Second day. Catching pike perch in the Volga
Get up at 6:30, breakfast is already ready, the cooks did a great job, porridge, pastries, tea, coffee. We ate with pleasure and took the gear we had prepared from the evening to the pier. Sergei was already waiting there. At a short council of war, we decided to start with catfish and pike perch. In 30 minutes we reached the Main Bank. Sergei's cunning manipulations with two anchors allowed us to stand across the current. Despite the proximity to the shore, the depth under the boat was about 7-8 meters. I rigged a jig, weighed 48 grams, a bright green twister. The pike perch pecked on almost every retrieve, my soul sang!
This is what fishing in Astrakhan is like in October! While the two of us were having fun with pike perch, our third colleague, having equipped a donk, threw it at the locusts, in the hope of catching a catfish. The mini catfish did not wait for a special invitation and began to bite immediately. On average 2-4 kg individual. And off we go. The bite was like on black rocks (c) By 12-00 we decided to weigh anchor and go to the base for lunch. The morning's catch had to be processed and placed in the refrigerator. In order not to carry excess weight with us and not have to do dirty work at home, we gutted the fish right at the base, in a specially designated place, cut off the tails and heads, and put the carcasses in bags. A hearty lunch of soup with fish balls, salad, pasta with stewed beef put us in a blissful state of mind, and an afternoon nap until 3 p.m. restored our strength. Afterwards, we got ready and moved to the same place for evening fishing. The number of bites this time was more modest, but, nevertheless, we did not arrive empty this time either. Having looked at what we caught during the day, we came to the conclusion that we had already caught something “to eat” for ourselves and our families, and it was decided to devote the next day to fishing for pike.
Zander
Description of pike perch:
Pike perch is a typical predator of the perch fish family. The length of pike perch on Akhtuba reaches 1 meter and weight 8 kilograms. Some specimens in Akhtuba and the Lower Volga reach a length of 1.3 meters and weigh up to 15 kilograms, but now this is very rare. In addition to the sedentary pike perch, which constantly lives in Akhtuba, in the spring it spawns in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain
pike perch comes from the Caspian Sea, which is distinguished by a darker color of its scales.
The minimum permitted size of caught pike perch in the Astrakhan region
is 40 centimeters. The acceptable size of the fish is determined fresh by measuring the length from the top of the snout (with the mouth closed) to the base of the middle rays of the caudal fin.
Pike perch habitats:
Pike perch is widespread in freshwater bodies of Europe and Asia. On Akhtuba
pike perch, as a rule, sticks to the bottom and comes to the surface of the water occasionally only during hunting.
It does not lurk in ambush like a pike
, but wanders around the pond in search of prey.
Pike perch prefers a sandy bottom with nearby shelters in the form of snags or bottom edges. In the warm season, pike perch in the river stays at depths of 3 to 6 meters, and in winter it moves closer to deeper wintering holes. But there are also exceptions to the rules; in early spring, pike perch often enters shallow sections of the river with depths of up to half a meter, where the water warms up faster. It has also been noted that with a significant rise in water in Akhtuba in winter, pike perch can often be found in flooded bushes near the shore. One of the best habitats for pike perch on Akhtuba is the water area of the river where the fishing base “Sudachye Mesto”
, which is why the base received its name.
Fishing for pike perch:
The most catchy places for catching pike perch are the edges - the transition of the river bed into the coastal strip, the boundaries of holes at the transition to the shallows, pronounced bottom irregularities, the boundaries of flooded ravines and river beds. In such places or fish trails
and you need to look for pike perch. Snags, sunken ships and oxbow lakes are also good places to catch this fish. In snags, of course, the chances of snags and loss of gear are much greater, but it is there that the opportunity to catch a pike perch increases several times.
Catch pike perch on Akhtuba and Lower Volga
throughout the year, but its best bite occurs after spawning at the end of
June
, with the beginning of ice melting in
March
-
April
and during the autumn run to search for winter camps in
October
-
November
.
The most effective methods for catching pike perch are trolling and jig-spinning, and at different times of the year and under different weather conditions,
some methods work better and some worse, therefore, to successfully catch pike perch on Akhtuba, it is better to study both of these fishing methods .
Pike perch are also caught using a float rod and bottom tackle
, using small fry, a bunch of worms, leeches, shells, and sometimes frogs as bait.
Another interesting way of catching pike perch is by vertical trolling from a boat while it is drifting with the current, and in certain periods, especially in the fall, this method may turn out to be the most catchy. With the first frosts, when the ice on Akhtuba becomes strong enough and can easily support the weight of a person, it becomes possible to catch pike perch from the ice using a spoon or balance beam, and it is better to put a fry, sprat or pike
perch cheek on the bait hook.
Taste qualities of pike perch:
Pike-perch meat has excellent taste; in addition, it is considered dietary due to its low fat content, its meat is white in color and has few bones. Pike perch is a valuable game fish and is caught in large quantities. Pike perch can be fried, smoked, dried and boiled. The heads of large pike perch, along with the heads of catfish and carp, are placed in real Astrakhan
fish soup
.
