Fishing for crucian carp on a feeder in the spring in March, April and May

Where is crucian carp found in spring?

With the arrival of spring warmth, the inhabitants of reservoirs emerge from hibernation. But for now they still prefer to stay close to wintering pits; this period falls in March-April and the crucian carp is just beginning to be active.

As the water column warms up in May, the activity of crucian carp increases, and feeding grounds expand. The zone of interest includes shallow water heated by the sun. Coastal thickets and overhanging branches from which bugs and spiders fall onto the surface of rivers and ponds.

Crucian carp, gathering in schools, begin to circle around the reservoir, following the food base.

It can often be found in shallows and spits.

In spring, crucian carp rubs in shallow water areas

With the appearance of the first vegetation, fish “graze” in coastal areas.

Oxbow lakes and backwaters with little current are promising fishing grounds.

Air bubbles rising from the bottom indicate the movement routes of fish rummaging through the mud.

The pre-spawning period is characterized by the activity of crucian carp and occurs in the middle and end of spring. In central Russia - May. At this time, crucian carp feeds near future spawning sites: at the mouths of quiet rivers. Before entering heated bays and channels up to 3 meters deep. “Windows” in aquatic vegetation are also attractive to crucian carp.

Crucian carp biting calendar - with warming in March-April, the first phase of crucian activity begins

Where to look for fish in spring

In rivers, fish become more active after ice drift. It is better to try to catch it in proven places. The bite in early spring is delicate, bites are weak, barely noticeable or absent altogether.

If there are no bites in the tested places, you need to change the place. Fishing is good in places where springs flow into the river; they bring oxygen and food to the fish. In such places there is always fish and you can catch it.

In the spring, the river floods heavily, it floods the flat banks and the fish come out to these shallow areas in search of food. The first to emerge are carp fish:

• Roach;
• Guster;
• Bream.

In shallow water they look for food, and if you supply them with feeder gear, you can catch a lot of fish. It’s good to fish on a feeder in the evening in the spring, this happens because the spring sun has warmed the water and in the evening the water is warmer than during the day. Gradually the water warms up and the fish activity increases.

Features of spring feeder bait

The seemingly simple task of feeding crucian carp has its own nuances when fishing in a pond.

Fishermen distinguish crucian carp reservoirs in which the number of “golden” crucian carp exceeds the population of other species. And ordinary ones, where “bast shoes” do not dominate.

In the second case, the composition of the bait is important. Should not be attractive to your table neighbors.

The basis of bait when catching crucian carp on a feeder in late spring (April-May) is made up of various porridges: peas, steamed pearl barley, steamed millet; when fishing in early spring (April), you need to add animal components to the bait - bloodworms, worms, maggots.

Interesting. Added drinking yogurt does not attract other underwater inhabitants and stimulates the crucian's appetite.

In early spring, it is recommended to mix in animal ingredients: bloodworms, maggots and worms. At this time, the crucian carp is “putting on fat.”

It is important not to overfeed the crucian carp. Otherwise, having eaten enough, he will lose interest in the bait.

When catching crucian carp on a feeder in the current, creating a feeding zone, the balls must be sticky. So that they do not immediately crumble when hitting water, but are gradually washed out. Good “adhesion” is provided by clay and soil from molehills.

Creating a feeding spot

At the same time, on muddy soil, a dense lump will fall into a soft cushion without fulfilling its function.

Features of fish behavior

If feeder fishing in early spring is designed mainly for roach and bream, which are already quite active during this period, then with warming all fish (except for burbot) become more active. There is no exact recipe for the bite - each area has its own schedule, which also depends on the weather conditions of spring.

In each specific area, you need to focus not on some general biting schedules, but on weather conditions and the degree of development of spring changes in reservoirs. When in the south they are already catching crucian carp and carp going up in full force, in the north some reservoirs are still covered with ice. Therefore, the division of feeder fishing into March, April and May is very arbitrary.

It all depends on the onset of heat and the general transition of nature from winter to summer. When can you fish with a feeder in the spring? At any time in spring, if there is open water and the ability to get to the reservoir along muddy roads. Depending on the period of nature’s transition from winter to summer, the features of spring fishing will differ.

