According to official statistics, there are much more lovers of winter fishing in Russia than, for example, summer fishing. What is the reason that winter fishing is so popular? Probably, with the fact that this is not only an option of amateur sports, but also one of the available types of outdoor activities for men in cold weather. Winter fishing is a whole ritual, which includes many nuances: from the very way out of the house and cutting holes to the rules of behavior on ice and maintaining the catch. And every fisherman brings here his secrets and recipes for fishing, using and inventing gear and accessories.
What can be caught?
The ice has become, and winter has begun for the fish world. Most, honestly, hibernate. Therefore, some types of fish are not caught in winter. The exception is cold resistant. These include the well-known zander, pike and perch. But what about winter fishing without bream and roach? Catfish, burbot, whitefish, ide, asp, chub and some others also belong to this list. Many fish, not falling asleep, tend to places inaccessible for ice fishing. But still they can be obtained in bays and elders, pits, near submarine springs, islands of vegetation. A fish that does not sleep in winter prefers to stay about a meter from the bottom. This is because there the water temperature is plus 4 degrees, and near the surface - about zero.
Some rules for choosing a hole
The ice that has become available makes almost all parts of the reservoir accessible. Spot fishing is possible, for example, near a bush or driftwood, which is usually impossible in the summer or autumn. In short, winter fishing is a pleasure in terms of choosing a place for drilling a hole. If you know about the habits of the fish you are going to catch, then you will never be left without a catch. However, one should not forget that fishing on transparent ice requires elementary camouflage from the fisherman, as some species of fish are extremely suspicious. For these purposes, straw, reeds or cloth can be scattered around the hole on the ice. Many fishermen prefer to drill several holes at once in order to make the transition from one to another, if the fish are not biting in this place. However, you should not get involved in this process. It will be enough for the first time to drill two or three.
Equipment you definitely need
Underwater winter fishing requires additional equipment from the fisherman, in addition to conventional gear. Firstly, it is an ice drill that needs to drill holes. It can be of various modifications. But the main thing here is functionality. You will also need an ice pick, a slotted spoon to scoop out small pieces of ice, a hook for large fish to pull it out better, a folding chair and a fishing box for sitting and storage. Most likely, if you plan to spend long enough time on ice, you will need felt boots and very warm waterproof clothing. Everything else is optional, except for gear, of course.
Winter fishing for zander
Pikeperch is a predatory and cunning fish. Usually, most fishermen began to catch him from the ice on a spinner. Pike perch is kept at a depth where there are bumps in the bottom surface. There, he ambushes in search of food. This fish is usually attracted by a vertical spinner game. When choosing the baubles themselves, you need to consider that the pike perch has a rather narrow throat. Therefore, the gear is selected appropriate (10-15 mm) and long (6-12 cm). Many use do-it-yourself spinners. Sometimes they are bimetallic - they consist of plates of two metals, which, according to some fishermen, should additionally attract a predator. Weight is selected depending on the size of the estimated catch. In closed reservoirs - up to 20 grams, but on rivers - sometimes up to 50 grams (since with a strong current, the light bait does not allow you to feel the bottom when sparkling). The fishing technique is the most varied.
Winter fishing for pike perch is sometimes carried out using a spinner and a float. It is believed that this way you can better maintain the required depth, which is very important for a good bite. And often the bite happens really during the game float. Sometimes a fresh fish and a thin strip of its skin are put on a hook or tee spinners.
And you can also catch zander on silicone (now fashionable) lures: twisters and vibro-tails. These are clearly many zander like. The bait makes dancing movements during posting, which, probably, additionally attracts the attention of fish.
Winter fishing for bream
It can also be attributed to the most fascinating pastime on the ice. Applied gear - float rod, winter short rod with a nod. The most popular bait is mormyshki of various shapes and weights. Bait is used by worms, bloodworms, seeds. Mormyshka game is notable for its low pace of movement, but the result is not long in coming: a handsome bream slams its tail on the ice at your feet.