In our regions, crucian carp is one of the most common types of fish, but it is worth considering that this fish is cunning, careful and picky. For the process of catching crucian carp to be successful, you need to choose the right fishing gear .
One of the most important elements of fishing equipment is fishing line. Below we will try to reveal all the rules for choosing this fishing attribute and describe its advantages.
Types of fishing line and their main parameters
Today there are several types of fishing threads for crucian carp:
- Monofilament is one cast nylon (polyethylene or made from other polymers) thread with high elasticity and rigidity. Under load, the thread stretches. This type of fishing line is available in any specialty store.
- Wicker. The main advantage is a high degree of strength. Braided fishing line consists of numerous thin threads that are intertwined using a special method; it practically does not stretch or deform.
- Fluorocarbon - high-tech materials are used in production. The fishing line has a low refractive index of light, it is invisible in water, has high elasticity, but does not bend or deform. But there is also a minus - it is designed for light loads.
Line diameter
When selecting a fishing line, you need to understand that the number of bites will directly depend on its thickness . For thin line you need to use light weights on the rig. In water, a thin fishing line is less noticeable to fish.
Important: the thinner the fishing line in diameter, the less windage it has in the water. This factor is important to consider in the presence of currents or strong winds.
When fishing for crucian carp, it is recommended to use a thread with a diameter of 0.1 to 0.14 mm , from a reliable manufacturer. For crucian carp (since it is a sensitive fish), it is recommended to choose either braided or mono.
Line color
Crucian carp are capable of distinguishing colors, therefore, it is recommended to carefully choose the color of the fishing line. Most often, gray or brown color is chosen (if there is a large amount of silt in the reservoir). If the pond is transparent, a colorless thread is recommended.
Line stretchability
This parameter shows how much the thread can increase in size without breaking. For bottom gear, stretchability is very important, since the bite is determined directly by the rod nod, and if the stretchability indicators are high, then the moment of biting will be extremely difficult to determine.
Choice of line color. Do fish differentiate?
Choice of line color. Do fish see colors? Among vertebrates, the presence of color vision is believed to be found in all bony fish, whose bright colors often rival the colors and plumage of tropical birds, some amphibians (tropical frogs, toads, axolotls) and reptiles (agamas, turtles, lizards, geckos, snakes).
A number of patterns in the functioning of the color receptor were studied specifically in the study of the retina of fish (very similar to the retina of primates) and reptiles, and not on the retina of humans. Previously, work on the study of color vision in fish was carried out using multi-colored feeders, colored stripes, etc. Then, special spectrophotometric equipment came to the aid of ichthyologists, which immediately confirmed that fish really distinguish colors! Moreover, the color of surrounding objects is important for fish. Therefore, from a scientific point of view, those fishermen who claim that, for example, the color of the fishing line or bait is not important for fish, are fundamentally mistaken!
Although not only fishing enthusiasts, but also scientists are not entirely unanimous in their assessment of the color vision of fish. Some researchers have found that fish perceive color in exactly the same way as humans (only fish, unlike us, do not know that red is red, etc.). And another part of the researchers believes that fish have an even greater range of perceived color waves compared to humans! So, no matter how fishermen try to choose the ideal color of the bait, the human eye is still no match for the fish and, perhaps, we do not perceive the most optimal and attractive color for fish at all... Fish of some species can perceive polarized light in which there are ultraviolet rays, such light is perceived by many birds and insects, but humans do not notice it. But this is a very important point for fishing practice. Let's remember what polarized light is? Normally, natural light waves oscillate in all directions, but often, after reflection from some surfaces, most of the light radiation oscillates in one direction, such light is called polarized in that direction. So far, there are preliminary studies that in turbid water, perches (experiments were carried out on largemouth bass) can see objects at a distance three times greater than the human visibility zone!
