Fishing for asp on small rivers

What does the asp bite on?

Since this is a predator, it can be caught with any spoon of suitable size. Among the baits that can catch an asp are:

Jigs

Basically, such baits resemble a piece of metal that shines brightly in the water column and attracts predators with its play. The best models are the Renegelle Iron Minnow and the famous Kastmaster jigs.

Wobblers

Among the wobblers that can provoke an asp to attack, one can note the so-called cranks, characterized by active play. All baits are about 8 grams. Despite its light weight and size, it can catch a large predator. For this purpose you can use:

• Ever Greon Wildhunch SR 10g.
• Imakatsu Crank IK-180 13g.
• Lucky Croft LC 2.5 DRS 16g.

Rotating spoons

An asp may give preference to a number 1 or 3 rotating spoon, if the latter are made of high quality and do not act false in the water. As a rule, these are branded spinners, but not cheap copies.

Devons

A spinner of an original design, which was originally designed for salmon fishing, but was successfully used for asp fishing. According to asp hunters, he prefers small and medium-sized Devons.

Tackle

The general equipment depends on how we fish. The most popular gear for asp fishing is a spinning rod and a float rod.

Spinning

You can catch asp with a spinning rod all summer long. Depending on the size and topography of the reservoir, it is possible to catch a sheresper from the shore, but more often they go out to hunt for it by boat. This provides some benefits to the angler. A sharp-sighted asp is not so afraid of a foreign object located on the water. But when he sees a human figure on the shore, he will prefer to move to another place. For this reason, on a boat you can get much closer to the hunting river pirate and in this case a particularly long spinning rod is not required. A 2–2.5 meter long stick with a spinning reel and a good set of baits and spinners will ensure exciting and productive fishing on the Volga, the Dnieper, and in Europe. Monoline and braid work equally well, so this choice is a matter of personal preference.

When fishing from the shore, you will need a rod 2.5–3 meters long, because you will have to cast the lure at least 60 meters. Although, if you have experience, it is quite possible to use the tactic of floating the bait to the desired location. This trick, of course, will not work with spinners, but with some types of wobblers, walkers, poppers and flies it is quite effective. The bait is cast a little downstream and floated on an open reel to the asp’s camp. The method requires very precise casting and even more precise calculation of the current, which should bring the bait right under the nose of the shereper.

Float tackle

This method of catching asp is most effective in the spring, when cockchafers, dragonflies and other insects fall from tree branches and bushes into the water. And you need to catch sheresper in precisely such places. Firstly, you can camouflage yourself well on the shore among the same bushes and carefully float the bait directly under the branches. Secondly, you can collect bait right here.

Read How to deliciously salt red fish

The length of the rod directly depends on the fishing location, but it is better not to take anything shorter than 3.5 meters. There is also no need to use a fishing line thicker than 0.3 mm. The asp will see her and will never dare to attack. You can use cockchafers, grasshoppers, dragonflies, other large insects and even small frogs as bait.

Lures for asp fishing

Fly fishing

This method is more used in Europe - there the traditions of fly fishing go back hundreds of years. On the territory of Russia it has not taken root very well, but our craftsmen and inventors have learned well how to use flies in the same tackle with spinners.

Tackle designed specifically for asp fishing

Installation of the gear is quite simple. A fly, or even two, is tied to the fishing line above the spoon. This makes casting a little more difficult, but the catchability of such gear, additionally equipped with a fly, increases significantly.

With a bombard on an asp

The most effective bait when catching asp is considered to be a bombarda. It was used for fishing for trout or salmon in mountain rivers, but then they began to use it as bait when fishing for asp.

To make a bombard, you need a spinning rod about 3 meters long, equipped with a good reel with good fishing line. A reliable and durable braided fishing line is best suited for this, with which you can cast the bait far and accurately.

The bait is based on a plastic tube with a hole through which the main fishing line is pulled. This floating tackle is similar to a float, but differs in that it can be cast very far. The tackle must be buoyant, capable of holding the bait even in strong currents. To attract asp, the “float” is equipped with small baits - turbines that do not twist the tackle like rotating spoons. It is also impossible to use other baits, for example, wobblers, since they cannot be cast far.

