For many avid fishermen, whose goal of fishing is not to catch as many fish as possible in order to take it away later, but to get maximum pleasure from the process, asp has always been one of the most important dreams. This silvery beauty lives mainly on rivers; it loves currents and various turbulences in it. Due to this, the asp has quite high strength indicators. If we compare, for example, pike, pike perch, perch and asp, the latter will be the undisputed leader in resistance with the same weight.
That is why many professionals often go to the asp’s favorite places. One of the richest places is the Astrakhan region, where many people go in the summer to catch asp using spinning rods. A huge number of eriks with snags clearly attract the silver handsome man.
First we need to understand where our promising catch is at different times. We will consider time periods. And let's start in spring.
In the spring on Sheresper
In the spring, as soon as the ice has melted and the water is still cold, the asp does not show much activity. That is why catching asp with a spinning rod in the spring is quite interesting and at the same time difficult. It is worth looking for it at its wintering sites. Basically, these will be holes with a weak current and various snags. There must also be depth in the snags, otherwise the sheresper will never stop there.
Gradually, as the water warms up, the asp will leave the pits and move to shallower places, such as various riffles and spits. Therefore, you need to assess the water temperature before choosing a fishing spot.
Summer and autumn fishing
Summer is the most beloved time of year among fishermen. Warm water promotes active biting, and the fish offers pleasant resistance. When catching asp with a spinning rod in the summer, you should pay attention to the surface of the water and watch the splashes on the water. As a rule, in the asp’s parking areas, he actively strikes. Spit and shallow riffles are also covered with asp.
Fish do not leave snags in warm times. It only rises from the bottom into the surface layers of the water, which makes fishing much easier. Any fallen branches, fallen trees, unevenness in the topography of the coast - everything requires attention.
Autumn has always been famous for its trophies. The asp has an active glutton at this time of year. The most important thing is to get there, because after that the fish goes to their winter camps and it will be much more difficult to catch them.
Summer catch tactics
By summer, the asp becomes more choosy in choosing food. It goes to its usual habitats, located away from the coast. Keeps in small groups of 5-10 individuals.
Recommended reading: Details about feeder fishing, necessary gear and some subtleties
In warm weather, the predator often reveals itself with characteristic bursts. Chasing the fry to the surface, the asp drowns them out with its massive body, jumping out of the water and noisily falling on the prey. If you carefully place a tempting bait in this place, success is guaranteed.
In some cases, a massive asp “fight” occurs, when up to a hundred predators simultaneously participate in the hunt. The water literally boils from the impacts of large specimens and thousands of escaping fry. Despite the noisy action, it is better to fish from a fair distance, at least 50 meters.
Preparing gear for asp fishing
Having decided on the place where the fisherman will catch asp, it is necessary to choose the optimal gear for catching asp on a spinning rod so that it matches the conditions. The first step is to choose a spinning rod, which the angler will use to carry the fish. The action of a spinning rod for asp should be fast so that it is possible to twitch and when fishing with a jig, every touch of the bottom with the bait is transferred to the tip of the rod. Regarding the test range, there are several groups into which anglers are divided, so to speak. The first group prefers spinning rods with dough up to 35-40 grams. They allow you to throw heavy castmasters over very long distances. But such rods reduce casting accuracy, which is very important when fishing in snags.
The second group belongs to the light-ultralight class and prefers lighter gear. Spinning rods with a dough weight of up to 7-8 grams allow you to use lighter baits. With such light gear, everyone will be able to make more accurate casts into snags without fear of leaving the bait on the branches.
Here the main choice is up to each fisherman: either use powerful gear and drag asps using the so-called “winch” method, or choose lighter gear and fishing will take place more energetically with constant use of the clutch and more intense struggle.
But do not forget about the place of fishing, namely snags. If you are lucky and a fairly large fish bites, then you need to be prepared to forcefully fish, since after the bite the large asp will immediately try to hide in his favorite snags. The main task in such a situation is to not give him the opportunity to make a reverse dash and begin to pull him away from possible cover as quickly as possible, so as not to lose a promising trophy. In this regard, more powerful rods will benefit from their durability.
It is worth putting a fairly powerful reel on a spinning rod, since forceful fishing is still possible and you will need to pull the fish by force from coastal thickets or fallen trees. The spool size should be chosen to match the cord you plan to use. Usually, for convenience, the spool capacity is written directly on it.
