Dragonfly fishing - About fishing

general information

Kazara
Dragonfly larvae (kazara)

painted in brown-olive tones. Dragonfly eggs are laid in water or in the tissue of aquatic plants. The eggs hatch into larvae of an extremely characteristic shape, interesting in their biological characteristics. These larvae play an important role among other living material of freshwater excursions.

Dragonfly larvae are found everywhere in standing and slowly flowing water. Most often they are found on aquatic plants or on the bottom, where they sit motionless, sometimes moving slowly. There are species that burrow into mud. All larvae can be divided into three groups:

1. Larvae of the rocker dragonfly type (Aeschna
   ) with an elongated body and a flat mask. This includes the largest species that are similar to each other. In the northern regions there are representatives of the genera: Gomphus - grandfather, Onychogomphus, Gordulegaster, etc.
2. Larvae of the common or true dragonfly (Libellula) type
   with a shorter and wider body than the previous ones. The mask is helmet-shaped. They stay mainly at the bottom, often in a layer of silt. The following genera are typical for the northern regions: Libellula - true dragonfly, Cordulla - grandma, Leucorrhinia, Epitheca (Fig. 206), Sympetrum, etc.
3. Larvae of the lute type (Agrion)
   with a very long elongated body, which has leaf-shaped gill plates at the rear end. We have representatives of the genera: Agrion - arrows, Lestes - lyutki, Erythromma (Fig. 207), Calopteryx - beauties, etc.

Description

When we are near bodies of water in the summer, we are all accustomed to seeing colorful dragonflies scurrying back and forth. This shy insect, which is almost impossible to catch with your hands, is often prey for fish that hunt in the surface layer of water. A dragonfly's habit of landing on twigs or lily pads that have fallen into the water, or simply a desire to fly too close to the surface, can be fatal. Bleak, chub, trout - all these fish are not averse to eating dragonflies. But few people know that much more often the victim of hungry fish is not the dragonfly itself, but its larva.

The larvae of each dragonfly species have their own unique shape. Frankly speaking, their appearance is not particularly pleasing to our eyes with beauty. Some of the dragonflies have creepy-looking nymphs - this is the scientific name for the larval stage of insect development. Traditionally, dragonfly larvae live and develop in reservoirs or parts of reservoirs with standing water, often silted, overgrown with aquatic vegetation, or swampy. Moreover, they easily survive both in completely fresh water bodies and in brackish ones. Depending on the species, nymphs can live burrowing deep into the muddy bottom, or move in the mud near the surface, or along the bottom itself, crawling along it with enviable leisureliness. Many species also live in thickets of aquatic vegetation, where it is easier for them to hide from external enemies. Depending on the habitat, the color of the nymphs varies - from yellow to almost black.

How to increase your fish catch?

Over 7 years of active fishing, I have found dozens of ways to improve the bite. Here are the most effective ones:

• Bite activator. This pheromone additive attracts fish most strongly in cold and warm water. Discussion of the bite activator “Hungry Fish”.
• Increased gear sensitivity. Read the appropriate manuals for your specific type of gear.
• Pheromone-based lures.

Fly Selection

The advantage of flies over their live counterparts is their ease of use. This universal bait is suitable for both catching non-predatory fish and predators.

It also happens: How to fish with a seine

All flies are divided into several types:

• dry (DryFlies);
• wet (WetFlies);
• nymphs;
• streamers;
• emergers;
• fantasy;

Dry flies resemble dragonflies, mayflies, flies, caddis flies, botflies, wasps and other insects that have fallen on the water. They are made in such a way that they do not sink in water and are designed for catching fish from its surface. They are held on the water by legs and a tail knitted from hard bird feathers. To make dry ones lighter, the hooks for them are made of thin wire. Until recently, all dry flies were tied in a fantasy style, which did not require resemblance to real insects.

With the advent of new synthetic materials, they are increasingly being manufactured in a super-realistic style, providing for the maximum imitation of living organisms. Dry flies are considered universal and are excellent for catching asp, bleak, chub, rudd, and roach.

