If we talk about fruitful fishing, then in this context we cannot fail to mention the Altai Territory, which is famous for its beautiful lakes, clean rivers and large fish.
The so-called mountain fishing attracts the attention of not only local citizens, but also residents of other regions of the Russian Federation, which clearly indicates a really good time and good catches.
It is worth noting that the number of reservoirs in Altai has long exceeded 7,000 units, 90% of which are artificial lakes.
What kind of fish can you catch in Altai?
Altai is a mountainous region that differs from other regions not only in its relief and enveloping nature, but also in the species of fish that cannot shock you with their quantity, but can pleasantly surprise you with their considerable size:
- Peled;
- Trout;
- Pike;
- Perch;
- Bream;
- Roach;
- crucian carp;
- Tench;
- Podleschik;
- Grayling;
Good to know! The above range of inhabitants of the Altai fauna is a list of fish that are guaranteed to appear before the fisherman as a catch; you just need to be well prepared for fishing: choose the right gear and prepare the bait/bait correctly.
Free places
On the territory of the region there are 30 large waterways and about 17 thousand small rivers, many of which originate in mountainous areas. The middle and lower reaches fall on flat terrain. The most popular in terms of fishing are the Ob, Bolshaya Kamyshin, and Charysh rivers. Here you can fish completely free of charge. Lakes Petrovskoye, Khvoshchevoye, and Teletskoye are considered no less popular. Fishing in these reservoirs is also free.
River Ob
The total length of the water artery is 453 km. The river is formed due to the confluence of the Katun and Biya. There are many settlements along the Ob. The left side of the river has a high coastline, while the right bank is low and flat.
In total, about 50 species of fish live in this waterway. The main objects of fishing are:
- crucian carp,
- carp,
- pike perch,
- burbot,
- graylings,
- minnows,
- Siberian pike and others.
As a rule, fishing is carried out using watercraft.
Bolshaya Kamyshinka River
This river is short in length - only 26 km. It is located in the Petropavlovsky district. The water flow is quite calm, which is favorable for fishing. The main fishing targets are pike, perch and crucian carp. They catch fish with a float rod, summer or winter lure.
Charysh River
This river has an abundance of rifts and rapids. The lower course of the water artery passes through flat terrain, where Charysh flows into the Ob. The river has many tributaries. In the upper reaches the maximum depth reaches 2.5 m, in the lower reaches this figure reaches 5 m. The mountain slopes located along the coastline are replete with caves.
The best place for fishing is near the villages of Charyshskoe and Sentelek. You can get here using public transport, as well as by your own car.
Fish are caught using a spinning rod, a float rod or bottom tackle. The waters of the Charysh River abound in pike, grayling, burbot, pike perch, taimen, perch and other species of fish.
Horsetail Lake
Not far from the Charysh River lies Horsetail Lake. It is located in the Altai Territory, in the Ust-Pristansky district. For fishing, use a winter or summer spoon (depending on the season) and a float rod. The main fishing targets are perch, pike and crucian carp.
Lake Teletskoye
The depth of the reservoir reaches 300 m. The lake is fed by the waters of numerous mountain rivers, as it has an intermountain location. The major river flowing into Lake Teletskoye is Chulyshman, but only Biya flows out of this reservoir. The most convenient coastline is in the northern part of the lake, near the village of Arbytash. It is difficult to approach the reservoir from other sides. The water temperature does not reach comfortable levels for swimming. The lake does not warm up, as many mountain rivers flow into it.
The reservoir is home to a huge number of fish species . Among them:
- teletsky grayling,
- burbot,
- lenok,
- Siberian taimen,
- Teletska sprat,
- pike,
- bream,
- teletsky whitefish,
- perch and others.
Petrovskoye Lake
This reservoir is located in the Troitsky district of the Altai Territory. If you drive from Barnaul along the Biyskoye Highway, at a distance of 90 km you will find Petrovskoye Lake. The ecological system of the area is unique; the coastline is covered with forests. The water in the lake is very clean. Winter and underwater fishing flourishes in this reservoir.
