Start of Spring. I consider this period to be the most difficult for finding and catching fish. In large rivers, the ice has already fallen, but the water is quite cold, due to the melting of snow and ice in the bays and the introduction of “hard” water into the river beds. The fish is currently inactive.
It is not difficult to determine this period. The snow has already fallen, but nature has not yet awakened. The rivers have a dull gray appearance and the banks, bristling with bare branches of bushes and trees, do not add optimism to the first fishermen who are already sitting near the spring water.
But is everything so desperate? No, you can fish right now. Let’s define together the terms that will not allow you to go home without a trap right now.
I will tell you on the example of a river near which I live and most often fish. I will clarify all the necessary nuances.
Choose a place to fish
The floodplain of my river is such that on the left, the shallower and shallower bank, the aquatic vegetation is located from the water’s edge at a distance of 12-15 meters. The depth at such a distance is negligible. The right bank is steeper and the aquatic vegetation thickets start at 3-5 meters. Here it is much deeper. Which shore to choose?
It should be borne in mind that during the period of greatest solar activity, the water is stratified by temperature. The warmest water is found in the shallow bays on the north shore. So the left bank, which is shallower and therefore warmer, with aquatic vegetation away from the water’s edge at a shallow depth, which also creates a feeling of safety for the fish (given the transparency of the water) is more preferable. If you add to the above mentioned the presence of hot sewage in one place, then most likely this is the place that you should pay attention to in the first place. Although of course this is just a general discussion. So to speak, the guide to action. I think practically all fishermen in your region are well aware of the places where the season is best from year to year. Don’t philosophize, first violate them!
A way to fish
The feeder, I believe, is the same rigging that will not allow the beginning of spring to leave the river empty. And here it is worth saying a few words about the minimum necessary equipment. And in the feeder, it is, above all, a reed that has certain qualities. Personally, I use the “Pride” reed from TM “Flagman”. This heavy duty feeder with a length of 3.6 meters allows you to drop feeders weighing up to 125 grams. The rod is lightweight and reliable, equipped with three interchangeable caps and different stiffness and satisfies all catching conditions, from standing water to strong current, and provides excellent visual control. After all, the catching process involves the need to track down the most delicate bites of dormant “early spring” fish. Knowing that not everyone can afford a brand name power rod, I mean that you can fish any cheap fishing or spinning rod.
As we caught in shallow water close to shore, a monolayer with a breaking load of three kilograms (I use Salmo Evolution with a diameter of 0.17) is quite suitable. You should not put any thicker. With the help of this line, I made long enough casts and dug solid fish by “loading” from the eighty gram feeder, without using any shock leaders! For those who can afford it, try catching it with a lanyard. Now I switched to “Fireline” from Berkley and I can say that to catch a feeder in some cases this is the best option. The braids are strong and strong, and thin at the same time, and most importantly, they have a quality that is of the utmost importance for this type of capture: they are super sensitive!
Hooks for feeder
I use Gamakatsu hooks No. 16 from the F-21 series. Very thin, strong, allowing to hold a large fish. In addition, they are perfectly suitable for fixing bloodworms, which is the number one bait in the described period.
Feeders
Open type. I use the type of feeder, the bottom of which are two lead “skis”, connected to each other by a wire mesh. The upper part is a cylindrical grid. By lifting this feeder from the bottom, the lead “skis” play the role of underwater wings, and the net between them plays the role of stabilizer, making it easier to start the feeder from the bottom and bring it to shore. The feeder is tied to the main line. Over a distance of 10-12 cm, knit a loop, to which the “loop in the loop” shape holds the strap. The use of rotating side or triple limbs is considered unwarranted in clear water.
Note: For a more convenient definition of flocks of fish, I recommend that you use a sonar that will greatly speed up your fishing process. Read more: how to read a probe
Jump for feeder
A separate topic for conversation. In the clear water period, I mainly use fluorocarbon. The material itself would not call it transparent, but in water it becomes almost invisible. I use the Berkley Vanish transition for the straps. The diameter is not that important due to the invisibility of this line. When I fish with a braid, I use straps with a diameter of 0.18mm and a breaking load of 2.9kg. The line of this diameter is less confused and twisted by the flow of water. Hook one!
The length of the strap is 50 to 80 cm. The stronger the current, the longer the strap should be. With a strap, I put a pellet with a weight of 0.3-0.5 gr., Which can be moved. So I will explain below.
Feeder bait
Considering that during ten days in March that I spent in the river with the trough, I did not see a bite from the worm, spells, etc. – My only bait from this period is the bloodworm in its pure form, without snacks.
First, we put a small white foam plastic ball on the hook, then two or three bloodworms, planting them with rings (that is, piercing the body under the head and on the tail). I hide the stinger in the tail of the last bloodworm. The foam ball located on the hook lifts in the standing water a hook with a nozzle at the height, which is limited to a pellet with a strap and allows it to catch different layers of water. In the current, the pellet restricts the free oscillation of the belt.
I can’t say anything specific about why styrofoam attracts fish so much. I know one thing: a scarlet bloodworm on a white background from a ball becomes such a bright target, from which neither the cockroach nor the chub is rejected in the spring (these fish often give the main weight in my catch ). Also, playing a certain depth of bait with an invisible leash does not leave any fish indifferent, seeing the bait from a fairly long distance. The nozzle packing method is dictated by the presence of a large number of fry, which, with the traditional method of planting this delicate bait, pull the tail of the larvae, causing the upper part of the feeder to register false bites. . This leads to unreasonable lifting of the gear from the bottom and a reduction in net fishing.
“Food for the trough”
As a base, I use a winter bait with betaine, which works well in our region. The composition is as follows:
1) The base is 500g;
2) Powdered milk – 1/2 cup;
3) Cinnamon – 1 tsp;
4) Cocoa – 1 tablespoon;
5) Ground dog food with the smell of liver – 1 glass;
6) As a binder – ground rolled oats;
7) The ripper is sand, in case it is too flaxy, and overdo the water.
An important note: on the consistency of the composition: the bait must be washed from the feeder during the first ten minutes. To determine the “release” interval of the feeder from the feed mix after the first toss, I lift the feeder up after 3-4 minutes, regardless of whether the bite was or not. Depending on the condition and amount of bait left in the bird feeder, you can determine whether the composition is loose enough or vice versa, and add a ripper or binder to it, respectively. Using the popular “pan + macula” type in cold water does not give any decent results, especially when the consistency resembles a window putty.
Now that we are ready to fish, we just have to drop the tackle accordingly, arriving at the same chosen spot. Now it is not difficult, because long models are not needed. If you don’t trust your eye, use an additional wand equipped with a marker. Once installed on the surface of the water, you will always have a reliable reference point … Using these simple techniques and equipment will allow you with honor to come out of unspoken competition with fellow fishermen surrounded by a stockade of common donkeys. You will only have one feeder! That is why, having nothing against ordinary spinning donkeys, I prefer a more delicate equipment.
Try it, you might like it!
So based on the above, the assembly for the spring that hooks onto the feeder looks like this:
– a heavy class rod, with a test within 125-150 gr;
– EU 3500-4000 spool of the “Line Winder”;
– a braid with a breaking load of 7 kg of circular section or a special fishing line for fattening, such as “albacore” or similar, with a diameter of 0.17-0.12 mm.
I wish the whole “brotherhood” good luck in the new fishing season!