Nymph

Wet flies are baits that look like drowned insects, small crustaceans, water beetles, leeches, tadpoles, as well as insect larvae developing in water. They are distinguished from dry flies by a very thin body, wings curved towards the bend of the hook, and the presence of legs and a tail. Wet flies are tied on a thicker hook.

This type of bait has proven itself well in fly fishing for grayling, salmon, and asp, but recently anglers have been using nymphs more often.

Nymphs are designed to imitate various insects at different stages of their underwater development from larva to pupa, which are part of the natural diet of grayling and trout. Because of this, almost all recent sport fishing competitions for these fish have been won thanks to nymphs. They are made in both fantasy and realistic styles.

The main requirements for such a bait are a clear imitation of the color of an insect for a specific body of water, the exact size and segmentation of the body, as well as a hook loaded with lead wire.

Streamers are similar to fry and are designed to catch large predators. This is the heaviest type of fly. The streamer hook is additionally equipped with tungsten or steel, which, when wired correctly, makes the bait look like a wounded fish.

Emerger

Emergers are a type of nymph that mimic an insect in its metamorphosis stage (between pupa and adult form). Grayling responds superbly to such bait, especially during the mayfly season. Independent tying of emergers has turned into a whole trend in fly making. There are even specialized clubs that unite craftsmen in this matter.

Fantasy flies are baits that have no prototypes in nature. Their size, color and shape can be anything.

They are divided into several types depending on the type of fish that is supposed to be caught:

• grayling;
• salmon;
• trout;
• asp;
• dace, etc.;

There is also such a type of flies as frame or decorative ones. They are knitted from expensive and exotic materials. Such flies are not used for fishing, but serve only as an exhibit at various collection exhibitions and knitting competitions.

Nowadays, spinning fishing is rapidly developing. The variety of different types of spinning is amazing: spinners, wobblers, jigs, twitching, trolling. More and more advanced specialized fishing rods are being produced, baits are constantly being improved, new promising types are being produced, and more and more catchy models are being produced. However, even today there are many fishermen who are attracted to catching pike with live bait. Moreover, such fishing is diverse and exciting.

It also happens: Fishing for silver carp, tackle for catching silver carp, bait

About live bait

Without leaving it until the end, let’s outline the range of fish species that are used as live bait for pike. Of course, the concept that pike needs to be caught on the type of fish that is its usual food source is correct, but at the same time there are interesting exceptions. So, live bait and their characteristics:

• Crucian carp.
  The most popular live bait for fishing on a still body of water, pond, small lake or quarry. It is also used very often because it stores very well and withstands transportation. If stored properly, it can last all winter.
• Roach.
  This is the best live bait for river fishing. Due to the fact that roach can be easily caught in almost every river. Less crucian carp lives in the kana. You can also add rudd to the roach; fishing with live bait is similar in effectiveness.
• Gudgeon.
  Excellent live bait. Can be used both in still water and in currents. The slender body easily fits into the mouth of even a small bee-eater.
• Perch.
  Good live bait in the cold season, in the fall starting from October or November and in winter. Thanks to its prickliness, it masks sharp hooks; pike throws perch much less often than other fry. In summer it quickly dies even in a cage.
• Bleak.
  A good, fast-moving bait fish. The disadvantage is the same as that of the perch, it dies very quickly and must be baited very carefully, as it is easily injured.
• Tall carp: sopa, silver bream, white bream.
  They are less readily attacked by pike due to their width.
• Rotan.
  A recent immigrant from the Far East has become very popular with pike. It is well suited for fishing in autumn, October and November, as it becomes active at this time.

Fishing gear

Catching pike with live bait is carried out with various tackles. We list them in order of occurrence.

