Catching chebak in winter: what to catch, what bait is needed

This fish is found in rivers and lakes of Siberia and the Urals. Chebak is a subspecies of roach, so “hunting” for chebak is similar to catching roach. Despite this, in such fishing you can find differences that affect the effectiveness of fishing as a whole. This article will raise the main issues related to chebak fishing.
This subspecies of roach can reach a weight of 3 kg, with a length of about 50 cm. The roach grows quite quickly, which makes it an object of industrial fishing.

Chebak is suitable for cooking ram, as well as for frying. Many fishermen are attracted by the process of catching this fish. At the same time, it is not eaten. Although individuals weighing no more than 500 g are caught on the hook, interest in catching this fish does not wane.

What to catch chebak with - tackle and bait

The chebak's table is quite varied; it bites both on bait of animal origin and on plant bait. And the most exciting thing is that this seemingly peaceful fish can be caught perfectly on a spinning rod if you use the right baits. But not all fishermen know that chebak is caught using a spinning rod, which is why catching chebak using float rods is more common. Although the resistance of the chebak during fishing is felt, it will be weak, which allows the use of thinner tackle. And this, as is known, contributes to a more active bite of any fish. To catch a chebak, you will need any fishing rod; it should not be heavy-duty or very expensive, but it is better to choose a light rod, because if the chebak starts to bite, then you will have to work a lot with the rod. There will be enough fishing line up to 0.2 mm in diameter, a lightweight weight and a small and sensitive float. A fishing rod reel is optional, but its presence will make folding and unfolding the gear easier. To catch chebak on a float rod, you can use flowing attachments:

muckworm;
bloodworm;
maggot;
bark beetle;
caddisfly;
lamprey larvae;
various insects;
bread;
pearl barley;
dough, etc.

Any of these attachments may please the chebak, but at the same time, any attachment may not be to his liking. To avoid failures in fishing when catching chebak, it is best to have several types of bait with you. Through experiments, find out what is better for catching chebak and use it in the future. Catching chebak with a spinning rod can be very productive. To catch chebak, you should use a light spinning rod with minimal casting. To catch it, it is better to use small spinners and spoons. The sizes of the spinners are No. 0-1. When using many large spinners, you may not see a chebak bite. It is worth noting that even though the chebak is caught on spinning baits, it does not bite on live bait. At least, catching chebak with live bait is not practiced, and if such bites happen, it is more likely an accident.

Where to catch chebak

First of all, we need to remind you that chebak is the same roach, only Siberian. It differs somewhat in its appearance, as well as in size and growth rate, but otherwise these fish are similar. Therefore, the habitat of the chebak is Siberia. It gets along well in both flowing and stagnant bodies of water, although it prefers rivers. If a chebak inhabits any body of water, then most likely its number significantly exceeds the number of any other fish, so finding fishing spots will not be difficult.

The chebak lives in numerous flocks, so its bite is very stable. If a chebak bite occurs, then most likely you have found a school and fishing will be successful. When looking for places to catch chebak, it is usually enough to probe 2-3 promising areas, find a school and simply catch these fish one after another.

The most promising places for catching chebak are shallow areas of the reservoir, shores overgrown with algae, bushes and areas with trees that have fallen into the water. In general, the chebak looks for shallow areas of the reservoir with all kinds of thickets and obstacles. On rivers it is often found in riffles, where it likes to eat algae adhering to underwater rocks.

Well, the most promising place for catching chebak will be a baited place. Chebak responds well to bait. This can be any homemade or purchased bait. It is enough to simply boil pearl barley, peas or any other porridge and this will become an excellent bait for chebak, which will be able to gather a whole flock of this fish in a fished place.

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.

The appearance of this fish, habitat, spawning, behavioral characteristics, as well as amateur fishing and fishing for chebak will be discussed in this article.

Description of chebak fish

Appearance

This fish has a tall body with large scales, a short head, and a high fin on the back with nine or ten branched rays.

As a rule, the back of the chebak is light in color - bluish or greenish. The sides of the Siberian roach are silvery, and the fins are bright orange or red. The eyes are orange in color.

Habitat

Chebak, like other freshwater roach, is found:

in small rivers
in ponds,
in big rivers
large lakes,
in reservoirs.

Almost everywhere, the chebak occupies one of the leading places among other fish species in terms of numbers.

In Russia, the chebak lives in the reservoirs of the Urals and Siberia. So, it is actively found in the following rivers:

Tobol,
Irtysh,
Indigirk,
Kolyma,
Khilok,
Chikoy.

Siberian roach can also be found in freshwater lakes of the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.

Spawning

The Siberian roach reaches sexual maturity at three to five years of age, when its length is ten to twelve centimeters.