When fishing, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of catching large specimens weighing 4-5 kilograms. Based on this, a cord with an optimal breaking load is selected. If you are using a rod with a test weight of around 25 grams, then a cord with a thickness of 0.22 millimeters will be optimal.
Important! When fishing with ultralight, 0.12 thickness is quite enough, since a light spinning rod and reel will not tear it under any circumstances.
Tackle
The correct equipment for catching asp on a spinning rod, which differs, helps to catch an extremely cautious and strong predator:
- power to suppress fish resistance;
- safety margin for heavy baits.
You can get to the predator by very long casts from the shore or from a boat, since timidity forces the sheresper to change location.
Spinning ultralight
A rod for asp fishing is the main element of the gear. Main selection criteria:
- flexibility;
- length 2.5-3 meters;
- Possibility for casting;
- medium build.
Having a boat allows you to move often, stop near asp spots; very long casts are not required, unlike fishing from the shore. But wooded shores do not always allow for sweeping action.
Universal ultralight spinning rod
In rivers with washed-out banks, there are often a lot of snags left, next to which fishing is most successful. There may not be very large specimens here, but fishing with an ultralight spinning rod allows you to catch specimens up to 3 kg. The advantage of hunting for medium-sized sheresper on small rivers is that it is found in schools, pecks carelessly and greedily, unlike large predators.
Delicate fishing with light tackle requires certain skills due to its high sensitivity.
Fishing in small bodies of water is done with light tackle. There is no need for a powerful long-range kit that allows you to perform ultra-long throws of heavy baits. Hunting for asp on small rivers is delicate fishing, which is based on completely different principles:
Coil
The success of catching fish depends on the selection of the reel. Multiplier models are rarely used in asp fishing; an inertia-free option corresponding to a spinning rod is suitable. Product requirements:
- spool size 3000-4000;
- strength resource;
- smooth ride;
- equipped with hard sides;
- ease;
- built-in ABS system.
Budget options are not suitable for fishing; they fail at the key moment. It is recommended to choose Shimano and Daiwa models. These reels allow you to make long casts and provide reliability when fishing.
Light spinning reel
fishing line
A good choice for tackle would be a braided line with a dense structure, which will ensure low friction on the elements and withstand heavy loads when casting and retrieving. Suitable line diameter is 0.14 – 0.18 mm. Braided cord has the necessary characteristics for catching. We recommend paying attention to the Daiwa models.
Power-Pro brand line
A thick fishing line will not allow you to cast the tackle with maximum range, and the risk of frightening the inhabitants of the reservoir increases. The stretchable monofilament prevents confident hooking. But this option has its supporters, who believe that monofilament fishing line scares predators less, and the slippery nylon surface facilitates long casts.
The ideal option is to buy a reel with two spools, on which both the cord and the fishing line are wound. Depending on the situation on a particular reservoir, the desired option is used.
Leash
Not all anglers use a leash when fishing for asp. But its use enhances the efficiency of fishing. A durable kevral leash for tackle is available in any specialized store. The downside of the purchased type is its opacity. Experienced anglers like monofilament line. The leash is made from steel wire, with a strong twist, but lacking plasticity.
Spinning rod length
You don’t need a particularly long spinning rod for catching asp from a boat. A length of 240 centimeters is quite suitable. Having a boat makes it possible to move more often and stop almost at the most asp spots, and long casts will no longer be necessary.
If there is no boat and fishing mainly takes place from the banks, then long casts may obviously be needed, for example, if a person is fishing on a fairly wide river. Here we advise you to take a closer look at the length of the spinning rod for asp, 270 cm. But there is one caveat. If the shore is wooded, then using such a long spinning rod may cause inconvenience.
Often there may simply not be room to properly swing for a long cast. This applies not only to wooded banks, but also to those overgrown with reeds. Therefore, a spinning rod for catching asp from the shore should be selected under certain conditions.
Big water
It is more difficult to find asp in large rivers and reservoirs. But it's easier to catch. There is space here. Having found schools of fry and striking sherespers, the fisherman in the boat stands at the maximum distance, no closer than 60-70 meters. Using casting tackle and long-range baits, the spinning angler fires at the battle zone. It is hidden from the eyes of the fish by the distance and the difference in the refractive index of light in air and water. The fish bite without fear. In this regard, fishing in large bodies of water is strikingly different from attempts to consistently catch large asps in small rivers. Naturally, among fishermen, experts in small rivers are held in special esteem. But it’s hard to deny yourself the pleasure of competing with strong, beautiful fish even in the vast expanses of large water areas.
