Asp Habitats | Popular Asp Places
The asp is very popular among fishermen, and they catch it with great interest and excitement.
Mostly the asp prefers to choose lowland rivers with a calm current for living, but it can often be found in lakes, as well as reservoirs that are artificially formed during the construction of hydraulic structures.
In warm seas, this fish leads a semi-anadromous lifestyle. In fresh water it prefers to feed on bleak.
Habitats and biting calendar
If the asp lives in northern rivers, then its life expectancy can reach ten years; to the south, the fish lives about half as long. The average length is a little more than half a meter and weighs about two kilograms, however, there are also larger specimens weighing up to 5-6 kilos and a length of about 80 cm.
Asp is a river fish. It is found in rivers belonging to the basins of the Caspian and Black Seas. This breed tends to avoid standing water whenever possible and stay with the current at all times. In addition, it is also found in the north - in the rivers of the Arctic Ocean basin.
The breed begins to be actively caught after spawning is completed. Of course, it can be caught before this time, for example, with live bait or a worm, but these will be rather isolated cases.
After spawning, the fish is often so weak that the fisherman can pull it out of the water with virtually no resistance. In the summer months, the asp tries to regain its strength by hunting fry in shallow water. In the autumn months, it goes deeper and is caught only with live bait or special devices.
Best Time of the Year for Fishing on Asp
The most optimal time of year for asp fishing is the beginning of June and until autumn.
It is during this period that it is easiest to catch a large specimen, and the chances of catching at least something also become greater.
In principle, you can start trying from the moment the snow melts, but it should be borne in mind that when the water temperature still fluctuates at a low level, the fish hunts at depth, and not at the surface, so it is more difficult to distinguish the feeding areas of the asp, which complicates the process.
In summer, the water warms up, and he begins his hunt for prey in the upper layers, near the surface of the water, so that even the naked eye can see and hear it;
Closer to Autumn, when the temperature begins to drop, it goes deeper and deeper again.
Catching Asp | Top 6 Most Popular Methods
There are several types:
On Spinning;
Fly fishing;
Donkoy;
Using a Float Rod;
Floating;
Path.
Catching Asp with Spinning | Tackle, Technique and Fishing Tactics
You need to start first of all with the choice of the Spinning Rod itself - this is one of the Main Components of Success.
The length of the fishing rod must be at least 1.4 m and no more than 2.7 m. The very size of the reservoir in which the event is planned should be taken into account.
However, for beginners it is best to choose a stick at least 2.7 m long, since the specificity of a spinning rod is that the longer it is, the easier it will be for you to cast.
The second very important and basic aspect of fishing is casting accuracy.
To make the task easier, it is recommended to equip the reel with thin Mono or Braided fishing line.
The rod's rings should be of good quality, and it is preferable to use a spinning reel.
The diameter of the first throughput ring should range from 30 to 35 mm. Experienced fishermen strongly advise against purchasing hard rods or overly fast spinning rods.
The asp resists much more energetically when it gets hooked, so a rigid rod can break under its pressure.
Tactics and fishing techniques
Depending on the time of year, the specific fishing location and fishing habits, you can choose one of several tackles - fly fishing, spinning rod, float rod. Regardless of which gear you prefer, you need to know the subtleties to increase the likelihood of successful fishing.
Fly fishing
This option is justified at the beginning of summer, when the asp gathers in flocks and kills the fry. At this time, he does not disdain tasty insects. When choosing a suitable reel, give preference to lightweight models that can hold a lot of fishing line. There must be a reliable and comfortable brake - a second delay can cost a trophy. It is not necessary to take a long rod; even when fishing from the shore, 3-3.5 meters is enough. But it must be durable - if you are going to fish for such a strong fish as asp, you should not buy cheap Chinese crafts, the quality of which is questionable. It is important to choose the right fly - the color and shape correspond to the insects that are common near the reservoir. An unfamiliar bait will certainly scare away the asp.
To learn more:
Fishing line net: fine for violating the law
Having arrived on shore, you need to develop a suitable plan of action. At the beginning of summer, the predator gathers in schools, driving the fry, and collective hunting is used, which shows the high level of intelligence of the fish. By finding a cauldron (a place where a school of asp drives the fry) and throwing gear there, you can count on a good catch. In such cases the bite follows immediately. If you can’t find the boiler, you need to cast the fly onto the rapids, and not into the active stream of the current, but to the border where the flow is not so rapid.
