Rotan (firebrand - rotan, goby) belongs to the firebrand family. It is an aggressive predator, exciting fishing for small fish using a spinning rod.
Fishing for rotan (lat. Perccottus glenii) is becoming increasingly popular. It is an exciting and challenging activity. A lucky fisherman will be able to enjoy the excellent taste of this fish. Large specimens are in particular demand.
In order for catching rotan in the fall to be successful, the fisherman must be well aware of the habits of the fish and the most effective methods of fishing in the autumn.
Habits of autumn rotan
The rotan firebrand loves a variety of foods, but prefers food of animal origin. It is suitable for fry of various fish, insect larvae, worms, and bottom crustaceans. For large rotans, the most attractive delicacy is small fish. Fish usually live in bodies of water with stagnant water, although they can also live where there is a current.
At the beginning of autumn, the fish are very active. She constantly moves throughout the reservoir. A fisherman has a high chance of getting a good catch by casting his gear almost anywhere. When water temperatures drop, fish movements become more restricted.
Atmospheric conditions to a small extent determine the bite. What matters is how hungry the fish is at any given moment. The fish prefers shallow areas with well-developed bottom vegetation. With the onset of cold weather, it usually remains in its original place.
Where to look for the bullhead in the fall
In the autumn, rotan tries to prepare to better endure the difficult winter period. With the onset of cold weather, the fish tries to accumulate as many nutrients as possible so that it has enough strength to wait for the spring warmth.
September rotan
In September, this fish can be caught almost throughout the entire reservoir. At this time, her habits differ little from those in August. Rotan eats all the food it can get. The predator prefers places where there are underwater thickets at relatively shallow depths.
In September, rotan actively consumes fat mass
October
In October, rotan can be found only in certain areas. It no longer moves throughout the entire reservoir. A decrease in water temperature encourages him to spend more time in deep places. At this time, fish activity does not decrease. Zhor is associated with the preparation of the predator for winter.
At this time, food gradually becomes less and less. Hungry fish will be attracted not only by animal baits, but also by artificial ones. When using live bait, you need to take into account that rotan will prefer sedentary or immobilized fish.
Fishing for rotan in late autumn in November
With the onset of November cold, the use of winter gear and bait is effective. Even in extreme cold, fish are able to survive by clustering together to form a tight clump. It can thus remain viable even in an almost completely frozen body of water.
When the pre-winter cold sets in, the fish choose bottom holes where they plan to spend the winter. At the same time, the fish becomes less active and continues to feed on all available types of food. At this time, rotan prefers not to chase prey, but to remain in ambush.
Artificial baits continue to be attractive this month, with whitebait being the best treat. For better attractiveness, you can tie several colored short woolen threads to the bait.
In late autumn, rotan bites well on spinning baits
Fishing for rotan in late autumn in November:
What else affects the goby biting?
To get a good catch, you need to know where you can often find this fish. It can be found in large bodies of water, near dams and bridges on deep rivers, creeks and oxbow lakes, into which water flows during floods.
There is a greater chance of meeting ratan at a depth of more than 2 meters. She likes the presence of running water or underwater springs, as well as places with rich vegetation. Casting is done at the borders of underwater thickets, next to snags and fallen tree trunks.
The firebrand loves the depths
What does rotan bite on in the fall - what baits and baits are used for the autumn goby?
This fish is a schooling fish. If you make bait, you will be able to attract many specimens at once. It will keep the fish in the fishing zone for a long time. To prepare you need to do the following:
- They dig for a worm.
- It needs to be finely chopped.
- They take land from the reservoir where fishing will take place.
- It needs to be finely sifted.
- Make balls from a mixture of earth and pieces of worms.
To enhance the effect, it is recommended to add attractants with a meat smell. Some additionally add crumbs from rye crackers to the mixture. Feeding can attract not only the predator, but also the fry. The latter are a delicacy for rotans.
This fish is considered a pronounced predator. You can offer her the following as bait:
- Rotan feeds on insects that live in the area of this reservoir . For example, grasshoppers, flies, gadflies and other varieties are suitable for it.
- In October and November, the predator is especially willing to go for bloodworms, worms and maggots.
- Rotan goes well with pieces of chicken skin, meat, lard, and fish . To use them as bait, you need to take small pieces.
- Fry are a particularly tasty delicacy .
- Snails, shells or leeches are also suitable for a predator . Experienced fishermen recommend using grape snail , claiming that it is a delicacy for rotan.
Almost any bait of animal origin can arouse strong interest in this fish.
Description and origin of rotan
The fish is characterized by incredible survival.