Petrovskoye Lake is home to species such as roach, pike, tench, crucian carp, perch and others.
Where can you go fishing in Altai for free?
And although it was stated that there are 90% more lakes in Altai than rivers, this is not at all an indication that you can also go fishing for free, often on lakes. No, the fact is that this region is mountainous, so the natural formation of ponds and lakes is rare.
This means that most artificial reservoirs were created by private individuals, and therefore are paid for. The same cannot be said about rivers, of which there are only a few, but fishing on them can be fruitful.
Rivers
So, in order not to make the reader wait long, here is a list of natural rivers, fishing on which will definitely bring the desired results:
- Chuya is a river that is considered one of the most visited in Altai. Moreover, this body of water has international fame, because rafting competitions are often held on its waters. Regarding fishing, the most active fish here is considered to be grayling, fishing for which it is advisable to start closer to autumn and until the end of spring;
- The Ursul is one of the longest rivers in the region (140 kilometers). Such inhabitants of the reservoir as taimen can reach a weight of 14 kilograms, while grayling can reach a maximum of 2 kilograms. These are quite excessive standards, therefore, every fisherman simply needs to try his luck on this river;
- Sumulta - this river has the reputation of being one of the longest and coldest rivers in Altai. Here you can catch more than 5 species of fish, which often bite very well in clear weather. By the way, it is recommended to fish further upstream (closer to the mountains), which will bring more catch, at least that’s what the rumor says;
Lakes
Artificial lakes and ponds, including quarries, are quite actively and purposefully increasing in number.
Since it would be stupid to list the features of many thousands of lakes, it would be more reasonable to note only a few, the attention of fishermen to which is more special:
- Shibaevo is a lake that is quite long for its type - 76 kilometers (many rivers can be smaller than this size). The angler is attracted by the fact that fishing here is not only free, but also surprisingly fruitful: many species of fish such as pike, bream, carp, perch and roach;
- Petrovskoye is a unique lake, at first glance, having nothing “sort of” about it. So, besides perch, few people live in this fauna. But, according to the fishermen themselves, this reservoir is ideal for winter fishing, in which it is fashionable to catch not such a small amount of perch;
- Utkul is a fairly small body of water. But this modest fact pales against the background of a good bite, beautiful nature and a lot of fish: chebak, pike and perch;
Fishing in the Altai Territory. Best Fishing Spots
Current Fishing in Altai
You can go fishing in Altai regardless of the seasons; in any case, you will be guaranteed success, of course, if you carefully prepare for the “hunt”. By the way, the region’s waters contain fish that cannot be found in other reservoirs of Russia, and this is what attracts special attention to the region.
For example, the grayling fish is found only in this region, this is explained by the fact that the fish is very demanding in terms of oxygen water balance and level of purity, which only this region can boast of.
Another unique fish is taimen, which in Siberia surpasses even salmon in size. At the same time, taimen is not active in terms of resistance, which means it is easy to catch. Among other representatives of the water area, trout, carp and burbot can be distinguished.
Fishing in Altai. Catching trophy pike (Video)
Fishing in the Altai Territory on Lake Teletskoye
This reservoir is included in the list of unique natural reserves in Russia; the depth of the lake is 330 m. Due to the fact that the area is a protected area, there are no equipped roads, that is, you can only get to the shores of the lake by boat.
But this fact is not at all difficult, since traveling on the water, you can fully enjoy all the unique Altai beauty, which will make fishing more memorable.
3 ways to improve your fish bite!
Over 15 years of active fishing, I have found many ways to improve the bite, and here are the most effective:
1. Bite activator . This pheromone additive attracts fish most strongly in cold and warm water. The Fish Hungry bite activator has proven itself to be excellent - Read more…
2. Tackle with increased sensitivity . You should first familiarize yourself with the features of using a particular type.
