Vazuz reservoir: fishing and recreation at local bases

The result of the damming of the Vazuza River and its largest tributaries led to the formation of a large reservoir - the Vazu Reservoir. This place annually attracts a large number of fishermen, both from local residents and from other regions.

The popularity of fishing in these places is due to the following features:

Variety of prey : in local waters you can find a lot of different fish, including the most popular predators - pike and perch.
Unpretentiousness of fish in the reservoir . Most breeds bite on standard baits - a worm or maggot; The bite is distinguished by its stability.
Capable of using all modern artificial baits , they also demonstrate a high degree of effectiveness in local conditions.
Continuity of the fishing season . You can fish throughout virtually the entire season; short breaks occur only during the formation of ice and the beginning of its melting, since during these periods it is unsafe to go to the reservoir.
The depth of the reservoir in different areas varies from 5 to 30 meters , which allows each fisherman to choose the most suitable conditions depending on the expected size of the catch and the available gear.
The large area of the reservoir allows it to accommodate a large number of fishermen, who will not interfere with each other. Fishing can be done both from the shoreline and from boats.
Opportunity to reach many promising fishing spots using personal vehicles.

Fishing reports

Many anglers have already visited the Vasu Reservoir, below are some of their reports on fishing in these places:

Mikhail: “In February of this year I was at the Vazu reservoir, which I had not visited for many years. During this time, the fishing rules have changed; now it is recommended to have a permit to avoid problems. I can’t say that this caused any difficulties: the prices are purely symbolic, so as not to waste time, you can order a trip with delivery to the fishing spot. The rest turned out to be excellent, the white bream weighing up to 500-600g was consistently biting, the total weight of the catch over 2 days was almost 15kg.”
Alexey: “In July, I fished for the first time at the Vazu Reservoir, and for the first time I chose a place near the village of Yarygino. A lot of fishermen come here, but most of them stay near the village, so you can find secluded places without any problems. The weather was hot, I was afraid that this would negatively affect the bite, but the fish were quite active. During the day I caught 17 medium-sized perch, and by evening I managed to catch a single pike.”
Evgeny: “I recently wanted to visit the Sosedovsky stream, but the Yarygino side turned out to be impossible to get to it, because the field was dug up. I had to stay near the village, but this did not affect the quality of fishing in any way: the perch bites here consistently at any time of the year and weather, and we even managed to catch several pike perch.”

Summer holidays

In summer, most choose to camp in the numerous campsites near the villages:

Dubinino.
Zolotilovo.
Yarygino.
Vyrodovo.
Popsuevo.

You can come with your own equipment or rent everything you need .

For lovers of the textbook float, fishing on Vazuza will be a real holiday for the soul.

Here you can show all your skills, craftsmanship and dexterity, changing gear and bait for different breeds. You can fish both from the shore and from a boat, which will bring special pleasure in the constant current maintained by the work of powerful pumps in the Dubinino area. Here the fish are always well fed, so it is almost impossible to leave without a good catch.

Pike are the best in these places, pike perch and perch are a little worse. Everyone chooses the depth themselves; the best bite is at a depth of 7 meters.

The coveted tench is also found here, but it is difficult to catch. At the same time, the bite of roach and silver bream continues unceasingly.

Local inhabitants are not spoiled by newfangled complementary foods and bait. A good old dung worm works great, which can be dug up here, as well as any common food for carp breeds, mixed with local water and soil.

For donkey lovers, we recommend the section from Dubinino to Vyrodovo, where roach, bream and silver bream await you. The unhurried current, the calming wind and the silvery arrows of schools of fish are the best cure for all illnesses and worries.

People travel to Vyrodovo with a spinning rod. There are many branches with snags where valuable prey awaits: pike and perch. If you are going to such places, stock up on poppers and non-snags. The best time to go after a predator is during the feeding season - late summer, early autumn, then you can take your trophy pike!

For pike perch, it is best to go to the vicinity of Popsuevo. This fish loves deep water, holes with a neat sandy bottom. Trolling from small boats with outboard motors is allowed in this area, so this exciting fishing method is also available to everyone.

Fishing in winter

In winter, the choice of fishing spots is noticeably narrowed. This can be explained in one word - safety. It is recommended to choose a place near these villages:

Igurovo.
Blagodatnoe.
Vyrodovo.
Dubinino.
Bread.
Millstone.
Zazerki.
Nikolskoye.

Here, at any time of the year, you can stay at the recreation centers “Khlepen” and “Country Club” . You can either rent a standard room or rent an entire cottage. The territory has everything for relaxation if you come with your family: food, recreational facilities, the opportunity to learn navigation, barbecue, billiard rooms and animators for the youngest guests.

In winter, the linen bites well using a combination of a jig and a bloodworm; you can also make a feeder with a hook and a bloodworm. In the Igurovo area it is better to place girders, which are excellent predators. You can catch bait in the form of a large ruff there.

Near Zhernovka there are places with many holes where burbot wait, but finding them in winter is quite difficult, even if you have an echo sounder with you. Burbot also goes well to the girders, but if you don’t have someone with you who knows these places well, it’s better to leave this sly one until next time.

