What to take with you on a fishing trip
When going fishing in Astrakhan, you need to take care of the proper organization of life in the fishing camp.
To do this, you should make a list of things you need to take with you in advance. But the list should be divided into categories. Otherwise, you are sure to forget something. We start collecting with... documents. Surprisingly, you need to take your passport with you when going fishing - you may be asked to present it. If you are driving, then, naturally, you need a driver's license.
- Fisherman's suit, raincoat.
- Seasonal clothing.
- Rubber boots.
- Sneakers, replacement shoes (slippers, flip-flops).
- Warm socks.
- Mosquito hat, Panama hat or baseball cap. In summer, as a rule, there should be two hats.
What to fish with
The carp fishing season in Astrakhan and the region begins at the end of April and lasts until September. But the most suitable time for this is June - August. As a rule, during these months you can catch the maximum number of fish. Experienced fishermen are guided by apricot trees, on which the fruits ripen at this time. As for the time of day, in summer it is better to catch carp early in the morning or late in the evening. The main thing is that the water is well heated, because even with a slight drop in temperature the bite will be worse. In the middle of the day, when it is very hot, the fish hides, so they also bite less often. But in early autumn, provided that the weather is warm enough and sunny, you can fish all day.
When autumn comes, wild carp begin to lead a sedentary lifestyle, so fishing becomes quite unpredictable. If you choose a place where this fish gathers, you can get an excellent catch, or you can catch nothing at all. At this time, females are caught more often, because they must actively feed in preparation for the spring laying of eggs.
Important! In rainy and foggy weather, the intensity of the bite decreases, and before a thunderstorm it increases sharply. Bait for catching carp can be different depending on the preferences of the fish in certain bodies of water.
To know exactly what you can catch it with, you need to try fishing using different types of bait.
Bait for catching carp can be different depending on the preferences of the fish in certain bodies of water. To know exactly what you can catch it with, you need to try fishing using different types of bait.
The most popular of them:
- Boilies are balls with a fragrant mixture that are used to catch large fish, because only they have a mouth large enough and strong enough to swallow them. To catch carp, boilies are most often made from birdseed with dough and sunflower oil or from bone meal, eggs and vanillin.
- Toothless clam. The only drawback of the bait is that it can be thrown off the hook by small fish, so you need to periodically check the gear. But this can be easily eliminated: if you first dry the clam in the sun, it will hold up better. To catch a large fish weighing more than 10 kg, you need to attach at least two toothless teeth to the hook.
- Boiled potatoes cut into cubes about a centimeter or small potatoes, which are usually thrown away and not used for food.
- Worms and fry. This bait is most optimal at great depths, where small fish do not swim and knock the bait off the hook.
- The cake is in pressed briquettes, which are attached to a special lead plate.
- Artificial baits such as silicone fish, vibrating tails and wobblers.
As already mentioned, the most promising time for roach fishing is the peak of the spring spawning season. On Akhtuba it is the 20th of April, almost just before the flood, which in these places is caused by the beginning of the discharge of flood waters from the Volgograd hydroelectric station. Moreover, biting activity increases sharply literally in the last 2-3 days before the water level begins to rise in Akhtuba and Mangut.
If the weather is favorable, and on Akhtuba at the end of April it is the most favorable, it is better to catch roach at dawn. Its bite begins at dusk, and weakens by midday. Peak activity is dawn and early morning, before 10 o’clock. During the day there is almost no biting, it resumes in the evening and continues until dark.
During the peak of roach activity, you can successfully catch it during the day, using bait to delay the fish passing upstream. But usually bait is not used, since the semi-anadromous spring roach bites greedily and right on the move.
Roach behavior in spring
In winter in Astrakhan you can catch roach, pike perch, pike, bream, large perch - it all depends on skill and luck.
In the spring, the migration of the roach in the Caspian Sea begins: it will soon begin to spawn, so the fish begins to actively move into the rivers - the Volga, Terek and Ural.
To get a good catch, you need to know the peculiarities of its spring behavior and the sequence of movement:
- At the beginning of spring, the fish moves along river beds and can only be found in these places. The peak of the bite will begin a little later, but experienced fishermen prefer to catch roach at this stage, since it is believed that it has the most delicious meat while moving along the riverbed, not far from the surface of the river bottom.
- Gradually, large schools emerge from river beds and fill the meadows that were flooded with water at this time. This period can be considered the most favorable for fishing; during it the most active bite is observed.
The maximum weight of the roach is 0.8 kg, and the length is no more than 20; although some individuals grow up to 30 cm and weigh slightly more than the rest of their relatives.
