In the list of advantages of smelt, or smelt, there is definitely no such characteristic as impressive dimensions. But this fish has an amazing taste. Apparently this is why smelt fishing in those places where it is found is incredibly popular. And this is not surprising. If the fisherman manages to place this fish, the catch can be measured not in pieces, but in kilograms. The fact is that smelt live in packs, the number of inhabitants in which can be incredibly large.
general information
By its behavior, this fish is somewhat different from other species. Unlike most other underwater inhabitants who prefer to stay near snags, pits or among stones, her favorite parking spots are mostly areas with a flat relief. Smelt is often called "cucumber fish."
The fact is that her meat has a characteristic smell for this vegetable. Smelt has one more feature: some subspecies are completely devoid of scales.
Smelt is a small but predatory fish. Sharp teeth are arranged in rows in her mouth. They are even in the language. With the help of teeth, smelt eats fry of other underwater inhabitants, their eggs, as well as crustaceans and insect larvae. The maximum weight of this fish is about 350 grams. Body length varies from 10 to 40 centimeters. However, with these sizes, smelt is incredibly gluttonous. Its nutritional activity is equally high throughout the year.
Smelt fishing
On an industrial scale, this fish is caught in a net. It is laborious to fish in small quantities in large quantities. Therefore, standard fishing gear for smelt fishing is used by private fishermen, who have sports interest in this pastime in the first place. Smelt is characterized by gluttony and the absence of fear and caution. Therefore, he pecks easily and quickly.
Smelt fishing takes place year-round. In winter, it is fished from an ice-hole, and in summer - from the shore to float equipment. The most successful time for effective fishing are February and March. Smelt fishing is always good, but it is considered the most catchy in the winter, when prey is collected in huge flocks. It was at this time that a huge army of lovers of fishing from ice rushed to the ponds.
Interesting Facts
Incredibly smelt fishing on the Kola Peninsula, as well as in the waters of the Gulf of Finland, in the Baltic Sea and in reservoirs in the Far East, is incredibly common. This small fish gathers in large flocks in winter, in which the total mass can reach one ton. Moreover, there can be several such jambs within the same reservoir. For example, on the Kola Peninsula on Imandra, smelt fishing is more popular than whitefish or trout fishing. Judging by the reviews, during its spring course the impression is created that there is no water in this lake, there is only fish, there are so many schools of smelt.
In winter, in order to determine the location of smelt, just go to the place of the largest concentration of fishermen on ice. Often smelt fishing becomes such a massive event that about a thousand people gather on each square kilometer. And even despite such a density of anglers, each of them goes home with several kilograms of catch.
Places for winter fishing
In our country, this fish is fished mainly in the northern regions. Smelt fishing in the Far East, Baltic is very interesting. This schooling fish stays at sea for a year, only in winter and early spring does it reach the mouths of large rivers.
In the north of our country, for example, in the Gulf of Finland and the Dvina, fishing begins on it from the first days of ice formation, from about the last week of December. At this time, the first large flocks of this fish are already gathering in the water area. Smelt fishing in the bay is so popular that in her honor at the end of winter they organize a holiday and even a festival.
Usually, this fish is kept close to river mouths during the cold season, since it is there that it goes for spawning. Smelt fishing in winter sometimes takes place at sufficiently large depths. On some rivers it is pulled out from 20 meters, although basically it is hidden in the lower horizons within 4-8 meters. Here she chooses flat areas without sharp drops in depths. Smelt fishing takes place either at the bottom or a maximum of one meter from it.
Features
Winter smelt fishing is equally effective at any time of the day. This fish is fished both day and night, because throughout the day it pecks quite stably. Only during the movement of the joint can the bite weaken. Those who prefer night fishing, it is important to consider that a flashlight or even a searchlight can positively affect the catch.
The fact is that smelt is not afraid of bright light. Therefore, a flashlight beam directed into the hole attracts prey, and it begins to spin at the illuminated ice hole in search of food much more actively than the dark one.
Fishing methods
Smelt fishing on ice is most often carried out on a fishing rod with a reel and with a hard nod. For winter fishing, a large supply of fishing line is required, since at this time the prey loves to hide in the depths. Another way of fishing - to petty tycoon - is quite common in our country. This tackle consists of a main fishing line to which leashes are attached and hooks are attached to their ends. Samodur involves distant castings. It has one advantage: at one time, the angler can try his luck on several hooks at once.
Gear selection
The most significant component in the smelt fishing equipment in winter is fishing line. It can be taken with a minimum diameter. Since smelt is a small fish, she cannot cut it off at all. But a thick fishing line will not only give the angler extra inconvenience, but also negatively affect the number of bites. Therefore, it is optimal to use a diameter of 0.15-0.2 mm.
As for the winter fishing rod for smelt fishing, there are no special conditions. You can use the traditional version with or without a coil. The main thing is that there is a sensitive nod in the snap, which could catch even the most careful bites.
Lures
Most often, mormyshki are used for such fishing. It is optimal to choose options with a diameter of four to six millimeters. You can install larger mormyshki, but in this case, the number of bites can be sharply reduced. When fishing smelt on a four-millimeter bait, the nibble will be excellent, but small specimens may prevail in the catch.
Some anglers use special phosphorus variants of mormyshka in winter. Judging by the reviews, such baits can also be attractive to smelt. True, during the zhor, this fish, as experienced fishermen joke, is capable of grabbing even a naked hook. Therefore, the question of choosing a bait is relevant only with a weak bite of smelt.
Experienced hunters recommend tying one hook twenty or thirty centimeters from the mormyshka. At the same time, the leash should be small - about 100 millimeters, which allows you to simultaneously catch both bottom horizons and middle horizons. Such a hook, on which maggot or other bait is planted, will flutter under water from the current, attracting prey with its game. Often, such a diversion variant of the bite will occur even more often than on the jigsaw bite, especially in the case when smelt is caught using standing gear. Moreover, with the zhor of this small fish, it is very often possible to pull two preys at a time.
Spoon
Among fishers there are also those who prefer to fish for passive baits. In some reservoirs, it is more effective to catch smelt on a small spinner made of metal and, on the one hand, coated with a special compound that can glow in the dark. Such a bait clings to a fishing rod along with mormyshki.
When catching smelt on a spinner, the combined equipment options proved themselves to be excellent. One of their advantages is the ability to effectively lure prey to the place of fishing. Light spinners having an elongated shape and silver color are considered productive.
Bait
As a nozzle for mormyshka, you can use worms, maggots, bloodworms, sirloin pieces of fish. These bait are the most successful among those who hunt smelt. Often, the loin portion of the fish itself is also used as a nozzle. It is enough for the fisherman to take only a few maggots with him to the reservoir, and after the first catch he will be able to use the caught smelt for bait.
Fishing technique
First you need to determine a promising place for fishing. If it is found, the location of the jamb is revealed, you can begin fishing. With an active bite of smelt, it can be difficult for a fisherman to cope even with just two fishing rods. Therefore, do not hesitate: it is better to take another tackle and enjoy fishing. But if the smelt bite is not happy, then you can use up to ten rods. The holes should be drilled across the stream, in this case the gear will not get tangled. They catch smelt both on the game and on the standover. The first method is used during a weak bite, and during a zhor it is better to catch this fish on stationary gear. The fisherman should carefully follow the nod so as not to miss the bite. When narrowing the game you need to constantly lower and raise the bait. The bite is felt in the form of a noticeable push.