The feeder is a universal tool; you can fish with it both when the fish are hungry and during periods of inactivity of the fish in early spring. The gear is the same - the fishing spots are different. Feeder equipment, bait, baits and fishing tactics also differ.

Feeder in early spring

Immediately after the appearance of open water, if it is not a sharp break in the shell and ice drift (usually this happens on large rivers), at such points you can already fish with a feeder. In spring, thawed patches gradually begin to appear in small rivers, on currents and riffles, as well as in areas with springs and warm runoff. Fishing with a feeder also continues on canals and rivers that do not freeze in winter. After the ice melts, until active warming and rising water begin, the temperature in the reservoir is low, about 4 degrees.

When the water warms slightly to 5-6 degrees, roach and ide begin to become active. The fisherman (syrty) may already be in small rivers at this time - this fish sometimes migrates to spawn under the ice, and during the period of active fishing in high water it already descends back (in the south). Fish begin to emerge from wintering pits into warmer shallow water areas more and more often and farther away. By spring, migrating fish from large rivers and reservoirs gather at the mouths or lower reaches of tributaries, into which they will flow as the water rises.

The feeder in the spring begins with catching roach, bream or bream, which, although not yet fully active, are still feeding. The water temperature is low and the fish's metabolism has not yet recovered from its winter slow state. This type of feeder fishing takes place according to the winter scenario. The fish needs very little to get enough.

Therefore, when fishing on a feeder in early spring, the bait should be finely dispersed and non-nutritious, so as not to saturate the fish, but only collect it with smell and turbidity. Be sure to add food bloodworms, crushed worms or maggots - but not much, so as not to feed the possibly small amount of fish that arrives at the feeding point.

You can start fishing with a feeder in the spring in these areas that are already free of ice. Usually these are currents and ducts. We don’t climb into the rapids itself – there are no fish there yet. The best points for a feeder are places with flow near holes with a depth of 2-5 meters, deep turns and clearings under the shore, places where streams mix and where the return flow connects to the direct direction of flow.

The approach to bottom sounding is standard - we look for underwater anomalies, edges, areas with last year's vegetation on the bottom, shell rocks, scatterings of pebbles among sand or hard areas among silt.

This passive behavior of fish in the spring continues for about two weeks after the ice melts. As soon as the temperature begins to rise and the river becomes cloudy in anticipation of the rise in level, everything in the reservoir wakes up to a feeling of spring. If in clean, shallow water small baits worked better - one maggot or bloodworm, then as warmer weather approaches, the fish begins to feed more actively.

Fishing with a feeder in early spring in the river after the ice has melted - carefully hatching sluggish roach or bream. With warming, fishing turns into a lottery. Yesterday there was silence - but today, with the flow of water, the fish are in full swing, rising up. Activation also occurs in the local sedentary population, which does not go anywhere. In the southern regions, at the end of March, the flood is usually in full swing, crucian carp, carp and shemaya wake up, and fish and fish catch on the stream.

Provocations help to stir up passive fish with a feeder - tapping different parts of the day, pulling within the boundaries of the feeding spot, fishing downstream. Sometimes feeding a point in the spring does not bring results - the fish is somewhere else, but does not come out to feed. Some fishermen use active search tactics, throwing the feeder for 10-15 minutes at various points, and begin feeding in places where there were bites.

Feeder in April

The feeder on the river in the spring, as the water begins to rise, begins to have a different character. The fish goes up, entering tributaries. Deep-water pits do not work in spring - it is better to look somewhere smaller, near bushes, in flooded meadows and their border with the main channel. At the beginning of the spill, you can also fish with a feeder on the riverbed, at depths of no more than 4-5 meters based on passing fish.

When the water warms up to 10 degrees, the bulk of the underwater inhabitants are already actively feeding. Migratory fish move stronger every day, stopping in secluded places and continuing to actively feed. Fishing with a feeder in the spring in muddy water for active fish makes delicate equipment unnecessary. The bites are usually bold and powerful; she does not notice thicker leashes in such conditions.

When the flood is in full swing, you need to fish with a feeder in shallow warm places, in shallows and flooded meadows without writhing, with small green grass at the bottom. When the water warms up to 15 degrees, the bite is active - the main thing is to find fish. At this time he can use any equipment. Natural baits work better - bloodworms, maggots, worms, and in some places corn.