This is how the asp is - a difficult fishing object. If it’s difficult, it means it’s especially desirable.
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Categories: Fishing Basics · Tags: Asp, Places, Serving, Lures, Posting, River, Predator
Asp baits
Asp on a spinning rod bite on almost all types of bait. Fish is a lover of silver shades, which is why castmasters have proven themselves so quickly. Most experienced fishermen use them when fishing for asp in the summer using a spinning rod. Castmasters come in different shapes and weights. Their distinctive feature is their long casting distance and low drag, due to which they sink to the bottom very quickly and can be fished with in fairly fast currents.
In second place in popularity will be turntables. Due to their rotation, they create strong vibrations in the water and will not leave the fisherman without a catch even in very muddy water (read more about choosing spinners for asp).
Jigs and wobblers have also found their application when catching asp using a spinning rod. Anglers use jigs mainly for fishing in holes and snags. If fishing in pits with a jig is quite simple, then in snags equipment with a closed hook is mainly used to avoid harmful hooks.
Wobblers find their application at moments when the fish is in the middle layers of water and cannot be reached with jigs or surface baits (read more about choosing a wobbler for a sheresper).
Some craftsmen use tackle with several small spoons, thereby simulating a school of food fry. Making such a tackle is quite difficult, but it brings good catches.
Best lures
Asp are caught using a wide variety of baits. Wobblers, spinners, topwaters and other varieties are widely used. Despite the fact that this aquatic inhabitant can be caught with almost all spinning baits, there are the most catchy and effective of them.
This category includes:
Jigs
A type of bait that has the simple outline of a metal piece.
Best models:
- The Renegade Iron Minnow has proven itself in the use of jerky and even retrieves. Also works well in thick water on steps.
- Trehgranka Sabunaev. The specific shape of this jig has a direct impact on overall recognition and memory. It is best used when fishing in deep-deep boilers and when using stepped wiring. The bait has some drawbacks. It consists in the fact that the flight with such a bait when casting takes place over a short distance.
- Kastmaster. A very effective species, having specific outlines that are capable of bringing the bait to the surface of the water. In this case, you should select the mass of the spinner as accurately as possible. When using Kastmaster, it is better to replace existing tees with higher quality analogues.
Wobblers
When fishing for asp, specimens that are capable of carrying out their own game of high activity (cranks) are actively used. In turn, they are produced in trout (not more than 4 grams) and bass (not more than 16 grams) types.
For catching predators, the most suitable options are those weighing 6-10 grams. A prominent representative of this type is the Lucky Craft Clutch. However, it is worth considering that this option is suitable for fishing for medium-sized fish whose weight does not exceed 2 kg.
When going for trophies, it would be advisable to use large-sized bass-type cranks (for example, the 13-gram Imakatsu Crank IK-180).
Also, when fishing, you can use minnow-class wobblers, which the fish, although less active, still go for. When using this type of wobbler, it is recommended to use the game with sharp jerks. You can alternate such wiring with ordinary uniform wiring. When choosing wobbler parameters, you should not go beyond 70-80 mm.
They have proven themselves well:
- Renegade Aspius Death is a wobbler endowed with excellent flight qualities, despite the absolutely simple system of long-distance casting.
- Lucky John Basara 70 SP - wobbler copes with the task perfectly. Has its own game and good flight range.
Turntables
It is with this type of bait that the passion for asp fishing usually begins. Not all spinners are equally successful at attracting fish. When choosing, you should choose only those models that are capable of making the longest cast.
Therefore, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the weight of the product. It is better not to consider options weighing up to 8 grams. The heavier the spinner, the further it will fly when casting. Regarding the shape of the petal, it will be much more effective to use a rounded pinwheel, which the asp actively follows, seeing the sharpened wiring.
You can carry out postings with such spinners in several ways:
- Downstream (high quality round petals are required). The speed of the game must be maintained at a fast pace.
- Upstream. It is best to use slow wiring in combination with short pauses. The spinner will gradually fall down, but will not stop rotating under the influence of the current. It is recommended to alternate the duration of the pause.
- "For demolition." The bait should be cast across the current. The game is played in a monotonous rhythm and progresses rather slowly.
Devonian
A very effective bait is presented in several modifications. The differences are primarily concentrated in the mounting of the blades, their number and center of gravity. Blade mechanisms are produced both separately and securely fixed with the product.
