How to catch asp using a spinning rod

When and where to catch asp

Asp, or as it is also called “river corsair,” most often lives in the following bodies of water:

1. Basins of the Black, Baltic and Caspian seas.
2. In large rivers with good flow.
3. Plyos.
4. Lakes.
5. Big ponds.
6. Reservoirs.

Asp is usually found on the upper or middle layer of reservoirs. It rarely swims into the deepest areas.

To choose the right place to catch this fish, you need:

1. Use a boat, since this fish very rarely swims to the shore.
2. In the summer, the asp can be found in places of rapids, in shallow water or in areas where tributaries flow into the main channel.
3. At the end of summer, the habitat of the asp can be determined by the seagulls circling over the pond. Since the asp hunts the fry, this very attracts the birds and they also flock to the “fishing” place.
4. Asp prefers places such as snags, spits and various irregularities in the coastal zone.

The most suitable season for asp fishing is:

1. Spring period, namely April. Since at this time the spring flood floods shallow water areas and small fish swim under various flooded trees, bushes or steep banks, this is where a hungry asp waits for it, who wants to regain his strength after a long winter.
2. The end of August, when the heat has already subsided a little and it begins to get a little colder. During this period, the asp begins to actively peck in order to gain enough strength for the winter.

Peculiarities of asp catching in different seasons:

1. The warmer the water in the reservoir in the spring, the greater the chance of this fish biting.
2. With the autumn cold weather, the asp becomes more timid and, accordingly, does not bite on every bait.
3. During winter frosts, the optimal time for fishing is the evening on days when the sun shines well.

The most suitable hours for fishing:

1. Time until dawn.
2. The time is between twelve and three o'clock in the afternoon.
3. From five to seven in the evening.
4. It is better to catch asp in the daytime, since it is a diurnal fish and does not feed at night.

The most suitable weather is:

1. Days with rapid weather changes. For example, a change from hot to cold.
2. The weather before the onset of a thunderstorm after several days of warmth.
3. In damp weather, the asp bites well, but not as actively as in hot weather.

Main fishing objects

When fishing in rivers, the prey of a spinning angler can be not only many species of predatory fish, but also “peaceful” fish, which feed mainly on insects or bottom invertebrates, but are not averse to snacking on fry on occasion. The main types of fish that may be interested in the bait of a spinning rod when fishing on the river include:

Pike

Pike is, of course, the main object of hunting for spinners in the middle zone. It inhabits both the largest and smallest rivers, sometimes no more than 3-4 meters wide, provided that the depth is sufficient and the current is not too fast. Pike are not found in cold and shallow fast-flowing rivers.

Toothfish can be caught with a spinning rod in rivers throughout the open water season, with the exception of spawning time and one to two weeks after the end of spawning. For more detailed information on when and how to catch pike with a spinning rod, read our article.

Zander

This is a big water fish: it is caught in large rivers, where it prefers to stay in areas with a sandy and rocky bottom. Being the largest representative of the perch family, pike perch can reach a weight of 20 kg, although anglers, of course, more often have to deal with specimens weighing from 0.5 to 5 kg.

Perch

It is successfully caught with spinning rods mainly in medium and large rivers. Perch prefers to stay in areas with a weak current or no current at all, at a fairly large depth. It is extremely rare to see a striped fish in fast-flowing cold rivers and rifts. When fishing in rivers, a spinning angler can count on meeting both a small sailor and a very respectable humpback whale weighing from 1 to 3 kg.

Asp

The only true predator in the carp family. This fish is famous for its power and fighting character. The weight of the asp that a spinning angler usually has to deal with is within three kilograms.

Chub

This fish apparently owes its name to its large, forehead-shaped head. Or perhaps it’s all about her remarkable intelligence and ingenuity: it can be very difficult for a spinner to outwit a chub.

Ide

Another representative of the carp family, a close relative of the asp and chub. It is found both in deep sections of rivers with calm flows and on rocky rifts. Ide is a rather difficult fish for a spinning angler with a special character, so it is interesting to catch it.