Many fishermen disagree on whether the asp takes the fly right away or waits until the current brings it under his nose. Try both options - let the bait move with the flow of water, without relaxing for a second - be prepared for a sharp hook.
Spinning
This gear is great for fishing in the warmer months and should be chosen seriously. Spinning for catching asp from a boat, boat and from the shore will be a good solution, and even the equipment will not be too different. The rod itself must be long - at least three meters, because you will have to cast the bait far. The optimal test is 50-70 g. It is better to take a spinning reel, although a multiplier one is also suitable if you have to fish from the shore or from a boat at the end of summer, when the asp becomes cautious.
There are no preferences in choosing fishing line. Monofilament, braided - depends on habits. The optimal diameter is 0.2-0.3 mm. This fish does not have sharp teeth like pike perch or pike, and a metal leash is not needed. As bait for catching asp, it is advisable to have several baits on hand - the preferences of the predator change sharply and unexpectedly. A spoon that caught a great bite a week ago may turn out to be useless today.
The castmaster for asp is popular - due to its large weight, it can be thrown over a considerable distance. Bombarda, known as sbirulino, performed well. A large float pulls the bait, which in strong currents and shallow depths jumps over the rocks, like a fish looking for edible insects. The asp probably won't resist. Vladimir Struev talks interestingly about this bait in the video below.
Experienced fishermen do not forget proven spoons. A spoon weighing 30-45 g helps out in cases where other baits are useless. A small wolfer can also be a good choice.
To learn more:
How to properly steam wheat for fishing
You should approach fishing carefully. For example, when hunting for pike, fans of spinning rods try fishing through different layers of water. If the target is an asp, it makes sense to give preference to the upper and middle wires - he rarely hunts below. Therefore, after casting the bait, either start retrieving it immediately or after a second so that the spoon or castmaster does not have time to lie on the bottom.
Asp is an extremely smart and cautious fish, which is noticeable when catching large, trophy and therefore desirable specimens. When fishing from a boat, try not to swim closer than 60-80 meters to the casting point. The slightest noise or unfamiliar silhouette will scare the asp, and then fishing will not be as successful as we would like. That’s why catching asp with castmaster and heavy spoons is so popular among masters – they are cast over a long distance. Of course, in such cases it makes sense to choose braided fishing line. It is lightweight and allows you to make long casts.
Float rod
Asps are caught relatively rarely with this tackle, although there are such masters. They can be understood - cautious fish rarely bite the bait, but the process of catching even a kilogram specimen will bring a whole range of feelings. It is not advisable to use a fishing line thicker than 0.3 mm - this will scare away wary fish. But if a specimen weighing 5-7 kilograms is tempted by the bait, it will not be easy to pull it out.
The fishing rod should be long - at least 3.5 meters, and preferably more. There are no special requirements for it; it is better to take the most convenient one. Inertia-free will allow you to make long casts and eliminate the possibility of the line getting tangled. Finally, the float. It’s better to take a transparent one - it’s almost invisible, which means it won’t attract unnecessary attention. True, these are not always available for sale, so some craftsmen use homemade floats.
When casting, try not to get too close to the water; stay against the backdrop of bushes and not in open areas. A strong, brave, but cautious asp, having noticed the shadow or silhouette of a fisherman, may well go to another place. That is why it is better to choose a long fishing rod - you can cast bait without coming close to the coastline.
Pros of Spinning Reels | 3 Main Advantages
Easy and Smooth Glide;
Many models have a casting range system (ABS or Long Cast);
The gear ratio should be in the range of 5.1/1, and the spool diameter should be from 3000–3500.
Based on the experience of many professional and experienced fishermen, we can conclude that thick wattle nets in asp fishing are not sufficiently effective, so it is recommended to change the large diameter to a smaller one - in the range from 0.14 mm to 0.16 mm.
Such parameters will be enough to fight this wayward fish and will not frighten you with its size.
6 Zherekhov in 7 Minutes on Kastmaster | Video
Fly Fishing for Asp
How to Fly Fishing for Asp? | Effective Fly Fishing Spot
For such fishing, a 8-class rod is usually enough, but a 9-class rod is also possible. If the asp’s bite is in the active stage, then it is caught using a floating line and streamers or dry flies.
If hunting takes place at half-water level, then the line should be sinking and the bait of the appropriate class.
