Reservoirs of the Republic of Dagestan
Fishing in the waters of Dagestan
Dagestan is not distinguished by an excessive number of lakes. But the lakes of Dagestan are incredibly diverse. In the region, it is easy to find lakes located below land level, reservoirs located at the same level, high-mountain lakes located in areas where there is almost no vegetation. The largest lake in Dagestan is the Caspian Sea, which in reality, as is known, is a lake. Fish farms have traditionally been the backbone of the region's industry. In addition to supplying high-quality species of commercial fish, they additionally guarantee the opportunity for comfortable recreation and excellent fishing for everyone who comes to the region for a quiet hunt.
Those who like fishing in Dagestan should hurry up. Scientists ichthyologists are sounding the alarm, reporting the shallowing of almost all the lakes of Dagestan that communicate with the Caspian Sea. Here it is almost impossible to catch the legendary beluga in natural conditions. Nevertheless, the region’s waters continue to be rich in valuable fish. Including various types of sturgeon. Even if you don’t manage to meet a magnificent beluga or sturgeon, fishing in Dagestan will definitely give you the pleasure of catching sprat or mullet.
Caspian Sea
It is often called the greatest lake on our planet. This definition cannot be considered accurate, since in terms of size, the nature of the processes occurring in it and the history of the Caspian Sea, it is a sea. Its area now amounts to 371,000 square meters. km, and in 1929, that is, before the water level significantly decreased, it was 422,000 sq. km. The drop in level especially affected the northern, shallow part, which caused damage to various sectors of the national economy. To prevent a further drop in the level of the Caspian Sea, various projects are currently being developed. Among them, for example, is a project to transfer part of the flow of the Vychegda and Pechora rivers to the Volga basin, which provides for the regulation of the flow of Caspian waters into the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay.
The Caspian Sea is usually divided into three parts: northern, middle and southern. The first of them is located north of the line: the eastern tip of Chechen Island - Cape Tyub-Karagan. Here the average depth is slightly more than 5 m, only near the border with the middle part the depth is more than 20 m. The border between the middle and southern parts of the Caspian Sea runs from Zhiloy Island to Cape Kuuli. This is the deep-sea part of the sea.
The Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay has a great negative impact on the Caspian Sea. It has a huge area, but very little depth and serves as a giant evaporator. The salinity of the sea is not the same everywhere: in the area of river mouths the water is almost fresh, and in Kara-Bogaz-Gol the salinity is the highest.
Tidal fluctuations in the sea are only 3 cm. Significantly large changes in the level of the Caspian Sea occur during surges and surges of water under the influence of the wind - they can be more than 1 m high. This is especially noticeable in shallow water areas.
The water temperature at the surface in summer averages plus 24-26 degrees, in the south up to 29 degrees. In winter, the temperature fluctuates significantly: in the north - up to plus 0.5 degrees, in the average Caspian Sea - plus 3-7 degrees, in the south - plus 8-10 degrees.
There are 854 species of animals in the sea (including 70 species of fish) and more than 500 species of plants. Semi-anadromous fish that are allowed to be caught include, for example, carp, bream, pike perch, and ram. The group of marine fish is very small: several species of herring - Volga, Caspian, blackback, Caspian belly, big-eyed belly, Dolnskaya, Agrakhan. In the biology of these fish the difference is small, but in terms of sport it is almost non-existent. In addition, sea pike perch, Caspian shemaya and gobies are found here. There is also silverside, sprat and a small fish the size of them, about which even the scientific literature says that its “lifestyle has not been studied.” In the thirties, two types of mullet were introduced here: sharpnose and singil. The mullet has successfully taken root, and it is now believed that there are more of them in the Caspian Sea than in the Black Sea, and their fertility and fatness are higher. Most species of marine fish in the Caspian Sea regularly migrate within its boundaries. Thus, in winter, herring concentrate in the middle and southern parts of the sea, and in summer they go north - here they spawn and fatten. In the autumn-winter period, mullet stays in the south of the sea, and in spring and summer it concentrates in its middle part. The Caspian's poverty in marine fish species has also affected the fishery: the main species are herring and sprat.
Timing of the spawning ban on fishing in Dagestan in 2020
Prohibited periods (periods) of extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources:
from April 15 to June 15 – all types of aquatic biological resources;
from March 1 to June 15 and from November 1 to December 31 - in the fish passage canals of the Arakum, Nizhnetersky, Karakol spawning and breeding reservoirs and the Yuzbash fish passage channel in the southern part of the Agrakhan Bay;
from December 1 to July 31 – production (catch) of crayfish.
