Okhta
Successful fishing in St. Petersburg is possible on the Okhta River, which is one of the largest tributaries of the Neva. The length of this water artery is about 100 km. In the upper reaches its width does not exceed 10 m, and in the lower reaches it increases to 50. The maximum depth is 6 m.
At the end of the last century, industrial waste was uncontrollably dumped into Okhta, which led to its severe pollution and sharply reduced the number of fish stocks. Some species have completely disappeared from the river’s ichthyofauna. Despite this, the reservoir still remains one of the favorite resting places for St. Petersburg anglers. On weekends, on the banks you can always meet not only spinning rods and floaters, but also fly fishermen. The following are caught here with varying success:
- perch;
- zander;
- ruff;
- pike;
- silver bream;
- crucian carp;
- burbot;
- asp;
- roach;
- dace.
On a note! In the upper reaches of the Okhta, where the waters are cleaner, you can count on catching small grayling. This predator is caught on small dark-colored spinners and nymph-class fly fishing flies.
Promising places for fishing are located near the Chelyabinsk Bridge and near the Okhtinsky Razliv. Roach and silver bream bite well in this area. Spinning fishermen prefer to fish at the confluence of the Okhta and the Neva. In this place, several deep holes are formed, where pike perch and large perch are found both in summer and winter. There is practically no current at the mouth, so the weight of the jig head should not exceed 30 g.
When smelt enters the Neva, hundreds of fishermen gather on the embankments of St. Petersburg.
The area between the Liteiny and Bolsheokhtinsky bridges is also popular among St. Petersburg anglers. The feeder tackle here bites well:
- roach;
- silver bream;
- white bream;
- bleak.
In the spring, it is possible to catch small ide here. Below the dam, the ecological situation on the river becomes very bad. It is not recommended to eat fish caught within the city limits, since its meat contains unacceptably high amounts of heavy metals that can be harmful to human health. In addition, individuals caught in the metropolis have a pronounced smell of chemicals, which is why even cats do not eat them.
Free fishing in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia. But we shouldn’t forget about the special status of this city in the world of fishing. It is in St. Petersburg that fishing within the city is very actively developing. After all, the full-flowing Neva is at hand!
It is not at all necessary to travel far away to catch a trophy pike perch or pike. It is enough to get out to the embankment in the evening with a spinning rod, find an empty corner under the light of a lantern and throw the bait into the dark waters of the river.
The amazing thing is that even in this case, amazing results can be achieved both in the number of trophies and in their size. Here are the TOP 10 best places where you can fish for free in St. Petersburg:
Roshchinskoye Lake
Description of what kind of fish is found:
There are 8 small islands on the lake. The banks are heavily overgrown and fishing is preferable from a boat, but you can cast a fishing rod and spinning rod from the mountainous shore. The lake is rarely visited by fishermen, since it can only be reached by car. The access to the lake is good, close to the water. But you need to look for them. Here you can find: perch, roach, pike, bream, burbot, crucian carp, tench.
How to get there:
Otradnoe railway station. Further - on foot. It is more convenient to get here by car through the village of Torfyanoe at the northern end of Komsomolskoye Lake or through the village of Krasnoarmeyskoye on its western shore.
GPS coordinates: 60.802268, 29.951003
2. Vuoksa River
Description of what kind of fish is found:
On Vuoksa, fishing is possible all year round. Here you can catch pike, salmon, trout, pike perch, ide, chub, and whitefish. Vuoksa is especially popular among spinners and fly fishing enthusiasts. In the channel between Lake Virta and Lake Suvanto there are trout and salmon. The second place that attracts fishermen is Taipolen-Ioki. In addition to trout and salmon, pike perch, pike, and lake trout are caught here in the summer.
How to get there:
The distance from St. Petersburg along the highway is 95 km. The nearest railway stations: Losevo and Gromovo.
GPS coordinates: 63.504304, 27.94004
Mirror Lake
Description of what kind of fish is found:
On the lake you can fish both from the shore and from the islands - with bottom fishing rods, and from a boat - with a spinning rod, an onboard fishing rod, or mugs. In spring you can successfully hunt for roach in the northern part of the lake. In summer, deep holes near the islands will be good places to catch bream and perch. The only negative is that there are a lot of tourists.