Fresh salted pike perch, made according to the principle of the Korean dish “ he
”, is especially tasty.
Day three. Catching perch on the rocks
Morning exercise with breakfast was repeated, we loaded into the boat, and, having walked 500 meters through the canal from the base, we immediately found ourselves on the so-called “rolls” (the advantage of a fishing base on raskats). There were a lot of doubts, both the full moon and Valera’s complaints that the pike wasn’t biting. But Sergei reassured us and promised to find a pike. So he took us to the border of muddy and clear water, and gave us advice - fish with number 6 or 5 spinners, or with spoons. Well, we are not looking for easy ways! Wobblers of all kinds were used. We caught some pretty decent perches, but not what we wanted.
We changed the wiring, tried to make the wobblers work wonders, but no. We decided not to look for goodness, goodness and still installed the fifth number meps, then silicone. And the pike perked up, perked up quite well. To be fair, it is worth noting that no records were achieved; all pike were up to 3 kg.
And this time we decided not to exhaust our bodies with a fishing marathon, and at 12-00 we were already at the base, just in time for lunch. Again a delicious lunch. So what, the food was excellent. After a short lunch break, at 14-00 we went in the direction of the Main Bank to catch pike perch and try to catch carp with cake. This time the pike perch did not behave actively; bites, of course, happened, but not so often and briskly. The catfish also disappeared somewhere. But the carp was right there. But the very first carp that tried our bait showed that we were not ready to meet him. The clutch released 15 meters of fishing line and left. We decided to try our luck one more time, cast, wait 10 minutes, bite and leave. There was enough bait left for one more cast, and the bite was not long in coming. And this time we were finally convinced that it was too early for us to compete with the Volga carp, the experience was not the same, and the gear, to put it mildly, was not the same. The sun was setting, we decided to weigh anchor and devote an hour to deep-sea fishing on the way back. The pike was in the same places, biting just as well, but we didn’t take it anymore, we simply released it.
Our offer
To make your fishing for pike perch on the Volga truly trophy, use the help of our rangers! We have experienced specialists who are well versed in the specifics of local fishing for this predator. They will tell you the exact location of the holes where pike perch lurk during cold weather, and will recommend rapids and shallow waters where you can find a solid school of fish in the summer. Those who are lucky will be provided with assistance in cutting, preparing and storing the catch.
By contacting us, you will combine pike perch fishing on the Volga at the “House of the Sun” camp site with an unforgettable vacation: we provide all the necessary conditions for a pleasant pastime. At your service is a swimming pool, beach, restaurant, bath complex, lake, equipment rental, children's playground and much more. It is also possible to rent swimming equipment for every taste. In summer you will find a good tan, relaxation away from the stuffy metropolis, swimming in the river, fruit and, of course, unforgettable trophy fishing.
We have created the best conditions for fishermen. You can stay in comfortable rooms, take a steam bath and eat in the restaurant. Our chefs will be happy to prepare your trophies. Call 7 (800) 500-56-82 and order the best pike perch fishing on the Volga!
Day four. Homecoming.
Restaurant of the base "Raskaty"
We woke up at 8:30 and had breakfast with delicious pastries and coffee. Loading the car wasn't easy, but we still packed. We went to the administration of the base, where we made the final payment for gasoline and said goodbye to the hospitable hosts. We said thank you to Sergei for the rest and fishing, which, thanks to his efforts, were so good. At 9-00 we left the base towards Krasnodar. The return journey was complicated by rains in the Krasnodar region and a continuous flow of trucks with sugar beets. At 21-00 we arrived in Krasnodar.
Conclusions:Houses of the “Raskaty” base
I don't mind the money spent. The base is worth it, fishing in Astrakhan is not expensive, that’s about it. They fed well and a lot. There were no questions about the accommodation, it was modest, but everything you needed was there, including hot water in the shower and a bathroom. The budarka boats are in quite good condition, the engines are 9-15 horsepower, there were no breakdowns. As far as the rangers are concerned, we were lucky. It is clear that the base administration is concerned about the problem with the rangers, and is trying their best to solve it, good luck to them in their hard work. It took 150 liters of gasoline for the journey there and back. But 2 days of full-fledged fishing is not enough, just one more would have been just right. So next time I’ll go for 5 days.
Thank you all for your attention!
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Bottom rig for pike perch
Bottom fishing for pike perch is not as massively focused on catching predators as spinning and live bait fishing, but it also deserves attention. As equipment for bottom fishing, classic cord tackle and a rubber band are used. No less practical is a donka for pike perch, formed on a spinning rod or feeder rod, the so-called zakiduha. All of the above types of bottom fishing are initially designed to catch predators from shorelines over long distances.
Important! Fishing from the bottom is promising in the summer, when pike perch are less active, and the fishing strategies themselves are focused on the night time.