Rudd

This fish prefers calm water, so in rivers the rudd usually occupies backwaters overgrown with reeds and other aquatic vegetation. Previously, spinning anglers had virtually no interest in this fish, but in recent years, fishing for it with a spinning rod has been gaining popularity.

Chekhon

This fast and beautiful fish, which weighs up to a kilogram, rarely becomes the object of spinning fishing. Meanwhile, saberfish, which becomes a predator in the third year of life, can be caught with a spinning rod very successfully.

Trout

Trout prefers rivers with clean, cold, fast-flowing water. This beautiful, strong and lively fish from the salmon family is, of course, a desirable trophy for any spinning angler.

Grayling

A beautiful fish that is a close relative of trout and inhabits cold and fast-flowing rivers and streams, and is also found in large rivers on rocky rifts.

Som

A river giant that can reach a weight of 400 kg. It is caught in large rivers with decent depths; the largest catfish are usually caught in holes at a depth of 15 - 20 meters or more.

Taimen

The largest representative of the salmon family, which reaches a weight of over 70 kg and a length of about 2 m. In Russia, taimen is found in the northeast of the European part of the country (Pechora and Kama rivers), but the Mecca for all lovers of taimen fishing is, of course, Siberia.

Read Steaming wheat for fishing

Lures for asp fishing

The most popular and effective baits for catching asp:

1. Floating wobbler.
2. Twister.
3. Devonian.

Wobbler

This bait is considered a leader among other baits for spinning asp fishing.

Advantages and characteristics of the wobbler:

1. Ability to float and swim well.
2. It is very similar to the usual food of asp, which allows you to successfully outwit such a wary fish.
3. A floating wobbler can be thrown downstream if there is no suitable place for casting.
4. The wobbler can be used in hard-to-reach places (under flooded trees, under cliffs, etc.).
5. The wobbler imitates a wounded fish, which wriggles due to the current of the reservoir, which especially attracts the predator.

Tips for choosing the right wobbler:

1. For successful fishing, a wobbler must be chosen with a magnetic system so that it can have more weight, so that it can be cast over a greater distance.
2. When purchasing this bait, you need to take into account its shape, size and immersion depth.
3. The length of the wobbler should be about seven centimeters, but experts recommend purchasing elongated models.
4. In order to decide which model of wobbler is better - floating or sinking, the fisherman needs to try both of these varieties in practice.

Twister

The Twister bait is also very popular, although in appearance it does not look very much like a fish. Can be made of plastic, silicone or polymer material.

Advantages of Twister:

1. A huge variety of bait models and colors.
2. Lots of sizing options.
3. When used together with an offset hook, this bait has quite high cross-country ability in hard-to-reach areas.

Tips for choosing a Twister: when purchasing this bait, you need to pay attention to the quality of the silicone. It should be soft enough and not have any specific odor that could scare away the fish.

Devonian

Devon is a rather difficult bait to use, but due to its effectiveness in catching asp, it is in considerable demand among fishermen. Devons come in round, faceted and flat varieties. The most common are cigar-shaped Devons with a metal body and special blades on the sides, which are made to rotate in a pond.

Tips for choosing Devon:

1. Devon should spin well in the water, but if this does not happen, then it is a low-quality bait.
2. The best Devons are those that are made for fast reeling and long casting.
3. When choosing a Devon, you should pay attention to its weight and compactness. Both of these criteria must fit well together.
4. It is better to use lead Devon for asp fishing.

In addition to the above bait models, there are also additional baits that are usually used when catching asp:

1. A three-sided bait is a bait whose task is to catch fish at great depths in a reservoir. Due to its large weight, such a bait sinks into the water column much faster and reaches the desired position.
2. Jig is a bait for the cold autumn period. Used with classic bottom stepped wiring. Since the end of October, this bait has been most popular for asp.

Tips for choosing baits:

1. Lures with fluorescent colors are well suited for catching asp in the dark.
2. For regular daytime fishing, it is better to choose silver colors for lures.
3. For fishing on a cloudy day, lures with a silver-blue color are ideal.
4. For catching asp at sunset - with an orange-silver color.

