The picturesque Lake Ilmen is located south of the ancient Russian city of Veliky Novgorod, the water area is about 730 square meters. km, but during spring floods it increases by more than 3 times. The mirror is 45 km long and 35 km wide. Fishing on the Ilmen will bring fans a lot of joy and desired trophies.
What kind of fish is found in Lake Ilmen
This is the only natural reservoir in Russia where the water is completely renewed within 2 months. The depths are small, on average 4 m, but there are also depressions up to 10 m. More than 50 rivers flow into Lake Ilmen, but only one flows out, so the shores are cut by deltas of flowing rivers, there are many islands and channels where they fish when the lake is stormy storm.
To describe all the types of fish in Ilmen, a separate article will be needed, but it is reliably known that about fifty different fish live in the lake, among which there are many predators: pike, pike perch, perch, burbot and even catfish; whitefish used to be caught, but after the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the river Volkhov, he cannot migrate here. It is excellent to catch rudd, silver bream, ide, sabrefish and bream on Lake Ilmen at any time of the year. It is very rare to catch an eel, and quite recently the media reported that a sturgeon was caught in Lake Ilmen, weighing more than 34 kg.
Attention! Professional fishermen from nearby regions of Russia, as well as amateurs, constantly come to the shores of the lake in the hope of catching the coveted trophy, about which mysterious legends were written in ancient times. Many fishermen hope to catch the giant of the local depths - the Ilmen fish.
Rivers nurturing life
Each river that flows into Lake Ilmen is replete with riffles and holes in which there are good pike perch, perch, catfish, bream, asp, and pike. At the confluence of Lovati, Pola and Vergoti, exclusive specimens are often caught. Numerous inland lakes connected to rivers by channels are natural spawning grounds, where the abundance of fry attracts predators. The 530 km long Lovat, flowing from the Belarusian Lake Lovatets, passes through a system of small reservoirs in the Pskov and Novgorod regions. The wayward river has a winding channel, the whirlpools in some places reach eight meters in depth, and the sandbanks form rapids, and the flow speed varies greatly. Its average width is 70 m, at the confluence with the Ilmen - 220 m.
Fishing rules Lake Ilmen
As in all regions of the Russian Federation, there is a fishing ban on the reservoir during spawning: from the beginning of May to the end of June, but every year the time shifts, so when planning a trip you need to clarify the restrictions with the fish inspection department of Lake Ilmen. In addition to the spring ban, there are restrictions on winter fishing, but this applies to pike and only fishing with girders, and trolling is allowed.
Shore fishing and fishing from a boat
Many visiting amateurs fish on Lake Ilmen only from the shore; for this, the best conditions are on the west coast, the bottom here is muddy with minimal vegetation, so there are no negative hooks and tangling of gear. These are mainly bream lovers, who are ready to wait for a long time for a bite from cautious fish, having baited the fishing spot in advance.
Fans of spinning and active fishing from a boat bring them with them, and those who do not have such an opportunity rent watercraft from the local population, who have organized quite a profitable business on Lake Ilmen, selling bait, bait and renting out fishing rods and spinning rods. It is much more convenient to catch the coveted trophy on the Ilmen from a boat, especially pike and perch, which hunt near reed thickets, in aquatic vegetation, which cannot be reached without a reliable floating device. The coveted bream is 1.5 kg easier to catch near a deserted island in the delta of the flowing rivers than on the muddy shore of Lake Ilmen.
The treachery of the Moisk Sea
Lake Ilmen is not difficult to find on a map of Russia. Its fairly comfortable flat location, slightly above the level of the World Ocean (18.1 m), and its shallow depth will not save the situation if you get caught in a storm, which is especially treacherous in these places. It is the absence of islands that act as a deterrent in other bodies of water that gives the waves the opportunity to roam here. Storm waves reaching two meters in height occur in succession at very short intervals; they can easily capsize a boat or boat. Strong storms have occurred on Ilmen at all times; the chronicles of the fifteenth century describe a terrible storm that occurred in 1471, the consequence of which was many sunken ships, whose remains today underwater archaeologists are trying to find at the bottom.
But tourists coming to these places should not worry. Strong storms are an infrequent phenomenon, and before going out for a walk or fishing, you should find out the weather forecast, or better yet, the opinion of local guides who know their Lake Ilmen. The Novgorod region, where recreation is associated with the named reservoir, has long won the recognition of the best domestic fishermen.
How to fish on Lake Ilmen
The weather rarely indulges in good days; quite often a strong wind raises waves on the lake, so it is prohibited for boats to go out onto the mirror, but you can fish in the channels and between the islands. On the Ilmen, using a float fishing rod, you can catch not only bream, roach, ide and silver bream, but also large perch and small squirrels up to 1 kg. Perch began to be taken less for spinning, because its population has sharply decreased, because the delicacy from Lake Ilmen was liked by the inhabitants of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and fishing cooperatives almost completely caught large specimens to send abroad. If you are lucky, you will catch an asp or a long-awaited pike perch weighing 1.5 kg on a spinning rod.
Attention! As for pike, it was in Lake Ilmen that the largest pike weighing more than 34 kg was caught in 1930.
The best time to hunt for a toothy and voracious predator is mid-July; during this period, in the eastern part of Lake Ilmen, marmosets and grass pike are excellent. For perch, you should use a spinnerbait No. 1-3 with a yellow petal or a small ripper, twister, but preference should be given to red and yellow with mother-of-pearl colors, so that the tackle plays in transparent yellowish water. Normal specimens are readily taken on a float rod with a dung worm attached.