The latter have a significant drawback - the line often gets twisted, but if you use braid instead of a line, the problem can be avoided. The center of gravity shifts to the front or rear, which has a direct impact on flight performance. When using Devons in asp fishing, it is recommended to use a uniform game at a fast pace, and cast the bait upstream.
Fishing from a boat
Spinning fishing from a boat involves frequent movements. In spring and autumn, as a rule, fishing takes place in holes and you should not linger for a long time at one point.
In the summer, when the asp walks on the surface layer, you can use the rafting method. It will be very effective in narrow channels and eriks, where it is possible to reach both banks while being in the middle. Casts should be made into the very snags, and the closer to the snag, the greater the chance of catching a sheresper. As a rule, the fisherman manages to make literally 3-4 casts, and is carried away from the snag by the current, so there is no need to waste time. Many anglers love the rafting method for its energy. Due to the fact that most casting occurs perpendicular to the shore, the current will have almost no effect on the speed of the bait, you just need to take into account the fact that the bait can be carried downstream. You shouldn’t ignore various discounts. The asp stands next to them, waiting for a fish to swim by.
If you like some kind of snag, and the person did not have time to catch it, then you should not swim too close. You should stand at a distance of 15-20 meters slightly downstream and make casts. The asp often stands downstream from the snag and attempts to catch it higher end in empty runs.
What are the best places to catch asp?
Sheresper lives in the basins of large and small rivers in Russia. And also in some large lakes and freshwater areas of the seas.
At different times of the year, as well as in different weather conditions, the asp can change its location. In particular, with the onset of winter, the fish sink into deep holes and remain there for several months. In the spring, during spawning, the fish is at shallow depths and moves up or downstream, depending on its habitat. Very often, asp can be found in places where there is a small flow of water. A jet that is formed from rapids or riffles. In these places, small water funnels often form, confusing the fish, and the asp can easily catch prey. Sheresper also loves places where there is a current, fast-flowing water or streams formed along bridges and dams, large snags. And also close to the sand spits.
One trick that helps fishermen catch this fish is that the asp rarely changes its place to another. Only when absolutely necessary (for spawning), as well as when resting (descends to great depths). Therefore, if a fisherman finds splashes of an asp and the fight of his tail in the water, then he should return to the same place at dawn or sunset. The chance of catching this fish will increase, this is the time of its active feeding. It very rarely happens that you can catch a sheresper at night, since at this time the fish sleeps in the depths. Therefore, with the onset of darkness, you can finish fishing.
Based on this, you can quite easily choose a suitable place for fishing.
Fishing from the shore
Fishing from the shore with a spinning rod will be much more difficult than from a boat, and the fisherman must be prepared for this. It must be said that the fish is not always near the shore and you will have to make long casts. This mainly applies to holes, spits and rifts.
When fishing from the shore in snags, you need to take into account the direction of the wind, since a light gust can blow the line into the branches, and the fisherman will be left without his favorite bait. Therefore, here you may need a stronger cord to unbend the baits. Before fishing from the shore with wobblers with deep depth, we advise you to use cheaper baits or break through the water area with non-hooking ones so as not to lose the wobbler.
Read about catching asp at different times of the year and with different gear.
You should be prepared for the fact that when bringing the fish to the shore, it will seem to gain a second wind and continue to fight, so you should not take the asp near the shore for a long time; it is recommended to quickly put it in a net or drag it ashore.
As a result, we can say that spinning fishing for asp is very interesting due to the constant movements. As you understand, catching an asp on a spinning rod is quite simple if you have certain knowledge and the ability to choose a place. You will also get more adrenaline when you bite a large fish and try to immediately go back into the snag. It will be an unforgettable experience!
Lures
Spinning baits for asp have a number of characteristic features. All of them are suitable for fishing in the upper layers. The shape and coloring should be similar to the main food of the sheresper: perch, bleak, sebel. This means that the body of the fish is oblong, narrow, “minnow” type. The color is natural, silver. Since the fish attacks from below and sees only a silhouette against the background of a bright sky, then the bait will seem like a black spot to it. This is what can explain the catchability of not only silver, but also completely black baits.
In the list of working artificial decoys:
- spinners with a narrow blade;
- oscillating spoons such as “Kastmaster” and the like;
- narrow-bodied minnow wobblers;
- poppers;
- walkers;
- rotating spoons of the "Devon" type.
Flies, both dry and wet, are used as bait in fly fishing. Basically, large streamers are in use, with the introduction of white goat hair. Such streamers imitate small, narrow-bodied white fish - the main food of the sheresper.
