Catching taimen with a mouse
Perhaps the most exciting and original among all types of fishing for freshwater predators is catching taimen with a mouse. Taimen is considered the largest fish of the salmon family. Sometimes adult specimens reach a weight of 60-70 kilograms, which in itself makes taimen one of the most coveted trophies. Another interesting fact is that taimen constantly lives in rivers and does not migrate. The main food of adult taimen is various fish and rodents, and the larger the predator, the larger the size of its food.
Namely, rodent-shaped baits, the so-called “mice,” are most popular when catching taimen. The very first of these baits were, naturally, real rodents. Later, fishermen began to use wooden blocks as bait, which were covered with animal skins. This is how the first reusable artificial mice appeared. With the advent of new materials (foam plastic, micropork, etc.), a new era of catching taimen with a mouse began.
In today's version, the mouse is a blank, not much reminiscent of small animals, but it is still an excellent way to catch taimen. The parameters of such a bait are quite simple: length from 10 to 13 centimeters and weight up to 60 grams. The main requirement for a mouse is the ability to leave whiskers on the surface of the water, imitating an animal swimming through the water. Real whiskers, paws and a tail are absolutely optional and, if present, serve rather for the aesthetics of the appearance. To catch trophy taimen, larger baits are used, sometimes more reminiscent of a mole than a mouse.
Catching taimen with a spinning rod is quite difficult. To catch such large fish, you need fairly strong gear. It is better to use a spinning rod of about 2-3 meters with reinforced guides and a reel seat. It is better to choose an inertial or multiplier reel; instead of fishing line, use a braided wear-resistant cord, since taimen prefers a rocky bottom.
Experienced fishermen advise putting a metal leash on the tackle, otherwise the predator can easily bite through even the strongest fishing line or cord.
Taimen are caught using mice mainly at night, but some fishermen talk about good catches in the daytime. In such cases, use white bait. The predator is caught in several ways. The most common of them is moving the mouse in the upper layers of water. At the same time, it is necessary to approach the fishing site extremely quietly so as not to scare away large fish. Step wiring is also used, but it does not give good results with the mouse.
A taimen bite is often a dull blow, but in some situations the fish first crushes its prey with its tail, and then grabs it with its strong mouth. In any case, when pulling strongly, it is necessary to perform an energetic and sharp hook. Immediately after it, the taimen makes a throw, sometimes winding up more than 50 meters of cord at a time. Subsequent throws of the fish are less strong and sharp, but the angler should not relax. It happens that taimen, going deeper, lies at the bottom and rests against stones, and in most such situations the fish comes out victorious.
A tired taimen must be quickly brought to the shore and pulled out using a hook, trying to catch it by the tail of the fish. Anglers who have caught a trophy specimen should continue fishing in a lucky spot, since taimen, especially large ones, never travel alone. Catching taimen with a mouse begins in June, when the fish spawn, and continues until late autumn, and preference is best given to the post-spawning and pre-winter periods.
Fishing for a mouse.
We can only guess how mouse fishing came about. But we know that fishing with mice took place long before the advent of spinners. Perhaps the northern peoples noticed that predatory fish, mostly taimen, eat mice when they cleaned the fish, finding mice in the stomachs of taimen. Or witnessed a successful taimen hunt for a mouse while on the river. Now we can only guess how this type of fishing originated, but one thing is absolutely undeniable - mouse fishing, like 1000 years ago, immerses the fisherman in an absolutely special atmosphere, the exciting action seems to enchant everything around and the mouse soars into the air and falls again and again on the clear surface of a fast mountain river.
What is a mouse and what do you eat it with? A mouse for catching taimen in its simplest design has a rounded cone shape with a hook on one side and a ring for attaching to a leash on the other. Naturally, a mouse for catching taimen must have good buoyancy and not sink after it gets wet. They are usually caught with a mouse at nightfall. To catch taimen, the mouse is thrown a little higher upstream and slowly floated, pulling it towards you so that it moves across the current, imitating an animal swimming across the river. As with any other fishing, it is very important to choose the right place to fish. This can be a rocky reach or a small riffle, preferably with a hole where a red-tailed river leopard can live. It often happens that taimen may not react at all to a spinner or wobbler during the day, but with great pleasure in the evening or at night it takes the mouse. So don’t underestimate mouse fishing - it’s not only very interesting, but also quite effective. At first glance, it seems that it couldn’t be simpler than fishing for a mouse - throw and pull, but not everything is so simple... And there are some tricks here. Taimen does not always immediately attack and swallow bait, especially something like a mouse. Very often, fishermen notice that especially large taimen first hit the mouse with their tail, and only then, when it has lost its orientation and stopped, they grab it and pull it under the water. Therefore, if after casting and leisurely retrieving you hear a pop on the water in the area of your bait, do not rush to hook the fish, wait until the taimen pulls the tackle and only then make a confident hook. While on the river, always experiment, imagine how a living mouse behaves if it has fallen into the water or has consciously decided to cross the river. While wiring, make stops, small twitches, change the speed of wiring, do everything to interest the taimen. Change the baits yourself. Despite the same principle, one mouse can catch, while the other can only scare away fish. Immerse yourself in this process with all your heart and the result will not keep you waiting. A bite on a mouse cannot be confused with anything - it is always an unexpected powerful attack. Taimen really loves the taste of these small but interesting animals and does not want to miss the chance to enjoy such a delicacy. It is also known that taimen eats not only mice, but also squirrels that have fallen into the water, and even muskrats and ducks that, through their stupidity, find themselves in the wrong river at the wrong time. So diversify your fishing arsenal with a large number of mice of different sizes and types, and get ready for sleepless, but very interesting northern nights.