This type of gear is equipped with an audible alarm that helps accurately track pike perch bites. Bunches of dung worms or crawlers, sandwiches of bloodworms and maggots, as well as a leech are used as baits. On currents, using elongated leashes, sprat fishing is effective. Despite the use of even dead fish, the strong aroma of the bait and playing along with the bait on a long leash by the forces of the current provoke the fanged predator to attack this kind of bait.
Where to look for pike perch in early spring
From mid-March, when the ice completely disappears from the rivers, pike perch are caught using spinning rods. You should start your search from those places where there was a good catch in the summer, but if there are no bites, do not wait for them, but change the search area. Spring pike perch travel in schools and actively move around the reservoir, not disdaining any places. This is what distinguishes fishing in March from fishing in the summer.
First of all, we fish holes, coastal cliffs, places with reverse currents and snags. If there is a bite, we fish until it stops. If not, we move on immediately. It often happens that the active bite lasts for some time. The fisherman already manages to pull out a couple of tails and hopes for a rich catch, when suddenly the bites disappear. Most likely, this means that the flock has moved. It’s better not to wait for her to return and also change the place. But come back here after 2-3 hours and check if the bite has resumed.
Do not disdain either the pools or shallow water - a school of pike perch can be anywhere. But, if you come across a deep area with snags, pay especially close attention to this place. He loves such places, regardless of the season. So make sure you have snag-proof jig heads on hand. Fishing for snags is much safer with them: you won’t risk the gear breaking.
Biting activity in spring is loosely tied to the time of day. The fish is in a hurry to regain weight after a long winter and actively feeds throughout the day. The bite may subside for a while - but only to soon resume with the same force.
Tackle for catching carp
Carp has always been a highly respected trophy for fishing fans, and given that on Akhtuba in Three Rivers carp quite often reach a weight of 10-12 kg, the difficulty of catching it lies only in the fact that it is not only a very strong and large fish, but it is also quite cautious and, in a sense, also “smart.” Fishing even 2-3 kilogram carp
will give you an unforgettable experience, let alone trophy specimens weighing 10 kg. Accordingly, the tackle for catching carp should be as durable, high-quality as possible and, at the same time, light and inconspicuous. To catch carp, it is better to use special “carp” rods, as well as “carp” reels and sensitive bite alarms. The main gear for targeted fishing for large carp on Akhtuba is a feeder. As an option, instead of a special long feeder rod with dough up to 100 g. You can use a heavy spinning rod with dough up to 80 g. length 3.0-3.2 m. The reel must be of high quality, for example, Shimano with the Bait Runner system (with additional clutch) series 6000-10000, or Daiwa series 4000-5000. Monofil 0.20-0.28 or braided cord 0.18-0.24 mm is used as the main fishing line. Monoline is better
absorbs the insanely sharp jerks of the carp at the beginning, but the braided line will allow you to save the entire length reserve in case of snagging on snags (only the equipment from the fishing line with the feeder with hooks comes off). Feeders for such gear are selected depending on the fishing conditions and can be additionally loaded up to 100 grams, and hooks should be taken of the highest quality, size about No. 22 (according to the Russian classification) and depending on the bait. Depending on the season (spring and autumn - animals, summer - plants), nozzles are selected and combined experimentally. “Wild” carp is not accustomed to certain baits, so it is not easy to please it at a particular moment. The main baits are worms, insect larvae, shell meat (barley), steamed or canned corn, peas, mastyrka, dough, makukha, etc. In summer for fishing
For carp, you can use boilies (you need to bring a supply of them, like worms, with you to the base) - in the summer of 2013, red and yellow boilies with the smell of fruit and vanilla worked well. When fishing for carp, you definitely need to feed and stabilize the fishing spot - don’t forget to stock up on bait. When fishing from a boat, use rods 2.0 -2.5 m with a test weight of up to 100 - 120 g made of carbon fiber, composite or fiberglass, depending on financial capabilities. And of course, you will need a reliable, spacious landing net. Tackle for catching perch Well, what kind of “correct” fishing can there be without perch? And if you add to the perch ear the pleasure that you can get by dragging a large perch on
lightweight, ultra-light spinning rod - emotions and pleasant memories will remain in the memory for a long time.
To catch perch with a spinning rod, you will need a Light or Ultralight class rod with a test weight of 3-20 g and a length of up to 2.7 meters. Reel series 2500-3000 with monofilament line 0.16-0.18 or braided 0.11 mm. Note that monofilament fishing line better absorbs the jerks of a perch, which has very weak lips - this reduces the number of breakdowns. Small wobblers with high-frequency play and rattles are used as bait for catching perch. This type includes Rattlin from Rapala and Diving Chubby from Jackall Bros. In still water on ilmen and oxbow lakes, it is good to catch perch using poppers (surface wobblers), as well as spinnerbaits. Beginner fishermen can be advised to fish with small rotating spoons (Blue Fox, Muran, Merrs No. 1-3). Microjig gear is also very popular: small twisters and vibrotails with a head weight of 3-10 g. The color of the baits in this case does not play a special role, since the perch on Akhtuba and in Trekhrechye, in particular, is practically omnivorous and is not spoiled by the attention of anglers.