It should be noted that not all fish are able to see polarized light. In fish that do not have this feature, the visibility range and ability to distinguish colors in muddy water is approximately the same as for humans - about 40 cm in muddy water. And if a fish distinguishes polarized light, then its visibility zone in muddy water can exceed one and a half meters! Moreover, fish that perceive the polarization of light can navigate by the sun even on cloudy days. The reason for the debate about the ability of black and yellow perch, trout and salmon to see polarized light was the ability of these fish to navigate during long-distance migrations. Research has shown that largemouth bass see colored objects at much greater distances than humans. Fishermen have long known that predatory fish with developed vision bite perfectly on bait at night or in very turbid water. Why is this happening? Perhaps this phenomenon is associated with the ability of perch to determine the polarization of light? If so, this would explain why perch find prey in unfavorable conditions. It has been proven that the green sunfish sees polarized light. And the structure of the black perch's eye is similar to the structure of the sunfish's eye. We have little information, but perhaps pike perch also have the ability to perceive polarized light. And, for example, pike and some other fish have a different eye structure, but they can also determine the polarization of light. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have designed a device that uses polarized light to locate objects in murky water. But research into the ability of fish to perceive colors, polarized light, and ultraviolet rays is technically difficult to implement. We don't expect evidence to emerge soon as to whether fish see ultraviolet, polarized light, etc.
What color of fishing line is better to choose?
However, many manufacturers of fishing lures claim that their products reflect ultraviolet and polarized light. Such statements play a role when anglers use transparent fishing lines, which often act as a kind of light guide. So far there is little information, but most likely various perch-like fish, salmon, trout and many fish of other species, which have so far been little examined in this regard, should respond to “reflective” baits and fishing lines.
Well, now we will analyze specific colors and the attitude of fish to them in order to make the problem of choosing the color of the fishing line less painful... We must take into account that representatives of the Pisces class have significant morphological and anatomical differences among themselves, including in the structure of the visual analyzer (in other words, in the structure of their eyes). So, fish “generally” see colors, but compared to humans, their eyes are more sensitive to warm colors, that is, yellow, orange and red. And if you are going to attract fish with the color of the bait, then these colors are, of course, welcome. But a fishing line of this color will simply scare many fish. Here the color of the surrounding background also plays a role in fish, just like with us, the red fishing line will merge with the reddish surroundings, for example, in reservoirs where timber rafting is carried out, or on peat lakes. It should be clarified that everything written concerns mainly freshwater fish, since for marine fish the color of the fishing line is much less important.
In freshwater bodies of water, red, yellow and orange fishing lines are clearly visible to fish even in very turbid water, since the red-yellow color corresponds to light with a longer wavelength and is less scattered by turbidity (suspension) particles. Green, blue, bluish fishing lines are less noticeable, since, depending on the illumination of the reservoir, they often merge with the water and the sky reflected in it. Fish, as a rule, are less wary of such colors and will pay less attention to your fishing line. But this applies to pelagic and coastal fish. If you fish at great depths, where there is little light, then any line there will be less noticeable, and this must be taken into account. The perception of red fishing lines by fish extends to approximately a depth of 5 m. According to ichthyologists, a white fishing line will be clearly visible to fish both at depth and at the surface; this color frightens fish, and they can identify it perfectly. The only exceptions are very cloudy days.
The next factor that you need to pay attention to when choosing the color of the fishing line is the season. In winter, in reservoirs that are covered with ice, the vision of fish is more sensitive to multi-colored and bright fishing lines. And in the open water season, in conditions of poor visibility (cloudy weather, muddy water, etc.), fish are well attracted by any light and bright bait, but such a fishing line is scary. Thus, in the winter season, taking into account the peculiarities of the color vision of fish, a regular monofilament fishing line, transparent, colorless or slightly bluish, would be preferable. With such a fishing line in winter, you will most likely catch perch, roach, and silver bream. If you are going to catch fish that live at greater depths (for example, pike perch), then braided fishing line (excluding bright fluorescent line) will not be noticeable to them. In summer, conditions are more varied, and it is difficult to give clear recommendations on the choice of fishing line color. In summer, the fishing line is selected based on the color of the water of the reservoir, the presence of vegetation, the color of the bottom, etc. In muddy water, the color of the fishing line is not decisive for camouflaging the gear, but this is not always an axiom. Therefore, in the summer, be sure to focus on the specific fish you are going to catch. So. bream and other shy fish will take the bait more easily if the fishing line is transparent and colorless (but does not transmit light from the surface of the water). Dark fishing lines in muddy or cloudy water are hardly noticeable for ide, silver bream, white bream, perch and some other fish. And for fishing for carp and carp, a dark, even black color of fishing line is preferable!
