Lena is one of the longest rivers on our planet. It is impossible to imagine the northern expanses of Russia without this beauty. The dense taiga and dense coniferous thickets lie along the banks of the Lena. It is thanks to this river that our country is considered one of the richest states in terms of natural resources in the world. This huge waterway gives people gold, diamonds and furs.
Where is the Lena River
It originates not far from Lake Baikal. Heading to Yakutsk, this river makes a big detour and then flows into the northern regions of Russia. Its length is approximately four thousand kilometers. On the map, the territory where the Lena River is located includes seven subjects of the Russian Federation. It flows through the Irkutsk and Amur Regions, along the Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk and Trans-Baikal Territories, along Buryatia and Yakutia. Its maximum depth is twenty-two meters.
The mighty Lena is fueled by melting snow and rain. In the spring, it is bottled. Unlike many other Russian rivers, Lena experiences severe freezing. As a result, congestion often forms in the spring, leading to flooding. During this period, the water level rises to ten meters.
This river is one of the most environmentally friendly on the planet. The man did not change her channel. To date, not a single hydroelectric power station has been built along the river, there are no dams and other structures. In places that are not inhabited by humans, environmentalists are allowed to drink water directly from the stream.
Fishing in the Lena
The river flows into the Laptev Sea. A huge number of representatives of the ichthyofauna live in it. Apparently, therefore, fishing on the Lena is such a great pleasure. The most valuable trophy is the Siberian sturgeon.
Along the banks of the river there are many amazingly beautiful scenic spots where you can relax and go fishing. Here, as a rule, they are caught with an ordinary float rod or spinning tackle. Fishing on the Lena gives you the opportunity to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city, put your nerves in order, enjoy the beautiful expanses of this mighty river and return home with a rich catch.
What fish is found in the river
Lena, severe in Siberia, has a rich forage base. Therefore, in its depths there are forty-two species of fish. In addition, the absence of any economic structures along its shores makes it possible for representatives of the ichthyofauna to reproduce unhindered. Fishing on the Lena often ends with catching large individuals of pike, taimen, nelma and, of course, Siberian sturgeon.
The largest and most valuable fish of the Lena River are Siberian sturgeons. According to experienced local fishermen, at the end of the last century, even a 200-kilogram specimen about two meters long could be pulled out here. Currently, individuals come up to twenty-five kilograms. Sturgeon is caught on larvae, pieces of small-sized clam meat, and also on crayfish. The habitats of this royal fish are those sections of the river that are located from Korshukovo to the Laptev Sea.
In the lower reaches around its delta, where the water is desalinated, there are the most fishing spots on the Lena. Here live populations of no less valuable underwater inhabitants - muksun and nelma. Fishing on the Lena can end with a catch from a large taimen. Here they grow up to seventy centimeters, while weighing more than seven kilograms.
Lena is also inhabited by whitefish, chir, peled, Siberian lapushka. In the upper reaches of the river and in the middle reaches there is a large population of salmon, which immediately spawns in early June. Many are attracted to fishing on the Lena with the opportunity to catch a trophy specimen.
Grayling
This fish is found in the upper reaches of the river, in its supply areas and in the delta. In winter, grayling moves to a sufficient depth, and in summer it reaches the upper reaches. The Siberian species of this fish is caught in worms, larvae and flying insects; sometimes it bites on mollusks. Artificial bait for grayling is also a fairly common bait.
Behind the pike
This predator is quite common in Lena. During the hot summer months, pike are usually caught in the riverbed. During the winter cold, she floats into the channel to spawn. It is very often found quite large individuals weighing up to ten kilograms, although sometimes the lucky ones pull out more serious trophies - 20 kilogram pikes. True, judging by the reviews, such individuals have recently become a rarity.
Tackle
Local residents usually fish for pike on the Lena with Siberian pinching - fish from the loach family, as well as minnow. At the same time, gear is used that is designed to catch a fairly large fish. Often they are homemade. From time immemorial, local fishermen have been making them from animal skins, in particular, from camus of seal, seal and muskrat.
Shaved skins of light badgers or mink legs are also very popular, since toothy predators can clearly see these tackles in the dark water column. Tackles are used by anglers both horseback and loaded. The main requirement for them is strength. Small fish — roach, dace, crucian carp, etc. — are used as nozzles. Moreover, the closer to winter cold, the larger the bait.
Fishing places
Traditionally fishing on the Lena River and its tributaries attracts lovers of "silent hunting" here not only from our country, but also from abroad. And this is not surprising: there is a lot of production in the river. In addition, fishing on the Lena River, judging by the reviews, is quite exciting and reckless. In Yakutia, this waterway becomes so powerful and full-flowing river that islands appear on it. And in some places its width reaches several kilometers.
Judging by the stories of fans of "silent hunting", fishing in the tributaries of the Lena is no less successful than in the mother river itself. Moreover, sometimes it can give an even richer catch. On Buotam, one of the many tributaries of the Lena, for example, the active fishing season begins in June and lasts until mid-October. Here there are several varieties of whitefish, as well as pike, lenok, grayling, dace and perch. All of them are excellent objects for spinning fishing.
Belyanka, Undyuling and Dyanyshka, right tributaries, are famous as the best habitats of taimen - the owner of Siberian reservoirs. It is caught in the tributaries of the Lena during the rafting period from May to October for spinning. The second most popular here is fishing for lenka. No less common and catching grayling, pike and perch.
Quite a promising place for fishing is another right tributary of the Lena - Aldan. In its upper reaches there are taimen, whitefish, lenok, grayling, pike, burbot, chebak, perch, etc. In the middle reaches of the Aldan and its lower reaches, nelma, tugun, lamprey, vendace and Siberian sturgeon are also found. The deep-water tributary of the Kele River is very popular among fishermen.
Winter fishing on the Lena
With the establishment of ice fishing on the river does not stop. The most passionate lovers of "silent hunting" will fish here even in 50-degree severe frosts. Winter fishing on the Lena is impossible without a tent. People drill holes in 2-meter ice, set up tents above them and light the heaters. In such more or less comfortable conditions, you can fish for several hours.
The main object for winter fishing in some tributaries is considered to be burbot. Catch him on spinners or other homemade gear. Fishing for vendace and other Yakut gourmet fish is very popular here. They are fished using nets installed under the ice. Local residents determine the time of winter fishing on the Lena River by the sun. The most favorable is fishing one hour before dawn.
In the winter, many anglers go to Lena for grayling. And although in cloudy weather this fish pecks during the whole daylight hours, the ideal time for fishing is evening hours, therefore experienced winter fishermen prefer to come to the river in the dark.
Particular attention when grayling on ice should be given to bait. For this fish to peck, you need to bring it directly “under the nose”. Therefore, local residents most often catch grayling on copper or golden mormyshki, the size of which is selected directly on the spot depending on the strength of the current.
The pike - the queen of the rivers - begin to be caught already on the first ice in early December, when she, actively stocking up with food, swallows everything that moves. Optimal for her fishing is considered cloudy weather and snow powder crust. Here pike are caught on vents equipped with a 0.7 mm fishing line, a tee and a soft metal leash.