During the whole year:
at river mouths, places where collectors discharge and where canals flow into the Caspian Sea - within a radius of 1 km; at the mouths and within a radius of 2 km from the mouths of the Terek, Sulak, Samur, Podsamurok, Srednyaya and Kuma rivers; in all spring waters on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan; in the Samur River from the mouth to the railway bridge; in the Podsamurok River from the mouth to the railway bridge; in the water area along the coast of the Caspian Sea from the mouth of the Sulak River (point with coordinates 43°16'00" N - 47°34'00" E) to the point with coordinates 46°46'00" N. – 46°58'00” E, including the Sulaksky, Kizlyarsky bays and the northern part of the Agrakhansky Gulf, with the exception of fishing grounds provided for the organization of recreational and sport fishing
general information
Fishing in Dagestan
Fish diversity is represented in the region by 123 species of fish, of which 39 are marine and freshwater, 45 are semi-anadromous and anadromous. The water area occupies about three million hectares, excluding rivers. 82 water bodies are of fishery importance. Some rivers of Dagestan are losing their importance as habitat for fish, since during dry periods their water is used for irrigation.
The Dagestan shelf is one of the most productive marine areas of the Caspian Sea. Almost 80% of sturgeon move through it to spawn in the Volga, Terek and other rivers of Dagestan. The number of stellate sturgeon, sturgeon and beluga in the Caspian basin is gradually declining due to poaching, water pollution and fishing by neighboring countries. It is becoming increasingly difficult to catch sturgeon, but fishermen always have mullet or sprat at their disposal.
The lakes of Dagestan are small in number, but diverse in terms of fish stocks. The largest is the Caspian Sea, which is commonly called the sea. The remaining lakes are located in different areas - from lowlands to highlands. Fishing in the Republic of Dagestan can take place in an organized manner. The Republican hunting and fishing industry offers to take part in fishing for roach, crucian carp, carp, rudd, perch, tench, bream, pike, catfish, carp, roach in the Terek delta. Sometimes you can see barbel here. In Southern Agrakhan you can catch crucian carp, pike and perch.
Mountain rivers are rich in trout, which are caught with donkeys or fry. It is customary to fish on rivers and canals from the shore using a spinning rod. The boat is used only on lakes and in the sea. Catfish are caught on Samur near Makhachkala, trophy carp live on Terek in the vicinity of Kizlyar, and trout live in Sulak. People go to the Agrakhan Bay of the Caspian Sea, reminiscent of the Volga delta, for pike. This predator is actively caught on canals and near waterworks.
Fishing rules stipulate areas prohibited for fishing and the timing of spawning bans. From mid-April to mid-June, fishing in Dagestan is prohibited. From March to mid-June, you cannot fish in some fish passage canals - Yuzbash, Karakol, Nizhnetersky and Arakum. Fishing for salmon (except trout) and sturgeon is prohibited.
Fishing in the bays
Fishing on the canal is carried out only from the banks, so you do not need a boat. If you are attracted by lakes and sea bays, then a watercraft will be necessary. Among the many such places, one can highlight the Agrakhan Bay:
- The most popular.
- There is a base for fishermen.
- Similar to the Volga delta. Accumulations of reeds are arranged in a checkerboard pattern.
- The maximum depth is one and a half meters. Anything deeper is a hole.
- The main prey is pike.
- Water clarity varies in different areas.
Fishing in Dagestan will appeal to connoisseurs of jig fishing and trout. The variety of ways and places is amazing. Among the huge number of reservoirs, every fishing lover will choose the right one for himself and spend time doing his favorite pastime.
Features of fishing in Dagestan
Fishing in Dagestan on numerous rivers and canals, as a rule, is carried out from the shore and generally a boat is not required here, but on the Caspian Sea and many lakes without a boat you can hardly count on successful fishing, and therefore it is simply necessary there.
Unfortunately, in Dagestan there are very few fishing bases, which we are accustomed to in the central zone or even in other southern regions of Russia. And even those that are available here can only provide overnight accommodation and nothing more. Fishing tourism is just beginning to develop here and therefore the service here is still at a rather low level.
During the USSR, much attention was paid to the water management of Dagestan.
