The asp is a large predator and is found in freshwater rivers and lakes. The asp gives up its size only to pike and catfish. Usually catching an asp weighing 4-5 kilograms is considered the norm and is not surprising. But larger specimens are found much less frequently.
The asp prefers fast currents and warm water. They catch it mainly using a spinner as the main bait.
Kinds
A spinner is a type of bait for catching fish of artificial origin.
The appearance resembles a metal plate, which also has one or more hooks. Spoons are made from stainless steel, bronze, aluminum, brass or other materials. The coating also comes in a variety of colors: from gold to chrome and nickel.
The color of the spoon always depends on what kind of fish you want to catch, because certain types of fish only react to certain colors. For example, red or silver.
To catch asp, various spoons are used, which are divided into different types. Rotating spoons have their own classification, which depends on several factors: load and blade shape. Depending on the load, spoons are divided into front-loaded, back-loaded and unloaded.
This type of spinner is the most common and affordable. It is also ideal for fishing in shallow waters.
Depending on the shape of the petal, spinners are divided into three types:
- with elongated petals;
- oval petals;
- in the shape of an elongated oval;
You can also find a type of spinner that has two petals of different sizes.
Today you can find a variety of petals that imitate different types of fish or insects, all of them have in common the rotation of the bait.
A selection of baits for asp
Savage Gear 3D jig minnow 15g 6.8cm
The jig has an elongated body, so the hooks do not cling to the fishing line. Works in both classic and jig (stepped) wiring. The signature feature of the brand is its realistic appearance, similar to a live fish.
Article about Savage Gear lures.
Jig Savage Gear 3D jig minnow 15g 6.8cm PHP sardine 546 RUR
Jig Savage Gear 3D jig minnow 15g 6.8cm PHP sardine
Add to cart
Savage Gear Vib Blade 5.5cm 14.5g
The spinner is of the “cicada” type; it has three mounting points that change the amplitude of the bait’s oscillations when retrieving. It has very realistic coloring and voluminous eyes, like those of a living fish. Recommended for fishing with classic, uniform fishing.
Spinner Savage Gear Vib Blade 5.5 cm 14.5 g olive silver stripes 599 ₽
Savage Gear Vib Blade 5.5 cm 14.5 g olive silver stripes
Add to cart
Savage Gear Fat tail spin 6.5cm 16g
The universal tail spinner is suitable for both uniform and jigging retrieves. The petal creates vibrations in the water and provokes the predator to attack.
Tail spinner Savage Gear Fat tail spin 6.5cm 16g sinking blue silver pin 580 RUR
Tail spinner Savage Gear Fat tail spin 6.5cm 16g sinking blue silver pin
Add to cart
Daiwa Silver creek minnow 61S TS
Sinking wobbler for catching predators in currents at a depth of more than a meter. Equipped with thin, sharp tees that pierce the jaw when hooking and prevent the fish from breaking free. The shape of the wobbler provides an attractive, sweeping game in strong currents. This bait should be fished using a uniform retrieve. The matte color doesn't produce glare and works best in sunny weather.
Wobbler Daiwa Silver creek minnow 61S TS 781 RUR
Wobbler Daiwa Silver creek minnow 61S TS
Add to cart
Daiwa Crusader gekiatsu salt 10g
Heavy driven spoon with a single hook. It flies far when casting, works on both uniform and intermittent retrieves of varying intensity.
Spinner Daiwa Crusader gekiatsu salt 10g candy blue 374 ₽
Spinner Daiwa Crusader gekiatsu salt 10g candy blue
Add to cart
Daiwa Prorex Metal Vib 10g
The Japanese cicada spinner has three mounting points that change its vibration amplitude when retrieved. An interesting feature: the kit comes with an additional metal petal that can be attached during periods of high fish activity.
Equipment “Button” from the brand “Kingfisher”
Simulates the chase of one fish after another. And the asp and other predators really don’t like it when someone is chasing someone other than themselves. When retrieving quickly, the spinner with a double and a wabik pull an air bubble behind them and a complete imitation of the hunt of a small predator for a fry occurs. The asp does not leave such impudence unpunished and attacks the bait. In bycatch you can expect catfish and pike perch, sometimes pike from the surface.
Suitable for uniform, stepped bottom or pelagic (in the water column) wiring.
Equipment Kingfisher Asp button 23g 111 ₽
Equipment Kingfisher Asp button 23g
Add to cart
Streamer Kingfisher Fly BN No. 3 single goat white lurex pack 3pcs 116 ₽
Streamer Kingfisher Fly BN No. 3 single goat white lurex pack 3pcs
Add to cart
Mepps Aglia Long Heavy No. 1 copper 8g
A spinner spoon with an elongated blade, which is optimized for fishing in currents. Using a large rounded petal on a strong draft would cause increased water resistance during retrieving and a decrease in the sensitivity of the gear.
Spinner Mepps Aglia Long Heavy No. 1 copper 246 ₽
Spinner Mepps Aglia Long Heavy No. 1 copper
Add to cart
How to choose lures for asp?