You can learn how to make a bombard correctly by watching the video:

The asp's bite can be strong and resembles a sharp blow. As a rule, at the moment of a bite, the asp jumps out of the water.

Asp of small rivers

Asp has long been one of the most interesting objects for fishing with artificial bait. Fishing for asp in small rivers is especially exciting, but at the same time difficult.

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To some extent, such fishing is even considered intellectual. As a rule, asps are caught throughout the open water season, starting from the second half of April and almost until freeze-up. Spring

But in early spring, unlike the summer season, the fisherman has a much better chance of catching a truly trophy asp.

Features of spring fishing for asp

due to its spawning period. It usually occurs in mid-April, when the water warms up to 9-10 degrees.

Large individuals prefer not to hunt in their usual places before spawning. At this time, the large asp is exhausted after winter starvation and is unable to chase the nimble bleak and other small things. At this time, the asp moves to the spawning sites and looks for places with a gentle current and good oxygen saturation. At this time, sheresper can be found at medium depths near the bottom, in small pools near rifts, as well as on the border of last year’s reeds, where there is a depth of 3 m or more.

Particularly promising are places where river beds are divided by small islands and shoals, at the outlets of narrow river channels into larger areas. Basically, when catching asp on rigs, leashes are not used, but in early spring, in the places indicated above, a spotted predator is often present. Therefore, it makes sense to equip the tackle with leashes, then the chance of losing the bait will be greatly reduced.

Fishing for asp on small rivers in April

can occur on both spinners and jig baits. Turntables perform well, but fishing should take place near the bottom, and the baits should be pre-loaded. Spoon baits for catching pike perch and pike also work well on asp. First of all, these are “Queen” or “Master” type oscillators. You can also use “Kastmaster”, which is used to fish the upper layers of water in the summer. However, in early spring, depending on the strength of the current, its weight will have to be increased, in some cases even more than 30 g. Since the spinner in the spring should be carried out as close as possible to the bottom surface. In principle, this applies to all types of spinners. Light baits will be effective in warmer seasons.

Tackle

Taking into account the strength, power, and surprise of the sheresper's bite, as well as its active resistance during fishing, and the high chances of catching a large individual, it is necessary to select a powerful spinning rod for catching this fish with a dough of approximately 15-40 g, a length of 2.7- 3 m, with a rigid system. It is better if the main line consists of a braided cord rather than monofilament. The cross-section of the cord can be in the range of 0.14-0.18 mm. Braided fishing line, unlike monofilament, does not provide shock absorption when fishing, and this in turn prevents the prey from leaving. As for the reel, most often they have a spool size from 2500 to 3000. Now, as for the wiring. If in summer fast and energetic fishing is preferable, then in spring, especially early, asp fishing in small rivers

It is carried out on a uniform slow retrieve at the very bottom.

During this period, fishing can begin at dawn and end at sunset with short intervals between bites. According to experienced spinning anglers, the largest asp in the spring bites in April in the most inclement weather, when it is raining with snow and cold outside.

Of course, fishing for asp in the spring

incomparable pleasure. Every angler who has had to catch this fish in the spring knows this. The behavior of this fish is incomparable to the behavior of any other fish caught on the bait of an angler. The asp is capable of doing such things that even salmon find it difficult to compete with him.

Summer

After the flood, when the water has become clearer, the asp becomes more predictable, but this does not make catching it any easier. Now the asp does not suffer from hunger as in the pre-spawning time and becomes much more picky about the supply of bait and the bait itself. The transparency of the water also serves as a disservice; now, when searching for asp places and catching asp, camouflage and caution of the fisherman play a very important role.

To fish in small rivers in the summer for asp,

was successful, you need to look for this fish early in the morning in places of rapids. It’s quite good if fog spreads over the river and along the shore, then the asp is not so careful, and it is much easier to reach the camping and hunting areas without spooking the fish. The fact that the asp is located in this particular place can be determined by powerful splashes. The best time to catch asp is when the sky in the East turns gray and before the first rays of sun appear.

