Catching bleak on a float rod
Bleak (lat. Alburnus alburnus) is a fish from the carp family (Cyprinidae).
In different regions of Russia, this fish is called differently: in the Vyatka province - “shekleya”, in the Vologda region - “verkhovodka” or even “baskleyka”. Bleak is a small dark grayish fish with a greenish tint, 10-20 cm in size and weighing up to 60 grams, although larger individuals are also found. The bleak's favorite treat is maggots. It is caught using a float rod, which you can make yourself or buy in a specialized store.
Tackle and bait for catching bleak
Many floaters wrinkle their noses in displeasure when a flock of bleaks suddenly appears, tugging at the bait near the surface. They are not interested in these fish either as a fishing trophy or as food. But for participants in bleak fishing competitions, these nimble, silvery fish can become important providers of additional points.
If I purposefully catch bleak on a float rod, it is only for bait, since the smallest of them are good for perch, chub or trout, the medium ones are seduced by eel, pike perch or asp, and those that grow to a length of 20 cm are excellent for catching pike. For all these predators, silvery white fish are extremely attractive, and it doesn’t matter how they are presented: on the bottom, float or trolling gear.
Since large schools of bleak are usually found, catching them is not too difficult in most cases. But the question arises, will you catch the right size bait for the predator you intend to catch? When there are bleaks, you don’t have to think about this issue for long.
Bleak most often live near the shore, so a long rod is not required. We can recommend a float with a length of 3 to 5 m. Since they are fishing with very light floats and thin lines, a fly rod is best suited. It does not have to be expensive; cheap models are quite suitable for these purposes. Extraordinarily light floats with a load capacity of 0.4 to 1 g are used. A monofilament with a diameter of 0.10 mm is used, and a leash 10-20 cm long should be even thinner - 0.08 mm. Depending on the size of bleak you need, choose a hook from No. 16 to No. 22.
Read: How to feed fish with worms
Of course, you can buy a special ready-made mixture for catching bleak, but I prefer to make my own, consisting of 1 part breading flour and 2 parts wheat bran. I sift everything together through a kitchen sieve so that a very thin bait is obtained.
You can add another packet of vanilla powder to add flavor. Since the bait usually stands very close to the surface, the bait should stay afloat for quite a long time. I feed according to the fishing conditions. In calm water without waves, I throw dry bait, which sinks very slowly. If there is wind on a pond or I am fishing on a river, then I make the bait wet. After the bait falls in the water, a feeding cloud forms, in the zone of which I feed the equipment.
The working descent of equipment for catching bleak should be equal to a quarter of the depth of the reservoir. Often the bleak is at a depth of only 30-40 cm. Sometimes the smallest specimens rise higher, so try to catch them near the surface and closer to the shore. Large bleaks are often located under a flock of small ones and wait there for food falling down. So, if you want larger specimens, fish a little deeper, and in running water - in the lower part of the feeding trail.
Read: 5 ways to prepare bait for fishing without buying ready-made bait in the store
To prevent small fish from grabbing the bait, take a float for catching bleak with a larger carrying capacity, that is, 1 g, and a slightly larger hook, for example, No. 16 or even No. 14. Large bleak is best caught on a single large maggot, medium and small specimens - on Pinkies, and very small fish - on bloodworms. If it's hard to get, I use a Berkley plastic imitation, which is the best bait for the smallest bleaks. Berkley also offers artificial small and large maggots, which are also catchable baits.
If there is a flock of nimble silver fish at the fishing site, I immediately attach the first one caught to the hooks of a rig for catching predatory fish right at the feeding site, since predators can appear here very quickly. In this way, while fishing for bleak on a bait rod, I managed to outwit several decent pike, perch and pike-perch.
Judging by my experience, when catching predatory fish, it is worth throwing several balls of bait next to the bait fish so that the small things that gather towards it will attract predators. I have already managed to do this when I caught an eel at night using a small bleak.
Light float rod device
A rod, fishing line, float, sinker, leash and hooks - this is what a float rod with a blind rig consists of.
Rod
The rod should be strong, long, light, elastic and flexible.
The ideal length of a regular fly fishing rod for bleak is 4 m. It is very light and allows you to make casts without wasting any power energy. But when fishing at long ranges, for example, if a large coastal part of your reservoir is covered with grass, choose fishing rods up to 6 meters, but no more, otherwise it will become completely uncomfortable. The material from which the fishing rod is made is carbon fiber, fiberglass or composite. The lightest and most elastic fishing rods are made of carbon fiber (carbon). It is worth remembering only one of their features - you cannot fish with them in a thunderstorm.