What do you use to catch asp - the best baits and lures

The choice here is simply huge. First of all, it depends on the fishing time and gear. It is advisable to find out what the asp is biting on in a given place. But even with such information, it would be useful to take a spare bait. The tastes of fish are changeable, and the tadpole, which provided an excellent bite yesterday, will be squeamishly avoided today.

To learn more:

The many-faced asp: sheresper, grip and horse-fish

Let's start with choosing bait for catching asp on a float rod:

• live bait – preferably long (at least 6-8 cm), but narrow. The best choice, according to experts, is bleak;
• insects. There is a large assortment here - the cockchafer, the fly, the grasshopper;
• tadpole;
• small frogs – preferably live. To avoid causing serious injury to them, hook them on a large hook to the skin and pierce the fleshy leg;
• artificial baits that imitate all of the above.

Spinning baits

You need to choose a heavy spoon or castmaster if you are fishing from a boat. When fishing from the shore, it is better to give preference to lighter ones - the risk of spooking the fish is reduced. The bait should imitate the prey familiar to the local asp. Too bright ones make the predator wary.

Wet flies and streamers perform well. It is impossible to give an unambiguous recommendation here. But it makes sense to take both light and dark ones with you. It has long been noted that in cloudy weather any fish takes white or yellow bait better. And on a sunny day, brown, gray or red will do. Many people take a knife with them when fishing. By ripping open the belly of the first prey you come across, you can easily find out everything about the feeding habits in a given area.

Of course, when going fishing, it is important to prepare suitable bait, although it is not always possible to use it. For example, if you fish from a boat, casting a lure 80 meters, there can be no talk of any bait. But when fishing from the shore, it increases the chances of a good catch. Do not forget that the asp is a predator, and plant food is clearly not for him. High activity forces you to eat exclusively food of animal origin.

A good choice when preparing bait would be finely chopped meat or fish. Maggots, coarsely chopped worms and dead but fresh fry performed well. No need to add any flavorings! They do more harm than good. Maximum - sprinkle the fry with blood from the meat. The smell from such bait will quickly spread over a large area. But a sharp, aggressive aroma can scare away a cautious asp. Therefore, leave special mixtures for fishing for chub, crucian carp and other herbivores.

This is where we can finish the article about catching one of the most desirable fish in the reservoirs of our country. After reading it, you will receive enough useful information, at least in theory, to subsequently return from the river carrying a substantial trophy in your backpack.

Fishing tackle

An important factor in successful fishing and a good asp bite is the correct choice of gear. In order not to make a mistake in this choice, you must, first of all, select gear depending on the fishing location.

1. If the fishing takes place from the shore, then the right decision would be to take a spinning rod with a rod three and a half meters long and a reel up to four and a half thousand in size.
2. If the fishing takes place in boats, then the best option would be to choose a fishing rod with a slightly smaller size.
3. Also, you should not ignore such an effective bait as a spinner. It is desirable that the spoon be similar to bleak, the favorite food of this predator.

The main requirements for a suitable spoon contain the following provisions:

1. A high-quality spinner should play well on the water.
2. The spoon should not be exposed to urine flow.
3. It is best if the spinner is neutral in color or metallic in color.

A fairly popular spinner is the Kastmaster. It is a silver model weighing about fifty grams and is used only for catching asp.

Fishing with Kastmaster occurs according to the following principle:

1. Casting a spinner over a long distance (about ninety meters).
2. The spoon should fall to the very bottom of the reservoir.
3. After this, several turns of the reel are made and the line is pulled in one direction.
4. Repeat pulling and turning the coil several times with some cyclicity.
5. During the bite you need to make a sharp hook.

Methods for catching asp

The most popular methods of fishing for asp:

1. Using a bombard.
2. For reupholstery.
3. Live bait.
4. Rafting from a boat

Using a bombard

The peculiarity of the bombard tackle is that it has several floats with different weights on each, which allows the tackle to be at the level of the reservoir that the fisherman needs. The advantage of catching asp using a bombard is that snags on snags and other things are excluded.

To make gear you will need:

1. A spinning rod of increased “softness” with a length of at least three meters.
2. Inertialess reel.
3. Bombard weighing 30 g with a long antenna for surface fishing.
4. Braided line.
5. Leash made of rigid monofilament with a diameter of 0.4 mm.
6. Swivel.