How to get there:
By car you can get to the lake along Primorskoe Highway to the village of Zelenaya Roshcha, then turn right to Yappilya station. If you are traveling on your own, take the train to the same station.
GPS coordinates: 60.225990, 29.124574
The Gulf of Finland
Description of what kind of fish is found:
The Gulf of Finland is famous for its fresh waters thanks to the rivers flowing into it. A number of fish species live here. Most of all, fishermen like the areas of Primorsk, Vyborg, the northern and southern dams. It is best to fish in the bay in cloudy weather. The main places for catching pike perch are Repino, Zelenogorsk, and Resort. Fishing in the Gulf of Finland and adjacent rivers and canals is almost always successful. Bream, pike-perch, roach and perch are caught on donkeys and feeders.
How to get there:
If you decide to try your luck in the dam area, then take a bus, minibus or your own transport to Kronstadt.
GPS coordinates: 59.995882, 29.696652
Small and middle Nevka
Description of what kind of fish is found:
Fishing can be especially good in the morning and evening. But it is not recommended to fish here in the spring. Using a donkey baited with processed cheese, a chub is caught. At the mouth of the Bolshaya Nevka at night they catch silver bream, rudd, ide, and bream on the bottom. The most interesting place: 3 Elagin Bridge.
How to get there:
For example, by metro to Krestovsky Island.
GPS coordinates: 59.982455, 30.254307
Ladoga lake
Description of what kind of fish is found:
Over 50 species of fish live in Ladoga. Villages and settlements are located all along the coast, and avid fishermen are frequent visitors. For example, the village of Kobona is loved by winter fishing enthusiasts. The catch of Ladoga perch, pike perch and roach is practically guaranteed at any time of the year.
How to get there:
To catch pike and pike perch, take the train to Petrokrepost station. 3 kilometers away is the village of Koshkino: experienced fishermen promise that you won’t leave here empty-handed.
GPS coordinates: 59.958897, 31.034274
7. Volkhov River
Description of what kind of fish is found:
Excellent fishing awaits you from the boat. From the shore it is also possible, but in certain sections of the river. In the middle of the river there are deep holes where large fish are kept. It is possible to catch considerable pike and pike perch with considerable probability. If luck smiles, you will catch catfish, ide and chub. A great place to sit with a bottom fishing rod on a boat or on the shore is a place near the Volkhov-Most station and in the Novaya Ladoga area.
How to get there:
By train from Moskovsky station in the direction of Malaya Vishera. The drive is more than two hours. Another option is a car.
GPS coordinates: 59.073484, 31.770609
8. River Svir
Description of what kind of fish is found:
The Svir is considered the most fishing river in the southwest of the region. The best period for fishing is when the water recedes and oxbow lakes form - places of the old riverbed. In the waters of the Svir there are various fish: catfish, rudd, and pike. You can fish on the Svir from the shore, or in floods by boat. You can fish throughout the entire body of water, but there are certain places where fishing is especially good, such as the mouth.
How to get there:
To Volkhov. And then by rail to Pasha or along the P21 highway.
GPS coordinates: 60.481920, 32.905779
9. Izhora River
Description of what kind of fish is found:
Izhora flows at a distance of 30 kilometers from St. Petersburg. Along the entire river there are small pikes, burbots, and roaches. In Izhora there are a lot of “runaway” trout from the Gatchina nursery. Trout is caught by fly fishing or spinning in the evening or early in the morning. It is good to catch it in cloudy weather.
How to get there:
If you decide to try your fishing luck in this reservoir, you need to get to the Mozino railway station. Here you can fish both down and up the river.
GPS coordinates: 59.607750, 30.196158
10. Oredezh River
Description of what kind of fish is found:
Oredezh is a river flowing from a medium-sized reservoir on the Izhora Upland. In its sources there are a lot of trout and grayling. The largest trout are caught in Chikinsky Pond. Trout and pike live there. The best time for fishing is evening or early morning.
How to get there:
From Gatchina by minibus and a little more on foot. Another option is by personal transport.
GPS coordinates: 59.345676, 30.184925
Do you know any other good places for fishing in Moscow - write in the comments