It easily tolerates any uncomfortable situations, such as drying out and freezing of the reservoir down to the bottom, when its flocks gather in a ball or grow into the ice, surviving until spring. Being a hungry predator, rotan poses a real threat to the ecosystem of the reservoir. Its fry massively destroy small mollusks and plankton, and as they grow older, they begin to destroy eggs and their own kind. And if such a predator appears in a small pond, it can completely destroy the entire fish resource. The length of an adult individual is approximately 25 centimeters, although at present such “giants” are practically never found. Phenomenal activity is observed at any time of the year, but winter fishing for rotan is considered the most interesting and productive.
When exactly such a unique predator appeared in European reservoirs is still unknown, but the fact is that rotan has long been a familiar aquatic inhabitant, just like crucian carp with roach or perch with pike perch. There is an opinion that the fish was brought from the Far East through aquariums: initially it was grown for decorative purposes, but somehow the offspring ended up in open water. When they hooked such an interesting fish, the fishermen were surprised and did not know what kind of species it was.
If you look at the external signs of rotan, it becomes clear why it was called firebrand. The fish has a large head, and the body tapers toward the tail. The color of individuals varies depending on the color of the bottom of the reservoir. The darkest tones are present on the back. The sides and belly are yellowish. Before spawning, the color of the scales also changes, and the fish becomes almost black.
Among the key features of origin and life cycle are the following:
- The Amur River basin is considered to be the birthplace of rotan. But in addition to the Far East of the Russian Federation, it is also found in China and Korea.
- Under favorable conditions, it grows up to 1 kilogram or even more, but such individuals are extremely rarely caught on a hook. The standard size of the fish does not exceed the size of the palm.
- Rotans migrate in two ways. The first is intentional human relocation. The second is by natural means, when the eggs are carried by birds.
- Due to its great gluttony, rotan is capable of literally exterminating other species of fish in small ponds and enclosed reservoirs, therefore it is often destroyed, classified as a mass pest.
- In rare cases, perch and crucian carp live in a reservoir with rotan, although over time this predator destroys their population.
- Rotan belongs to the order Perciformes and the suborder Gobiidae. The presence of a huge mouth with many sharp teeth allows it to swallow large prey.
Read Fishing for crucian carp with a side nod in the summer: choosing a nod, a jig and a place for fishing
https://youtube.com/watch?v=XD8xtENP7bk
How to catch a large rotan using a spinning rod in the fall
When fishing for rotan, a small inertia or inertia-free reel is used. The thickness of the fishing line is 0.12-0.14 mm. The spinning reel should have a size of 2000-3000.
It is recommended that the gear ratio be 5.5. The leash is chosen in such a way that the breaking strength is no more than 75% of the main line. This will help minimize hooking losses.
When choosing a fishing rod, you need to remember that the rod should have a fast or ultra-fast action.
Build the form
When biting, the hook must be done firmly. In this case, you can be sure that the hook will pierce the rigid jaw of the rotan.
Fishing for rotan using a spinning rod
The speed of the retrieve and the amplitude of the oscillations are selected taking into account the activity of the fish during this period.
When fishing with live bait, you need to make sure that it does not rise above 25 cm from the bottom. Using a jig requires active play to attract fish.
Spinning fishing is used from the shore or from a boat. Since rotan lives among underwater vegetation, care must be taken to reduce the risk of the gear getting caught when retrieving.
The predator is not embarrassed by the power of the gear. This makes it possible to do it with a margin of safety.
You can get a good catch using artificial baits. The most popular are twisters, silicone worms and slugs.
Worms and leeches on micro jig baits
It is believed that one of the most successful options is pinwheels with a small petal.
You can use small minnow-type wobblers.
A rod 2.1-2.4 meters long with 9 grams of dough is suitable for fishing.
Of the retrieves, the most effective ones were shown: stepwise with a small step and dragging the bait along the bottom. For fishing, you can use not only the classic version of the tackle, but also, for example, a retractable leash.
Catching rotan in the fall with a spinning rod - video review from the shore of a reservoir:
Do-it-yourself spinner for rotan
If you are a true fishing enthusiast, then it will not be difficult for you, and even on the contrary, it will give you great pleasure to make a spinner for rotan with your own hands. This is the best method to spend your time waiting for the season on something related to your favorite hobby.
To make a spinner for catching rotan, you will need the following materials: a piece of non-rigid metal sheet; sandpaper; scissors; alcohol marker; hook with a large hook; soldering iron with acid and solder; awl; pliers; file.
The process begins by marking a sheet of brass, from which rectangular sections are cut. Then the outline of the future spinner is outlined and the blank is cut out. To make bending the plate easier, a line is drawn on the back side of it with an awl. Next, the fold is made accordingly. When the metal is soft and not thick, this will not be difficult to do. If the metal is hard and thick, you will need a hammer and a vice to bend it. After heating the soldering iron in advance, the workpiece is serviced along with the hook. Then the spinner is coated with tin. The longest stage during the production of a spoon is its grinding and smoothing. So, the spinner is made. The result will delight you not only with its handmade work, but will also bring a lot of pleasure when catching rotan, namely, from the fact that it is “your own” spinner.