A number of varieties of this breed live in Astrakhan, differing in weight, size, appearance and places where they can be found:
- The “local” species lives only in the waters of the Volga, while it stays in the river throughout the entire season and does not swim into the Caspian Sea.
- The Caspian variety differs from other species in its larger size; it is the main prey for local residents of the Caspian seaside, including the villages of Tishkovo or Vyshka. Only isolated individuals swim closer to the city; it is virtually impossible to catch one here.
- The “speckled” variety is an individual specimen characterized by its large size; You can catch them only during the beginning of spawning. One of the distinctive features of such fish is the eggs, which adhere in large quantities to the scales.
- The “rolling” variety are marine fish that swim out of the sea in the spring and rush to the nearest rivers. They stay in their waters throughout the spawning period, and after its completion they return to their native places in the Caspian Sea.
For spring roach fishing in Astrakhan, two types of gear are used:
- Donka.
- An ordinary float rod.
Regardless of the type of tackle chosen, it will need to be prepared in a special way, and the success of fishing will also depend on the correct time and place of fishing.
Bottom tackle for catching roach in spring
The donka is the most preferable option for novice fishermen, since when using it, preliminary preparation of the gear can be eliminated.
The equipment is quite simple and includes:
- Monoline with a diameter of no more than 0.2 mm.
- Hooks No. 4-5 according to the domestic classification, quantity - 4 pieces.
- A load with an average weight of 100 g.
Some fishermen use feeder gear, the test value of which does not exceed 60 g. His equipment looks the same, but a feeder is added to it. This option will be effective if fishing takes place during a period with active biting, which allows you to make long casts: the prey immediately begins to attack the hook with bait, before it has yet reached the bottom surface.
Float tackle for catching roach in spring
Float tackle is effective during floods and when fishing in river areas with rapid currents.
The length of the fishing rod must be at least 6 meters; the equipment of the fishing rod includes:
- Line thickness from 0.18 to 0.2 mm.
- Any float model that can work with a sinker weighing 3-4 g.
- Hook No. 4-6 according to the domestic classification, depending on what type of roach will be caught.
For fishing, it is recommended to organize a blind rig for a float rod; it will look like this:
- Initially, a loop is knitted at the end of the working line; it is necessary for fastening to the connector or rope located at the end of the tackle.
- The fishing line is cut after selecting the required length, to which an additional 50 cm must be added.
- The float is installed and the cambrics are put on.
- It is better to install sinkers directly at the fishing spot in order to correctly determine the depth. Only the antenna should be above the surface of the water, and the body of the float itself should be submerged. It is better to use about 2-3 pellets, with one sinker placed as close as possible to the float so that it serves as a backup.
- After determining the location of the sinkers, they will need to be crimped, and the fishing line above them will need to be flattened using pliers. After this, the sinkers are manually moved up to the undamaged section of the fishing line; The extra 50 cm of cord remaining below is simply cut off.
- When preparing the equipment, you should make sure that the position of the weights has been chosen correctly: the pellet should be at a distance of 10 to 25 cm from the float, a distance of 20 cm is maintained between it and the second weight. The third pellet is placed exactly 60 cm from the pod. In this case, it is always possible to shift the second sinker and position it closer to the sub-groove; such changes in equipment are sometimes necessary when fishing in conditions of increased windiness.
- At the end of the working line you need to organize a small loop, which can be useful for installing a float using the “loop-to-loop” technique.
And here's what you need to know: Feeder Method - Feeder Fishing
Spring roach fishing in Astrakhan is very popular not only among local residents; during this part of the season, many fishermen from other regions come here and real tournaments and competitions are organized. Every person is interested in the secret of the most effective bait, but there is no universal option that would be equally catchy every year.
When fishing with feeder gear, their feeders can be filled with the following baits:
- Various types of porridges. Only their consistency matters; it is determined individually depending on the fishing conditions.
- A mixture of bloodworms and maggots.
- Earthworms and dungworms, which are pre-finely chopped.
- Sunflower cake.
Bait for catching roach in spring
Typically, roach prefers the same bait as roach, so you can use your experience in catching this fish. There are no universal recipes, so it is recommended to experiment with different options to determine the most effective baits.
Local fishermen usually use the following species:
- Earthworms and dungworms are the most common variant that often attracts roach.
- Maggot.
- Tails from small twisters are the most popular artificial bait, which roach is often confused with a worm.
- Canned corn grains are rarely used as independent bait; a combination with worms or maggots is more common.
- Shrimp pieces.
The roach's only habitat is the Caspian Sea basin; with the onset of spring, it returns to its birthplace - the Volga and other nearby rivers - to lay eggs.