The weight of the spoon depends on how large the asp you want to catch.
The lure needs to be selected depending on many factors. For example, the entire catch will depend on the weight of the spoon. In order to catch an asp, the spoon must be small in size. In addition, it should be bright, and its playing should also be interesting.
To ensure casting range and throwing accuracy, you need to use a spinner that has a narrow, elongated shape. It will be able to penetrate the depth and will be able to work perfectly even with a large current, which the asp loves so much.
Also, the weight will depend on the seasons and the size of the reservoir. If the reservoir is shallow, then you need to choose a spoon with a small load, but if there is a strong current, then the size of the load needs to be increased.
If fishing occurs in winter, then the load also needs to be increased. This is necessary so that the spoon reaches the bottom, where the asp will be located.
The principle that the larger the fish that needs to be caught, the larger the bait you need to use, does not always work. First of all, you need to focus on what asps like to eat in this area.
The ability of the spinner to cast long distances is very important ; for better range, spinners weighing no more than 15 grams, but no less than 9, are suitable.
For asp fishing, the best choice is a spinner that will have the shape of an oval, and its length should be as long as possible. For asp fishing, there are some universal spoons, sizes 1-3 (long) and 2-4 (aglia).
The color of the spinner will also depend on several factors. These are weather conditions.
If the weather is sunny, then you need to choose a copper-colored spoon. In the evening or when the weather is cloudy, the lure should be silver. Alternatively, you can use gold or chrome.
Tips for catching asp with a spoon
Selection by size
You need to choose the size of the spoon taking into account the depth at which you are working. If you need a bottom, then focus on heavy weight. Otherwise, drill less weight.
Select by color
It all depends on the turbidity of the water. If the water is too cloudy, then take as shiny as possible, but not too much, because the extra blue reflection will only scare away the fish. For clearer water, use a matte color.
By shape
You can use a variety of shapes, but put emphasis on the width, since it determines the play of the spinner. The wider the better.
Let's start with the most favorite time of year for anglers - summer. At this time of year, the water warms up to a temperature when the asp begins to be most active. But you need to understand that if the temperature is 30 °C for a month and the water is overheated, then it is logical that such overheated water will not have a positive effect on the bite.
During the day, the asp's tastes will change, depending on the lighting. In the morning and evening, when the sun is not shining so brightly, you can use brighter baits. They will not scare away the fish with their “juicy” color, but on the contrary, they will be of interest. During the day, when the weather is cloudless, you should not choose shiny wobblers.
Important! The main thing in a wobbler is not the color, but the vibrations it creates
Required characteristics
As mentioned above, the main characteristics are weight, color and ability to play.
In some ways, the ability to play an interesting game is much more important than even the color of the spinner. After all, very often the fish may simply not pay attention to the bright bait if its game is sluggish.
It also happens the other way around: the color may be faded, but the fish will not pay attention to this, as it will be carried away by the game.
Weight is also an important characteristic, since the casting depth and the ability to catch a large specimen depend on it.
The main requirements for an asp lure are range and the ability to work in high currents. Also, the petals need to have a narrower shape. It is necessary to use spinners with a small area, but their core must have significant weight.
Examples of suitable models
Oscillating spoons are ideal for all the required characteristics.
Kastmaster
They have become very popular recently. After all, this is the type of bait used by many fishermen who hunt asp. It is the most versatile of all.
Spinner baits of this brand are very common and are produced by different manufacturers. But, among all types of Kastmaster baits there are some differences. This especially applies to different weights with the same shape. This can be seen when you compare seven grams and twenty-one. The first one will have better mobility and will be more interesting for this fish.
Cast Champ
Very similar to the Kastmaster, but it has cut angles that are different and also has a slightly wider area. The changed angles allow it to be much smoother.
Spinkaster
It also has some differences - it is narrower and also has a long tail, which is very attractive to the asp. It is thanks to this tail that such spoons have become popular.
How to do it yourself?
Making a spinner with your own hands, if you have all the necessary materials and tools, will not be difficult, since the asp prefers prey that moves at speed.
It seems that the asp will generally pursue any prey that moves quickly. It is important that you can cast the bait as far as possible, so you need to make a bait that will be made with an olive sinker.
Firstly , you need to have a sinker, which you can either buy or make yourself. You also need wire, silk threads and a hook. We also need to find a bead whose diameter will be about 5 millimeters.
In order to make a spinner, you need to take an “olive”, its weight should be within 25 grams. You can either buy a weight or cast it yourself, it all depends on your desire or opportunity. After this, on the steel wire, which should have a ring (to thread the fishing line), you need to attach an “olive” and a small “bead”.
Secondly , you need to make another ring, to which you need to attach a tee with a fly. The fly is made of silk threads; any color can be used, but bright colors are preferable. The tee can be used without a special ring, but then changing the hook will be very difficult.