You should approach the fishing spot unnoticed from behind the bushes. Some particularly careful fishermen even reach such a place on their bellies. You can also use any possible shelters, bushes, trees, rocks, large stones for camouflage. When the sun rises, it is extremely rare to deceive a cautious asp on the rifts. At such times, you should move to other places, preferably under cliffs. After dawn, you should look for asps near holes located above or below the rifts. Due to the fact that on the rifts the asp fight can last throughout the day. But usually such fights are arranged by small asps.

As for the large asp, it comes out to the riffles only in the pre-dawn time or almost at dusk, almost at sunset. The rest of the time, large individuals stay near bushes overhanging the water, near the reverse current, under cliffs in small bays that sharply cut into the shore. Under the cliffs you can track large individuals by their splashes. However, they are not as powerful and sonorous as on rapids. This is where you can catch large asp in the mornings and late afternoons. When fishing this way, you need to use inconspicuous and as delicate tackle as possible; it is better to change the cord to a thin transparent fishing line.

Catching asp on riffles in small rivers

It is more preferable to use a thin cord, it is capable of providing longer casts, while at a long distance the resistance of the asp is, as a rule, more powerful than that of cliffs at a short distance. Also, experienced asp hunters recommend having polarized glasses with you, this will help you better navigate the surface of the water and pinpoint the location of potential prey. Moreover, on small rivers such an attribute is not only not superfluous, but is often even necessary.

The most important thing when catching asp is knowledge of the habits of this fish, and of course persistence.

Happy fishing!

On an asp with a snag

After trying all the available baits, including unique ones, you can try using a decoy, since he doesn’t want to take real baits.

To do this, you need to take a fishing line with a thickness of 0.3 mm, a 15-centimeter leash and a spinner. The leashes are tied to the main fishing line, which will serve in the future for installing the bait. Then hooks No. 12 or No. 14 with a long shank are taken and wrapped in foil, after which the foil is fixed to the hook with threads or thin wire. As a result, small shiny objects are obtained that resemble moving fry in the water. The finished “spinners” are tied to leashes, and an oscillating spoon is mounted to the end of the main line, which will subsequently play the role of a predator chasing the fry. In most cases, the asp rushes to intercept the prey and attacks the decoy.

To catch asp, you can use the Kosmaster spinner, which has a number of advantages. This spinner has nothing superfluous in its design that would interfere with casting it over a long distance. It can be successfully used when installing such equipment.

Fishing technique

After you have found the possible location of the asp and seen its “fight”, you should be very careful so that the fish does not notice you and leave, therefore, when fishing, long-distance casting tactics are usually used.
The bait is not thrown at the exact location of the asp, but in the direction of its movement, so you need to be able to throw the tackle accurately and far. During the fishing period, it is important to hold the fishing rod tightly, since when biting the asp can simply pull it out of your hands. No less important is the timely cutting

Here only experience can help a fisherman. Wiring speed may vary. In case of strong currents and active behavior of the asp, they use fast retrieval of the bait, imitating the movements of the fry, and in calm waters they reel in slowly.

Important! A timid asp swims away if it notices a person or a boat or hears outside noises, so fishermen should wear protective clothing and quietly hide in the thickets near the river, and do not throw bait too close to the place where the fish are splashing.

Features of fishing at different times of the year

The behavior of the asp is somewhat different in different seasons. In warm times, it swims close to the surface, and in the fall it sinks to the bottom. Dietary preferences are also changing.

In early spring, before spawning, the asp is still at the bottom of reservoirs, in holes or pools, so they use gear for bottom fishing: jig equipment, sinking wobblers. But at the end of April - beginning of May, the emaciated predator begins to have a post-spawning glutton, and it rushes to any bait.

Around mid-April, spawning begins, lasting 2–3 weeks. During this period, it is useless to catch asps.

In spring, it is better to look for asp on large rivers. During this period it behaves inactively, without splashes, so you should choose possible locations for its location (at the border of currents, behind snags and boulders) and cast behind them, and then gradually pull the bait. In spring it can only be caught in medium and large rivers. At the end of May - beginning of summer, a massive emergence of insects occurs, so May beetles and other insects and their larvae can be used as bait.

