes out to feed. The paths are working very well this month. |
| August | In the last month of summer, pike begins to feel the approach of autumn, and then winter. It is preparing for the autumn feast and responds very well to live bait. Shows average activity when feeding. |
| September | The time comes to gain weight and prepare for winter, the pike bites at everything, trying to absorb as much food as possible. The bite continues throughout the day. |
| October | Continued increased activity of the fish, excellent bite continues throughout the daylight hours and does not subside at night, the fish bites on almost any moving bait and tries to gain maximum weight before winter. |
| November | In the first half of the month there is a sharp decrease in temperature, which directly affects the activity of the predator (dramatically decreases), the best baits at this time are jigs. In the second half of the month, the bite actually goes to zero, as does the effectiveness of spinning rods, girders and mugs; the only way to catch a predator is with large baits. |
| December | There is very little activity of the fish; it moves away from the shore and stands at a depth near the edge. May show bursts of activity on sunny days. At this time, it is better to choose a balancer, spinner or live bait as bait. |
How to choose the right place for pike fishing?
To choose the right place to catch this predator, several factors should be taken into account:
- In ponds and lakes, fish live in places where the water is warmest, i.e. in shallow water. She also loves to hide behind snags in dense vegetation.
- In rivers, the location is completely different depending on the time of year, either it is deep, or it is dense vegetation, where there are large concentrations of roach, rudd and other small fish. Of course, it should be taken into account that the largest specimens go mainly to depth.
- Pike are very fond of places where streams or tributaries flow into rivers, as well as estuaries. These are their favorite feeding places.
- Pay attention to the presence of a bridge; turbulences usually form below it; such places are also favorite for this fish.
- Pike really love washed-out banks, and if they are located at a turn in the channel and form a depression, then it’s just wonderful, the pike immediately rushes there.
Biting calendar in the middle Don and its lower reaches closer to Rostov
For peaceful fish, the fishing calendar will look like this:
For a predatory one it will be like this:
Red indicates the time of active biting, brown - moderate, light brown - weak.
Fishing on the Don by season - spring, summer, autumn, winter
When fishing in the spring, you need to take into account the possibility of a spill. Lately they have been small. Beginning in April, a fisherman's catch may include ramming. At the end of April, herring is caught. When the water warms up completely, many other fish also appear.
Summer is the most popular time for fishermen. On the banks of the Don there are many not only of them, but also of vacationers. At this time, the most productive times are night and morning. Before the day begins, you can expect a bite from almost any fish that can be found here.
In autumn, fish tend to eat in preparation for the difficult winter season. In November the bite for pike, perch and pike perch is especially good. You can also find bream, small fish and ram.
In winter, the Don is very popular with fishermen. However, you need to take into account that the ice on the river is not always strong and monitor its condition. In the upper and middle reaches, fishing for pike perch using balance beams and spoons is popular. Sometimes crucian carp and ram are found.
Bite on the Don without interruption - video report on fishing in the fall of 2021:
Pike fishing spots in Voronezh and the Voronezh region.
The Voronezh region is very rich in reservoirs. Many rivers flow through it, and there are also countless lakes, where, of course, such a predator as pike lives in very large numbers. I would like to briefly talk about some of them.
Pike fishing on the Don River.
The Don River is the largest water artery of Voronezh and the Voronezh region. There is a huge amount of fish here and it is very diverse. Its channel is very winding, there are a lot of rifts, turns of the channel, and slopes on the right bank of the Don. Here pike are caught throughout the season and in some places you can come across some very good specimens.
Pike fishing on the Voronezh River.
Another fairly large waterway is the Voronezh River, on which the city itself is founded. There is also quite a lot of this predator here. Good places for fishing in the Chertovitskoye area. Pike take well in the oiler in the area of the dam; in the Voronezh Reservoir you come across some very serious specimens that can please any angler.
Pike fishing on the Usmanka River Voronezh.
There are also very promising places on the Usmanka River. Here you can catch pike in the Somovo, Borovoye, Sosnovy Bor and Kozhevenny Kardon areas. The river is very winding and there is a lot of vegetation along the banks, these are the places pike like to choose for hunting. In some places the river is quite narrow and the current is strong; casts should be made along the grass thickets; it is very convenient to fish from a boat. The Novousmansky region is also very promising for fishing, where the river is also winding and in some places reaches a good depth.
Of course, these are not all the rivers that exist in Voronezh and the Voronezh region; for example, you can do some good fishing on the Bityug or Khoper rivers. I would like to note that along the banks of these rivers you can not only find places for fishing, but also for relaxing with family and friends, and have a great weekend with barbecue and tents.
Fishing Features
In the summer, fishing on the Don is a great success. Since there are a large number of favorite fishing spots, a large number of beginners and professionals come here for fishing. The presence of snags, riffles, places with fast or slow currents, and different depths allows everyone to use their own fishing method.
It will be useful! Map of the depths of the Don River in the Rostov region, Tula, Ryazan, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Volgograd regions - rare and useful information for fishermen:
In autumn, the water temperature drops. At this time, the fish begins to prepare for winter. At this time, the chances of catching a trophy pike increase. This fish is the most popular prey in the fall, along with pike perch. Small roach and saber fish are used as live bait at this time.
Fishing on the Don River in early September:
Peaceful fish popular at this time are crucian carp, buffalo and bream. Carp and carp are more active at the beginning of autumn, but then they become much more passive. Maggots and bloodworms are suitable for fishing.
When preparing bait, you need to remember that at this time of year the most popular flavors are spicy, not sweet. Using a jig with silicone, you can count on catching pike, catfish, chub, pike perch, and asp.
Excellent winter fishing is available on the Don. On the first ice they come to catch roach and bream. At this time, it is worth paying attention to deep holes with strong currents, where you can catch a flock of bulls. To catch roach, you can use standing jigs with bait in the form of bloodworms. Each section of the river has its own characteristics that must be taken into account when fishing.
In spring, fishing on the last ice is popular. At this time, all winter fish are available, and asp and crucian carp are added to it. When a flood occurs, the chances of catching predatory fish increase. This applies, for example, to asp, pike, pike perch, and perch.
Starting from the second half of April, a fishing ban related to spawning comes into force. Only fishing from the shore is available. Spinning fishing is popular in the spring months. You can catch large bream on the feeder at this time.
Possibility of catching a trophy
It is unrealistic to say definitely where the fish will be and what kind of fish it will be. Where yesterday there was bream, today roach was actively pecking and rudd were spinning around, tomorrow there may not be a single bite. And the very next day you will see how in the same place an asp chases a silver bleak. Where you rely on crucian carp, a nimble bee-eater will suddenly attack the water worm, and instead of biryuks you will catch silver bream, sabrefish or perch. Fishing on the Don in Shilovo can please you not only with quantity, but also with quality: decent trophies are often brought from here, which they then proudly tell their friends about.
In the summer, families and friends come here and set up tents in the forest belt adjacent to the shore. Nearby you can set up a fire and cook fish soup from freshly caught fish. Even if you are suddenly unlucky, the fish is capricious and does not want to be caught, you will still have a great time and get a boost of energy and good mood by relaxing in nature.
