Perhaps only the lazy have not heard about the prospects of winter fishing on Sura. This river is rich in freshwater inhabitants and picturesque places that attract tourists from all over Russia. However, in order to return home with a big catch, it will be necessary to take into account not only fishing methods, but also the characteristics of the reservoir. We will talk about all the smallest details of fishing on the Sura River later in the article.
Features of the reservoir
The total length of the Sura River is about 841 kilometers. This feature allows residents of six constituent entities of the Russian Federation to consider the reservoir “theirs”:
- Chuvash Republic;
- Mari El Republic;
- Nizhny Novgorod Region;
- Ulyanovsk region;
- Penza region;
- Mordovia.
In 1979, the Surskoye Reservoir acquired a regulated flow, so the reservoir begins to freeze in November, and is cleared of ice only by mid-April.
Freshwater inhabitants
Have you decided to go to the Sursky coast? Fishing on the banks of the Sura, judging by the reviews, is a very interesting and exciting activity that is suitable for both amateurs and professionals. Here is just a basic list of fish species that make up the catch of an ordinary fisherman:
- crucian carp;
- perch;
- pike;
- carp;
- catfish
Of course, in various pond farms they can also raise rarer representatives: grass carp, carp, ide, but fishing in such places can be quite expensive, so we will dwell on the prospects of an exotic activity in the following sections.
Catching catfish in the Ulyanovsk region
It is best to start getting acquainted with the peculiarities of fishing on the Sura River from the Ulyanovsk region, since this is where you can catch the most catfish. Particularly popular among local residents are areas of reservoirs along the banks of which there is a forest, most of which is the territory of the Volga Forest-Steppe Nature Reserve. The passage is closed with a barrier, but you do not need to pay money to pass. The obstacle was established only to prevent particularly valuable fish listed in the Red Book from being removed from the territory of the reserve.
If you decide to go amateur fishing, then it is best to start your route from the village of Kotyakovo. The current of the Sura in this place is quite calm, so even an inexperienced fisherman can catch several catfish without much difficulty. As for the bottom topography, it is distinguished by rather sharp changes in sandbanks and deep holes. Most trophy fish live at maximum depth, so it is recommended to take a fish finder with you to find the optimal area for active recreation.
Reviews and advice from vacationers
Travelers share exclusively positive impressions of their vacation on the pond. The highest rating among the bases of the Sursky Reservoir in Penza was received by the Birch Grove sanatorium.
It is important to understand that Sumore is a conservation area, so there is a ban on fishing on certain dates (usually from April 15 to June 15). In addition, it is not allowed to catch biomass in the lower (about 1 km from the dam) and upper pool (near the village of Kamaika) waterworks of the reservoir. Rybnadzor regularly inspects boats and boats.
When going on a summer vacation, you need to stock up on repellents for midges and mosquitoes; in some grassy areas there are a lot of them. The most important advice is to take a good mood with you.
Fishing on Nizhny Novgorod and Mordovian Sura
The reservoir in these areas is characterized by a rather complex bottom topography, the depth of which ranges from 3 to 4 meters. The current is quite fast, accelerating as the depth decreases. As for fishing spots, there are several win-win options that are more suitable for professional fishermen than for amateurs:
- Merger of Sura and Medyanka. On the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod region, near the village of Bakshandino (Pilninsky district), two rivers merge. In this place you can catch quite large catfish or even burbot. The best gear to use is a spinning rod with a weight of up to 150 grams. Suitable baits include chicken giblets, small bleaks and frogs.
- Merging of Piana and Sura. Not far from the village of Shakhovo there is also a confluence of two rivers. Here you can fish almost all year round. Most professional fishermen recommend using a twister or vibrotail as bait, since there are quite a lot of pike here.
- Border of Chuvashia and Nizhny Novgorod region. One of the most promising places in this region is the village of Krasnoye in the Pilninsky district. Burbot, ide, bream and pike prefer to settle in the local water area. The river meanders quite a bit, so almost any gear is suitable for fishing. Well, the bait depends on the type of fish you want.
Most of all, local residents love fishing on the Sura in winter, when the river is completely covered with ice. If you are interested in fishing of this kind, then stock up on bottom fishing rods and feel free to go to the reservoir. The fish are quite hungry at this time of year, so catching them won't be too difficult, especially if the fisherman has some ice fishing skills.
Fishing on the Volga
The main place for fishing in Chuvashia is the Volga, as it contains a lot of different fish. Mostly bream, pike, pike perch, and catfish are caught on the Volga.
The favorite trophy of Chuvash fishermen is bream, of which there is a lot in this river, and it can weigh 6 kg. Pike is caught not directly on the Volga, but in eriks with dense grassy thickets. And finally, pike perch, a predator that reaches a weight of 15 kg. Pike perch stays awake around the clock, which is certainly beneficial for fishermen.
Next is a short film about spinning fishing on the Volga in the area of the Cheboksary Reservoir. It tells where to look for perch, asp and pike perch:
Fishing methods
- To catch bream, a wire (Bolognese) fishing rod with running equipment is mainly used. When fishing, the best choice is a feeder. You can use a float rod to catch bream where there is no current.