It is quite difficult to tempt pike with artificial tackle, but spinners No. 4-5 of the oscillating type will help lure the cautious predator out of the grass thickets and into a clear place. Many Novgorodians successfully catch pike with a non-hooking spoon - a spoon with one hook located upward from the bottom, which eliminates negative hooks, but fish escapes are possible due to a weak hook. Here everything depends on the skill and experience of the fisherman.
Fishing on Ilmen in winter
Lake Ilmen was formed after the active melting of large moraines, the bottom is muddy and flat, so fishing in winter is a special pleasure, because there are no natural obstacles at the bottom for a spoon or balancer to get caught on. Winter fishing is not inferior in popularity to summer fishing, but the main thing here is warm clothes and shoes, as well as a means of transportation on the ice; getting to fishing spots on foot can sometimes be problematic.
The exception is Arcadian Bay, which is easily accessible by personal transport and then on foot on snow-covered ice, as evidenced by a video of winter fishing on Lake Ilmen:
They mostly use snowmobiles, and they take plastic containers in tow, which can comfortably fit one fisherman with equipment. On weekends and holidays on Ilmen, the number of fishermen increases several times: they fish with spoons, balancers, and the variations of fishing rods cannot be counted, here, as they say, “every fisherman is a master of invention.”
Winter fishing for perch on Lake Ilmen using a jig or spoon allows you to return with a decent catch; the predator is mainly hunted as soon as the ice is strong, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations will allow large numbers of ice fishing enthusiasts to go out onto the lake.
There are plenty of people who want to go fishing on Ilmen in winter; experienced fishermen carefully place the bait in special plastic boxes, and attaching it to a fishing line is a special ceremony. Roach and silver bream are sometimes caught with a jig in larger quantities than perch, but experienced fishermen go out to catch them on the last ice, before the beginning of spring, when the munchies of such species become most active.
Fishing on Ilmen in summer
This lake is interesting and unusual in that during high water the area increases by more than 3.4 times, and the volume of water increases by 8 times; this is not the case in any other body of water in the country. Summer fishing on Ilmen is difficult; without a boat it is difficult to catch large specimens, because the lake dries out greatly and the water recedes several hundred meters from the shores. You have to fish in the deltas of inflowing rivers, where there are many islands and wetlands where fish go during drought. There are no great depths here, so even a cautious predator can become prey for a fisherman.
Perch bites very willingly in the summer, only at a depth of 3-4 m, but pike loves heated shallow water, so respectable specimens can be caught on spoons or live bait at a shallow channel depth of 1.5 m. You should look for pike perch on Lake Ilmen in more respectable depths where the bottom topography is complex. Roach, silver bream and smelt are caught in the summer with worms and maggots, but bream is good at dawn, in the evening with a float rod and at night with a donk. Experienced fishermen prefer a feeder, because such professional tackle can catch excellent trophies from 0.8 to 1.5 kg and more, if you’re lucky.
Based on the above, fishing on Ilmen in 2021 is expected to be fruitful, it is possible to catch a trophy specimen: perch weighing half a kilo, bream over 1.5 kg or pike up to 3 kg or more, but it all depends on skill and experience, as well as on weather conditions.
Hunting
Hunters who have visited these places at least once speak with delight about the huge amount of game that is found in the swamps and forests around Ilmen. Quite productive autumn hunting for mallards with stuffed animals or from the approach by boat is noted. This is not surprising, because the food supply is quite large: many channels and small lakes, large areas of reeds, convenient places for nesting and raising offspring.
There is a large amount of swamp game in the water meadows: snipe, corncrake, great snipe. For lovers of hunting with a pointer, this is an incredible pleasure. With prior agreement with local hunting groups, it is possible to go hunting for elk and wild boar.
Fishing bases on Lake Ilmen, Novgorod region
Fishing can be done at fishing bases concentrated on Lake Ilmen.
Fishing base
Located on the Lovat River, almost in the delta, the places here are the most catchy. Fishermen are accommodated in double rooms designed to accommodate 10 people, so a large group must book places in advance. In emergency cases, you are allowed to pitch a tent on the territory of the base.
Attention! You have to cook yourself, there is a stove and the necessary set of utensils, so guests don’t complain.
The administration has provided for the rental of boats and fishing equipment for every taste, and experienced huntsmen will show you the most catchy places. The cost of tours starts from 800 rubles.
Ilmen Base
For lovers of a comfortable holiday in nature, a modern base was built, which is located on the shore of the lake and has the status of a club, all conditions are provided here: paintball, a rope park and even real laser combat for adults and children (laser tag). For guests there are houses on 10 persons, with all amenities. Fishermen can rent equipment and boats.
There is a guarded parking lot on site. You can cook it yourself or order it to your room from the tavern. The base is open all year round, the cost of a trip per person is from 6,000 rubles.
How to get to Lake Ilmen
Car owners get from Moscow along the M-9 or M-11 highway, and from St. Petersburg the best option is along the E105/M-10 or E95/R-23, because you can bring a motor boat with you and easily get to the very catchable places on the lake. From Veliky Novgorod it’s easy to get to the villages of Erunovo, Ilmen, Kozynevo or Korostyn, where you can rent a room and start your vacation.
Take a bus from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Veliky Novgorod, and then take a minibus to your final destination.
By train to Veliky Novgorod or Staraya Russa station - it depends on the chosen base (from which city it is closest), then take a local bus or minibus. If the seats have been booked in advance, the administration can carry out a transfer from the above cities to the location of the base.