In muddy water in the spring, the fish clearly sees the yellow color, and therefore attacks the corn. The bite on the feeder usually continues at some intervals throughout the daylight hours. At this time, you can catch anyone on the river with a feeder in the spring, including fish, which are not there at all in the summer.

The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment with the feeder. There is no need to sit and stare at the quivertip if it doesn’t bite for a long time. We change the distance, baits, leash length - the main thing is to find the keys to the fish. In spring, in rivers, it is often not fishing from the bottom that works well, but dropping bait on long leashes with a helicopter or paternoster rig. At this time, even bream may prefer to take a falling bait, and roach, bluefish, saberfish or ide - even more so.

Ponds and enclosed reservoirs are cleared of ice later; there is no spill in them as such. The main factor is water temperature. Waking crucian carp and crucian carp in the spring subtly react to any temperature changes. For example, in calm sunny weather there can be an excellent bite in the shallows, at the edge of the vegetation. But if the wind starts and mixes warm water with cold, the bite may stop. The bite in ponds increases gradually as the weather gets warmer. Read more about feeder fishing in April.

Feeder fishing in May

In some regions in May the flood is only gaining momentum, while in others the rivers return to the banks. The water is getting warmer, brighter, the fish are returning to their summer habitats and actively feeding. In May everything and everywhere bites. In many regions there is a spawning ban at this time. You can fish with one tackle with one hook. For the feeder, this is a golden time - the main thing is to release species that are prohibited from catching - vimba, shemai, sturgeon (requirements differ in different regions).

Spring feeder fishing smoothly transitions into summer, massive feeds and sweet fruit aromas and plant baits begin to work. As a result of the final clearing of the water, restoration of the level and the onset of warmth, the fish occupy summer quarters. The full range of feeder capabilities opens up in any reservoir. In large rivers, with the right approach to the feeder, bream begins to be caught in the usual places, ponds and reservoirs work.

Fishing with a feeder in the spring on the river - standard tactics, feeding and experimenting with baits and leash length. In stagnant reservoirs in the spring we look for crucian carp, carp or carp in shallow waters where reeds begin to sprout. Feeder in May - full-fledged summer fishing using the maximum capabilities of the gear, both in still water and in the current.

Baits and baits used

The protein component is preferable when the inhabitants of reservoirs emerge from hibernation; for catching crucian carp they use:

• earthworm and dungworm;
• maggots and bloodworms (in “crucian carp” ponds);
• crawl pieces;
• caddisfly

  
  Maggot and worm sandwich

When the crucian carp tastes the first greenery (usually in May), vegetable baits are recommended:

• peas;
• boiled pearl barley;
• bread crumb;
• cake.

Flavorings include sweet smells: garlic, cocoa, raspberry, anise.

When rolling dough or bread crumbs, you can pre-smear your hands with Vietnamese “Star”.

“Golden” crucian carp becomes active when the water warms up to 10-12 degrees.

They catch crucian carp in the spring using different gear: a classic float, a Bolognese fishing rod, and even a spinning rod.

Feeder fishing, as an advanced type of bottom tackle, is also relevant. Having calculated the movement routes of crucian carp, food traps are created.

Feeder rig for bream in March

A feeder is chosen for bream fishing because fishing with it will be successful both on the reservoir and on the river.

The feeder is close to the bottom gear, but has a feeder as an element. The feeder tackle is divided into three parts - the main one, the feeder and the leash.

The fishing line for the main zone is selected braided, 0.15 or 0.25 millimeters in size, leaving most of it on the reel. The coil chosen is inertia-free with a low number of revolutions.

This is interesting: Paternoster feeder equipment

Carefully prepare the leash area, as successful fishing depends on it. It is better to choose a fluorocarbon thread with a diameter of 0.12 - 0.25 millimeters. Although they use monofilament, it will have to be replaced several times. The leash is made short, fifteen to twenty-five centimeters. But as with any fishing, everything is checked right on the spot. If there is no bite, the leash should be lengthened to 50 cm, then to 80-100 cm.

Read also: How long should a leash be?!