Did you know? The asp can grow up to 1.2 m long and weigh 12 kg. Its life expectancy is up to 15 years.

In summer, asp can also be caught in small rivers near banks with vegetation or snags.

During periods of bad weather, the sheresper will sink to the bottom, so a sinking wobbler is used as bait for bottom fishing with steps.

In autumn, the asp increasingly sinks to the bottom, and jig equipment is used. In areas where September is warm, you can still catch it in the same way as in the summer, but set aside afternoon time for this. In October, the water has already cooled down, and they fish along the bottom. In winter, the asp goes into deep holes, and catching it is a waste of time.

How to catch asp in the current

The asp is a very cautious fish and is not easy to catch. If it notices a boat or a person, it immediately swims away, so when catching this timid predator, special tactics are used

It is better not to swim closer than 50 m by boat to the asp’s supposed habitat, and then the bait is slowly floated out. Choose a place upstream.

This rule also applies when fishing from the shore. You just need to choose a place where the current will definitely carry the bait to the noticed location of the predator. This is fishing from bridges and walkways, capes and other protruding parts of the coast. The bait is cast to where the fish was seen splashing, and then slowly pulled back. The asp, noticing such “prey”, immediately pounces on the bait. This fish is not pulled out immediately; it must first be forced to become exhausted. During the current, fishing with a boat is also a good method.

Important! Often, when catching asp, they choose places with a current, when water currents carry bait.

Catching asp from a boat

Having a boat for a fisherman makes fishing more versatile and complete. They catch a predator while the boat is moving - trolling. Using this more modern technique, when the fisherman does not expend any special effort, you can catch any predator, including asp. When focusing on catching asp, you should equip your spinning rod with strong fishing line and have catchy wobblers in your arsenal.

Many spinning anglers these days can boast of having an echo sounder, which facilitates the fishing process, namely, it helps the fisherman locate fish locations.

Rapala wobblers have proven themselves well when fishing for asp. Such instances are:

• Down Deep Fat Rap;
• Risto Rap;
• Deep Tail Dancer.

These are high-quality baits with a modern action and in appearance they resemble the fry of the fish that the asp feeds on. They are mounted at the end of the fishing line using a 15-20 centimeter leash. Having discovered an asp site using an echo sounder, you can cast and move the wobbler into the water column at a slow speed. Having determined the bite, it is advisable to make a hook so that the asp does not escape. According to spinners, the fish is strong and resists to the last strength, so you should be very careful and, if necessary, loosen the clutch.

The right choice of gear

When going on a hunt for asp, you should not forget that this is a strong and wonderful fish, which is typical for all cyprinids, so you need the appropriate gear. Also, you will need to make long casts, and for this you also need a wonderful spinning rod.

Based on this, a long-range and durable spinning rod will be useful.

It is better to take monofilament fishing line, which has more preferable characteristics for long casts. It stretches, so it can help in dampening the jerks of this wonderful fish.

When fishing for asp, it is possible to use the same gear as when fishing for pike perch near the coastal area. An inertia-free reel will allow you to more effectively fight the resistance of a strong predator.

A simple float rod can also successfully catch asp, but this requires a thick and strong fishing line. Unfortunately, a thick fishing line can alarm the asp, which reduces the chances of capture. Also, with a simple fishing rod it is unlikely that you will be able to pull out a trophy fish without trouble.

Asp on a bottom fishing rod

A bottom fishing rod is a universal tackle that allows you to catch any fish, including predatory ones. The asp is a cautious fish and the tackle should be equipped with the thinnest line possible that can withstand the blows of the asp. A leash with several hooks is tied to the end of the fishing line. As a rule, the length of the leash is within 1 meter. A heavy sinker should be attached to the end of the fishing line, which could hold the tackle in one place in a strong current. To rig a leash, you can use No. 8 hooks with a long shank.