The bombard gear should be assembled as follows:

1. Thread the fishing line through the float, pointing its tip towards the hook.
2. To avoid the float hitting the carabiner, install a special rubber stopper.
3. Attach the carabiner to which the leash is attached.
4. Attach a float to the fishing line.
5. After the float, attach a swivel.
6. Attach a leash and bait to it.

Lures for fishing with a bombard:

1. Worms.
2. Maggots.
3. Bloodworm.

Artificial baits:

1. "Turbinki".
2. Streamers.
3. Jig baits that perfectly imitate insects.

It is best to use such tackle in late spring and winter. The method and features of catching asp using a bombard are as follows:

1. The tackle must be thrown towards the predator.
2. You should throw the spinning rod as accurately and far as possible.
3. When fishing, you should remain quiet so as not to scare away the fish.

For reupholstery

The method of catching asp by dragging is considered one of the most ancient. The peculiarity of this type of fishing is that it requires two people. The tactic of such fishing is to deliver the bait at a distance to a place where fish accumulate, without spooking it with your presence.

The installation of the gear consists of the following steps:

1. Purchase two spinning rods with inertial reels with a line supply of 70-80 meters each and a diameter of 0.4 mm.
2. Connect the ends of the fishing lines and install a leash 1.5 meters long.
3. At the end of such a leash, attach a single hook, and to prevent it from twisting between the fishing lines, you need to install a swivel.
4. Attach bait to the hook.

Lures for drag fishing:

1. Grasshoppers.
2. All kinds of bugs.
3. Flies.
4. Maggots.

It is best to use this fishing principle in rivers, ponds and narrow bays of reservoirs, which are relatively not wide.

The principle and features of drag fishing are as follows:

1. Secure two pegs on one side of the pond and one on the other.
2. Pass the fishing line through all three rings, tighten it well and secure it.
3. Near the knot that serves as a stopper, attach a leash with a fly or a hook with an insect.
4. The insect hook can be pulled to the desired location manually.
5. To change the area of ​​the reservoir where you want to fish, you only need to move one of the rings in the other direction (upstream or downstream).
6. For this type of fishing you should use a boat.

For live bait

Fishing with live bait begins in the summer, when the water is already completely warmed up and the asp floats on the surface of the water. In other seasons, there is practically no point in catching an asp with live bait, since in spring and autumn it will not bite on such bait, and in winter it will lie down in deep holes and go into suspended animation.

The following types of live fish can be used as bait:

1. Chub.
2. Goby.
3. Bleak.
4. Verkhovka.

It is also worth knowing that the length of the bait should not exceed eight centimeters, since if it is larger, the asp will not swallow it and, accordingly, will not peck.

Necessary gear for live bait fishing:

1. Fishing rod with guides.
2. A coil with no inertia.
3. The float is preferably in the shape of a circle.
4. Leash one meter long.

Features of this type of fishing:

1. Live bait should always swim ahead of the float.
2. The line should be as tight as possible.
3. The tackle must be held tightly.

Catching asp by rafting from a boat

In this way, fishing is done from a boat that floats slowly and goes downstream or against the current of the reservoir. The boat is directed along the shore and the bait is thrown under tree branches hanging over the water, to clear places among the thickets, or to the banks with half-submerged trees.

To make such gear you need:

1. Line 0.4 mm thick, length equal to the length of the rod.
2. Short leash 0.2 mm thick.
3. Oval or elongated float.
4. Hook No. 6 with a straight bend and a short shank.

Installation of the gear occurs as follows:

1. Attach a leash and a float to the fishing line.
2. Next, adjust the baited hook.

Use as bait:

1. Grasshoppers.
2. Khrushchi.
3. Caterpillars.

This fishing method is more effective to use in the summer.

How to catch

This representative of cyprinids can be caught in different ways. But, naturally, as in catching other predators, it is better to catch asp with a spinning rod. This is at the same time a difficult hunt, but very dynamic, exciting and rewarding. Fishing for asp with a spinning rod allows you to catch a variety of predators using different types of bait - from ultralight to classic asp and jig.