The breeding season occurs in May, when the water temperature is not lower than 8-10 degrees. Individuals of Siberian roach gather in schools, after which spawning begins. It usually occurs at a depth of two to five meters, but in the event of a strong and unexpected cold snap caused by strong winds, spawning can occur at a depth of ten meters.

The fish are biting like crazy! You can even put bait on it. The poacher spilled the beans.

Fishing

The fishery for Siberian roach is very developed. Despite the fact that in terms of taste it is in some ways inferior to the vobla from the Volga, however, certain types of chebak can be quite large and fatty.

Fishing for chebak

Tackle

For catching chebak, a regular float rod is best suited. Although some fishermen catch Siberian roach using spinning rods.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW! Fishermen caught 25 kg of fish using the Fish XXL bite activator! Read more…

Spinning

Experienced fishermen advise taking a light spinning rod with minimal dough for chebak fishing. It is also recommended to use small turntables and vibrators.

The sizes of the spoon are from 0 to 1, otherwise with larger options you simply will not notice the bite.

Remember: the chebak is not a predator, so fishing with live bait is, as a rule, not practiced.

Float rod

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For chebak fishing, any float rod is suitable, preferably a light one, as they may have to work a lot if the bite starts.

The fishing line is suitable with a diameter of up to 0.2 millimeters, the float should be small and sensitive, and the weight should be light. A reel for a fishing rod is not necessary, but if you have one, the tackle will be more convenient to fold and unfold.

Nozzles

The following are suitable attachments for chebak when fishing with a float rod:

worm,
maggot,
bloodworm,
caddisfly
bark beetle,
lamprey larva,
insects,
pearl barley,
dough,
bread.

Where to fish?

In Siberian reservoirs, chebak can be found in both calm and flowing water.

According to fishermen, the best places to catch Siberian roach are shallow waters with a lot of algae.

Roach bait

The roach is a common fish that lives in almost any body of water. Although it does not reach large sizes, it is interesting for fishermen to hunt. The usual weight of fish does not exceed 100 grams. Catching roach in the summer with a float rod is in demand even among boys.

Roaches prefer clean water, preferably running water. The fish does not like strong currents, and you should not look for them in ponds with mud. The roach is usually found in schools and stays in coastal vegetation. She doesn't like deep waters. Catching roach in summer is not special. The main thing is to choose a suitable place. And such a place is a shallow depth in the coastal zone and the equipment for this will require the simplest.

It is necessary to attach a light float to the main line; it is better to attach it using two cambrics, it is reliable and simple;
It is necessary to attach a sinker of the required weight under the float;
Then an additional leash is attached; it is made from a fishing line of small thickness, and its length must be appropriate;
You must attach a hook to the leash that matches the size of the fish;
Two feeders are installed at intervals of 2-3 centimeters above the float;
Fasten two more pods at the same distance from each other and at a distance of no less than 10 centimeters from the hook.

Roach is a picky fish; it can bite at any time of the day. But you shouldn’t count on a big catch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as the fish don’t bite well at this time. It is best to choose cloudy weather. Sunny weather, strong wind and rain depress the fish and it does not think about food. The best times for catching roach are early spring and autumn. At this time, the fish feed especially well. But in summer you can catch a good catch.

Before you go hunting, you need to know: what to use to catch roach? Roaches can peck on plant or live food. It bites well on any worms, rolled oats, only wheat bread, bloodworms, maggots, and corn. It is worth noting that large roaches prefer corn; small roaches simply will not peck at it.

Moreover, her preferences change depending on the time of day. For example, at lunchtime the easiest way to catch fish is on a grasshopper or a bunch of thread-like algae. The roach bait can be in the form of hemp. Other baits are used by experienced fishermen.

In general, it should be noted that catching roach in the summer with a float rod can only use plant baits; the simplest of plant baits is a bunch of algae collected in the same body of water. In addition, this bait covers the hook well; you just need to wrap the seaweed around the hook tip.

Bait is not used for roach, because the fish can actively eat the bait and not pay attention to the baited hook. This is especially important when fishing for roach in the autumn; even during this period it is recommended to use non-nutrient bait. But if the reservoir is deep enough and when hunting large individuals, you can use feeders.

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Roach lives in the middle layers of the reservoir, so the bait must be kept in the middle layer of water. If there is a current in the reservoir, then it is useless to use wiring. It is best to use the “half-bottom” tactic. This technique means that the sinker sinks to the bottom, the float must accordingly be on the surface of the water and controlled by the rod.

Fishing with a float rod should be calm. The bait should slowly float with the flow of the reservoir and smoothly mix in reservoirs without a current. The roach does not like sudden movements, but she herself does everything carefully and unnoticeably.

The float rod for roach is not installed on the ground or in special holders. If a bite occurs, the fish must be pulled out immediately, otherwise it will eat the bait and leave. If there is a slight bite, you need to hook it right away, the fish won’t bite for a long time, you need to have time to pull it out.