1. Supply. Bottom tackle for fishing with live bait. It is a fishing line with a weight at the end and one or two leashes. Can be used with or without float. Used in open water, preferably in autumn or spring.
2. Zherlitsa. Its summer version in the form of a flyer tied to a pole stuck into the bottom or shore appeared much later than the delivery, representing a kind of upgrade of the latter. They are caught in the spring, as well as in October and November during the feeding season.
3. Circle. An advanced version of a floating delivery system. Modern anglers often use the ubiquitous plastic bottle as such.
4. Live bait fishing rod. A variant of a fly fishing rod, or more often a Bologna fishing rod, with a large float capable of holding live bait on the surface and a sliding weight. Sometimes a live bait feeder is used in deep places in the reservoir. They are caught both on the river and in the lake, in the spring after the reservoir opens before spawning, as well as in October and November, when the water cools and becomes clearer.
5. Winter perch or supply. Here is the widest field for fishing imagination. No other gear has as many options as winter rigs. There are a lot of ways to make such traps.
6. Trap. This is not a tackle at all, but a replacement for a leash with a tee on a harness. Quite a disgusting poaching thing, I don’t even want to describe it.

Fishing with a stand

Catching pike with live bait using bottom gear is perhaps the most ancient method of hunting a predator, not counting the spear. The postavushka (or postavusha) is a strong fishing line or cord with a weight at the end, equipped with a pair of leashes with live bait attached to them. Casting the postavushka is done by hand.

Live bait is taken in one hand and a load in the other, after which a simultaneous movement of the hands is carried out towards the selected fishing point and the tackle is released. The free end of the fishing line is tied on the shore to a hammered stake, a tree trunk or a bunch of stems of growing reeds. In this case, it is necessary to leave a fishing line loop, which is released when biting and does not allow the pike to feel resistance.

Method of obtaining larvae

For prey, geese use a kind of “mormyshnitsa”. The device is a metal tube with a diameter of 15-20 cm and a length of 20-30 cm, one side of it is tightly welded and a mount for a wooden handle (like a shovel) is welded to it. The other side is cut slightly at an angle to the length, and holes with a diameter of about 1 cm are drilled in rows in the walls of the tube.

Dragonfly larvae are dug for fishing 1-3 days in advance. To do this, they look for banks with steep muddy ravine. The jig is stuck into such a bank, at a depth of 0.3-1 m under water, and then, filled with silt, it is raised to the surface. And at the water's edge, they pick out the silt with their hands, pouring water on it. In the silt, you can’t even see the larva, but when doused with water, it begins to flutter and is quickly transferred to a jar of water.

Fishing with kazara

The most promising time for using goosefish as bait is from the beginning of June to the end of September. When fishing with a float rod, anglers who fish with maggots have a significantly larger catch than anglers who fish with dung worms or maggots.

When placing this bait on a hook, the hook tip is threaded through the body, starting from the head of the larva. You can start planting from the head. As you prefer. It is advisable to place several small larvae on one hook.

The larvae are great for catching ide, fairly large perch, silver bream, chub and many other fish.

Types of fishing

When fishing with a float rod with a dragonfly, it is important to abandon the float and sinker. It is more profitable to choose a place on a cliff. The bait should float calmly through the water. You can try the option for a larva with a load. This option will simulate the emergence of a goose to the surface. The chub suddenly begins to peck and resist. You need to make a quick hook.

When fishing for donka, bends and turns of rivers in the area of ​​the pits are selected. The bait is thrown out at a decent distance, where there is a good current.

It is good to catch dragonflies using a fly rod. The bait passes close to the fish itself. This method allows you to catch asp or ide.

To catch fish in early autumn, you can use a jig. In this case, you need a 5-6 meter fishing rod with a nod on the side. One goose is placed on the hook. And active fishing begins with the search for prey in its feeding areas.

The best fishing for dragonfly larvae and damselfly is near snags and trees, as this is an excellent place to feed the underwater world in the form of larvae of various species. Roach, perch and bream are not averse to living in such places.

It is known that fish are cautious in autumn. Therefore, the gear must be elegant. It is recommended to use a 0.12 mm fishing line and a sensitive nod. It is best to use a fly rod with a blind mount and without rings. The jig is usually used in a dark color in the shape of an ant, mounted on a thin hook No. 14.