The most effective place to use fly fishing is in the shallows. When catching Asp in this way, they usually use:
Various flies, grasshoppers and streamers of different colors;
The cockchafer is also well suited for such purposes;
Of the artificial ones, the best would be to use dry flies in a light color scheme.
In order to catch an asp this way, it is important to choose the right equipment:
The cord must be floating or intermediate, and the undergrowth must be 2 to 4 m long;
Unlike spinning fishing, the fishing line should be thicker so that when the fish grabs the bait, they do not break.
Once the gear is selected, you can start fishing. To do this, having chosen a convenient place, you should throw the wire with flies across the current and hold them lightly. During the process, you can tighten the cord at different paces.
When fishing occurs in river flow conditions, it is necessary to pull the bait towards you, and if it occurs in standing water, then the pull should be carried out slowly.
Fly Fishing for Asp on the Dubossary Reservoir | Video
Disguise won't hurt
When catching asp, you should camouflage . Strange as it may seem, he sees a fisherman. Moreover, if a fisherman stands chest-deep in water, then the fish sees him at a distance of four meters. If a fisherman stands on the shore, the fish sees him from a distance of 12 meters.
Therefore, if you come fishing in bright clothes, consider that you will not have any luck. You need to fish on your haunches, try to blend into the dark background of the trees. Clothes should be dark. Try not to make noise, this can also scare away the fish.
Method of Catching Asp by Swimming
Typically used when the weather starts to get cold. The bait is hooked to a hook behind the back or mouth and led along the river bottom until the asp bites.
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.
To do this, a small fishing rod should be equipped with a thin fishing line (from 0.3 to 0.4 mm) made from nylon core and hooks No. 6 or 7 of any type should be attached.
Lures for Asp | Top 5 Best Lures
There are several types of bait that are most effective for catching this type of fish.
Devon is the most complex bait, which is very difficult to make on your own and difficult to find in a store in terms of price and quality.
When Choosing This Lure, You Need to Consider Several Points:
It should rotate easily;
Good weight in relation to compactness;
It is best to take a bait of this type made of lead;
High rotation speed. It should be noted that for solid Devons it is lower than for combined ones, the blades of which are made of brass or copper.
It is best to fish using the simultaneous use of baits, 2 types - left rotation and right rotation.
Trihedron - the purpose of this device is fishing in the water column at almost any depth. This is especially true in the spring and autumn.
Due to the fact that the Trehgranka seems to fall into the water, it is most popular among fishermen because of its effectiveness. Most often, hunting with this bait can be found in the Middle Volga, where pike perch are also caught with it.
Castmaster is rightfully called a Universal Type Spinner. With its help, asp can be caught in different ways.
For example, in the summer, when fishing mainly takes place in the upper layer of water, they use castmaster lures at high speed, and with the arrival of cold weather, they throw them to the depths and pull them up with steps.
If fishing takes place from a cliff, then with the help of this bait the spoon is pulled to the surface using a stepwise method, but at a careful and slow pace.
Jig - used for fishing in Cold Water. The use of this bait is used in the Step Type Method.
First of all, it should be taken into account that in the autumn and spring the asp usually feeds near the bottom and especially likes riffles, and it is in such cases that jigs are most effective. On such fishing you can catch a fairly large individual of this type of fish.
Wobbler - provides maximum opportunities with minimal restrictions.
For example, this bait is effective even if the asp does not show itself in any way on the surface of the water. Then you need to stand with the current and throw the gear across the current and slowly pull it up. This method is very effective.
Or another method. You should choose a place on the edge with a shallow depth - about 30 m from the spit and cast. A very effective bait and justifies itself in catching asp.
What do you use to catch asp - the best baits and lures
The choice here is simply huge. First of all, it depends on the fishing time and gear. It is advisable to find out what the asp is biting on in a given place. But even with such information, it would be useful to take a spare bait. The tastes of fish are changeable, and the tadpole, which provided an excellent bite yesterday, will be squeamishly avoided today.
To learn more:
Fishing bow: crime and punishment
Let's start with choosing bait for catching asp on a float rod:
- live bait – preferably long (at least 6-8 cm), but narrow. The best choice, according to experts, is bleak;
- insects. There is a large assortment here - the cockchafer, the fly, the grasshopper;
- tadpole;
- small frogs – preferably live. To avoid causing serious injury to them, hook them on a large hook to the skin and pierce the fleshy leg;
- artificial baits that imitate all of the above.