You can easily make a convenient and reliable fishing rod for roach yourself. To do this you will need the simplest gear: How to make a float fishing rod.

Knowing the basic habits of roaches, which are caution and sneakiness, you need to be patient and attentive. A roach can completely eat the bait off the hook without the fisherman even noticing it. That is why it is worth getting a fishing rod with high sensitivity and choosing the right fishing spot. Then float fishing will be successful.

As soon as the ice melts, the first fishermen appear on the rivers. As has already become a good tradition, the open water fishing season begins with fishing for chebak. Spring chebak fishing is accompanied by anglers with many joyful, and not so, surprises. But still, why not treat yourself to this most exciting activity while the water in the rivers has not yet risen too much and the fish have not gone to spawn.

It should be noted that spring fishing for this type of fish is slightly different from fishing in the summer months: in the spring, fish gather in large schools and constantly move around the reservoir in search of food, while in rivers they move upstream for subsequent spawning. In general, catching this fish in the spring is a kind of fishing at random, in constant motion.

After the last ice has melted, fish should not be looked for in depth; most of them gather in shallow places, close to the shore, which allows fishermen to use a float rod for fishing. Well, if shallow water areas well warmed by the sun’s rays are located far from the shore, then bottom gear will be quite appropriate for fishing.

In spring, the chebak prefers bait of animal origin: dung and earthworms, bloodworms, maggots. Contrary to popular opinion, I insist that bait on reservoirs with standing water in the spring works the same as at other times of the year, the main thing when using bait (the general rule when feeding fish in the spring) is not to overdo it.

Fish spawning occurs during the period when the water temperature reaches 10 degrees and buds bloom on birch trees (a folk sign). About a week before spawning, the males begin to become covered with a rash (growths), from this moment the fish completely stops feeding and lives off the accumulated fat. After spawning, the fish rests for a few more days and only then begins to “come to life” and look for food.

After spawning and subsequent illness, the fish can lose up to half of its weight. It is at this moment that the most interesting and exciting fishing for chebak begins. The fish are just going crazy! You can safely forget about all the tricks of fishing science, all that remains is to enjoy excellent fishing!

Chebak is often much larger than ordinary roach, reaches a length of 35 cm, and has tasty meat. Small fish are used by fishermen as bait for predators. In the spring, chebak can be caught using any bait, but if you want to catch really large fish, it is better to use lamprey larvae.

The best place is some kind of recreation center near a lake or river where you can stop for the night, since large fish bite mainly at night. Smaller individuals can be caught almost everywhere using any bait, and it has been noted that the chebak stays near floating rods and sticks, this is especially noticeable during the spring flood.

In summer, the fish practically do not take live bait, and even in places of large concentrations it is very difficult to catch. In this case, especially in hot weather, experienced fishermen recommend using spoons. There is no specific type of spoon recommended for catching this particular fish, but it is better to use oscillating and rotating spoons of bright colors for muddy water and shiny ones for clear water.

Fish do not like sudden changes in weather, and therefore it is advisable to go fishing on days when the weather has settled. The bite has also been observed to pick up before a thunderstorm, especially in May, since at this time, even with a sharp change in weather, the atmospheric pressure does not change. Every doctor recommends that especially sensitive people during changes in pressure not to fuss and rest as much as possible, and the chebak - feeling that there will be changes, subsides.

Also, in the hot months, the chebak changes its habitat. Where there was a lot of it in the spring, there may not be any in the summer. In July-August, it is better to look for fish in the shallows, where they gather in large schools. Fishing time in summer is also radically different: it is best to catch chebak during the day, and early morning and evening are best left for other fish.

It is best to catch chebak with a float rod. This task can be handled by the familiar lapdog, which is capable of fishing large sections of the river and letting the float drift, the advantage of such equipment is that very precise control is exercised over the equipment.

It is better to take an inertial reel, as it is more sensitive and can control the float in the fishing zone much more accurately. We use monofilament fishing line with a diameter of no more than 0.14 millimeters, but the hook is selected depending on what kind of bait we will use. We will need a float that will hold the bait well at one point and show all the most careful bites.

Be sure to include a leash with a length of at least thirty centimeters in the equipment; it will soften the hook and will not scare away wary fish. I recommend using a maggot larva as bait, but it is best to use a worm. You can feed the chebak, but you need to do it wisely and in small portions.

Season

Different seasons are characterized by different behavior of chebaks. In those places where there might be a good bite in the spring, after a few months you may not catch a single fish. Knowledge of such features can save the fisherman a lot of time searching for trophies and choosing bait.

Spring

This time of year can be called the best for catching chebak. Unlike predators, this species of fish begins spawning in the spring, which is why, depending on the region, it has a pre-spawning feast in March or April. During this period, the chebak greedily attacks most of the offered baits at almost any depth. For this reason, there is no need to make a choice in favor of one fishing method or another - fish are perfectly caught using donkeys, float rods, and even spinning rods.