3. Pheromone baits . They attract the attention of fish, stimulate hunger and cause a schooling reflex, which allows you to collect a lot of fish in one place.
You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading my other materials on the site.
3 ways to improve your fish bite!
Over 15 years of active fishing, I have found many ways to improve the bite, and here are the most effective:
1. Bite activator . This pheromone additive attracts fish most strongly in cold and warm water. The Fish Hungry bite activator has proven itself to be excellent - Read more…
2. Tackle with increased sensitivity . You should first familiarize yourself with the features of using a particular type.
3. Pheromone baits . They attract the attention of fish, stimulate hunger and cause a schooling reflex, which allows you to collect a lot of fish in one place.
You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading my other materials on the site.
The lake is not prohibited for fishing, so tourists are offered boats and boats for rent. Moreover, over 16 different species live in the waters of this reservoir: grayling, whitefish, lenka, etc.
It is characteristic that each individual in the lake reaches large sizes, for example, pike can be caught weighing 10 kg, burbot reaches 7 kg, and taimen even grows up to two meters in length and its weight is 50 kg. Various programs and routes are organized for visiting fishermen, and you can choose leisure activities according to your financial capabilities.
Fishing in Altai: Sorochiy Log
This reservoir is considered the oldest; it was created back in the 70s of the last century. On the shore of the reservoir there are amazingly beautiful birch groves, cozy meadows and other places where you can relax and go fishing.
Moreover, all conditions have been created here for fishermen: parking lots, picnic areas, toilets, etc. Overall, Altai fishing will never disappoint you, so feel free to head to the region with all the necessary equipment.
See Fishing Spots on the Map
Paid fishing in Altai
Of course, there is a place for paid fishing in this mountainous region, because as was emphasized earlier, many lakes are made by man, and they are founded at restaurants, cafes, baths, but still they are often located on the territories of tourist centers, where citizens from all over the country come : some to admire nature, some to give a barbecue, and some to do some good fishing.
The best camp sites
It is very difficult to obtain the title of the best in this context, because with such incredible competition it is difficult to name any lake more or less suitable for fishing.
Therefore, it would be correct to start from the opinions and reviews of the fishermen themselves, who, in their “vacation impressions,” noted the following range of the best, in their opinion, bases:
- Baden-Baden is a tourist base located near the city of Barnaul. The landmark for non-residents is the village of Mallorca, not far from which there is a “paradise” for the most avid fisherman. The big advantage of this base is that it receives visitors both in summer and winter, and around the clock. Citizens who come to fish will be able to get their fill of such catch as pike, perch and crucian carp;
- Albagan is a small area on which there is a small pond for fishing, a two-story cottage and a cafe. Also, those who wish can spend the night in tents, which can be pitched next to the mini-hotel. As for fish, immediately after throwing a fishing rod into the water you will be able to catch roach, perch or pike;
- Visyuki - this “institution” consists of a reservoir and a large estate, in which non-locals and everyone could spend the night. Regarding the fauna, it is inhabited by only two species: gudgeon and grayling. The location of this base is simple, it is located near the village of Solnechnoye;
Prices
Having monitored many tourist bases and their pricing policies, we can say with confidence that fishing in Altai is not a cheap pleasure.
So, for example, it will be difficult to find a price lower than 800 rubles for entry. “Establishments” whose range of services includes not only fishing, but also accommodation, food and other types of entertainment will cost a citizen much more - from 2,200 to 5,000 rubles.
Catching Carp
One of the most interesting to catch is carp. Carp is a worthy opponent when fishing and is considered by many fishermen to be a prestigious trophy.
