The capture of large crucian carp is the dream of many anglers. However, it does not always come true. Very often, instead of a large specimen, smaller fellows come to the hook, which are found in abundance in ponds. How to catch crucian? Let's find the answer to this question, but first, let's figure out what kind of fish it is.
Crucian carp is a representative of the carp family. It is divided into 2 subspecies - gold and silver. In the first species, the length can reach 50 cm, and weight - 4 kg. Silver carp have more modest sizes. In length, it can reach 30 cm, and in weight - 2 kg. Inhabits crucian carp in marshland. In mountain streams almost never occurs. It feeds on plant and animal food (zooplankton, small invertebrates).
Types of fishing
Crucian carp is caught for several types of gear:
- float tackle - classic fly fishing rod, small reel with fishing line, float, hook and sinker;
- bottom tackle (feeder fishing) - feeder rod, inertialess reel, fishing line, feeder and hook.
It is better to choose the gear for catching crucian wisely. This fish is strong, so there is no need to skimp on sharp hooks, a strong and invisible fishing line in the water, good floats with rods. It is also important to know that both float and bottom fishing will require bait.
Where and when to catch crucian carp
Arriving at the pond, fishermen think not only about how to catch crucian carp. First of all, the question arises - where to look for this fish? To do this, you need to know the habitat. Crucian carp prefers to stay on shallow, with an abundance of water thickets, silted shady creeks and bays of slowly flowing rivers. In small and large lakes, the representative of cyprinids loves to live near coastal thickets. In shallow ponds, the fish selects places deeper (quiet backwaters, flooded quarries, deep holes).
One of the favorite habitats of crucian carp is the depth of flooded snags. It is dangerous to catch in such areas due to the abundance of branches and other underwater obstacles. In the snag, the probability of breaking gear is high.
Crucian carp is caught from spring to autumn. The most effective fishing in the summer in cloudy but warm weather. Such days are favorable for the biting of crucian carp, when there is no wind, there is a fine rain. In autumn, the representative of cyprinids most like sunny periods. The fish reacts very coldly to cooling. She stops taking baits, goes to the bottom and begins to look for places for wintering. In winter, crucian carp is almost not caught, since it stands in wintering pits and is not interested in even the most seductive baits. Only in the thaw, fishermen manage to catch the trophy.
All about bait
Many fishermen consider fishing for crucian carp the most fascinating and at the same time difficult. Crucian carp is a smart fish. She is shy, wary of extraneous sounds and smells. A fish can spin around a nozzle for a very long time, poke its nose, but never try it.
Many people know how to catch crucian carp, but few know how to catch a lot of fish or a trophy representative of cyprinids. The main thing in fishing is bait. It has special requirements. Bait for crucian carp should be fresh, full of smells and tastes. It is purchased in fishing stores.
Those people who want to distinguish themselves from other fishermen and catch a trophy should make a bait on their own. The cooking process is simple:
- any cereal is steamed in water;
- grind breadcrumbs in a blender or scroll through a meat grinder;
- sunflower seeds are fried;
- All ingredients are taken for fishing and mixed before mixing.
At home, you can’t mix cereals or baits, add any aromatic ingredients (anise or vanilla) to them. If cooked too early, the souring process will begin. Spoiled bait does not attract fish, but only scares it off. And one more important nuance ... The most popular bait for crucian carp among fishermen is pea porridge. It attracts not only this fish, but also other aquatic inhabitants (for example, carp).
Preparation for fishing
Having made or bought bait, the fishermen take gear, a nozzle and go fishing for a delicious crucian carp. Arriving at the pond, they choose a fishing place, then feed the fish and begin to lay out gear. While the fishermen are preparing equipment, the fish is suitable for bait. Tackles in the first place do not lay out, because, otherwise, after their preparation will have to do bait and wait for the first bite. A prerequisite is silence in the process of collecting fishing equipment.
A very important nuance - the attachment used when fishing for crucian carp must be present in the bait. For example, some fishermen catch corn. They add some grains of this annual cereal to the bait. Similarly, when using worms as a nozzle. They are added to the bait in the form of small particles obtained by cutting with a knife or scissors.
Small balls are made from the finished bait. They are gradually thrown into the water. In this way, the fishing point is fed. It is important to consider that bait should be normal in consistency. If it, for example, resembles plasticine, then the balls on the bottom will not quickly crumble. Such a bait will not attract fish. Crucian will be less willing to swim to the point of fishing.