You can count on a good catch in the following places:
- Volga and other rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea. In these places, fish are caught for consumption, since they will have the most delicious meat. However, it is necessary to catch the beginning of its migration, and also take into account that the prey moves exclusively against the current.
- Tributaries of the Volga. Here the fish appear a little later, when most of the schools have already managed to leave the sea.
- Flooded meadows and fields. In these places there is usually an active bite, but fishing is carried out for the most part only for the sake of recreation and sporting interest.
To successfully catch the Astrakhan roach, it is necessary to correctly determine the moment of its movement into the rivers; theoretically, it can occur from the end of February to the beginning of April, depending on the temperature and weather conditions in the current year. Usually the ice lasts until mid-March, so the main migration begins during this period, and the bite reaches its peak closer to the first days of April.
In April, the roach is very active and attacks virtually any type of plant and animal bait, but it should be remembered that it is during this month that the ban on catching it is also in force.
It should also be taken into account that mining has two peaks of activity:
- In early April, the water in the rivers has not yet warmed up enough, and the prey tries to move, being near the bottom surface. During this period, it is more convenient to catch it with spinning rods or donks.
- In the last days of April or early May, the water warms up sufficiently if the air temperature reaches 25°C. The fish go to spawn and can be caught in all rivers and adjacent reservoirs.
April roach fishing is distinguished by its ease due to the large amount of prey and the glutton that begins before spawning. For these reasons, fish actively bite on virtually any bait and bait, and fishermen are given real freedom: they can use float rods, donks, feeder gear or spinning rods.
The most popular bait at this time of year is red worms; you can buy them at virtually any city market.
It is important to remember that in April bans on roach fishing begin to apply due to the approaching spawning season. It is recommended to find out the current dates for the selected fishing location in advance, so as not to encounter unforeseen problems and troubles during fishing.
In general, for all baits the rule is simple - the larger the bait, the larger the fish, but the less often it is caught.
When going fishing in Astrakhan in October or September, be sure to take with you a minimum set consisting of:
- a couple of spinning rods of different test and length for fishing from the side of a boat;
- surface baits and shallow baits for fishing on the rolling part; “non-hooking” ones would also be useful in the set;
- deep-sea baits if you expect to meet pike perch or catfish;
- You can also learn more about the gear and baits that have proven themselves well during fishing in Astrakhan in October and September by looking through the reports of the “autumn” guests of our base - many of them are happy to share their rich experience;
- The “float” will also help you diversify your fishing! Directly from the Big Floating House you will be able to “carry” large quantities of small tarashka and roach, immediately sending it to the frying pan in the galley!!! And this dish is lick your fingers!!! By the way, it is not at all necessary to “bother” with buying or searching for worms for this - a can of ordinary canned corn will provide you with perfectly working bait for a long time;
- ...and don’t forget also... swimming trunks - swimming in the river after an exciting fishing trip is an integral part of the holiday at our base in Astrakhan.
In the warm months of spring, autumn and summer, different types of gear are selected for fishing. Professional fishermen at these times of the year use:
- Spinning. It is great for fishing different types of fish. If you plan to catch small fish, you should give preference to light tackle; if you plan to catch large fish, use heavy tackle. But in any case, the rod of the chosen spinning rod should bend well. This is necessary so that the fisherman can easily throw gear into the water over a long distance and reel in his catch. Wobblers and spinners are chosen as attachments for spinning.
- Float rod. A classic version of a summer fishing rod. When choosing it, you need to take into account the following points - its flexibility, length. This determines how far you can throw the tackle and the ease of its use.
- Donka. This type of gear allows you to catch large fish from the shore. In addition, bottom fishing is effective at any time of the day. Fish actively bite on it both day and night. When choosing a donkey, you need to pay attention to its parameters. When fishing on a river, the length of the rod should be up to 3 m, and the length of the fishing line up to 40 m. Such dimensions of the tackle will allow you to catch fish even in wide rivers.
- Feeder rod. It is even suitable for fishing in rivers with strong currents.
And here's what you need to know: Fishing in the Pskov region, paid fishing 2016
Winter fishing in Astrakhan, if well prepared for it, will bring a considerable catch. In cold weather you can catch bream, pike, and pike perch here. What should you take on a fishing trip in the cold to come back with a catch?
It is unlikely that you will go on a hike for one day, because fishing in Astrakhan is a real journey. Therefore, you need to take care of how to preserve your catch. But there is only one way out: the fish needs to be salted in large plastic containers or in aluminum containers. Containers must have a lid on which cargo can be placed on top.
Salted fish may also go missing. To prevent this from happening, you will have to dig a hole into which containers with fish will need to be lowered. The pits must have a lid. Usually the lids are made of wood.