Carp - grows more than a meter and reaches a weight of up to and above 45-50 kilograms. Habitats in almost all bodies of water, but in our region, in addition to the Ob, it can also be found in lakes where it is specially bred. The carp bite begins in April-May in warm weather and water temperatures above +10 degrees, initially in small reservoirs, then as the water warms up in both the river and the sea. As the water warms up, the bite improves, and fish from shallower areas where the water warms up better go deeper. The bite ends at the end of September and beginning of October. A stable bite for carp begins at the end of June and reaches peak values 15 days after the end of spawning. Carp usually starts to bite when the sun rises high enough, after 9-10 am.
The best months for catching carp are the three months of June, July and August. At normal water temperatures, carp feeds around the clock and visits shallow water at night. The bite stops or weakens before any sudden change in weather. Extreme heat and bad weather, with a sharp drop in temperature, have an unfavorable effect on the bite. During thunderstorms, rain and strong winds, the bite can be very intense. Warm, cloudy weather with light rain is also good for fishing. A small wave and a headwind are considered ideal for catching carp.
Carp can live in any body of water: rivers, lakes, river bays, quarries. He doesn't like strong currents. Therefore, it is best to look for it in overgrown reservoirs with a barely noticeable current, streams, ponds, and flat reservoirs. Carp is a powerful and fast fish, so there are special requirements for equipment. Everything must be reliable and with a large margin of safety. A powerful hook is attached through a leash to the main fishing line, which can withstand the jerk of a fish weighing 10 kg or more; the leash is still better made from monofilament or monofilament. During the current, you need an anti-twist, a plastic tube to which the weight is attached, it prevents the hook from getting tangled with the nozzle and the main line at the time of casting.
The weight of the sinker is selected depending on the speed of the current and the casting distance; usually 40-60 g is enough. For fishing, they use a traditional bait, a bunch of worms. In summer, carp's favorite delicacy is shell meat.
The main task after hooking is to keep the fish. When fishing for carp is done with a fly rod, there is no way to let go of the line and give it to the fish. Therefore, the first, most powerful jerks of the fish are dampened by the rod. As a rule, if the carp is too large, it is not possible to turn it around, but if the tackle and the fish are in the same weight category, then everything will be fine. In this case, you need to hold the fish on a long vacation for some time, fully using the shock-absorbing properties of the rod and fishing line. The rod will absorb the jerks and remain, taking your time to bring the fish to the shore and remove it from the water with your hands or using a landing net. After a bite, quickly re-casting the tackle is very important, since carp stay in schools, and several bites in a row are not uncommon. The carp's behavior is standard. At the beginning, there is strong resistance and an attempt to go into the depths, then a turn and a passage along the edge, several powerful jerks with a change in the direction of movement, after which the tired fish gradually gives up and begins to walk towards the shore. Usually, when reaching a shallow area, the carp resumes resistance. Carp are never caught without bait. For normal fishing you will need 3-4 kilograms of bait per carp. When you pour the bait into the mixing container, you need to draw water from the reservoir where you are fishing. First make three holes in the cork in order to pour in water and moisten the bait gradually. To make the bait work even more efficiently, you can use special flavors. This flavoring is added to water in a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water). The bait is moistened gradually and thoroughly mixed all the time so that it is homogeneous. All this happens until bait balls can be sculpted from it. The bait should be between the shore and the floats. To properly feed a carp, you need to throw the bait balls a little closer than your float is located. Usually, after feeding, the carp moves away; it is afraid of these splashes, especially if the fishing is carried out in a not very deep place. Now you have to wait 15-20 minutes to catch a fish.
Carp are caught using a wide variety of animal and plant baits. But most often, the majority of amateur fishermen use a dung worm as bait for carp. The worm can be baited in several ways and the most common is baiting with loops. The worm is pierced about a centimeter from the head, the hook is passed through it, a loop is made, the worm is pierced again and the sting of the hook is hidden in the tip of the worm. This is a very good way to make money. This kind of bait has only one drawback - if there is a small fish in the reservoir, then it grabs the worm by the tip and pulls it off the hook. To prevent this from happening, the worm can be baited with a ring. To do this, the worm is pierced about a centimeter from the head and moved onto the hook and fishing line, and now the sting of the hook is inserted into the head of the worm. Thus, we get bait without any ends at all. Large fish take it immediately and are instantly hooked.