Live bait, a small live fish, is used as bait. To do this, you can use fish such as bleak, small roach, redfish, etc. In order for the live bait to remain mobile for a long time, it is placed on the hook very carefully and in certain places. The most common location is around the top fin or behind the lip. The presence of not one, but several live bait quickly attracts a predator, and it begins to attack them. You should react to bites very quickly so that the asp does not escape.

Asp for spinning bait

Asp can be actively caught using spinning baits: vibrotails, twisters, worms, etc. When fishing for asp, it is important to find parking areas that are also hunting areas for asp. Silicone baits are the only baits that more realistically imitate the movements of the inhabitants of the aquatic world, and therefore there is a better chance of catching an asp with a silicone bait than with any other.

Asp diet

Because the asp has no teeth, his hunt for his prey has some peculiarities. The asp gets its food by stunning its potential prey. It looks like this:

• The asp finds a school of small fish and jumps out of the water, after which it just as quickly falls into the water.
• This impact with the water is enough for some of the fish to freeze in surprise. This moment is enough for the predator to get part of the small fish into the asp’s mouth.

In most cases, the diet consists only of small fish, such as redfish, rudd, sabrefish, etc.

A small asp, not reaching a size of 35 cm, does not yet have the opportunity to hunt small fish; therefore, it feeds mostly on insects, their larvae, worms and crustaceans.

But this applies not only to small individuals, but also to an adult asp, which has weakened at the end of the spawning process or due to a lack of basic food, the fish begins to feed on insects, small frogs and crustaceans.

At the end of spawning, the asp can be easily caught using bottom tackle. But such fishing does not bring pleasure to the angler, because he actually does not resist once he gets hooked. At the end of spawning, the asp becomes very weak. This is partly due to the fact that they engage in duels to compete for the right to fertilize the eggs.

In most cases, this predator hunts both in the middle and upper layers of water, which indicates that it belongs to pelagic ichthyophages.

Tips for beginner spinners

Asp is a strong fish that lives in rivers and prefers fast currents, flooded spits and riffles.
He hunts in the upper layers of reservoirs, often going out to the shallows, where he chases fry. Its place of residence can be detected by the characteristic blows heard on the surface of the water. Having found an asp, you can start catching it by casting a spinning rod with bait. As experience shows, an asp will not take bait if he sees a fisherman on the shore: his eyesight is excellent. Many spinning anglers camouflage themselves in bushes, which is not very convenient. In addition, there may be snags that negatively affect the entire fishing experience. The most effective fishing for asp is fishing with live bait. The advantage of this fishing technique is that you can cast a “donka” and move away from the shore so as not to alert the asp. When he doesn't see anything suspicious, he can take the bait without any problems, and the bell will give a signal indicating a bite.

Very often, asps are caught using precise long-range casting. It is carried out to the place where the asp is currently hunting. This technique requires great skill and patience, when a spinning angler can be in ambush for more than one hour, studying the route of the asp’s movement. In this case, you should catch the moment of attack when it literally jumps out of the water. At this moment, he can grab the bait, mistaking it for a fry. When going fishing, do not forget about the current fishing bans that apply in the spring, the spawning period of all types of fish, including asp. We should not forget that many methods have been developed to catch fish that can cause damage to fisheries. When going fishing, you should think not about how to catch more fish, but about how to enjoy fishing and organize a wonderful vacation. It is advisable to use only legal means for fishing that will not catch all the fish, especially small ones.

Habitats

The asp lives mainly in rivers. However, sometimes it can be found in deep backwaters, quarries and small lakes connected to the river. The predator comes there for food. In our country, it is widespread in water bodies in the middle zone. It is actively caught on such southern rivers as the Don and Kuban.

Of all the rivers, Sheresper prefers to settle in those where there is a solid bottom and a decent current. It does not like it in reservoirs with a silted bottom and a lot of aquatic vegetation.

You can understand that there is definitely an asp in the river by the following signs:

• The reservoir has rocky shallows and riffles, as well as spits with a bottom of hard sand.
• The banks of the river are steep.
• Strong downward current.
• There is a large amount of driftwood on the hard bottom.
• Trees and bushes hang over the river or have partially fallen into the water.