Read Catching sabrefish
I would like to hope that our recommendations will be useful in your fishing for rotan with a spinner and will bring you many pleasant experiences!
Catching rotan in the fall using other gear
This predator is known for its activity in the autumn. To catch it, various types of gear are used. One of the most popular is the float fishing rod.
Donka
Various options can be used as a donkey. One of the simplest is a reel on which a cord with a sinker and a hook is wound. The tackle is thrown and secured on the shore among bushes, trees or their roots.
Classic snack
Usually several casts are made simultaneously. Animal baits, mainly worms, are used to attract fish. It can be planted whole, like an accordion, or you can take pieces for this. This bait attracts predators not only with its appearance, but also with its smell.
Feeder fishing for rattan
When using feeder gear, paternoster equipment is more often used, which has shown its effectiveness.
Feeder installation Paternoster
A mixture of earth and animal baits is used as a bait mixture. You can add rye crackers to them. To attract fish, it is recommended to move the tackle along the bottom several times. Rotan pecks more often in between movements.
Float tackle for fishing
A float rod is often used to catch rotan. To get a good catch, it is recommended to use bait of animal origin. For this, worms or pieces of meat, pieces of chicken, shells, and caddis flies are often used.
To increase the chances of a bite, it is recommended to keep the bait near the bottom. When fishing, the method of play used is important.
Catching large rotan in autumn in September using a float rod:
Fishing in the wire
To fish in this way, stepwise wiring is used. First, they wait until the weight sinks to the bottom. Then they make several turns of the coil, after which there is a pause. Such actions are repeated several times. Rotan reacts more often during a pause.
During wiring, it is useful to play an additional game, which helps to attract the predator. A fisherman, for example, can periodically make additional lateral movements. Sometimes the style of movement can be changed to find the most effective option.
The use of a side nod with a carbon fiber rod is also common. The length of the form must be 5 meters. The game is played at extreme depth, near the bottom.
Fishing rod with a nod for catching rotan
Game for catching rotan
No special gaming techniques are required when catching rotans. Having lowered the spoon to the bottom, it is then raised by 10-15 cm, then the end of the rod is swung upward, throwing the spoon in the water column by 15-20 cm. Immediately lowering the rod whip to the starting point, they wait for the end of the damped oscillations of the bait. Then the cycle is repeated again.
You can somewhat diversify the game of the bait with fairly active twitches (similar to jigs, but with greater amplitude) 10-15 cm near the bottom, then pause for 5-7 seconds. Often the rotan, as they say, is “driven” by these vibrations better than by the “classic” game, and grabs the bait right during the game, without waiting for a pause.
Perhaps playing with greater intensity provokes an attack by rotan precisely because of the competitive struggle that occurs in reservoirs densely populated by rotan, where reaction speed and attack speed are one of the most important factors of survival.
The difference in fishing in early and late autumn
In September the fish are very active. For fishing, it is best to use various types of animal bait. Amphipods, fry, crustaceans or other inhabitants of water bodies are suitable for predators.
Small maggots, pieces of worms or other types of bait made from various inhabitants of reservoirs are also suitable.
In early autumn, the predator prefers to hunt alone, but at the end of autumn it already gathers in flocks.
With the onset of the first frosts, the fish go deeper, concentrating where there are wintering pits.
Now in order to get a good catch, you need to find these places. If the fisherman succeeds, he will be able to successfully fish in this place.
Tips and secrets
The weak point of rotans is their curiosity. As you know, they love to swim among underwater vegetation. If you tear out several bushes, a free space will appear, which will immediately attract several curious rotans. Another similar option to attract attention is to arm yourself with a long stick and move the underwater thickets.
When creating bait for a predator, you need to remember that it is mainly attracted by the presence of a protein component.
As bait, you can throw earthen balls stuffed with pieces of worms or other types of food attractive to predators. Throwing bait in feeders is also used.
Fishing for rotan on the first ice is common. Often the reservoirs where this fish lives are the first to freeze at the end of autumn. At this time, all the other fish leave here. Such fishing spots are often located within city limits and are well suited for those who cannot find time for a long trip.
Bait for fishing on rotan in winter
The use of bait is justified when fishing occurs from one hole. The constant movement of a fisherman across a body of water does not require additional techniques.
For feeding, bloodworms or minced meat made from lean meat are used.
Bait for small rotan when fishing from ice in winter is not suitable for active fishing. It makes sense to pour it into the hole only if you do not plan to move on the ice.
Typically, fishermen get by by attracting fish by the game of bait, the look or taste and smell of the bait. The meat of rotan itself is also used as bait.
Many people believe that catching rotan is neither interesting nor sporting. In winter, and especially on the first ice, this is definitely not the case. And even in the dead of winter, when the fish are so passive that there is no point in going to the reservoir, the chances of catching rotan are much higher than roach, perch or bream.
