Rattan fishing takes place in any season of the year. The omnivorous and greedy of this fish makes it attractive for both experienced anglers and beginners.
general information
Rotan (firebrand or tadpole) is considered a secretive inhabitant of the underwater world, preferring deaf grass and snag to open space. He is a lazy hunter and does not like to persistently pursue his prey, and if he leaves the fishing hook he calmly returns to the place where he was before.
The length of the rotan can reach from fourteen to twenty-five centimeters. It depends on the living conditions, but fish with record sizes are not very common. The life expectancy of rotan is up to seven years.
This representative of the firehead family feeds all year without hibernating. He is not picky about food. Rotans are omnivorous, they consume not only vegetable, but also animal feed, although for the most part they are still predators. Small specimens of these fireheads swarm at the bottom, looking for bloodworms and worms. And larger ones go hunting for small fish, including their smaller brothers.
Winter rattan fishing
On the bait he pecks best. For fishing to be catchy, you need to conduct a constant and active search for prey. The hunter will need about a dozen fishing rods with hard whips, and always stand. Small baits, two-three-centimeter ones are used as bait. A worm, a bunch of bloodworms or maggot, as well as meat products: a liver, lung, offal from recently caught fish should be planted on the hook.
One bait can be fixed on one fishing rod, two on the other. Small pellets are used as clamps and weighting agents at the same time.
With an increase in ice thickness of up to about ten centimeters, this predatory fish gathers in schools that concentrate on watersheds with a lot of underwater vegetation. Near the coastline, only small specimens remain. It is in the first ice that catching large rattan is especially successful. In the midst of cold weather, this fish hides in deep places.
Tackle
For fishing in winter, all types of fishing rods are suitable. You can also fish on a float or a nod. The prey practically does not provide resistance during fishing. Therefore, catching rattan on the first ice may well be lucky and with the cheapest fishing rod.
In general, such a "silent hunt" has its subtleties. Firstly, the fisherman has to do a large number of holes. Secondly, the catch of this fish mainly depends on the right gear.
An ideal option is vertical winter baubles. It gives strong fluctuations when fishing, which attracts prey well. The little head does not react to small mormyshki in any way.
Some fans of the “silent hunt” believe that catching rattan on the first ice is a simple matter. But to become the owner of a “harvest” of firebrands of several kilograms is no less difficult than, for example, to catch a bucket of perches.
The color and shape of the snap does not matter much. The spinner for fishing this fish is equipped with a soldered single hook, however, it is more suitable for large, trophy specimens. The fact is that the little head grabs the bait deeply, almost completely swallowing it. Often, at first she simply "bites off" her and only then grabs her.
Catching rotan on the first ice involves the use of any fishing line with a diameter of 0.12 to 0.14 millimeters. When the rods are fully equipped, the fishermen begin to drill holes at a certain distance from each other. The distance between them should be from three to six meters. Fishing rods are installed in each of the holes. Fishermen periodically pass through them, playing in turn each of them.
Lures
You can catch rattan for any bait. He bites well on mormyshka, and on various spinners. The bait must be taken light and bright. It is to this that this predator responds better.
Today, specialized stores sell mormyshki that have a phosphoric surface and glow under water. Universal spinners, which are used to catch rattan on the first ice, do not exist. Their color, shape and size by experienced anglers are selected empirically. The main thing about bait is their game. The more actively the nozzles play, the more noticeable they are for this predator.
Fishing technique
The bait sinks to the bottom, and then slowly rises by five centimeters. Then a pause of several seconds is made, and the same thing is repeated.
The bite can be noticeable by trembling or by swaying a nod. The latter should be used for such fishing almost always, since in some cases it is impossible to feel the prey by hand.
Do not forget about the hooks: you need to do them on time. In some cases, they should be lightning fast after biting, in others a pause is required.
Winter fishing of rattan (for zerglits, fishing rods, etc.) is a very interesting and fascinating pastime. But first, the fisherman needs to find prey, then choose the right lures, learn the right way to hook, etc., to return home, one might say, with a delicacy. After all, a rotan does not have small bones, it is very simple to clean it, and when fried it is much “sweeter” than crucian carp.
To fishing rod
Of course, the firebrand as an object of fishing is not a very desirable prey. But the “silent hunt” for her in her own way is very exciting. Proof of this is the increase in the number of her fans. Catching a rotan for a fishing rod can be carried out on the first ice on a variety of nozzles, but best of all - on a regular bloodworm.
A short fishing rod with a nod of medium hardness and a thin fishing line can be equipped with a regular pellet mormyshka. In winter fishing, the main thing is to find firebrand parking spots. Usually, this season’s tactics are similar to the rest: they drill numerous holes - from shallow to depth, find a flock and start fishing.
When fishing, this fish is often frightened and for a while moves away from this hole. Therefore, having caught two or three specimens, if there is no more bite, you should not wait for it. It is better to go to neighboring holes and fish on them.
There are ponds where rattans are caught only in the first ice, and then a little more until January. And after that they seem to die out. But at the same time, in our country there are also such reservoirs that can please fishermen with solid catches until the very last winter day.
In general, the first ice is a holiday of the beginning of winter fishing and the peak of activity of this predatory prey.