The hook on the feeder must be sharp and capable of holding large fish. The hook size for catching bream on a feeder should be size No. 12, with a short shank but a wide bend.

Collection of feeder gear for catching spring crucian carp

The characteristics of the reservoir and the behavior of its inhabitants are taken into account.

It is recommended to catch low-active crucian carp using balanced delicate equipment, thin fishing lines and small hooks. Then, as the fish become interested, they switch to self-hooking rigs with strong cords and leashes.

Rod

A fishing rod with a length of 2.7-3.6 meters is selected depending on the fishing conditions: the presence of a current, casting distance, location of coastal and coastal vegetation.

The test form varies between 30-80 g. Large guide rings and removable quivertypes are recommended.

The structure of the rod should show good information in still water and in the current.

Coil

As a rule, when fishing with feeder gear, a reel is taken in size from 2000-2500 with low sides for unhindered line escape. Transmission mechanism with a value not higher than 1:4. With the ability to get prey and a feeder. The recommended number of bearings is 4-6, a well-adjustable friction brake. For beginner feeders, equipment with a baitrunner is desirable.

fishing line

Braid is preferable for the following reasons:

• low-stretch, sensitive to bites;
• thin and durable, less “sails” in the underwater flow.

Diameter: 0.14-0.18 mm.

Feeder collection trough

Selected weighing around 40-60 grams. Early spring fishing for crucian carp with a feeder involves casting into shallow water, so feeders are used

insignificant in weight. This type of gear creates less noise when falling into the water.

When fishing in the current, a rectangular or triangular shape is recommended. This will reduce the likelihood of moving along the bottom.

Also, for additional fixation on the ground, wire “whiskers” are used, which keep the tackle from tipping over.

The installation of the feeder should provide a good visual start to the bite and not scare away the crucian carp; the following types of installation are used:

1. Symmetrical loop . It is made with a diameter of 25-30 cm from monofilament with a thickness of 0.25-0.27 mm. In this case, the feeder moves freely along the string. The downside of the rig is the likelihood of overlap with the leash.
2. Asymmetrical loop . The same material and dimensions of the cord, but the leash is separated from the main loop by a braided “pigtail”. This design minimizes overlaps.
3. Gardner rig (Paternoster) . It is considered a classic in feeder fishing. Installation involves placing the leash above the food. Convenient when casting onto a muddy bottom, when the “table” is recessed and the bait is located higher.

installations
Feeder designs:

1. Open . The lower and upper parts are not equipped with partitions. When it hits the bottom, the bait quickly spreads out. They are used to create a feeding zone and in standing water.
2. Semi-closed. The lower end is made with perforation, which leads to gradual leaching of the composition in the underwater flow and the formation of a stern plume.

3. "Springs" Made in the form of a spiral. Light in weight, used for fishing in ponds, lakes and reservoirs with weak currents.

   
   Spring feeder - often used for feeder fishing for crucian carp

Leash

Designed to save the main line from losing the entire equipment.

Interesting. Crucian carp is a cautious fish, so when choosing a leash, this feature is taken into account. The more timid the prey, the longer the lead.

For feeder fishing, a piece of 50-60 cm of monofilament with a thickness of 0.14-0.16 mm is considered optimal.

Hooks

Selected depending on the bait or attachment:

• No. 14-8 for vegetation (peas, pearl barley, corn, bread crumb);
• No. 10-6 with long or medium shank for earthworm;
• No. 14-10 are suitable for maggots;
• No. 16-14 bloodworms are attached.

Fishing periods in spring

Spring can be divided into three periods.

Pre-spawning (March-April)

Fish begin to leave their wintering pits, look for food in shallow water, in last year’s thickets of aquatic and coastal vegetation, and gather in schools to go to spawning grounds. While moving to spawn, they actively feed.

Spawning (March-April-May)

The fish does not know the names of the months of the year. It is guided by water temperature.

In addition to water temperature, spawning is influenced by factors of the individual characteristics of the reservoir and the nature of the weather, therefore the above values ​​are relevant within ±20%.