If you don’t have a snowmobile, you can also rent one at recreation centers or from local residents, thus you will significantly expand your capabilities and fishing will turn into a real winter fairy tale in Vazuza.

Fishing restrictions

Do not forget that there are sectors on the Vazuz reservoir that are included in the list of spawning areas; they are subject to fishing restrictions during the corresponding periods.

In order to avoid communication with the fisheries authorities in an unpleasant context, it is not recommended to use nets and other poaching devices on the territory of the reservoir.

When leaving with a good mood and an excellent catch, take all the garbage with you and deliver it to a specialized place (there are enough of them).

Tours to the Vasu Reservoir

In recent years, purchasing a permit for fishing on the Vazu Reservoir has become a mandatory condition; when violators are identified, Rybnadzor draws up a protocol and issues fines.

Bans on fishing apply only in the Smolensk region; more freedom is allowed on the reservoirs of the neighboring Tver region. It is recommended to find out the cost of tours in advance, since prices change annually and information quickly becomes outdated.

Approximate prices are as follows:

Seasonal vouchers valid from November to April or from June to November cost 2,000 rubles.
Citizens living near the reservoir are entitled to a discount, according to which a seasonal ticket costs 1,000 rubles.
Pensioners living near the reservoir can take advantage of a double discount and purchase a ticket for 500 rubles.
Registration of a day trip costs 200 rubles when visiting a specialized point.
Registration of a day trip with delivery to the fishing spot costs from 300 rubles.

You can familiarize yourself with all the documentation and request receipts when you contact the voucher issuing points where the rangers work.

"Hlepen"

“Khlepen” is one of the most famous fishing bases in the Smolensk region, which continues to operate without interruption throughout the season.

There are two accommodation options at this location:

Accommodation in a standard room with a refrigerator, bed linen, TV and private bathroom. The cost of living is 1000 rubles per day.
Accommodation in a two-room luxury suite with additional amenities, which include a personal kitchen, bathroom with shower and satellite TV. The cost of living is 3000 rubles per day.

In both cases, it is possible to park your personal car free of charge.

The list of additional services that are paid separately is given below:

Dubinino

Dubinino is a village in the Gagarinsky district of the Smolensk region, it is one of the most popular places for fishing in the winter season.

Fishing is accompanied by an active and stable bite; many fishermen strive for this place due to the following favorable factors:

Moderate current that does not change speed and direction in different areas.
Various depths and the presence of large underwater holes, which allows fishermen to choose the most suitable conditions.
The presence of a large number of feeding places in which the fish always behave actively.

Perch and pike perch are rare here, so many anglers go to Dubinino for pike, which bite throughout the season.

Fishing on the Vazuz reservoir

Fishing on the Vazuz Reservoir is popular all year round. The Smolensk region is generally a favorite place for many fishermen. Both in winter and in summer, pike, pike perch, perch, bream, roach, bluegill and bleak bite well on Vazuey. There are places on the reservoir where you can catch a hefty burbot or a fairly large ruff. Recently, a catfish was introduced into the reservoir, which has successfully taken root and is regularly caught on a hook. In the vicinity of the village of Khrenovaya there are the most popular places for winter fishing, where it is impossible to remain without a catch.

Price list for recreation center services

Services list	Unit	Qty	Cost, rub.)
Accommodation in a 2-storey cottage for 8 people	day	1	8 000
Accommodation in a double suite	day	1	3 000
Accommodation in a double suite:
1 person	day	1	3 000
2 people	day	1	3 000
View the entire price list

Zolotilovo

Near the village of Zolotilovo, located in the Smolensk region, fishing is popular at any time of the year, there is a large variety of fish, the most popular prey being roach, silver bream, white bream, perch and pike.

Fishermen left a lot of positive and negative reviews about fishing near Zolotilovo, this is due to the fact that the fish are unevenly distributed at different depths.

Most often, accumulations of prey are found at a depth of 5 to 9 meters ; it is recommended to have an echo sounder with you, which will allow you to calculate the most promising areas, fishing in which will bring a significant catch.

Yarygino

You can also go fishing in the village of Yarygino; a variety of fish are found here, but it is in this area that there is the highest chance of catching pike perch.

Other features of fishing near this settlement are as follows:

You can get to Yarygino without any problems if you have your own car , since there is an asphalt road leading to the village. Transport can be left in the village itself; the distance to the nearest fishing spots is only 300 meters.
The depth in different areas may be different . According to anglers, the bite is stable at a depth of 5 to 7 meters.
The most common prey is perch , crucian carp and pike perch.

Popular places

The village of Dubinino is a favorite winter destination for many fishermen, because no one leaves here without a catch. In this section of the reservoir there is a relatively calm current and a long-fed place. There are holes at depth, but the fish are caught at six to eight meters. In general, the conditions are ideal, and then everything depends only on the weather, fishing luck and skill. If you place girders in shallow water, you can catch good pike, perch and rare zander.