Summer

In the hot season, the activity of the chebak decreases, but with the right approach you can still catch it quite successfully. In the summer they fish more often with a float rod with a heavy weight, and cast long distances. The most active bite is observed in the morning and evening hours, when the heat subsides and the chebak begins to feed more actively. The best baits at this time are dung worms and lamprey larvae - especially large specimens can bite on them. If we talk about catching medium and small chebaks, then they continue to bite on almost anything.

Autumn

After the end of the summer heat, the chebak again begins to feed more actively, since it needs to gain weight before the winter period, when there is less food and the water cools. At this time, he gives a clear preference to baits of animal origin - they contain more substances necessary for the fish to gain weight. You can catch chebak in the fall using a float rod, but most fishermen still lean towards bottom gear.

Winter

The behavior of Siberian roach in the cold season is significantly different from summer or spring. Fishing for chebak in winter is carried out from ice using fishing rods. During this period, bloodworms are often used as bait. A high-quality jig can also serve well. You can only fish effectively at the beginning and end of the season. The fact is that January is considered a dead month, which is why after the new year the bite resumes only in February.

Catching chebak in winter with a jig involves actively searching for its parking spots, since at this time it practically does not move

Nevertheless, in February you can fish quite effectively, but you should take into account that large specimens are unlikely to be present in the catch - usually only small fish bite more or less actively in winter

It is worth noting that the chebak is one of the few subspecies of roach, the catch of which is carried out on a commercial scale. This is due both to its taste characteristics and to the fact that it has a fairly good reproduction rate, which allows it to replenish its population.

Thus, at different times of the year, the behavior of Siberian roach varies significantly, but if you understand the characteristics of a particular season, any of them can bring the desired catch.

When to catch a chebak

Chebak fishing is possible all year round, but winter chebak fishing is a topic for a separate article. Now we will talk about fishing for chebak in open water. And it begins in the spring. Moreover, spring is the best period for catching chebak. During this period, the chebak experiences a pre-spawning glutton, during which this fish greedily rushes to almost any bait.

In the summer, chebak is also excellently caught, but compared to the spring bite, its activity is noticeably reduced. Small specimens continue to peck throughout the day, but larger specimens are active only in the early morning and evening. The best bait for summer fishing for large chebak is lamprey larvae or a bunch of dung worms. Smaller chebak will bite on any other bait from those we listed above. Vegetable baits also work well.

In autumn, the chebak begins to prepare for winter and its biting activity increases again. On the eve of frost and lack of food, he tries to gain fat mass and eats actively. For autumn chebak fishing, it is better to use bait of animal origin, as they are more nutritious and this is exactly what the chebak needs now.

Chebak can be caught around the clock. During daylight hours, specimens of any size can be caught on a hook or spoon. At night, the best time to catch large chebak is. In principle, this is observed when catching any carp fish - small fish rest at night, and large fish go in search of food.

It is also worth paying attention to the weather. The spring chebak loves the days before a thunderstorm. On days like these, his gluttony simply knows no bounds. But sudden changes in weather conditions, on the contrary, have a very negative impact on the chebak’s bite. The best weather conditions for catching it are when the weather is stable for several days and there are no changes.

The evening chebak bite can cause a lot of disagreement among anglers. The thing is that on some evenings the chebak bite is very active and the fishermen’s catches are stunning, but the next evening the chebak may not respond to any bait at all. And again, it's all about the weather. Observant fishermen have noticed that if the evening is cloudy, the chebak bite will be excellent, but if the evening is sultry and the bright sun does not want to give up the position of the night, all attempts to catch the chebak fail, that is, failure.

Chebak lifestyle

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Chebak is a schooling fish. Usually schools are collected by size. In a school of small individuals there can only be one large fish. Usually the chebak is located in the recess closest to the shore. Small fish stay closer to the shore, large ones at depth. Chebak often stays near reeds or cattails. In winter, it gathers in flocks.

Immediately after the ice melts, this fish moves to the shallows, enters streams and oxbow lakes, where the active pre-spawning bite begins

You can notice a moving school of chebak from a distance by the splashes and swaying of vegetation, but you need to approach them with all precautions - this fish is shy and, upon noticing a fisherman, immediately leaves. As the water warms up, finding and catching chebak becomes more difficult

The fish is omnivorous and active around the clock, so it does not experience any particular difficulties with food. She tries algae, plankton, detritus, mollusks and various bottom animals. You can seduce the chebak in the middle of summer only with well-chosen baits at a sufficient (more than 2-3 m) depth in places with a clean bottom. In the fall, as the vegetation dies, it becomes less picky.

The fish is unpretentious and thrives in clean, deep and overgrown shallow water bodies. Its most favorite habitats are the outskirts of grassy thickets and clearings between them, bays, and backwaters. The larger one prefers open, deep places. Under natural conditions, it feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, insect larvae, and algae.