Spinning baits
You need to choose a heavy spoon or castmaster if you are fishing from a boat. When fishing from the shore, it is better to give preference to lighter ones - the risk of spooking the fish is reduced. The bait should imitate the prey familiar to the local asp. Too bright ones make the predator wary.
Wet flies and streamers perform well. It is impossible to give an unambiguous recommendation here. But it makes sense to take both light and dark ones with you. It has long been noted that in cloudy weather any fish takes white or yellow bait better. And on a sunny day, brown, gray or red will do. Many people take a knife with them when fishing. By ripping open the belly of the first prey you come across, you can easily find out everything about the feeding habits in a given area.
Of course, when going fishing, it is important to prepare suitable bait, although it is not always possible to use it. For example, if you fish from a boat, casting a lure 80 meters, there can be no talk of any bait. But when fishing from the shore, it increases the chances of a good catch. Do not forget that the asp is a predator, and plant food is clearly not for him. High activity forces you to eat exclusively food of animal origin.
A good choice when preparing bait would be finely chopped meat or fish. Maggots, coarsely chopped worms and dead but fresh fry performed well. No need to add any flavorings! They do more harm than good. Maximum - sprinkle the fry with blood from the meat. The smell from such bait will quickly spread over a large area. But a sharp, aggressive aroma can scare away a cautious asp. Therefore, leave special mixtures for fishing for chub, crucian carp and other herbivores.
This is where we can finish the article about catching one of the most desirable fish in the reservoirs of our country. After reading it, you will receive enough useful information, at least in theory, to subsequently return from the river carrying a substantial trophy in your backpack.
Tips for Beginners | Several Main Rules on How to Catch Asp
If a person has never gone fishing for Asp, he will need to know at least the basic method of catching this fish.
The traditional method of catching asp is using a spinning rod. To do this, you will need to equip it with propeller-type spinners called “Devon”.
With this kind of gear you need to cast a little further than the spots where the fish splashes.
The asp swallows the spinner the moment it sinks into the top layer of water, so further actions require accuracy and speed.
In some cases, the fish swallows the “Devon” immediately, at the moment when the casting circles have not yet dispersed; at such moments, the asp begins to actively hunt for it and the illusion of a “game” is created.
After the fish grabs the bait, the line suddenly becomes tense, a jerk is felt at this very moment, you need to hook, but with great care, since either the line or the asp’s mouth may break.
When the fisherman is convinced that the fish is on the hook, the line must be lowered and slowly reeled in so that it can be carefully brought to the shore.
If Asp was hooked correctly, then his behavior is predictable - he will either try to go downstream, or go to a depth opposite to the fisherman.
At this stage, it is important not to loosen the tension of the fishing line, since this type of fish is very shy and may try to break away several times, which will lead to the breaking of the fishing line or damage to its oral cavity.
When carrying out competent actions and following all the rules, the chances of successful fishing even for beginners increase several times.
Where to catch big asp
A large asp looks for places where the whirlpools end to attack; smaller asps hunt in the middle layers of the whirlpool; you need to cast skillfully, since two fish attacking at the same time is a rare occurrence. Catching a large asp is no longer a game; it requires a lot of patience and the ability to withstand the blow that attacks specimens over 2 kg.
One of the ideal places for catching large asp is plums, if they are wide and have sufficient depth, with a rocky bottom surface. If there is a significant current, you need to look for places where there are boulders. It is where the whirlpools end and calm water begins that the small fish rest, in such places the asp liked to attack prey suddenly and swiftly, an experienced fisherman knows this and therefore prepares to hook the strike immediately, from the moment of casting. Valuable information: before each exit, check the integrity and elasticity of the hooks: the blows are sometimes so strong that the hook cannot withstand and unbends. But that’s not all; hooking is often not necessary, the main thing is to withstand the blow; inexperienced fishermen can release the rod out of surprise.
In places where there are cliffs, you need to look for trees and logs that have fallen into the water, you need to fish the place, try to cast both with the current and against it. You need to look for places where there is no drift of sand grains, clay soil is best, large asp loves just such places. But underwater spits are a favorite stopping place for schools of large asp, experienced fishermen adore these places, they will certainly be lucky here and often their hopes are justified. In such places it is easiest to catch fish; this is a rather difficult task: an asp can quite exhaust its hunter.