For those who come for perch fishing, it is better to head towards the village of Vyrodovo. Despite the fact that you have to walk two or three kilometers to get to good spots around the neighboring island, there are always a lot of fishermen here. The thing is that around the island, in the snags of the rivers flowing into the Vazuz reservoir, very large perch are caught. The main thing is to stock up on balancers and spoons.

Near Zhernovka and Popsuevo there are deep holes in the reservoir where burbot can stand. To find them in winter, you need to know the depths of the Vazuz reservoir, so it will be difficult for visiting fishermen even with an echo sounder. Those who know the location of the holes can go vertical for night fishing, equipped with a luminous spoon. You can also try biting on gizzards.

If you go to the Vazuzu Reservoir to fish in winter, it is better to rent a snowmobile at the base. Then you definitely won’t be left without a catch. The main thing is not to freeze.

Vyrodovo

The village of Vyrodovo is located in the Gagarinsky district of the Smolensk region, this is another very good place for fishing, which is almost impossible to leave without a catch.

However, to do this it is necessary to discover the most promising fishing point; for this it is recommended to use the following tips:

There are always a large number of fishermen near the village , so to find the best places it is recommended to move 2-3 km away from the village.
Near the village of Vyrodovo there are a large number of streams flowing into the reservoir. These are excellent spots for fishermen whose main target is bass.
There are large holes in the reservoir in which you can catch burbot, but this fish bites mainly at night. In winter, these holes are difficult to find even with special equipment, so it is recommended to find guides from among local residents or experienced fishermen who have already been to these places.
Near the village there are a large number of snags , which are ideal for spinning fishing. There is a high probability of fishing for trophy specimens of pike or perch.

Peculiarities

The Vazuzskoe reservoir flows within the boundaries of the Zubtsovsky district of the Tver region with the Sychevsky and Gagarinsky districts of the Smolensk region. The earthen dam reaches a height of 35 meters, and a length of slightly less than 900 meters, with a length of 84 kilometers. However, it is quite narrow. On average, the distance between the banks is 600 meters. In the widest places this figure barely exceeds two kilometers.

The average depth of the Vazuz reservoir is about five meters. There are also whirlpools - about 28 meters. There are no sources of pollution on the coast of the reservoir. The main negative factor is the flow of the Gzhati River, where municipal wastewater from the city of Gagarin goes. The bottom of the artificial lake is mostly covered with sand, silt and clay. In some places the water area is snarled and covered with sedge, reeds and reeds. In winter, the reservoir freezes. Ice sets in at the end of November and usually melts in mid-spring. Only during these periods is fishing on the Vazuz reservoir interrupted.

Vazuza: winter fishing

Fishing on Vazuza is popular at any time of the year, including winter. You just need to wait until the ice becomes the strongest so that the conditions for staying on it are safe.

During the cold season, virtually all fish species continue to bite as in the summer; Among the most common prey are:

A small bream weighing up to 200-300 grams bites consistently throughout the winter, especially if you pre-fed the holes.
Large bream are usually active at night.
Roaches are active at any time of the year, but will need to attract the attention of large schools. To do this, you need to organize and feed several holes located at a distance of 3-4 meters from each other.
Large perch bite near snags; jigs or spinners are usually used to catch them in winter.
Burbot bites only at night. It is best to catch it in winter with live bait, which sinks to the surface of the bottom.
Pike and pike perch also continue to bite in the winter; it is best to catch them at this time of year using girders, using small bleak or roach as bait.

Cold season

Winter fishing on the Vazuz reservoir can delight you with both predatory fish and linen. The bite is excellent for perch, pike and pike perch, bream, bream, roach, roach, silver bream, dace, bleak, and less often crucian carp and crucian carp. You can also find places where you can find burbot and large ruff.

Local and visiting fishermen practice all types of winter fishing, trying to make several leads. For example, one with a bloodworm and a jig, and the other with a bloodworm and an empty small hook. Peaceful fish bite well on a fishing rod with a guard and on a float. Moreover, the same result is obtained both at the beginning of winter, when the first ice appears, and later. Groundbait - feed bloodworms with black soil.

Fishing on the Vazuzu Reservoir (2014) showed excellent results in winter vertical fishing with balance beams and spoons, as well as with a no-attachment jig. In the areas of the villages of Vyrodovo, Blagodatnoye, Igurovo, fishermen organized a real competition for bream and predatory fish, such as pike, on the girders. By the way, the caught ruff was immediately impaled. Although pike are capricious in winter, many were lucky. Here's the Vazuz reservoir - fabulous fishing!

Perch fishing on Vazuza

One of the most popular predatory fish on Vazuza is perch, since it can be found in virtually all areas of the reservoir. To catch it, you can use live bait or artificial bait; the average weight of prey is from 150 to 600 grams , although it is possible to catch large humpback perch weighing up to 1.5 kg.

You should look for the striped predator near the confluence of small rivers or streams into the reservoir; it often hides and hunts near sunken snags. Local perch bite on standard baits commonly used to catch them; no special preparation is required for this.

When visiting the reservoir for the first time, it is recommended to visit the villages of Vyrodovo or Yarygino. Local residents or visiting experienced fishermen are always ready to suggest to beginners the most promising places for catching perch, of which there are a lot here.