Equipment
Equipment is the main component of successful float fishing. Read more about the correct float equipment, and here we will briefly touch on the nuances of the float equipment.
- Fishing line. For catching bleak, we recommend a leash line of up to 0.12 mm, and a main line of 0.16 – 0.18 mm. But a light rig with a thick fishing line cannot be cast far.
- Float. When fishing for bleak, the float should be thin, easily sink into the water when bitten, its upper part should be painted black, yellow, white, pink, or with colored varnish or luminous paint.
- Leash. The leash makes the tackle itself less noticeable for bleaking. The leash is thinner than the main line. When catching bleak, use leashes 0.06-0.08 mm long up to 20 cm.
- Sinkers. When catching bleak, it is advisable to use small pellets strung one after another at a distance of 2-3 mm from each other.
- hooks No. 2.5 according to domestic numbering, so that the bait easily fits into the mouth of a small fish. According to the import classification, hooks No. 16-22 are suitable.
Loading
The float is ideally weighted for catching bleak
The float can be loaded both on the pond and at the time of setting up the equipment at home using a plastic bottle, jar or in the bathtub. The correct loading is at the very beginning of the top of the float. When biting, the fish should not notice strong resistance and the float should quickly sink. Only with such a load is it possible to impart high sensitivity to the entire gear.
Lure
The bait should attract fish: taste and smell, due to which it remains in place for a long time.
There are several ways to feed bleak. Let's look at them in order.
- Making splashes of water. You can simply scoop water into your hand and drop it onto the float. Splashes and splashes attract bleak.
- Creating turbidity around the float. Take clay or soil from the shore and leave it to the float. Bleak loves mud, it looks for bait in it. This is where you offer your hook and bait.
- Feeding with surface solid and crumbly food. More on this later.
Recipe for crumbly fine groundbait:
- For bait you will need bran and crackers, preferably bread crumbs.
- Grind them and mix 1:1. It is good to add a flavor with a light fruity smell to the fertilizer: strawberry, pear, vanilla or dill oil.
- Before starting fishing, add a little water to this mixture, mix everything thoroughly, now it is easy to throw it at the fishing point, it will sink very slowly and attract surface bleak.
In cold water, you can add bloodworms to the bait and catch them with it.
A simple crust of bread can act as a purely superficial solid bait. The main thing is not to throw in too large a piece; a piece the size of a chicken egg is enough. The fact is that the fish eat it for a very long time, and if the piece is too large, it will begin to turn sour in the water, which will have a bad effect on the environment.
About how to fish with a bombard - spinning equipment for catching white fish with artificial and animal baits. Catching large bleak at a great distance from the shore.
Technique for catching bleak near the surface
To catch bleak, we choose a water area so that there are fewer snags, vegetation and nothing distracts from the fishing process. It is better to choose places under trees; there are definitely large numbers of bleak here, waiting for falling leaves or other living creatures.
We start catching bleak with bait, scattering 2-3 handfuls of it at the intended fishing location, forming a feeding point. This is a circle around the float up to 0.5 m. We scatter the bait with wet hands so that it does not stick to our hands. At the same time, we throw the first portion of bait further away, the rest are getting closer to ourselves. We throw the bait in small portions, creating a cloudy column.
In summer, you need to cast the equipment with a depth of 30-40 cm, no more, but in cold water the fish stays at depth and you need to look for it at half-water or from the bottom. Bites can begin immediately if the bait was at the fishing point. But most often it takes up to 5-15 minutes for the flock to approach the place.
It is necessary to increase the frequency of feeding to form a cloudy column of bait, which slowly settles to the bottom. In this case, the bleak usually grabs the nozzle very actively. If there are no bites, then you need to change the nozzle or fishing depth. It is important to determine the level where the bleak is located.
If there is a forced break in fishing, for example, changing equipment, it is unacceptable to interrupt feeding, otherwise the flock may leave. To do this, you can tie a piece of dry bread with cake bait on a rope, which will float on the surface of the water. This is the bleak's favorite treat.
Bleak. Secrets of catching bleak.