Catching asp using a spinning rod can be done using different methods. The predator is successfully caught with classic asp spoons, wobblers, and spinners. Asp are quite good at catching with a beard, with a shaitan breaker, with streamers and other specific baits.

Asps are also caught by fly fishing, especially in the summer. This method is most suitable on small rivers, where a large proportion of the predator’s diet consists of grasshoppers or beetles that have fallen into the water. Large flies and streamers are used. On large rivers, donka can also be used, but only in cold water, when the fish feeds at the bottom.

Spring

Catching asp in the spring is possible before spawning in early March or after the predator has spawned, when it begins to eat. In early spring, these fish can be caught on a jig as they are still near the bottom and not rising to the surface. To successfully catch an asp with a jig, you need to know where it is concentrated. However, not all rivers and reservoirs allow asp fishing in early spring.

Read Pike fishing in open water in autumn and summer

After spawning in May, when the sheresper begins to actively hunt at the surface, spinning anglers switch to castmasters and other jigs, use driven small-running wobblers, ultralight baits, barbs and others.

In May, the asp switches to a summer feeding regime and begins to eat, so now jig will be relevant only from the second half of October.

Fishing for asp using a spinning rod in the spring is most productive along steep banks. The secret is that the fish patrols the area, making periodic attacks on the fry standing at the very edge. The best baits in this case are a wobbler and a spinner.

Summer

The asp spends the entire summer period in the surface layer. It feeds exclusively during the daytime and is not caught at night. His favorite stopping and hunting places are:

• shallow waters;
• braids;
• shallows;
• riffles;
• steep banks;
• under overhanging trees.

What to use to catch asp in the summer depends on the chosen fishing method. Classic long-distance spinning rod. Other catchy, narrow-bodied, heavy, oscillating spoons, called jigs, are also used. The fishing technique comes down to long-distance casting to the predator's fighting areas. Catching asp in the summer with a beard can be effective, where homemade flies or streamers are often used as bait. Lures such as shaitan burun, spinnerbaits and poppers are also used.

Fly fishing for asp is effective in the summer. All kinds of flies and streamers are used to imitate semi-aquatic insects. On some reservoirs, especially small rivers, asp are better caught in summer by fly fishing than by spinning. The best fishing technique in this case is to cast under overhanging tree branches and float the fly with small twitches.

Autumn

At the beginning of the autumn season, while the water is still warm enough, the asp remains in the surface layer and continues to actively feed on small fish. This period usually lasts until the end of September. In October, the sheresper gradually begins to move to deep areas, only occasionally showing activity at the surface.

As the weather gets colder, jig becomes the main method of catching autumn asp. The fishing technique is the same as for pike perch. Small, runaway silicone baits are used - twisters and vibrotails. It is better to use a hinged installation, and in catchy places you need to use an offset hook.

Jigs also continue to work, only now it is better to carry them out at the bottom or in the water column using a wave-like or stepped retrieve. Front-loaded turntables can be used. Beards, streamers and other similar methods cease to give stable results in the fall. Very rarely an asp is caught on the track. In this case, the predator bites on small stubborn cranks held near the bottom.

Features of asp fishing depending on the season

Fishing in spring

Peculiarities of asp catching in spring include the following factors:

1. During this period, fishing must be done only from the bottom of the reservoir, using fishing almost along the bottom.
2. Not having much strength after the winter period, the asp swims to areas of the reservoir with a very weak and non-pressure water flow.
3. It is better to conduct wiring along the growth of reeds and various rifts at a depth of 3 to 6 meters.
4. The most catchable distance is from 10 to 40 meters.

To catch asp in the spring, it is recommended to use the following gear:

1. Strong spinning rod.
2. Reliable fishing line with a diameter of up to 3 mm.
3. Spoons and baits depending on the specific fishing location.

The most suitable baits are spinners, wobblers and rubber fish.

Also in the spring you can fish with fly fishing gear, which is used only when catching asp from the shore. For bait, this tackle can be used with both live and artificial bait.