When fishing for taimen, remember that the fish should feel safe. The glare from the fire can easily scare her away. You should also not make too much noise when moving along the shore and shine a flashlight to see the mouse; the taimen will be able to see everything very well. Try to cast to the expected location of the taimen. Taimen are always attracted by slaps, similar to the blow of a fallen mouse hitting the water.
Fishing for taimen caught on a mouse is no fundamentally different from taimen caught on a spoon, except that this whole process takes place at night and sometimes in complete darkness. Here the fisherman must show all his skill and skill. Do not forget that taimen is the king of Siberian rivers and must be treated appropriately. Treat taimen with care and fishing will give you even more pleasure and luck.
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Seasonal lenka fishing
The body shape of the species is similar to whitefish. The color varies from dark brown to light shades; there are dark spots with a golden edging on the sides. The fish has a row of small, sharp teeth. Since this representative of salmon is primarily a predator, the daily diet consists of larvae, fry, insects, mice, frogs, and does not disdain the eggs of other fish.
The peak of activity occurs at the beginning of spring, during the last ice. Catching lenok occurs with vertical lures or jigs. The first option involves the use of a winter fishing rod up to half a meter long, which is equipped with an inertial reel with a line diameter of at least 0.3 mm. A hard nod is installed on the whip, which will signal a bite. Transverse-type models are used as spinners, in which the center of gravity is in the middle. The balancers also perform well.
Fishing with jigs requires delicate equipment. Since lenok reaches an impressive size for a winter trophy, it is not advisable to use a line that is too thin. Jigs are characteristically different from analogues used for peaceful fish and perch - they are larger and made in the form of an insect or larvae. Copper inserts are soldered on top of the lead base, and legs and wings are mounted from threads.
To learn more:
Taimen: a valuable fish of the salmon family
From mid-spring to the end of summer, it is preferable to catch lenka by fly fishing. The rod for this type of fishing has a short handle, which allows you to use the maximum number of retrieves and handle complex types of casts. Artificial flies can be replaced with live counterparts. Fishing with a spinning rod is mainly carried out in the fall, in wide places where the river allows you to cast and hold the bait. Wobblers for lenka are small in size, but they also catch large taimen. The tackle must be strong, with an additional margin of safety, so that in the event of a trophy being bitten, its jerks can be efficiently worked out.
With the first ice, fishermen rush to hunt for the winter predator. In addition to jigs and spinners, float rigs with animal bait are also used on Lenka. In winter, the bite weakens a little, so you will have to carefully examine the water area for the presence of active fish.
"Mouse" with your own hands.
Recently, when writing one of the articles, I mentioned the “mouse” bait. This bait has been used since time immemorial, and has always been considered catchy. Preparing for an autumn pike trip, I’m picking up a gentleman’s set of tackle and I wanted to add this bait to my arsenal.
The shopping trip was disappointing - I didn’t have what I wanted. So I decided to make a “mouse” myself, and at the same time share my manufacturing experience with you.
What we need:
First of all, the material to create the body of the mouse. Most people make mice from wood, but I prefer cork - less problems with getting wet. To make 2 mice you need 1 cork.
To make a skin you need fur. Any. I tore up old winter boots for all the consumables (leather and fur) - they come in handy from time to time 
.
Additionally - a large paperclip, a large double (not for an elephant, but still), 1-2 beads, a flat piece of lead (you can flatten the sinker with a hammer)
Cut the cork lengthwise into two parts.
Lay down half of the cork and cut out a conical groove for inserting a metal base and weight
We cut off a narrow edge from the cut out part so that when inserting the cut out part into place, a cavity is formed.
Now we create a “filling” from a large paper clip and a double. I immediately attached the swivel so as not to have to deal with it later.
In order for the bait to take the correct position in the water and fly further (a cork covered with fur + a tail - God forbid!), we need to load our mouse. To do this, cut out a strip of lead and bend it.
Don't overload! Otherwise, your mouse will float like an ax and you won’t be able to move it correctly. A load of around 5 grams is quite enough, and sometimes even a lot
Now we crimp the lead strip onto the metal base
That's it, the base can be glued. You will end up with something like this:
In principle, you can already catch with this
I want to have something more solid, and therefore I will continue to do so. In order to add attractiveness to the bait, it is worth supplementing it with something that creates vibrations that the pike perceives from a much greater distance than its appearance.