The chebak spawns in large flocks, spawning (from 2.5 to 100 thousand eggs) takes place at a time, and the spawning itself is very noisy. Egg development occurs within nine to fourteen days, after which the larvae begin to independently feed on smaller vertebrates.

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With the onset of autumn (second half of October - November) it gathers in large flocks for the winter in deep holes. In winter, flocks usually live near thickets of aquatic vegetation in deep places in the coastal zone, in holes, near snags, near underwater hills, and near rivers flowing into the reservoir. Chebak mainly stays near the bottom, but in both summer and winter it sometimes rises to mid-water and closer to the surface.

In early spring, after the opening of rivers and lakes, the chebak stays close to the shore or enters tributaries and bays with clean water. Having spawned, it stays in quiet places, and when aquatic vegetation appears, it goes into bays, backwaters and reaches with a weak current. In the summer heat, the chebak goes into the depths or stands under the shore, where it hides in the roots of bushes and trees.

He does not like to be in the grass, most often preferring to stay in large windows. Chebak rarely takes from the bottom, as it feeds 5–15 cm, or even 50 cm from the ground surface. In mid-April, early May, before the water warms up to 10–12°C, fish, gathered in large schools, swim along the coastal vegetation, eating everything that comes in its way.

Fishing in winter

Catching chebak fish
The most successful period of winter fishing should be considered November, December and February; in January, the fish practically do not “take”. It is at that moment, as soon as the first ice has formed on the reservoir, this subspecies becomes the most active, but as soon as the thickness of the ice begins to grow, the fish begins to lose its interest in absolutely everything. Because of this reason, catching a chebak in January is quite difficult. Excellent bite begins to be restored with the onset of a thaw.

As for time, of course – early morning, as well as afternoon, which lasts almost until sunset. As soon as the sun goes down, you can pack up your things and go home; there will definitely be no more bite. Also keep an eye on the weather conditions, as frequent weather changes (especially several times a day) can negatively affect the fish’s appetite. However, a cloudy evening is considered the most successful time for fishing.

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It is best to look for chebak on the river near a concave coastal area; it is there, in the deep reaches, that the fish spend the winter. But with the onset of a thaw, the fish rise from the depths to shallow water.

For ice fishing, fishermen use an ordinary float rod with an elastic nod. And it’s extremely difficult to give an exact answer to what this fish bites on, so don’t be afraid to experiment. But the most popular among fishermen are both baitless jigs (devil) and jigs with natural baits. The last baits most often used are bloodworms, bread crumbs, or homemade dough or semolina.

If it doesn’t bite, then don’t be afraid and don’t be lazy to try. Moreover, not only change positions of jigs or baits, but also the fishing place itself. There is nothing difficult in playing with a jig: the bait sinks to the bottom, then rises 10-15 cm, and then falls, and it is necessary to observe some pauses, during which the bait simply lies on the bottom. You can also try more sophisticated baits - for example, flavored artificial bloodworms.

During fishing, do not forget to feed: if fishing occurs at shallow depths, then throw into the hole a bunch of ground crackers mixed with chopped bloodworms, crushed seeds and soaked in olive or sunflower oil. Well, if the depth is large enough, then it is better to use a small feeder. By the way, you can read about bait in our online magazine.

Sometimes you can miss a bite from a chebak, since this fish bites quite carefully, either for a while, delaying the nod, or causing it to flinch for a short time. So, at the slightest suspicion of a bite, make a quick, but not strong hook. A caught fish, especially a rather large one, will resist with dignity, so take your time and fish the fish as carefully as possible.

Tackle and bait for catching chebak

The gear and baits required for catching sorog may vary depending on the season.

In spring and summer

During this period, sorog is caught mainly with plant and animal baits, but some fishermen also use spinning rods. When fishing with a float rod, you can use a thin line, since this fish does not resist much when playing. The advantage of a thin line is that it scares away the fish less and helps to improve the bite.

Any rod is suitable for catching sorog. It doesn't have to be durable or expensive. A light rod is considered suitable for catching chebak, since the hand will get less tired during intense biting. A main line with a diameter of 0.2 mm, a thinner leader, a small weight and a sensitive float are suitable. It is not necessary to use a coil.

When catching sorogi on a float rod or feeder in the summer, the following baits are used:

dung or other earthworms;
bloodworm;
maggot;
bark beetle;
caddisfly;
lamprey larva;
insects;
dough or bread;
pearl barley.

The most suitable nozzle is selected experimentally. You need to try all the baits and find out which one is the most effective.

in autumn

In autumn, the chebak becomes cautious and timid. This is due to the fact that the water becomes colder and clearer.