- Pike are lured with wobblers and caught with a spinning rod. Spinner baits and non-snacking lures are also used.
- To catch pike perch, a medium-sized bait is used, since the mouth of this fish of the perch family is narrow. The pike perch is allowed to grab it, and the fishing line is lightly tugged, when the fish swallows the bait whole, a hook occurs.
- When catching catfish from a boat, a three-meter spinning rod with a fast action is used, as well as a braided line with a metal leash.
Where can you catch a lot of bream?
One of the most picturesque places in the Penza region is the confluence of the Sura and Uza rivers, which is also called the Sura Reservoir. For fishermen, this reservoir is most interesting for the abundance of bream, especially when it comes to places near the dam. Therefore, if you decide to go specifically for this type of fish, then it is best to throw gear near the village of Maryevka or the village of Alferevka. Catching about 50 kilograms of fish here in one morning is as easy as shelling pears.
Most freshwater inhabitants feed at a depth of two to four meters. If you have a high-quality echo sounder at your disposal, then it is best to search for holes with a muddy bottom using the device. Donks are usually used as bait, however, ordinary float tackle can also be used. If you want to attract more fish, you can prepare a special porridge from barley and millet cereals in advance. Well, an ordinary dung worm would be an ideal option as bait.
Bottom gear, rigging for bream
To catch bream, we used donks to cast as far as possible, since we fish in the vast Sursky Reservoir. The most important aspect of bream tackle is the feeder. It is up to the angler himself to decide whether to use a delicate feeder or a more powerful rod. It seems to me that rigid spinning rods for force casting a powerful feeder are somewhat more practical.
The installation itself for bream fishing should be simpler, the better. Fewer components of the equipment that can get tangled, fray, or break, will save the fisherman from unnecessary suffering.
- two leashes with hooks 6-7 numbers;
- Any feeder, feeder or spring.
I tie the upper leash in the rig directly onto the main line, and the lower one through a swivel, which also serves as a stopper for the feeder. To avoid overlaps when casting bait, it makes sense to attach the lower leash to the feeder porridge by inserting a hook. When it hits the water, it falls out and is located next to the feeder.
As bait I used maggots with a piece of lard. It can be flavored with garlic or vanilla.
Bream fishing has been of interest since ancient times. Bream is a very careful fish, large, strong and beautiful, which is also very tasty. Today's fishing pleased you with your catch, and I wish you the same.
Fishing in Chuvashia. Where to catch chub?
Fishing on the Sura in Chuvashia is particularly exciting, since here you can catch one of the rarest species of fish in our country - chub. In addition, here you can try your luck by hunting sterlet, however, this type of fish is listed in the Red Book, so the caught trophy will have to be released into the wild.
As for sturgeon hunting, it is best to go for fish in the vicinity of the village of Stemasy. It is best to fish along the forest shore, using a regular float rod as gear. It is very good if you have a small rubber boat at your disposal, since large fish prefer to settle at great depths.
Fishing bases on Sur
If you are interested in paid fishing, then especially for this on Sura you can find a large number of fishing bases, where recreation is distinguished by all possible amenities and excellent bite.
- “Yadrinsky Fort” is a fishing and hunting base that has proven itself to tourists only from the best side. Here you can not only rent all the necessary gear for outdoor activities, but also hire an individual instructor who will teach you all the intricacies of fishing.
- The fishing base “Sursky Dawns” is an ideal place to relax, located on the right bank of the Sura. The depth of the reservoir in these places reaches 14 meters, so chub, pike perch and catfish are excellently caught here. In addition, the base offers services for preparing freshly caught fish.
- “Forest Keys” is one of the best fishing bases in the Penza region, which is located on the shore of the Sursky reservoir. This place is interesting because here you can find a large number of houses on the water that can be rented for a small fee.
Of course, for an active holiday with all the amenities you will have to pay a fairly large amount, but such a service allows you to come fishing with the whole family or have a nice time with friends.
Rest on the Sura River
As you can see, fishing on Sura is a wonderful opportunity not only to relax your soul and body, but also to have a great time in the company of dear people, while returning home with a good catch. Well, to make you want to go to this wonderful place, we recommend watching a short video in which professional fishermen not only tell, but also clearly show how to properly catch carp on the Sura. Rest assured, after what you have seen, you will certainly want to visit this magnificent body of water.
Unforgettable summer holidays, or fishing on Sura
My first trip to Sura took place at the age of 7. And since then this river has become one of the most beloved. I caught my first pike there, it weighed 1.3 kg. and it was this pike that became my first fish caught on a spinning rod. My joy knew no bounds, because until recently, catching fish with a spinning rod seemed to me like something transcendental. Then I was 13 years old and I was just starting to master spinning fishing.
My first pike
I fished in different places of the Sura, but there is one place that became my favorite on this river. I discovered this place by accident in 2010, when we went to fish for one backwater, but turned onto the wrong road, which led to a dead end. Realizing that we had not arrived where we had planned, we were not at all upset, but decided to fish in a new place, which turned out to be a very good place. This place was very beautiful. The nature there is quite wild and people rarely visit there. As it turned out, there is also a lot of fish there; we have never returned from there without a catch. Even on a bad day there is a bite there.
