Features Of November Fishermen - November Fickleness

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Fishing Academy

November in our climatic conditions is an extremely unpredictable time of the year. Sometimes this month seems like a continuation of the summer-autumn fishing season. Blue, cloudless sky, freezing temperatures. In a word, warmth. And if it had not been for the bare trees that have thrown off their foliage, and the withered grass covered with frost in the morning, it is difficult to even imagine the imminent approach of winter.

And often, in mid-November, the freeze-up time begins, when the cold covers quiet backwaters, shallow lakes and channels with an ice shell. And then, according to the statement of our famous fisherman ST Aksakov: “… The fish stands on the camps, that is, it is divided by breeds, gathers in flocks, lays down on the bottom in deep places: you have to chase it there and fish very deeply. Such camps, known to fishermen, even in winter give an opportunity to cut ice holes over them and fish, despite the cold."

Such pre-winter migration of freshwater fish in the water bodies of the North-West begins long before the snow blanket covers the land. But it begins in droves in November. This phenomenon is due to the fact that as the water cools, the habitat of underwater inhabitants changes significantly. After all, a cold snap, in addition to a direct effect on the fish organism, affects the development of aquatic plants and all aquatic life that are fish food. The vital activity of fish also depends on the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water. The source of oxygen saturation of water is atmospheric air and, to some extent, aquatic vegetation. Moreover, in the daytime algae act as producers of oxygen, and in the dark - as its absorbers.

A decrease in the length of daylight hours already with the beginning of autumn gradually worsens the conditions for the stay of fish, first of all, in shallow places, in wilted and brown grasses. Insects do not fly in the cool air, and therefore such fish as roach, dace, bleak, grayling, chub in the upper layers have nothing to feed on.

In addition, the fish fry grew up, got stronger and, together with the adult fish, migrated to the river beds, to the depths. Predators followed them. However, not only in the wilderness, but also in the cold autumn months, many fish living in inland waters behave rather passively. Like other animals with variable body temperature, fish are highly dependent on the temperature of water and air, which have a significant effect on the metabolic rate of the fish and its diet.

A logical question arises: why? After all, the temperature of the upper layer of water near the ice is always the same - about zero, and in the bottom layers it reaches about + 4oС and is also constant. However, it has been noticed that even relatively active fish practically do not feed in severe frosts.

This is due to the fact that each species of fish has certain boundaries within which they begin and stop feeding. When the temperature drops below the lower limit, the metabolism of some fish slows down so much that they stop feeding altogether and fall into a state of suspended animation (numbness). This happens with catfish, carp, tench. During this period, unpretentious crucian carp and rotan burrow into liquid silt. In this state, they are able to survive even if the water freezes to the bottom.

Often, the biting of fish in November is also negatively affected by the direction of the wind. It would seem how a fish, under the ice, can determine the direction of the wind? And she, surprisingly, determines. A significant wind of an unfavorable direction in the overwhelming majority of cases worsens the bite. The only exception here, perhaps, is rotan. I have repeatedly witnessed how on Ladoga and other water bodies of Karelia, with a strong north or north-east wind, local fishermen did not go out on the ice at all.

However, if the November ice is strong enough, and good luck accompanies you (that is, there are no negative factors) and, of course, with the appropriate experience, at this time on our reservoirs you can catch perch, pike or grayling by sheer trickling. On quiet, cloudy days with light frosts, the biting of some peaceful fish - roach, silver bream, bream, rudd noticeably improves. Perch, especially ruffs, keep up with them.

But if on the first ice most fish are active during the daytime, then it is noticed that the pike perch is more willing to bite at dusk. And burbot is caught not only at night, but also at dusk. This is due to the fact that in early November, the pre-spawning food of this fish begins and gradually increases. At this time, burbot takes on live bait, pieces of meat, on a bunch of worms.

The most successful fishing is in windy, snowy and drifting weather. At the end of November, you can fish practically on all bodies of water - not only with trolling, but also with a float rod. And, of course, on the jig. On a float rod with a bloodworm, worm and maggot attachment, you can successfully catch bream, roach, rudd.

Perch, roach, ruff, silver bream, bream are pecked at the jig with bloodworms or maggots. Sometimes the chub, rudd and ide become a desirable trophy for an angler. However, in order to catch at least some of the fish listed, one needs only a little: to find the campsites of the already mentioned specific fish schools. Finding such places is often a completely insoluble problem, especially for inexperienced anglers. I was convinced of this more than once on Ladoga. Some locals who are fishing know where the wintering pits of various fish are and use it successfully. But they do it extremely carefully and prudently: God forbid, their secluded places will be discovered by strangers!

However, even if you have not acquired such fish places, and your catch can be counted on the fingers of one hand, or even less, do not be upset. Remember the famous aphorism: "The gods do not count the time spent on fishing in the account of life." It is not for nothing that they say: "A fisherman is fishing and health." And if there is little or no first, the second is definitely there. Always keep this in mind.