Summer gear is not suitable for catching autumn hornbill, as it becomes wary of fishing line with a diameter of 0.15 mm or more. In autumn, it is recommended to use a main line with a cross-section of no more than 0.12 mm. The leash should be transparent, thin and durable. For a leash, it is best to use a fishing line with a diameter of 0.1 mm.

Hooks should also not arouse suspicion in the fish. For autumn fishing, hooks No. 3−5 according to the Russian classification, or No. 20−23 according to Western standards, are suitable. Hooks should be thin and sharp.

The tackle is equipped with a sensitive float with a thin tip. Its load capacity should not exceed 0.5 g. A homemade goose feather float is considered more sensitive than any artificial analogues presented in fishing stores. The autumn chebak bites sluggishly, and its bite can be missed due to an insufficiently sensitive float. If the water is clear, then the float should not be too bright. A lead ball is used as a sinker.

In the autumn, it is best to use bloodworms, maggots, bark beetles, caddis flies and lamprey larvae as bait.

in winter

may be regular. But for this you need to experiment with lures and baits for winter fishing. Contrary to popular belief, fish are caught in the cold season not only with bloodworms, but also with vegetable baits such as bread, dough or semolina.

When fishing for chebak in winter, artificial baits are also used, for example, artificial flavored bloodworms. This bait is larger than its natural counterpart, but it attracts small fish due to its strong smell. The colors of the baits to which the sorog reacts in winter may differ depending on the body of water.

In the cold season, you can use winter float fishing rods with no-attachment jigs. It is recommended to fish with 2-3 gear at once, since this way you will quickly find the area where the fish is standing.

To catch chebak in winter, the equipment on your fishing rod should consist of a light float weighing 1-2 g and a red, white or yellow jig. For unknown reasons, the large sorog prefers baitless jigs. In addition, to attract her, you will need feeding. This fish is attracted to sweet smells, and therefore bait for chebak should contain ingredients such as honey and vanilla.

Recommended fishing time and winter bite for chebak

Chebak pleases with a good bite on the first and last ice. The ideal fishing time is morning and evening. At lunchtime, the fish rarely bite. A sudden change in weather can affect chebak fishing in winter. The fish is frightened by extraneous noise. Silence is the key to a bite! The ideal fishing time is sunny weather, but even during snowfall the fish can become more active.

I like to fish early in the morning. If I find a point and realize that there is a large roach standing there, then from time to time I throw small batches of food bloodworms into the hole. The bites don’t take long to arrive. The fish greedily grabs the bait, signaling a bite by bending or raising the nod.

Bait

The chebak feeds on a variety of foods, which is why a variety of bait options can be used quite effectively to catch it. This fish bites well on animal bait: worms, maggots, bark beetles and especially bloodworms. If you are lucky enough to get caddis fly larvae, you can put them on the hook, since they are considered a great delicacy for chebak.

From time to time, vegetable bait options perform well - dough, pearl barley, bread. In general, it can be quite difficult to predict what the chebak will peck at today, which is why it is recommended to stock up on several options for delicacies for it in advance - otherwise, you may be left without the desired prey.

Spinning chebak fishing allows you to experiment with many different lures, regardless of their shape. The main selection criterion is their suitable size.

If fishing is carried out using a spinning rod, then the main bait for Siberian roach are small spoons. Usually small turntables are used, but sometimes micro-oscillators and even micro-jigs are used. The use of large baits does not make sense, since the chebak has the mouthparts of a peaceful fish, which means that even if it really wants to, the fish will not be able to swallow them.

Roach bite and what it bites on

The roach bite is very capricious; it happens that today it takes well, but tomorrow it doesn’t take at all for no apparent reason. An experienced fisherman, if he has determined at what depth a school of roach is located, can catch at least a little, when other fishermen around do not catch anything at all. If this fish is at a certain depth and is well-fed, then there will be practically no rise or fall behind the falling bait or bait.

In the current, if the hook with the nozzle is even 4 cm lower or higher than the roaches are standing, then you may not catch anything, but nearby fishermen with the correctly adjusted depth will carry dozens of them. In general, the best depth for catching roach is 1.5-2.0 meters, and the best place will be the border of grass and open water and in the clearings between the grass in lakes and ponds, in creeks and in weak currents. It is caught well when the weather is slightly inclement, the sky is overcast, and smoke from the fire spreads along the ground.

The roach bite is in most cases sluggish and indecisive. This fish is very picky about its food, it has adapted to taste baits in a rather original way; it swims up to the bait, pulls it into its mouth a little and then spits it out, this is repeated several times quickly and often. In still water, such testing of the nozzle is noticeable by a slight twitching and rocking of the float. Then the bait comes off the hook without the roach biting.

Roach bites are varied, sometimes it submerges the float completely, sometimes it puts it on the water. In the current, the roach's bite is always more confident and the bite is visible immediately; in fast places, like all fish, it grabs the bait on the fly, without any testing, if it is hungry. In a weak current, the roach bite is hardly noticeable; the float seems to begin to be pulled under the water, as if the hook had caught on algae or snags.