Since then I began to actively study this place. For 3 years I have studied this place well and now I know the fishing holes where there is always fish.
The road approaching the river is bad, especially when it gets washed away by rain. Not every car can drive there, fortunately we drive a UAZ, which doesn’t need roads at all
Having arrived at the place, we got out of the car and began to examine the place. The first thing that immediately caught my eye was the constant splashes of large fish.
Loud splashes were heard throughout the river. There were a lot of different fish splashing around. Since I’ve been fishing there for several years, I can say that pike and perch splashed near the shore, and asp struck in the middle of the river. Moreover, I noticed a peculiarity: the closer to the middle of the river, the stronger the splashes. These bursts, as a rule, were always with different frequencies, that is, for several minutes the whole river boils with constant bursts, and then there is a lull and the fish show almost no activity at the surface. Looking at this picture, I quickly gathered my gear and began fishing with surface baits. Walkers, poppers, and surface wobblers were used in fishing. After fishing for half an hour, we were unable to catch anything. I stopped fishing for a while, but not because I lost interest, but because I needed to unpack my things and put up a tent. Having done this, I sailed on a boat to the opposite shore to a proven place and began my favorite pastime. It didn’t take long to get a bite; almost every cast brought a catch; in about an hour I caught a large number of good perches and two pike weighing a kilogram. But then the bite ended, it began to get dark, and I returned to our camp.
As the sun set, I started catching walleye. Soon it became completely dark and I began to fish “blindly”, since I could no longer see anything. I made a master cast and started retrieving without lowering it to the bottom, almost at the very surface. After making two turns with the reel, I felt the blow, made a hook, and successfully caught a kilogram of pike perch. I was surprised that he pecked almost near the middle of the river in the surface layer of water. Then I fished a little more and, having successfully left the spoon on the snag, went to bed.
Woke up at 4 o'clock in the morning, left the tent; it was still quite dark, I saw some kind of animal running a meter away from me, but in the darkness I didn’t immediately understand who it was, then I quickly took out my camera and started taking pictures with a flash. In the light of the flash, I saw a fox who stopped and looked at me. I wanted to take another photo, but she ran away.
fox
After that, I collected my gear and sailed on a boat to a backwater that I had never fished in before. As it turned out, there were a lot of perch in this backwater, which often pleased with their bites, and specimens weighed 200-400 grams. came across quite often. At one point, there were bites on every cast, and you didn’t even need to cast far, it was enough just to hold the bait near the boat, and 2-3 perches swam to it. There were a lot of perches, but, unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures of the catch, because I was overcome with great excitement and I just couldn’t stop catching. I have never seen a perch bite so well on a spinning rod, and, as it turned out, such a bite is not uncommon there. In addition to the perches, one pike weighing 1.2 kg was also caught. Time flew by quickly, I didn’t even notice that I had spent a long time in the backwater, they called me and said that it was time to get ready, and I reluctantly started the motorboat and swam back, but I really didn’t want to stop fishing. This is how my first trip to my favorite river went.
Three weeks later we gathered there again. This time, my friends also went with me, who for some reason could not go last time. The weather was good. On the shore we pumped up the boats and sailed into the backwater in two boats.
Several hours of persistent fishing did not bring any results. Anything can happen, fishing is like that - today it bites, tomorrow it doesn’t. But then I finally got the long-awaited bite, and a small perch appeared from the water.
After fishing a little more, we decided to swim to another place, where we still managed to catch a couple of small perches, and Misha caught a pretty decent perch.
The weather began to deteriorate a little, the wind was getting stronger, so we sailed to the camp and decided to fish with a feeder.
Bream was regularly caught on the shore, and sometimes catfish were caught.
Sometimes two fish would be caught at once.
We even managed to catch a sterlet, which was safely released.
By evening the wind died down, but apparently due to a change in the weather, fish were no longer caught either with a spinning rod or a feeder. At night the wind rose again with renewed strength, which did not stop even in the morning. Waking up in the morning and checking the fishing rods, we saw that there were catfish and bersh sitting on two fishing rods. I offered to swim with me again to fish in the backwater, but no one wanted to, but in vain.
In splendid isolation, I swam into the backwater and after 10 minutes I caught the first perch, and after another ten I felt a powerful blow, the clutch was ringing, the rebellious fish did not want to float to the surface, I felt that something serious was sitting. After a few minutes of struggle, a large pike mouth appeared from the water, but the hook caught on the very edge of the mouth, I reached for the juice, and... a breakdown, the fish leisurely waved its tail and calmly swam away. The pike was no less than 5 kilograms... Well, that happens.
I started fishing again, but I didn’t catch any more pike, so I regularly caught perch, which broke almost on every cast. The weather was changing and the dozhik began, we had to get ready, but I really wanted to fish more. When I arrived on the shore, the others had already almost collected all their things.
A backwater is visible on the other side.
On the way back, due to the fact that the road was a little washed out by rain, we almost turned over, but due to the skill of the driver, everything ended well.
I will remember last summer for a long time. I'm looking forward to the coming summer to go to this wonderful place again.