Bleak is one of the most common fish in central Russia. This is not a large, silvery fish with a thin body. The size of the bleak is not large and, unfortunately, is becoming smaller every year. Every year, every spring, a whole army of fishermen makes their feasible contribution to the extermination of the bleak population. The average size of a bleak is 12-15 centimeters, but there are pleasant exceptions. During the fishing process, sometimes specimens up to 20 centimeters in size slip through.
To catch bleak you will need a light rod 4-5 meters long. I prefer a spinning reel. With its help, if necessary, you can cast the bait further from the shore. A light rod is necessary for comfortable conditions during fishing, since the bleak bite can last all day. With heavy gear your hands will quickly get tired. For fishing, I use a light match rod with an inertia-free reel. The advantage of such gear is that it is very light, flexible, allows you to fish at a considerable distance from the shore, and the use of thin fishing line gives an unforgettable experience when landing fish.
The bleak is not distinguished by its outstanding dimensions and the main line thicker than 0.12 mm should not be taken. A leash with a diameter of 0.1 or thinner. I advise you not to skimp on fishing line. Here are some tips for choosing fishing line. In the store, inspect the fishing line against the light. There should be no small cracks on it, this is a sign of stale goods. Tie a simple knot in the fishing line. If the fishing line breaks in the knot without force, then you should refuse the purchase, even if the famous brand is indicated on the label.
I use bleak hooks from 18 to 14 numbers according to the international classification, chemically sharpened from thin wire with a ring at the end. You can use hooks with a spatula; they are no worse. The fishing line is especially thin and has the ability to stretch. The line in the knot seems to creep and the knot can come undone over time, leaving you with a funny little spiral. In order to preserve the hook, you need to apply a drop of glue to the knot or leave a slightly larger tail of the fishing line in the knot.
We select floats in accordance with the fishing conditions. If fishing takes place near the shore, then floats with a carrying capacity of up to 0.5 grams in the shape of an inverted drop with a bright antenna are relevant. To cast further from the shore, you need a slightly heavier float. The float is loaded in such a way that only a bright antenna is above the water. In this case, the bleak almost does not feel the weight of the float and actively takes the bait. If the body of the float is above the surface of the water, the float is not fully loaded, you simply will not see a large number of bites.
Bait for catching bleak
As bait for catching bleak, you can use bloodworms, white bread, maggots, and semolina. The active bleak bite occurs at the beginning of May. During this period, the fish willingly eats bloodworms. Apparently the consequences of the long winter are taking their toll. You have to buy maggots with bloodworms, and this is not always convenient. I opted for semolina mash. A properly prepared semolina sits firmly on the hook, withstands more than one bite, especially when you get small things, cuts through well and is always at hand. In my opinion, the chatterbox is unrivaled when catching bleak. Someone might argue that to use semolina, you need to carry a jar with a lid and apply the bait with a small stick. I agree it's inconvenient. I have been using a large 5 cc syringe for a long time. Fill semolina into a syringe and squeeze out the required amount with a piston. We use the plastic base of the needle as a cap for the syringe. The needle itself breaks off and is disposed of. The bait, located in such a case, is convenient to transport and is convenient to place on the hook. Changing the nozzle is done quickly, which is very convenient during the fishing process.
Bleak responds well to bait. The simplest bait option for catching bleak is white breadcrumbs mixed with sand in a ratio of 1 to 2. Our goal is to attract fish to the fishing spot, and not to feed it. During the fishing process, simply throw small portions of bait to the float and the bite will not take long to arrive. Mud and particles of bait attract bleak. Sometimes you can observe how a flock of bleak, attracted by bait, was frightened by something. The water at the fishing spot literally boils from the escaping fish. A beautiful sight. During the fishing process you will need a cloth. Bleak leaves mucus on your hands, which dries out over time. It is more pleasant to fish with clean hands. When fishing for bleak, you should not relax, as this bait can attract large crucian carp, roach, rudd, and quick and sharp hooks will lead to breakage of the tackle and loss of the catch.
Do-it-yourself bait for bleaching
Bleak is caught almost all year round. A small, but active and always hungry fish bites confidently, making it interesting to catch.