Asp is also found in large lakes and reservoirs, if there is a current there.

In small rivers this fish always hunts alone. At the same time, she ambushes her prey near trees hanging over the water, near riffles and snags.

Sheresper is a diurnal predator, so it is best to catch it during daylight hours. At night, the asp goes to the bottom, where it does not respond to bait.

All summer the fish stays mainly near the surface of the reservoir. By the beginning of October, it moves to areas of the reservoir with a calmer current and tries to stay closer to the bottom.

In winter, the asp hides in holes and pools. It rises to the surface only in early May and begins to bite on any bait.

The benefits of camouflage

There are two most important points in catching asp - the correct selection of bait and camouflage of the fisherman, hiding him from the watchful eyes of this cautious fish. Of course, ideally it would be good to meet the two components of success. But it’s not necessary either - by focusing on one thing, you can really end up with a good catch. Let's say, if a specific bait here and now is very interesting to a fairly active asp, then he will almost certainly grab it, even if he clearly sees the angler. Another thing is that it is not easy to find a suitable bait, or it is not available. In any case, numerous conversations specifically about the catchability of specific baits are often tied to the desire not to bother too much with particularly careful camouflage, which reduces the convenience and quality of fishing. At the same time, there is a radically different approach to asp fishing - maximum attention to camouflage, and then the value of the bait itself drops significantly. This is confirmed by the experience of gherfish fishermen, who have literally a couple of working universal baits in their arsenal, but these spinners know how to hide well from fish on an overgrown bank or have developed good technical skills in fishing, staying at a great distance from the water’s edge. But there is another, simplest, and therefore progressive method of camouflage - wading asp fishing, which is actively practiced by some fishermen. On any asp river, in areas where wading is possible, this is the most promising topic, and the chance of a bite increases many times, regardless of the bait used. And it is not so important how far from the shore you can go into the water, the main thing is how deep. The ideal option is waist-deep, so a wading suit is more useful than high boots, in which you can’t step above the knee, and then the asp takes it even at distances of 10-15 m from the angler. The effectiveness of the wading asp spinning rod is also evidenced by the fact that many people do not really like wading, but are forced to catch large asp this way. And there are some spinning anglers who cannot be kicked out of the water from early spring until late autumn, and they are comfortable and attract excellent fish, and not only asps, but absolutely any predator.

Fishing with reelless jigs

Soft baits for large perch

Do-it-yourself approach to bream

Lures for asp fishing

Asp is a fish that is unpretentious and conservative in relation to the types of bait. The list of baits that will catch him well can be long. Among their variety, the most popular among fishermen are artificial baits: castmaster, devon, triangular, wobblers.

Basic requirements for such baits:

• must have an elongated and narrow profile;
• be small in size;
• in free fall with pauses in the drive, have a bright game;
• have an intermittent shine.

A bait that meets these requirements will help the fisherman make long and accurate casts and will go deep even in strong winds and currents.

Devonian

To successfully catch asp in the Devonian, this bait must successfully combine ease of rotation, weight and compactness. This is a universal bait and is intended for catching not only asp, but also many other predatory fish that live in all layers of water.

In its form it happens:

• flat;
• round;
• facet prominent;
• cigar-shaped with blades on the sides.

With the correct lining technique, the Devon works well both in current and in still water.

Such baits have a significant mass and do not require sinkers to be attached to them, since the material for their manufacture is heavy metals (mainly lead).

Although you can also find Devon made of plastic, in this case it is necessary to attach a heavy sinker to it.

The weight and shape of the Devon allows the angler to make precise casts over a considerable distance. Once in the water, it begins to rotate immediately after it begins to reel in, thereby attracting fish.

The rapid rotation of its blades creates a strong sound of water, which makes the fish swim for the bait.

The speed of its rotation is affected by the shape, size and angle of the blades. When catching asp, they use a demon with a blade angle of 45-50 C, no more than 10 cm long and up to 3 cm wide.

They have a variety of colors, but Devons of golden and silver color are more common.