If you go fishing in the Astrakhan region as a wild person, then be prepared for the fact that there will be problems with drinking water. There are no such problems at fishing bases. Before your trip, research places where you can stock up on drinking water. Please take large containers with you.
- sunglasses;
- photo, video camera;
- headlamp, batteries;
- car charger for mobile phone;
- watch;
- alcohol, cigarettes;
- cotton gloves - for fires and barbecues;
- medical gloves - for salting fish;
- robe, apron (for salting fish);
- wire (to hang fish for drying or to protect the camp from uninvited guests).
Don’t forget your camera to capture not only the beauty of these places, but also your catch. What if you are lucky enough to catch a trophy catfish weighing several tens of kilograms?
Important nuances
It is unlikely that you will go on a hike for one day, because fishing in Astrakhan is a real journey. Therefore, you need to take care of how to preserve your catch. But there is only one way out: the fish needs to be salted in large plastic containers or in aluminum containers. Containers must have a lid on which cargo can be placed on top.
Salted fish can be dried on site
Salted fish may also go missing. To prevent this from happening, you will have to dig a hole into which containers with fish will need to be lowered. The pits must have a lid. Usually the lids are made of wood.
If you go fishing in the Astrakhan region as a wild person, then be prepared for the fact that there will be problems with drinking water. There are no such problems at fishing bases. Before your trip, research places where you can stock up on drinking water. Please take large containers with you.
Fishing camp
Fishing in Astrakhan will be an exciting journey for you, which will be pleasant to remember for the rest of your life. And many fishermen annually take a vacation for 1 or 2 weeks in the Astrakhan region to fully enjoy the view of wildlife and the fight against large underwater predators and smaller peaceful fish.
SE Astrakhan and climatic features
The Astrakhan region stretches along the Volga coast for four hundred kilometers, and Astrakhan for 45 km. At this point Europe borders Asia.
The landscape is predominantly flat. The regional center is located on the low-lying, island territory of the Caspian Sea.
The climate is sharply continental, which causes strong temperature fluctuations over 12 months. The seasons do not correspond to calendar dates, so winter lasts until about mid-March, after which it rapidly warms up for a month and a half, and by the second ten days of May, completely summer weather sets in.
The average temperature in March is 2 degrees, in April the air warms up to 11 degrees, in May to almost 18 degrees. In spring it is usually warm and there is almost no rain, but it can get sharply cold due to cold air currents coming from the north.
It is recommended to familiarize yourself with and take into account the following features of April roach fishing in Astrakhan:
- Roach is a schooling fish, so the bite can decrease or become active depending on the passage of the school along a certain section of the river. If there are no bites for a long time, you should try changing the bait.
- The bite begins at sunrise and continues until dusk; in the dark, the roach is passive and does not respond to bait.
- Many local fishermen prefer to fish in shallow waters. In these areas, more prey is found, but the risk of fishing line snags also increases.
- The average weight of the Astrakhan roach varies from 200 to 500 grams. With frequent lifting of the tackle, the likelihood of bites from the silver bream increases.
- You can fish with several bottom gear at once, but their number should be no more than two, since even in this case the fisherman will actually have no time to rest.
- When spending the night on the shore, you should not forget about the April frosts that are typical for this region, so it is recommended to have appropriate equipment with you.
This breed has one interesting feature: when the mass movement begins, the body of the fish begins to warm up. After fishing for the first prey, you should hold the fish in your hands to determine its temperature and understand whether it was an individual or a whole school passing through the river section. In a similar way, local residents make forecasts regarding the expected bite.
Tackle for catfish
Catfish weighing 20-30 kg, which is considered average by the standards of the region, can be caught using a spinning rod or a medium-power donkey. In this case, a spinning rod length of 2.7...2.5m with a dough of 50...10g, or even better - 80...10g, will be sufficient. A blank of this kind is suitable for equipping spinning or bottom equipment. But landing catfish requires a powerful reel. When choosing an inertia-free one, its size should not be less than 4500...3500. The optimal solution would be to use a multiplier type. For example: - Ambassador; — Penn. When choosing a braid, you should focus on 0.35...0.25 mm. For monofilament, 0.6…0.4 mm is suitable.
Fishing with a donkey requires slippery weights, the weight of which is 80...50g. Swivels and leashes are also needed for rigging. But it is better to choose single hooks, but they must be strong and sharp. You can only fish with a jig using a spinning rod, for which special heads are suitable, the weight of which is 18...60 g. Twisters and vibrating tails in 18...60g, painted in dazzlingly bright colors, are used as fishing nozzles. The rig with both live bait and dead fish can be successful.