Hydroelectric power stations and dams were built on many different mountain rivers, and a large number of canals were laid in the lowland part of the republic. For various needs of the population. Over time, many of these dams became partially unusable, and the local hydraulic system became difficult to manage. And in connection with this, the water level began to change frequently over a wide range. Sometimes the washed out dam makes it much more difficult to get to the fishing spot than in past years. Since there are many good fishing spots near these structures. These structures include canals, reservoirs and other bodies of water. Particularly noteworthy is the popularity of fishing in canals. Fishing in the Republic of Dagestan
Fishing in Dagestan on canals is very diverse. One of the most catchy places on the canals are hydraulic structures. So, on a canal 20-25 meters wide there is a standard concrete structure in which there is a control valve, the position of which determines the discharge of water. And the greatest interest for anglers is a small area that is located slightly below the structure. Even when minimal water discharge occurs. Due to the fact that quite a strong current regularly forms there, in such places a rather complex topography arises with depths greater than usual in other places of the canal, and in these places there is always a reverse current. Which is a factor in the accumulation of a large number of fish, and not only peaceful species, but also predators, primarily perch and pike.
Such waterworks are often located no more than 1 km from each other. And usually they are connected by road and this is very convenient. Since you can quickly move or even walk from one near the sluice pit to another of the same type, and then, if necessary, return back.
Fishing in Dagestan is also excellent in pits and shallow channels where the current is weak. Here, unlike the ones near the sluices, the pits are formed from practically nothing. The canal usually has a depth of 1 to 1.5 meters. And suddenly, in some area, the bottom drops sharply to a depth of 4-5 meters. Pike often concentrate in such pits in cold weather, especially if the water level in the channel drops below normal. Catching predators using the jig method is also relevant here. But there are some subtleties here. When the pike bite becomes inactive, you need to change a heavy jig head, for example, weighing 10 grams, to a lighter one, weighing 7 grams, and the result will be very unexpected. The pike bite begins to intensify immediately.
Fishing in pits in deep channels where there is a significant current and the main inhabitant of such pits is pike perch is also effective. It can also be caught using the jig method, but the weight of the head should be from 15 to 20 grams. But it should be noted that fishing using the jig method began to spread in Dagestan not so long ago, and only a few amateurs are proficient in it. There are many places where this method is very effective in Dagestan and it gives an order of magnitude better results than other methods of catching a predator. In a word, for lovers who appreciate jig fishing, local reservoirs are a real paradise. Experienced fishermen, who know what jigging conditions were like in the Volga delta 15 years ago, draw equal parallels between them.
Fishing in Dagestan on the canals is also notable for the fact that a boat is not required here and all fishing is carried out exclusively from the shore. But on lakes or bays you can’t do without it. First of all, this applies to the Agrakhan Bay, Killer Bay, Lake Achikol, etc. Among them, the Agrakhan Bay is considered the most popular, there is even a fishing base there. The water area of this reservoir is very reminiscent of the peals in the Volga delta. Large and small islands of reeds are located there in an almost perfect checkerboard pattern. The greatest depths there reach 1.5 m. If the depth is greater, then by local standards it can already be considered a pit. The main trophy in the Argahan Bay is pike. The peculiarity of this reservoir is that the transparency of the water varies in different places. And when planning fishing in the Argahan Bay, this feature should always be taken into account.
To the north of Makhachkala, along the coast of the Caspian Sea, there are many shallow lake-type reservoirs - Kizlyar Bay, Achi-Kol and others. There is a fishing and hunting base here. The local water area resembles the Volga delta. There are a lot of reeds growing in this place, as well as a lot of grass growing at the bottom. If we talk about bait, there is no universal one for these reservoirs. There are a lot of small reservoirs on the Sulak River. A strong current is present in the upper areas and therefore trout are caught here in abundance. The size of this fish is considerable and the reservoir requires maximum casting. Trout is fished with fly fishing, using donkeys or fry. Although the main method of fishing here is spinning. You can also catch Terek barbel here.
Some fishermen prefer to fish in the suburbs of Makhachkala; catfish are excellent there. They fish here with regular gear and the catch is always pleasing. Some people fish in a reservoir near Kizlyar, where there is a trophy carp, which only takes a worm. There are very few fishing bases in Dagestan; one of them, and the most popular among visiting fishermen, is the Dagestanskoye OORKH, which is located on the Agrakhan Bay. Here you can rest, spend the night, no entertainment for you, since you came for fishing. Fishing tourism is actively beginning to develop here, but so far it leaves much to be desired. The foothills of the Caucasus and the shores of the Caspian Sea create ideal conditions for hunting and fishing.
Tourism in Dagestan
Sunny Dagestan is hospitable at any time of the year. Regardless of the time of year, fishermen, hunters and lovers of mountain tourism come here. The republic has rich cultural traditions and customs. Thanks to the hard work of the mountaineers, hundreds of kilometers of hiking and horse trails have been laid in the mountains: - you can walk along an arched stone bridge - live in a mountaineer's hut - visit ancient villages and towers - ride a horse through alpine meadows and look at the mighty icy peaks of the high Caucasus. Dagestan is famous for its sanatorium resorts and mineral springs.
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