Catching rotan in winter on the first ice
Most people miss winter - summer, autumn - spring. And anglers are no exception. Already from the middle of the summer season, episodes of winter fishing begin to emerge in my memory, by autumn the symptoms worsen, and as soon as the first frosts begin, the desire to be on the first ice becomes simply unbearable.
It would be possible, of course, to fish in open water this weekend, but the opportunity, albeit a very illusory one, to walk on thin ice, cut through the first holes outweighed all reasonable arguments. So the catching of rotan in the winter on the first ice on already frozen ponds and reservoirs was opened.
Catching a large rotan in winter on the first ice
In fact, there was no need to wait for strong ice yet - for three days the night temperatures were about - 4 C, the minimum dropped to - 8 C, but I know several anomalous ponds on which a fairly strong ice rises contrary to any logic and weather reports. Of course, these are small reservoirs, where rotan reigns supreme, which my fishing friend contemptuously calls a cross between a ruff and a frog.
Recently, I have great respect for this fish, which pleases with its reckless biting on the first ice in places where any other fish simply cannot survive. In short, I corrected my favorite pick, threw a couple of fishing rods into my backpack and went in search of frozen water.
Driving along the dam of the reservoir, I sympathized with the four heroes whose boats rocked on the cold waves, although if they were catching zander at that moment, then rather they should have been envied. The first pond, almost immediately after the traffic police post, located at the exit from the dam, disappointed. There was ice on it, but not only to go into it - it was even scary to look at it. Let's go further.
The next reservoir appeared because of the turn in 5-7 minutes. Wow, we're not the first! There are already about five cars on the shore, and the most impatient and risky ones walk on the ice.
First of all, I uncover the ice pick - without this tool you can’t go out on thin ice. I tap it in front of me. The ice is clearly of uneven thickness - in some places it breaks with one blow. sometimes crackles when walking. But if you move carefully, in a sliding step, constantly checking the thickness of the ice, you can choose safe areas for fishing.
I start to cut holes from a steep bank, lower the ice pick to the bottom - a depth of about a meter. I make several holes along the coast, then a few more in the direction of a car tire sticking out from under the ice. Knowing the predilections of a large rattan, I hope to lure out the most well-fed next to this tire. I return to the first hole, I take out a fishing rod with "". With the feeling of a pioneer, I lower the bait into the water, feel the bottom, and start playing with the bait.
On the very first posting, the greedy grip is transferred immediately to the hand - and the first rotan of the season is on the ice. I catch several fish in a row 8-12 cm long, on which the bite ends safely.
From my not very rich experience of rotan fishing, I know that there are more bites on the “devil” without a nozzle, and almost everything will be realized, but the fish will be smaller than when fishing with a nozzle. In addition, the “devil” is a medium-sized bait, and if the rotan does not immediately fall under the nose, then the fish approaches the hole for a long time.
If you catch on a lure with a piece of meat from the same rotan, then you can count on a bite of a larger fish, and it will come up faster - for some reason, the firebrand likes a voluminous and serious bait.
Therefore, having previously stunned, I cut a small fish into pieces - this is a nozzle. I cut off a piece about 5 x 10 mm in size, always with a skin. I put it on, piercing the skin with a hook of a baubles, and bring the hook out. I check several holes in a row, playing with the bait. I play with a lure when catching rotan like a mormyshka, changing the frequency and amplitude, I check the entire water column from the bottom to the edge of the hole.
Tactics of catching rotan in winter
Rotan often accompanies the bait from the very bottom, carefully watching the moving piece of meat with his small “pig eyes”, and only under the hole he decides to grab it.
But nothing of the sort has happened yet. Even at the point of the greatest probability of a bite - at the tire - the firebrand does not take. Apparently, today she is not looking for bait, but decides to bite only when the nozzle is right under her nose, so she has to switch to an active search.
They are looking for rotan in the same way as. Holes are cut either at the depth differences, or near grass, bushes, stones, that is, where the hunter can hide in anticipation of prey.
Many noble “rotanists” use bait - minced meat, bones with the remains of meat or finely chopped rotan, and sometimes the catches are very impressive both in quantity and in size of individual specimens.
But I do not strive to catch as much rotan as possible, I just want to go fishing, look for places that are most attractive for fish camps, and lure gloomy firebrands out of their shelters. Therefore, I do not use bait.
Moving around the pond, I notice that today there are fewer bites in deep places, and the bulk of the fish stay where the layer of water under the ice is about half a meter, among the grass. Therefore, I conduct further searches in places with such depths. It doesn’t take right away today, but five minutes after the hole is cut, apparently, the shallow depth affects. But then several rattans come up at once - this is clearly visible in the muddy water - and they attack the lure in turn until one or two of the most cautious and more than once pricked on the hook remain.
Spinners for catching rotan in winter
On one of the holes, the lure descends next to a stone, because of which a gloomy-looking light yellow rotanishche the size of a galosh (albeit of the most childish size) is shown. And in fact, the rotan chasing the bait looks gloomy and concentrated from above - apparently, because of its close-set small eyes on a wide head.
Trying not to frighten off the monster, I move the lure smoothly and slightly raise the lure higher and higher. Obviously interested, rotan at the same pace, practically without moving, emerges behind the bait, lazily opens its mouth under the very hole, sucks in the bait and rushes to the side. A blow, and the lure flies out of the mouth directly onto the ice. It's a shame, rotan is clearly trophy. All further attempts to seduce him did not lead to anything. What to do, you can see, because he has grown to such a size that he is careful in choosing food.
Now, for some reason, I don’t feel like catching a trifle, the first hunt is knocked down, the excitement has passed, suddenly my legs are frozen, dressed not yet for the winter season, the wind has become colder - in short, it’s time to go home.
For three hours of active fishing, a couple of kilograms of green, yellow, black, marsh with spots, brown speckled fish were caught, which I don’t want to call at all a “cross between a ruff and a frog”.
Catching rotan in winter video
Catching rotan in winter on the first ice video
Fishing in Asino - rotan fishing, first ice underwater video shooting.
Catching rotan in the winter on the pond video
After successful fishing on Saturday 19.12, I made an unequivocal decision to go there the next day in order to catch a giant that pecked at Valera 2 times. Valera did not go with us, so he took his holes in the hope of a bite.
In the morning the bite was just magnificent. The holes did not freeze overnight, and almost each bore 1-2 rotan.
In the morning, I mixed up the departure time and set myself an alarm clock with the expectation of an hour later. Because of this, at the pace of a waltz, I had to pack up after Yuri's call and run to the meeting place, where they were waiting for me. I did not have time to brush my teeth, eat and pack food with me.
But it all paid off with great fishing. Large rotan pleased with its sharp bites, it was well detected and pecked continuously until lunch.
Caught with a frenzy in the hope of a bite of a monster. But he didn't peck. The catch pulled on 10960 g in 72 pieces. To date, this is my best fishing for rattan from ice!
Catching large rotans in winter video
Valera got the largest of our company today. For 450 g! Fishing turned out great, though at first I could not find an approach to rotan. But after dinner he was rehabilitated, apparently, he showed by his example rotan how to eat. Today I didn’t have any particularly large ones, although I really wanted to .. Maybe next time? Our catches: I have 4, Yura and Sergey have 6 each, Valera has 9 kg.