Features of bottom fishing
Feeder fishing appeared a long time ago and has successfully progressed to the present day with many improvements in fishing equipment and tactics. The tackle is quite simple - this is a feeder rod, which is selected according to the weight of the feeders, a feeder and a leash with a hook.
There are several types of feeder accessories:
- Paternoster equipment (Gardner loop). The feeder is mounted on a twist that diverts it from the leash with a hook.
- Snap inline. The feeder clings to the main fishing line and stops in front of the leash with a bead or silicone cambric.
- Tooling "method". The feeder resembles the well-known pacifier spring. On one side there is a sinker, and the other side is clogged with feed.
The fishing process itself is very simple. The fishing line is clipped onto the reel, and the feeder is thrown into the same place. You just need to choose a landmark on the other end of the coast. Thus, the feed falls into the same place with an error of half a meter to the side due to possible wind. Throws with this method of fishing are done quite often. If, for example, there is no bite for 10 minutes, then you can perform a transfer. Athletes throw the feeder after 3-5 minutes in the absence of bite.
Winter fishing
In winter, the representative of cyprinids is inactive and practically does not feed. The avid "crucians" do not care, and they still find ways how to catch crucian in winter fishing. It is better to go fishing in the thaw, as crucian carp does not eat at all in severe frosts. You can not look at the pits and deep sections of the reservoir. If crucian carp will be there, then its activity will be close to zero. The only places where crucian carp can be found in winter are places with large fallen trees or springs near the shore.
It is customary to catch a representative of cyprinids in winter with a winter fishing rod with both a jig and a hook. The winter bobber flooded in the hole acts as a bite signaling device. The best bait for fishing is bloodworm.
Spring fishing
Spring is the time of giants, large trophies. Most often, fishing in the spring for a float fishing rod begins when the water warms up to +15 degrees. Like other fish, the representative of cyprinids at this time tries to eat as much as possible, because it is time for spawning. However, do not forget that heating the water to +15 degrees very often coincides with the spawning ban.
Where to catch crucian in spring? At this time, he most often walks near the reeds and snags in shallow areas of the reservoir. Choosing bait for crucian carp in spring can be more difficult than in summer. Crucian is probably the most unpredictable fish. In spring, this manifests itself much stronger. The bloodworm remains the main bait, but it is recommended to have maggot, and worms, and bread, and dough, and peas, and corn.
Summer fishing
In summer, crucian carp is active only in the morning and in the evening. The fish does not tolerate the sultry sun and leaves in packs in deep holes. As soon as the shadow from the trees begins and evening approaches, crucian emerges from the pits and begins to search for food. In summer, fish are more likely to take plant tips (peas, corn, various cereals). Milled roasted seeds may be the best bait.
In summer, both bottom and float tackle are used to catch crucian carp. Do not forget that this fish is moody. Her preferences change several times a day. Bait should be taken with a great many. Fishing lines, hooks, leashes are selected under certain conditions. If there is carp in the pond, then the line should be put thicker. If in the water only small crucian carp the size of a palm dwells, then a thin fishing line is best. Thanks to her, the catch will increase, because the fish is shy.
Fishing in autumn
In autumn, the fish is active until the water temperature drops below +10 degrees. Bait and tackle are identical to fishing equipment used to catch crucian carp in summer. The bait should smell slightly different attractants. Due to the drop in water temperature, pungent odors can deter fish.
Going fishing in the fall, it should be borne in mind that with the beginning of cold snap, crucian gradually leaves the shallows. In September, float gear is still used. By mid-autumn, they switch to bottom fishing rods and begin to search for crucian carp at a depth. In autumn, fishing is best done on fine days. Sunny weather is favorable for crucian carp. On such days, he leaves the pits in search of food, but does not go far from his refuge. Biting usually occurs no earlier than 9-10 in the morning, that is, after sunrise and warming the water.
How to catch crucian carp is not such a difficult question. If you remember all the features, then at any time of the year fishing will be effective. You will come across not only small crucians, but also large trophies. Going fishing, remember that you should not chase the quantity. Do not use electric fishing rods and other poaching equipment, because because of them, the number of fish in rivers and ponds decreases every year.