Spawning sites

1. Pike, perch, roach, rudd, silver bream – shallow water.
2. Crucian carp and carp are dense thickets of aquatic plants.
3. Asp, chub - fast current.
4. Ide – deep-sea areas with a rocky bottom, snags.
5. Burbot, ruffe, gudgeon – rocky or sandy bottom.
6. Catfish – deep places, bottom with soft soil.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Interesting! Catfish is one of the few fish species that lays a small number of eggs (about 500). Both parents take care of their safety until the very last moment, until the eggs hatch into fry.

For different breeds of fish, spawning lasts from one to several weeks. During spawning, fishing is allowed from the shore in specially designated areas with one hook. But...fishing during this period? The fish is hungry, it has no strength to resist... Many fishermen are ready to wait a week or two, especially after spawning and a short respite, the post-spawning glutton will begin...

Post-spawning (April-May-June)

After spawning, the fish rests for 4-12 days, depending on the species. "It stands up for itself."

Then the post-spawning feast begins. Fish loses caution during this period. You don’t have to worry too much about the camouflage properties of the gear; it’s better to take care of their reliability and strength.

Bottom line

To summarize, we can roughly name the fishing periods by month.

1. March. Before the start of spawning, during the fish movement, you can catch pike, perch, pike perch, asp, ide and other fish that have not yet started moving to spawn.
2. April. Before the start of spawning during the move - chub, roach, bream and other fish that have not started moving to spawn, or the spawning period has ended.
3. May. Before the start of spawning, during the course - small bream, tench, rudd, crucian carp, bleak, catfish, and other fish for which the spawning period has ended.

Tactics for catching crucian carp on a feeder in spring

Having chosen a fishing spot, they begin to examine the bottom using the “tapping” method. For this purpose, a marker weight is used that is identical in weight to the filled feeder.

The cast is performed in front of you (0 degree angle) to the maximum possible distance. After the load reaches the bottom, the rod drags the marker 1.5-2 meters, bringing the tip of the form to an angle of 45-90 degrees from the original, maintaining a horizontal plane.

Watch the tip and listen to the sensations “in your hand”:

• tapping indicates a rocky area;
• tight movement is possible on clay, silt;
• smooth stretch - sand.

After pulling and reeling in the line, make a sharp vertical jerk with the rod. The weight in the water is thrown up (without coming to the surface) and counting begins. Ends when reaching the bottom marker. Then the next dragging, etc. This is how the depths are measured.

Important. Count down the same way every time. Experienced fishermen use the fastest possible one, in which there are no pauses.

By changing the casting location and distance, the topography and structure of the bottom are determined.

The catch point is planned. It is convenient to “fix” the direction according to the landmark on the opposite side.

A feeding zone is first created, for this purpose the bait is sent to the selected place 10-15 times.

The feeder is filled with food, bait is placed on the hook, and the gear is cast.

The distance is fixed by clipping the fishing line.

The rod is installed on the stand, raising the tip as much as possible. This is necessary when fishing in the current so that the line touches the water and the sail as little as possible.

It remains to monitor the behavior of the quivertype. The hooking is not done sharply, because the crucian carp has a thin lip.

Fishing for crucian carp in the spring on a feeder - video report:

Spring fishing is varied. As the action progresses, gear and bait change. Various tactics are used. This is a test of the readiness of the equipment and the fisherman for the upcoming season.

Where to catch bream on a feeder in March

Choose a place for catching March bream on a feeder where there are:

• channel edges near the shore;
• bays with fresh water;
• bottom tables with a depth of two to four meters;
• bends of the bottom channel;
• pools in the tributaries of the river.

In such places, the whitefish awaits food and a lot of oxygen. You should go for your catch in the morning, as soon as the sun rises. Sometimes large specimens are caught in the afternoon, but not for long.

It is better to go for the evening bite when dusk appears. They feed the marked places in advance at a depth of four to six meters. Good luck awaits patient hunters, but after two in the morning you are unlikely to get a bite.

The presence of bream in a reservoir is determined by the catch of fishermen sitting on the shore. Don’t think that bream is afraid of crowds of fishermen. If at least one person guesses the course of the fish and catches several specimens of bream, then the neighbors will be lucky too. After all, the caught specimens show where the fish are concentrated.

It is interesting that, despite the shallow depth of the channels, the catch in them is greater than in large reservoirs.