Fishing in summer

The summer period creates favorable conditions for catching asp, which prefers to stay close to shallow water areas in the summer, and often alone. Lures for fishing in summer can be varied. In general, since the asp is a predatory fish, all insects, worms, butterflies and caterpillars are suitable.

For catching in the summer season, you can fish both from the shore and from a boat

.

The most effective method of casting a line is to cast against the flow of the reservoir. In this case, success occurs due to the fact that the bait behaves differently during a slow retrieve.

Fishing in autumn

Catching asp in the autumn is very effective, since the fish senses the approaching cold weather and begins to bite more often. At the end of August, the asp begins to form large flocks, or as they are also called “cauldrons”.

Since the water becomes more transparent during this period, the fisherman should wear some kind of camouflage so as not to scare off the fish with his appearance. To catch asp in hard-to-reach places, you should use a fishing rod 2-2.5 m long with a spinning reel with a high subordinate number. It is advisable to place monofilament fishing line in the reel.

At the end of autumn, when the fish is already moving to the depths, it is customary to catch it using the jig method, using the following baits:

1. Twisters.
2. Vibrating tails.
3. Rubber and other soft-bodied baits.
4. Turntables.

Also popular is the use of a spinner such as Kastmaster.

The peculiarities of catching asp in the fall are that you should especially carefully throw gear into the “cauldrons” so as not to scare the fish. The best option would be long-distance casting using a wobbler.

Fishing in winter

Catching asp in winter is very difficult and inactive. The main gear for fishing is spinning.

Best fishing spots:

1. Zones below the riffles.
2. Areas near bridge piles.
3. Artificial reservoirs.
4. Non-freezing reservoirs where the asp does not sink to the bottom, but continues to hunt.

In open water in winter, asp can only be caught during the day. You can use worms, bleak fish or other live bait as bait. But since the asp usually does not actively bite in winter, the catch during this period is considered very rare.

Where to look for asp?

It is not very common in our country. It lives only in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins. It prefers medium and large rivers - it can hunt both in creeks and on the current, but it prefers to rest in quiet places. Unlike pike, it loves active hunting for prey. A toothy predator stands in the middle of algae or behind a snag, waiting for a suitable fish to be nearby so that it can make one sharp jerk and feast on it. But the asp chose a different tactic. Swimming through a body of water, moving from pools to currents, it looks for prey, after which it chases until it catches it. Therefore, spinning for asp is the best choice of equipment.

He often hunts on rifts and rapids, however, he loves both the main stream and places near it. Here the water raises turbidity, introducing insects to small fish. The asp loves such places - here he feasts on suitable prey. It prefers warm water, so it rarely goes into pools. It is most active in the middle layers and even higher. Sometimes it likes to “sunbathe” while swimming on the surface - an observant and quiet fisherman will easily notice it by its dorsal fin protruding from the water.

Not active at night. During rain, when other fish happily grab any bait, the asp also does not bite. In the morning he cheerfully splashes in the river, eating whatever fish he can catch. During the day there is a lull - if the asp swims only for his own pleasure, it is difficult to seduce him with bait. But in the evening he goes out to the nearest reach to have fun - he chases the fry, often causing schools of small fish to fan out from the water.

To learn more:

How to properly steam wheat for fishing

Fishing for asp

Landing a fish like asp can be very difficult, because it can reach more than 6 kg of live weight.

In order to learn how to fish an asp correctly and avoid making mistakes, experts recommend adhering to the following recommendations:

1. Use the most flexible rod and reliable reel.
2. Try to pull the asp to the surface of the boat or shore as soon as possible.
3. When landing an asp, you should not grab the fishing line with your hands.
4. There is no need to make too sharp jerks, since such actions can lead to breakage of the gear and, accordingly, to the loss of the asp.
5. When fishing with a wobbler, you should not take the fish by hand without checking the location of the second tee.
6. A large asp must first be thoroughly exhausted so that it slows down its ardor and does not struggle so much, and only after that the already tired fish must be pulled into the boat using a landing net or hook.
7. When fishing, you should not completely clamp the clutch of your reel.
8. When fishing, you do not need to lower the fishing rod in line with the fishing line.