I add a spinner like a rocket bait. The pinwheel is a circle made of tin with blades cut on it. I use 1-2 beads as a bearing. The spinner should begin to rotate at the slightest breath.
Instead of a spinner, you can plant a petal from a rotating spoon, or a tail or two from a twister. Here's who will like what.
We clamp a thin strip of leather on the remaining end of the paperclip, simulating a tail, and our “mouse” is ready to be covered with fur.
After pasting it with fur, we finalize our bait - trim the fur (the shorter it is, the less water it collects). You can glue in an imitation of the rear (rowing) legs from the tails of defective twisters, for example these:
Our “mouse” is ready! It's time for the pike!
What's good about this bait? The fact that it can be guided through the most overgrown “toad grass”. The tips of the hooks pointing upward do not cling to anything.
You need to move the bait slowly, imitating a swimming mouse. Pause when the “mouse” overcomes a water lily leaf, twig, etc. - “the mouse is resting” ))))).
In addition to pike, catfish and taimen are very fond of the mouse. The only thing is don’t use this bait in the middle of large water areas - mice crossing the seas only happen in fairy tales.
Enjoy fishing! No tail, no scales!
Yaroslav Shkryl.
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Hunting for lenok on Lake Baikal
The predator is mainly caught in tributaries, although the species is also common in the lake itself. According to experienced fishermen, in Baikal there are trophy specimens reaching seven and even 8 kilograms in weight. You can only determine the veracity of rumors through your own experience. You should immediately forget about coastal fishing; to move around the water area you will need a boat equipped with a motor.
To learn more:
Ice fishing for perch on Baldu
I would like to note that targeted fishing for lenka is prohibited, so it makes sense to engage in sport fishing, according to the “catch and release” principle. The presence of several individuals in the grayling by-catch allows you to take them with you.
What to use to catch Baikal lenok
All permitted weapons are used. Trophy specimens prefer large bait, so there’s no need to waste time on trifles. Regularly changing the fishing point should be accompanied by a change in the angler’s tactics. Only by picking up the “key” should you count on a worthy trophy. You can experiment with vertical spinners. An onboard fishing rod will come in handy.
Hunting for salmon is a very interesting activity, covering a huge area of water, starting from Transbaikalia, Yenisei and reaching Mongolia. Having visited such a place once, you want to return to it again.
Catching pike with a mouse, baiting a mouse with a pike
By the time the foliage has almost completely fallen, the aggressiveness of predatory freshwater fish reaches the point that they do not miss anything living and move around, viciously grabbing almost everything that is in the lens of their vision.
Thus, this autumn aggressiveness became the reason for the use of the long-known pike fishing with an artificial mouse.
Near steep ravines and hills, various kinds of living creatures, including mice, fall into the water from the rocky shores.
This is where the “mouse” fishing method began, actively used in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. Every year the “mouse” gets more and more fans of night fishing.
In order to prepare a “mouse”, you need to steam a large cork in hot water, as a result of which it is given the shape of a mouse carcass, reaching a length of 4-5 cm with a longitudinal hole for passing a fishing line or leash.
From the edge where the treble hook will be located, the carcass must be loaded with lead so that the bait can be thrown into the distance. The mouse device is not difficult to provide. The cork is covered and lined with some kind of fur. The color of the fur is not particularly important; it can be gray, black or brown.
The fishing line is passed through a cork, onto which a fairly strong tee is suspended, measuring up to 30-35 millimeters. A tee anchor must be used with increased strength, since a large predator can easily break with its jaws simple anchors that are equipped with spinners that are on sale.
They are thrown across the current or a little higher, after which they gradually reel in. The speed of the mouse is of great importance. Thus, reeling at a fast pace creates a powerful wave from the movement of the “mouse” and practically does not bring bites.
It has been noted that fish grabs most often occur when the “mouse” is moving perpendicular to the current and especially at the moment when it moves from a fast current to a quiet section of the reservoir.
In the case of a spinning reel with a drum with a diameter of 100-120 millimeters, it can be considered good to retrieve the bait up to 70 revolutions in one minute. Fishing should begin with the onset of serious twilight and continue almost until dawn.
In particular, fishing on moonlit nights brings pleasure, when at a distance of 30-35 meters you can clearly see how a “mouse” passes through the water, leaving behind “antennae” spreading across the surface of the reservoir.
At the same time, a clear night is not at all necessary - predatory pike has excellent vision.
The bite of a predator on a “mouse” is quite peculiar and is accompanied by a powerful splash of fish. With a blow of its tail, the pike tries to sink the “mouse”, and after that a serious push is applied to the rod, to which you need to respond with an instant hook, not forgetting that the bait is directed at the top and there is no chance of hitting it.
The pike rushes at the “mouse” recklessly, sometimes attacks it several times with its tail and, often, takes after it, landing on the entire tee. So during a bite, a feeling of heaviness appears at the end of the fishing line.