These were all peaceful fish, which are more sensitive to color perception in general and fishing line in particular. Although the visual acuity itself is an order of magnitude higher in predatory fish. But here other biological laws already come into force, primarily different feeding strategies, when “peaceful” fish have the opportunity to examine their prey, while predators are more spontaneous, moreover, they are less timid and cautious. That is, when catching predatory fish, you may not choose the colors of the fishing line so carefully, but only if you are not looking for asp (except for periods of fattening). This cautious fish has very sharp eyesight, and the asp can be caught only with the thinnest fishing lines that do not stand out in color against the background of the reservoir.
Ichthyologists have found that pike perch perfectly recognizes and identifies all objects of yellow color (and most likely colors of a similar spectrum), so when catching this fish, avoid yellow fishing lines, even on reservoirs with a yellow sandy bottom. Another important point for both predatory and peaceful fish. Regardless of the color of the fishing line, it is important that it does not reflect the sun's rays in the water and does not scare away the fish. It would seem that. Transparent fishing lines, which are ideal from the point of view of being invisible to fish, on the contrary, can frighten them with their reflection of light from the surface of the water. That is, on bright and especially sunny days, the transparent fishing line acts as a light guide, which is very sensitive to the vision of fish of almost all species.
Now the Japanese have begun to produce transparent fluorocarbon fishing lines that have a refractive index similar to the refractive index of water (for example, fishing lines from Kureha).
These monofilaments are practically invisible to most fish. The dark (more like nickel-black) color of some fishing lines (for example, Nexave Extra strong from Shimano) also helps to get rid of the “light transmission” of the fishing line. However, they will be clearly visible to fish in clear water in the coastal zone and near the surface, but for deep fishing this is a very good option. In addition to color, the diameter of the fishing line is also important for the visual perception of fish. The rule here is this: the thinner the line, the less the fish eye notices it. We must not forget that coloring affects the strength of the fishing line. The most difficult color in this regard is black. Therefore, when choosing black fishing lines, try not to save money, but to buy proven products from well-known manufacturers. Unfortunately, so far ichthyologists have studied the color spectra of a limited number of fish (and most of the species studied in this regard are very exotic for us). So the recommendations of our scientists are often based on fishing experience too. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the color of the fishing line, comparing and analyzing factors such as season, lighting, and the color background of the reservoir and bottom. https://vk.com/na_ribalky#post-48786031_2908
What line to use for catching crucian carp
It is important to correctly decide on the type of fishing line for catching crucian carp, let's study this issue in more detail.
Thickness and color of fishing line for crucian carp
For rods with floats, it is recommended to use braided thread with a diameter of 0.1 mm or mono with a diameter of 0.2 mm. For the donkey, it is recommended to select a braided thread with a cross-section of 0.15 mm and for a leash with a cross-section diameter of 0.1 mm, or select a monofilament main thread with a cross-section of 0.3 mm and for a leash with a cross-section of 0.2 mm.
The color in this case is also very important, since the fishing line should not scare away the fish.
Tip: for clear water, a colorless thread is recommended, for a reservoir with a green tint of water and a lot of vegetation - green, for a reservoir with muddy and dark water - brown or gray.
Monoline or braid: which is better?
Which thread to choose for fishing for crucian carp - mono or braided? It's simple. If you are using a feeder, it is better to use braid, and for float rods, monofilament would be the ideal option.
Line for catching crucian carp with a feeder
Let's take a closer look at the rules for selecting fishing line for long-casting rods. A thicker line for the feeder is recommended. If you take monofilament, then its diameter is selected from 0.18 to 0.3 mm, and if braided, then the cross-sectional diameter should be from 0.12 to 0.14 mm.
When selecting a fishing line, you need to take into account the fishing characteristics. For the longest casts, it is recommended to use braid, as the bite will be felt easier. But at distances up to fifty meters it is better to give preference to monofilament. Also, the selection of fishing line should be influenced by the reservoir itself, its latheriness and the amount of algae. The elasticity of the fishing line is selected taking into account the presence of obstacles in the reservoir.
Fishing line for catching crucian carp on a float rod
Among the features of selecting tackle for fishing rods with floats it is worth noting:
- fishing is usually done near the shore, where the fish are smaller (maximum 300 g);
- in this embodiment, the bias is placed on the float, therefore, you should not pay special attention to the stretchability of the fishing line;
- the use of monofilament is allowed;
- The cross-section of the fishing line for crucian carp fishing should be a maximum of 0.16 mm.