Triangular bait

The peculiarity of using a trihedron is that it is designed for fishing at depth. Compared to other baits, it goes to depth much faster, which is very important when fishing in the current.

The optimal weight of this bait can range from 12 to 21 g, but this is quite enough for the bait to cover a distance of up to 70 meters when casting. It is quite compact and has a narrow profile. If, when using it for fishing, you use a high speed of retrieval, the bait easily penetrates to the depth of the reservoir.

Knowing that asp reacts well to shine, trihedrons are produced mainly in two colors: golden and silver.

Castmaster bait

At the end of summer, the asp begins to gather in flocks. During their hunt, fishermen cannot get close to them. Therefore, during this period, castmaster works best of all baits.

This bait is simple in design and is an oblique cut of a cylindrical metal blank. They are light in weight: on the market you can find castmasters weighing 2.5-3.5 grams. The size of the bait depends on the weight of the spoon used.

For example, a nozzle weighing 2.5 g has a length of 3.2 cm, and one weighing 21 g has a length of 6.2 cm. The Castmaster is available in a classic silver color.

Retrieving using this bait can be either intermittent or even. This depends on the activity of the asp and on the layer of water in which it is located. The Castmaster bait always has a good action, regardless of the speed of its retrieval.

Russian fishing

The popular name for asp is “white predator” or “river horse.”
This is due to the fact that the fish belongs to the carp family and has practically no teeth. It received its second name because of the peculiarity of its hunting. He bursts into a school of fry and knocks out the prey with a powerful blow of his tail, as a result of which the stunned fish is partially drowned out, which makes it possible to easily eat it. Asp are caught with a spinning rod at different times of the year. Each season has its own characteristics and subtleties. August fishing is characterized by the accumulation of predators in the so-called cauldrons. You can find such a cluster near holes and pools of the river. Trophy specimens, as a rule, stay away.

Just in August, the “river horse” gains sufficient weight of about 2 – 3 kg. Such catch will not leave any fisherman indifferent.

Habitats

Spinning fishing for asp occurs both in natural landscapes and in regulated areas of the reservoir, near dams and embankments. You can catch the white predator from the shore and from a boat, as well as directly from dams and embankments. The easiest way to find it is when you know the bottom topography. This representative is found near riffles, in places with moderate currents, near holes, near dams and dam locks. You can determine the fishing spot by the splashes, but you shouldn’t rush to cast, you need to camouflage yourself first.

A little about disguise

At the end of August, aquatic vegetation begins to slowly die off and thin out, which gives the asp better visibility. The “river horse” goes hunting in surface balls and can notice a fisherman from a distance of 10 m. Noise, bright clothes and sudden movements can scare him away, or lead to the fact that the fish refuses to take the offered bait. Spinning fishing for this representative should be one step ahead of the fish in caution. Fishing from a drifting boat is much more convenient and quieter than from the shore. However, if you are fishing from the shore, you should wear nondescript clothing in dark colors and be quiet. It’s very good if there is some bush there that you can hide behind.

Spinning equipment

The length of the rod depends on the fishing location (from a boat or from the shore). When fishing by boat, you can use a short spinning rod, about 2 meters long. For fishing from the shore, the best option would be a 3-meter rod. The reel should be spacious with a large spool and a large number of bearings. The fishing line is better braided, with a diameter of 0.18-0.2 mm. In August, the asp is more active than in previous months, and you have to make a large number of casts, as well as lead the bait with a fairly fast retrieve.

As for fishing methods, there are several of them: blind fishing and splash fishing. The first option is more productive. Its essence is to use heavy baits, which horizontally and vertically test the topography of the reservoir, all its differences and depth. The second method is to throw bait into the area where the asp splashes. When casting accurately, a bite follows almost immediately.

Lures

There are purely asp baits, which he takes without fail (wobblers, different types of spinners), and there are zander and pike baits, to which he also responds well. Since this is a surface predator, the baits needed are superficial, light weight, with active play. To catch it, they use weighted Devons, castmasters, rippers, rotating and oscillating spoons, tvsesterochkas with a weighted head, etc.