For a long time it can be difficult sometimes. An accumulation of bleak always arouses the interest of a predator. Therefore, it often happens that the bleak bite suddenly stops.
in spring
Before you start fishing, you should feed the fishing point in advance. It will take from 10 to 15 minutes for your bait to sink to the bottom in the indicated place, and you prepare your gear for fishing. During this time, the fish will have time to calm down after throwing bait balls into the water and will begin to actively gather near the baited spot on the bottom. To prepare the bait you will need the following. We mix branded bait from companies such as Sensas, Milo, Trabucco with regular “Unikorm” in proportions of approximately 1:1. You can also use just one “Unikorm” without adding branded bait, but then the waiting time for the bait to swell will increase slightly. Additionally, we add attractive dye components to our bait - white, red, and yellow. This finely dispersed substance in the water creates a stable and slowly descending cloud of turbidity, which will subsequently attract fish. To make the effect of this dye as effective as possible, it is best to dilute it in warm water in advance. It is worth adding it at the very end, when all the components of the bait are prepared. It is not possible to throw such bait far, but at a distance of 4-5 meters it will be quite sufficient.
Catching bleak on a garland follow the link.
With your own hands
The bait for bleaking is most often various plant mixtures. Sometimes, to keep it in the fishing zone, it is enough to throw a crust of wheat or rye bread onto the surface of the water. When fishing in a current, the crust should be tied with a fishing line to a weight that is lowered to the bottom. A mixture of oatmeal and breadcrumbs is also good - it creates a cloudy, attractive suspension in the water. There are also a number of baits that are used when catching bleak in different layers of water, including from the bottom. Here are their recipes.
Bait made from steamed cake. To 500 g of breadcrumbs add 250 g of sunflower seeds and hemp grains ground in a food processor. 1 teaspoon dry vanilla. 100 g oatmeal. 100 g milk powder. 250 g of clay or river sand. The mixture is moistened with water to form a dough that can be formed into balls the size of an orange.
Millet porridge with steamed cake. Millet porridge is mixed with steamed cake in a 2:1 ratio. roll the balls and deliver them to the feeding area. You can place the bait in gauze so that, when washed out by the current, it creates a cloud of turbidity that attracts fish. Wheat bait, 300 g of wheat grains are ground in a combine and boiled. The resulting mass is mixed with 150 g of ground corn. Add 150 g of steamed cake, 100 g of flour and milk powder, as well as river sand or coastal clay. The rolled balls are lowered into the fishing area.
You should purchase dry ready-made mixtures specifically designed for catching bleak. This is due to the fact that manufacturers, when making such mixtures, grind and crush all the ingredients very well; when such bait gets into the water, the fish sees only an attractive cloud of turbidity, but does not find large enough particles with which it could be satiated. The food for it will be our bloodworms or maggots on the hook. This explains such frequent re-throwing of the feeder; we must constantly maintain a column of turbidity from the bait in the water column. Bleak is a very curious and voracious fish; it is precisely these properties that manufacturers of mixtures primarily rely on. We show the food, but don’t let it eat; during the fishing process, we constantly stir up its curiosity and throw in a small piece of food, for which a serious fight immediately begins.
There is nothing tricky or complicated in preparing bait for bleak. Perhaps this is the most budget-friendly mixture for picky fish. There is no need to add expensive flavorings, there is also no need for kilograms of bloodworms and liters of maggots, just mix one kilogram of a dry mixture designed specifically for bleaking and you can be sure that you will not leave the pond empty. But in terms of moisture content, this bait should be fundamentally different from all other mixtures designed for catching fish from the bottom. It should be slightly over-moistened, to such an extent that when casting it stays in the feeder, and when it hits the water, it instantly releases from the feeder and begins to slowly sink to the bottom. You need to add water in small portions, and at the final stage of moisturizing, use a spray bottle for precision in achieving the final result.
The spray bottle will also be useful to us during the fishing process, the bait will dry out and we will have to re-moisten it several times. The presence of a living component in the bait must be mandatory, but in minimal quantities, 100 grams will be quite enough. small bloodworms and 100 ml. maggots. They can either be mixed with the finished mixture or delivered to the fishing point using a small slingshot, with a cup for the live component that does not have holes. The last option is the most preferable, although it requires the fisherman to have certain skills in accurately hitting that place where the fishing takes place.
The bait is large bloodworms and maggots, although bleak can also be caught using maggots, pearl barley, small pieces of lard, foam balls, but the best and unsurpassed bait is considered to be a single maggot larva mounted on a thin hook, with one of them you can catch up to 10 fish without losing the quantity and quality of bites.