Does this affect the fish's bite? Are fish afraid of fishing line?
As we can understand, the fish sees the fishing line, although not very well, hears its movement in the water and perfectly feels the vibrations that it emits.
Naturally, all this greatly affects the bite, and the fish will be afraid to approach our bait.
Perhaps this can explain the fact that in the middle of nowhere, when the bite is bad, it is enough to change the line on the fishing rod to a small diameter, for example 0.08 mm, and active biting immediately begins, since a line of such a diameter will be barely noticeable and will not make any noise. sounds.
We recommend: What you need to rig a float rod
Therefore, the fisherman’s task when choosing the necessary fishing line should be to camouflage it in the water and reduce the noise it makes. Then the fish’s bite will improve, and it will not be afraid of our bait.
The correct leash for crucian carp
Each rig has a leash - a fairly important part of it. Installing leashes on crucian carp is not always easy and simple, since during installation you need to know their exact length, combination with the type of fishing line, fastening methods, etc.
Why do you need a leash when fishing for crucian carp?
A leash during crucian carp fishing is necessary to perform a number of functions:
- make the fishing line more invisible;
- in the presence of a blind hook or in the event of a large bite, it allows you to save both the sinkers and the float;
- helps lures and bait look as natural as possible in the water.
Leash length
After the type of fishing line used is determined, the length of the leash is selected:
- for a float rod - from fifteen to thirty centimeters;
- for elastic - from ten to thirty centimeters;
- for the crown - no more than seven centimeters;
- for the feeder - from twenty to eighty centimeters.
It is important to remember: short leashes increase the resistance of the gear, and the crucian carp can throw the bait. Using the longest possible leashes can also adversely affect the quality of the bite.
Leashes in the “spring” and “top” rigs
“Spring” is a well-known method of catching crucian carp; it uses a feeder (spring) with many hooks on which foam balls are placed. There is complementary food in the feeder. The fish gradually releases all the hooks and mistakenly sucks them in. For this type of fishing, a fishing line (main) with a diameter of 0.25 to 0.40 mm is used, and for leashes it is recommended to use braid with a diameter of 0.04 to 0.10 mm.
The “makushatnik” is made like a spring, but both the bait and the groundbait are in one piece. For this type of gear, a main thread with a diameter of 0.35 mm is used, and for leashes a braid with a diameter of 0.18 mm is used.
How to knit leashes and hooks for catching crucian carp
Let's consider an example on a fishing line with a length of one hundred and twenty centimeters. At the end you need to make a loop about eleven centimeters, and on the loop - a double, well-tightened knot. You need to pass the loop through the special holes on the weights twice. Pull the opposite edge of the fishing line into the resulting eyelet and tighten it carefully. Now let's move on to the hooks and leash. We take three hooks and fishing line for the leash. We attach the hook to five turns of fishing line and make a strong knot on the hook. Gradually you need to attach all the hooks to the leashes. Determine the length of the leash. Using a figure eight knot, we attach the leash to the main line. Thus, there will be three leashes with hooks on the fishing line. You can watch a video on the Internet to make the process clearer.
Manufacturers of fishing lines and model range (review)
Today there is a wide range of manufacturers and models of fishing lines on the market. In addition to the huge assortment of Chinese brands, which improve the quality of their products every year, in special stores you can find fishing lines and other well-known brands. The most popular manufacturers who have managed to establish themselves on the positive side are:
- 3M Company, DuPont - America;
- Bayer - Germany;
- Kureha Chemical Industries, Yotsuami, Morris, Sunline, Toray, Sanyo, Duel - Japan.
All products from these manufacturers have high quality indicators, wear resistance and decent shelf life. All cords from these manufacturers are durable and soft.
Of the most popular brands of fishing line for crucian carp, it is worth noting:
- Mitsubishi-Robinson-Titan Power;
- Sumo;
- Tectan;
- Power Pro;
- Steel Power;
- Fireline.
When choosing threads for fishing rods for crucian carp, you need to carefully read the annotation, since the name of the fishing line brand may not coincide with the name of the manufacturer.