Spoons for catching asp in autumn
Autumn fishing for asp differs from fishing at other times of the year, since it is at this time that the fish becomes very voracious, as it tries to gain weight for the winter. And at this time the asp will rush to any bait that is offered to him.
In the fall, heavy spoons are perfect for catching this predator. Rotating ones are best, weighing at least ten grams. The petal should not be very narrow. It is best to choose a calm color: dark brass or copper.
A unique bait for catching asp.
I think many spinning anglers will agree with me that in most cases heavy jigs like spinners are suitable for catching asp.
And if we talk about those cases when it is active, then in order to catch this predator with a spinning rod, almost any spinning bait can do.
It’s a completely different matter when the sheresper is in a passive state and it is sometimes very difficult to tempt him to bite, and at times it is simply impossible. Therefore, I often had the desire to create a bait specifically for the passive asp. To do this, I turned to the Institute of Hydrodynamics. At the beginning, my researchers and I found out which baits were most in demand by this insidious predator. First of all, we were interested in various types of spinners. And this is what we got. Jig-like lures came in first place. In addition, the asp often prefers ordinary driven oscillating spoons and, of course, spinners. In rare cases, the asp readily responds to Devon baits, that is, to those spinners that have a turbine. We did not consider bulky plastic baits, since the goal was to create, first of all, a long-range bait that would combine all the qualities above mentioned spinners. Throughout the winter, the hydrodynamic properties of each individual spoon were determined in the institute’s pool, and together with ichthyologists they tried to figure out why the asp was interested in this or that bait. Now I will not go into scientific terminology and explain how and why this or that spoon lures the asp to bite. Well, firstly and most importantly, the scientific work itself and the conclusions to it take up more than one or even ten sheets of printed text in A4 format. I will only reveal that a jointly created group of scientists from the Institutes of Hydrodynamics and Ichthyology managed to combine the data of several baits into one and make the first prototype of a special spoon for catching asp. Initial tests in the Volga delta showed its impeccable professional suitability. This bait caught asp always and in all the places where we tested it. Our event ended in triumph. Soon fishermen will have a real panacea for lack of bite. I bring to your attention a photo of this spinner.
The front part of the bait is nothing more than a real jig, and gives the spoon an incredible flight range. There is a so-called wing on top, which helps create vibrations in the water for the entire bait, reminiscent of the work of a spoon. And at the end, in the middle, there is a turbine, its work one-on-one resembles the work of the Devons and intersects with the work of the petal of a rotating spoon. Moreover, one side of this turbine is painted red, which, as you understand, is also not accidental. This is an additional irritant and at the same time an aiming point. Now the asp fisherman will not have to buy a huge number of baits and then tirelessly look for the one on the reservoirs that the cunning asp would deign to take advantage of. Of course, this is a pre-production sample, the spinner will be further developed to a greater extent to bring it to an ideal, aesthetically pleasing shape. After which it will certainly hit the shelves of Spinningline stores. Follow the news. And yet, most likely we will announce a competition for the most original name for this spinner, and summing up the results, we will celebrate the winner with a separate gift no less original than the spinner itself.
Fishing technique
Asp are especially well caught using a spinning rod. The ability to play an interesting game plays a very important role. She must be swift and active.
The cast must be made upstream, because that’s when the spoon will move at a right angle. The cast should be made as close as possible to the possible fish location.
When catching this fish, you can also use long casting if you connect a fast leash to it.
Do not forget that the asp is a predator, and for him the performance of the bait, and not just the color, will be very important.
Popular and catchy
When catching asp, you must remember that this fish is quite cautious and will not let you get close to it, so the spinners must be heavy enough to cast long distances. At the same time, this predator hunts near the surface, so the fishing gear should not go into a tailspin, but rather easily be moved along the surface. All these indicators are fully consistent with the oscillating (popularly called spoon) spinner Trophy.
This tackle has excellent ballistic data and is designed specifically for long-distance casting. At the same time, it has a unique game; it performed well when wiring in the upper layers. It is included in the 10 best lures for asp according to a rating compiled by eminent fishermen. The next spinner is not inferior to the trophy in terms of casting range.
Kastmaster is a universal spinner that can be used to fish anywhere and anytime. It is even possible in the sea at shallow depths. For fast surface fishing, the Delphi spinner is best suited with its very successful action. It has a natural color and does not glare in the sun. In addition to asp, pike and pike perch are actively targeting it.
When fishing on the surface, the so-called walkers - surface wobblers - are very popular. Quite catchy baits. They are very similar to small fish and are equipped with several tees. For a stronger effect, some spoons contain glass balls, which attract fish with their noise.
Expert opinion
Valery Andreevich Sizov
Professional fisherman with 35 years of experience
The Flamingo spinner has almost all the properties of the Delphi, but differs in its play due to its different shape.
True, because of it, high-speed wiring, which the asp likes so much, is impossible. When driven quickly, the spoon goes into a tailspin, again thanks to this, pike perch and pike are good for it.