And sometimes the bite is expressed by barely noticeable successive vibrations of the float, floating without stopping. There is no need to rush with hooking; it is better to hook when you are sure that there is a fish on the hook, usually when the float goes under water or is in a submerged position for a long time. Once on the hook, the roach first resists and twitches briskly, and then, after inhaling air on the surface, like a caught bream, it easily drags flat through the water.

Winter fishing methods

You can catch chebak in winter using a float rig and a jig.

For a float fishing rod, it is better to use live protein baits:

worm;
maggot;
mormysh;
bloodworm;
insect larvae.

Plant attachments:

pearl barley;
dough;
bread crumb;
semolina chatter;
steamed cereals.

Expert opinion Nikolay Mikhailovich Knipovich Zoologist, hydrobiologist

I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Important! Although vegetable baits are more often used for warm water, sometimes in winter it is best to use a sandwich - a vegetable bait with a flavor plus a live bait.. You can use a jig with the same bait as for a float rod

You can use a jig with the same bait as for a float rod.

As an effective method of fishing in winter, experienced fishermen use several winter fishing rods - 2-3 float rods plus a fishing rod with a jig.

Float rods with different attachments are used to identify the most effective one. Having determined the optimal nozzle, you can use it to attach it to the jig.

Basic fishing methods and equipment for catching spring bream

float rod;
bottom tackle (feeder).

Since the bream comes quite close to the shore, it is necessary to take this fact into account when equipping the fishing rod.

When fishing with a float rod, long rods will benefit, among which the plug is a favorite. Considering the high cost of such gear, you can opt for a 6-7-meter telescopic fishing rod with guide rings. But it should be light and of high quality.

The main line with a diameter of 0.25-0.27 mm is wound on a spinning reel with a size of 2000-3000, the thickness of the leader should be 0.18-0.2 mm. Sometimes a second leash is mounted above the sinker. Then you can track in which horizon the fish feed.
You need a hook that is not very large and made of thin wire so that bloodworms and worms can be easily attached.
A teardrop-shaped float is selected with a load capacity of 1-3 g.
Fishing for bream in the spring on a feeder is preferable in late April and early May, when the bream fattens up a little near the shore and goes to the spawning grounds. The feeder allows you to catch a trophy specimen at this time.
The fishing distance is 20-30 m from the shore. It is especially convenient to use a bottom fishing rod in strong winds or large waves.
The rod should be at least 3 m long, the reel should be 2000-3000 in size with a main line of 0.25 mm.
A leash 0.14-0.16 mm long 20-50 cm. The feeder is selected depending on the strength of the current and the composition of the bait mixture.

For river fishing, it is necessary to use triangular or rectangular models of metal mesh feeders. In standing reservoirs, you need to use closed feeders if there are bloodworms or maggots in the bait.

Buy the right feeder rod. If you choose something that is not sensitive enough or too soft, you will have problems: you won’t see 80% of the bites, you won’t be able to cast the feeders far.

Description of chebak fish

This type of fish is also called Siberian roach. The chebak differs from its closest relatives in the shape of its scales. It has only 5-6 pharyngeal teeth on each jaw. There are 40-45 scales in the lateral line. The fish differs from its relatives in the location of the dorsal fin and the structure of the mouth.

Appearance

The main external difference of the chebak is its high body, covered with large scales.

External features:

short head; highly raised dorsal fin;
most individuals have a bluish or greenish back and silvery sides;
fins red or orange;
orange eyes.

Chebak is better suited for private and industrial fishing than other representatives of its family. Individuals actively develop, feed on insects, but very rarely reach a size of 40 cm. Such a giant can weigh about 900 g.

Habits and nutrition

The places where chebaks accumulate differ depending on the body of water. Most often it hides in shallow edges, channel holes, and near shallow water. It chooses places with dense vegetation, swims under stones, snags, and hides near any irregularities in the bottom. The diet of the Siberian roach is the same as that of other omnivorous fish.

Where is this fish common?

Lives in Siberian and Ural rivers. It is found in large quantities in the Irtysh, Iset, Tobol and in numerous lakes. Often found in Indigirka and Kolyma, in the Trans-Baikal Territory.

This species is unpretentious to conditions, so it feels good in stormy rivers and small ponds. It does not tolerate cold water, so it is not found in mountain reservoirs. Often gathers in schools, swims in deep and shallow water.

Spawning

Siberian roach rarely lives longer than 10 years. Her body fully develops by the age of 3. During this period, the first spawning begins. Spawning occurs in the spring. The fish gradually swims to the spawning grounds. Selects shallow water areas with weak or no current, and constantly enters flooded meadows.