In addition to the worm, maggot sometimes works very well as bait for catching carp. When maggots are used as bait, the sting of the hook is not hidden; several maggots are baited onto such a hook. They are pierced at the base of the thick part and moved to the pry. Usually 3-4 maggots are baited. In addition to worms and maggots, you can use any attachments of plant origin. It can be corn, peas, pearl barley, wheat, any steamed grains, beans. The peas are planted as follows: the hook is carefully inserted under the skin between the two halves of the pea, and turned so that the sting almost pierces the skin from the back side. Well, now as soon as the fish touches this pea, it will easily slip onto the hook, and the hook will hook the fish.
The corn should be soft and cooked. It is placed on a hook across the grain, several grains at a time, and pulled down. Steamed grains - pearl barley, put on several pieces, they are threaded so that the strip is from the inside and slide onto the hook. The tip of the hook may not be covered, but it can be covered.
obriver.ru
Features of fishermen in Altai at different times of the year
Unlike other regions of the Russian Federation, which are also quite natural for fishing, Altai differs significantly in its weather conditions and geographical location, which greatly affects all the resulting forms of life, including the fishing industry.
- In the summer you can fish exclusively in private reservoirs, where the fish are looked after and have long been adapted to certain conditions and the rhythm of life, although even in camp sites in the summer the bite is not very good;
- Autumn is the very time that is called the “opening of the season” for fishing, because the beginning of September is usually called the period when the fish begin to be active. In autumn you can fish not only on lakes, but also on rivers;
- In winter the fishing is very good. This is probably the most successful time, during which you can catch a lot of fish, especially such as grayling and taimen;
- In the spring, the fishing season comes to an end. And although spawning begins in early May, already at the end of the month, as many sources say, you can’t expect a good bite;
Reviews about fishing in Altai
From a young age I love fishing. Since I live near the village of Stepushka, I go to the Ursul River. True, you often have to go upstream, because the bite is very good there. It should be noted that fishing on this reservoir is free, therefore, those who want to have a good and useful time should definitely visit Ursula. Grade:
Ilya, 18 years old (Altai region)
I am a very frequent visitor to Lake Shibaevo and the Baden-Baden base. And although both places are completely different both in location and infrastructure, I like to fish in both places. The first reservoir is free, but not comfortable, the second is paid and, strictly speaking, convenient, cozy and has a high catch rate.
Grade:
Igor, 44 years old (Barnaul)
I want to express my indignation regarding the Albagan tourist base. Firstly, a small house for the night, not a hotel, but a shelter for Swedish families, and secondly, the bite was not very good. In short, I regret the time and money wasted. I don't recommend it! Grade:
Andrey, 37 years old (Altai)
And although in my youth I never visited paid fishing spots, which in fact did not exist, I cannot help but pay tribute to the Baden-Baden tourist center, which impressed me not only with reasonable prices and excellent bite of grayling, pike and perch, but also unsurpassed and very caring staff and living conditions. I will say, as in advertising: if fishing, then only in Baden-Baden. Grade:
Leonid, 51 years old (Altai region)
I can’t help but tell you about my recent fishing trip on the Chuya River, where I caught 4 kilograms of grayling and one taimen (4.3 kilograms) in 5 hours. I didn’t pay a penny for such a pleasant time with my whole family doing my favorite pastime. I recommend it to everyone, you won't regret it! Grade:
Anton, 41 years old (Barnaul)
Surely, each of the readers began to think about where they can go fishing, on a river or lake, for a fee or for free. These are standard questions, the solution to which lies in what you truly want, but this material will definitely be able to help you with this decision, which, although briefly, outlines all the advantages and disadvantages, advantages and disadvantages of fishing in Altai.