As mentioned above, the wiring used is fast and active.

As you can see, August fishing for this representative is very interesting and exciting, and most importantly, effective. Therefore, don't miss this moment. Happy fishing!

Asp: description

In addition to the fact that the asp is a cunning and cautious fish, it is also beautiful, as well as fast and impetuous. Due to the mass of such positive qualities, asp has a number of other names. It is often called sheresper, due to its appearance and white scales, as well as its whiteness. Because of its speed and swiftness, the asp is called a horse or a grip.

If a fisherman manages to catch an asp using a spinning rod, this is evidence of the high skill of the fisherman.

The asp belongs to the carp family, so its body shape is long, wide and flat. He has an elongated head, and the lower jaw is slightly pushed forward and upward. Even though it is a predatory fish, it has no teeth in its mouth. The role of the teeth is assigned to the bony protrusion on the lower jaw and the notch located on the upper lip. This allows the asp to securely hold its prey.

The asp's teeth are located inside the throat, which allows it to grind food.

The body of this predator is covered with small but well-fitted scales. The lateral surfaces of the body are lighter than the dorsal area. The belly is almost white, and the dorsal fin area has a dark, bluish-gray tint.

The fins of this predator are light, with dark endings. The tail fin is quite large, and the lower feather is somewhat larger than the upper feather. The base of the lower fins has a red tint.

The asp or sheresper is considered a fairly large fish, since the average individual weighs about 5 kg. Individual specimens weigh about 12 kg. In the carp family, the asp is in an honorable second place, giving way to the first place to the carp.

Fishing for asp on small rivers. Spring.

DIY baits

If necessary, you can make a suitable bait with your own hands, especially if you are well familiar with the principle of their construction. The advantage of a homemade device is its uniqueness, and if necessary, you can easily make the necessary adjustments.

For example, a bait can be made from an ordinary eraser - the material is cheap, you can choose any color and work with it.

• First you need to decide on the shape of the bait. A ready-made bait can serve as a sample.
• The outline of the body is drawn on the eraser.
• The desired shape is given using a stationery knife.
• Irregularities are removed with sandpaper.
• The paper clip must be straightened and a ring made on one side, the other end is inserted into the body of the bait.
• The body is pierced through.
• The hook is threaded into the ring. The bait can be tested.

Tactics and fishing techniques

Fishing for asp in the summer is very active. You need to cast, and then move the bait quickly or at medium speed. Don't worry that the fish won't catch the bait. On the contrary, this will only provoke the predator even more, and he will chase the hook. There is also the option of splash fishing. In the place where the asp chases its prey across the pond, you can clearly see how the liquid is literally seething.

It is important to watch the fish for some time to understand in which direction it is chasing its catch. Only after this can you cast, but not to the place of the splash, but precisely in the direction where the predator is swimming

The goal is for him to notice the bait and give chase. The easiest way to follow this tactic is on rivers, because there it is very easy to figure out the direction of movement of the predator - it always swims against the current.

Important! Both on a river with a current and in a still body of water, the asp prefers to swim along the shore. If you cast precisely in these places and move actively, then you can quite count on a good catch

Most often, asps are caught from the shore.

Fishing from a boat is a little more difficult than from the shore and requires more caution. Having noticed circling seagulls over an area of ​​a reservoir, it is better to swim to this place and make test casts

It is worth understanding that when the fry race, the asp creates a kind of whirlpool. Predators circle around their prey in a clockwise direction. Just below this “cauldron” is usually controlled by catfish or pike perch. Sometimes it is more expedient to do the wiring just under the whirlpool, and not closer to the surface. The engine should be turned off approximately 200 m before the funnel. The fishermen swim closer by inertia, guided by the situation.

The bow anchor is installed 100 m from the fishing site. The best way to fish is on a boat slowly drifting with the current. The fishing tactics are the same as described above - casting, and then fast or medium retrieval. To catch an asp, you have to work hard. But if you choose the right lure, take a spinning rod with the right test, then a positive result will not take long to arrive. The most catchy months fall in the summer - June and August.