The suitable temperature for spawning is about 9 degrees. Therefore, depending on the region, Siberian roach spawns from mid-April to the end of May. Males during this period become covered with small transparent dots and become rough to the touch. This allows you to determine the time of spawning in a specific body of water.

First, young individuals spawn, then after a couple of days adults join them. This species makes a lot of noise, so its mating displays can be heard from afar.

What does a chebak eat?

This fish is omnivorous. The basis of the chebak's diet is:

seaweed;
vegetation from the shore;
larvae;
small crustaceans;
fry;
worms

Siberian roach often rises from the bottom in the evening to catch caddis flies. This is often used by fishermen. Even in winter, in some places it is possible to catch a full cage of fish.

Commercial fishing

Siberian roach is harvested on an industrial scale in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East, but is not particularly valuable. Only local residents value chebak because they are used to eating it.

Fishing time

Chebak is caught throughout the year, but with the beginning of autumn it prepares for wintering, gaining fat in its body. Therefore, he intensively hunts small animals. And it’s time to use various moving worms and insects as bait. Larger specimens are caught at night, because all the young go into hiding. Many species of cyprinids behave this way.

It is better to catch this fish in calm weather, because... in windy weather or rain there may be no bites at all. The bite can be affected by pressure, changes in air temperature, wind, fog and thunderstorms. Before going fishing, it is worth checking the weather conditions.

Roach fishing

A representative of the carp family is found almost everywhere and stands out among other fish with its yellow eyes and bright orange fins. On average, the weight of one individual is 400 g, and the length does not exceed 20 cm.

In winter, with increasing frosts, roaches dissect water spaces in search of warmth. Because of this, it goes deeper. It bites sluggishly. The best bait is bloodworms and burdock. Therefore, in the cold season, roach is caught in deep channels or under the ice as usual. Feed infrequently.

With the arrival of spring, fish in stagnant reservoirs rise to shallow water, where the water warms up faster under the sun's rays. At this time of year, roach is preparing for spawning. Mature individuals gather in flocks and begin migrating to river tributaries. In these places, the fish bite on maggots, bloodworms, and are caught on a 5-meter rod with a thin line, a hook No. 18-20 and a light float. The tackle is released with the current or placed on the bottom.

In summer, large representatives of the species return to familiar bodies of water at depth - large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Small fish remain in small channels, where they live among algae above the bottom in the water column. To catch roach in the summer, use rods with shortened equipment with thin wire up to 0.1 mm and a small hook No. 16-20. Caddis flies, bloodworms, and maggots are used as bait.

When the ambient temperature begins to fall and the sun rises higher above the horizon, wide, shallow reservoirs are considered good places for catching roach. In autumn, small specimens hide in the lake reeds. And large individuals go to depths away from the shore. The bite is weak. To attract the attention of fish, use a noticeable bait with a red worm or a bunch of maggots.

Favorite roach habitats:

backwaters and oxbows;
mouths of flowing rivers;
coastal thickets, shallow areas of the reservoir;
in reeds, cattail;
branches that have fallen into the water, shadows from water lilies, flooded bushes.

The fish stays near the bottom and rises to the middle layers of the reservoir solely out of necessity - in search of food. In the summer heat, roaches swim to the surface to feast on insects that have fallen into the water. The fish feeds on worms, larvae, mollusks, crustaceans, algae, and mulberry.

The best place for catching chebak is the mouth at least one and a half meters deep, the lower shore edge. It is set up in advance - a fish tank and a seat are installed, and a point is fed. On lakes and ponds they fish from a boat. A sufficient depth for catching roach is considered to be 10 m.

Lures and bait:

in summer: greens, bread crumb, shell meat, grasshopper, caddis fly, worm;
in winter: burdock larvae, worms, bloodworms;
in spring: pearl barley, semolina, mastyrka, dough, maggot, worm, bloodworm;
in autumn: steamed wheat, peas, pearl barley, maggot, dough.

Roach is a small fish containing 19% protein and 0.4% fat. Triglycerides are represented by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which have pronounced antioxidant properties. Due to its low fat content, fish can be consumed by obese people and people with diabetes. In addition, PUFAs prevent the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke, cataracts, rheumatoid arthritis, myocardial infarction, and premature aging of the body. Roach is a source of protein, macro- and microelements. This is a low-calorie product containing only 100 kcal per 100 g. Due to this, it is included in the Japanese diet. Fish dulls the feeling of hunger without causing weight gain.

Nutritionists recommend including roach in the diet of pregnant women, children, the elderly, nursing mothers, allergy sufferers, and people with problems of the cardiovascular system and digestive tract. Dietary fish meat is best consumed boiled or stewed. The recommended daily intake is 100 g. In addition, roach caviar is widely used in cosmetology to improve the condition of hair and skin. It has strong stimulating and rejuvenating properties. Cosmetics based on it increase the turgor of the dermis, remove rashes, nourish and give a healthy complexion.