October Troubles

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

Fishing Academy

Figure 1 October is a dreary month for fishing: a real off-season, unemployment for the angler. And in fact: the summer-autumn fishing seems to be over, but the winter one has not yet begun. At this time, in the climatic conditions of the North-West, the weather is very unstable, which is reflected in the popular saying: "October will cover the earth, wherever with a leaf, where with snow."

In some years at the beginning of October the "Indian summer" comes with clear warm days. In the middle of the month, windy weather with drizzling rains most often prevails. In other years, at the end of October, winter arranges a kind of rehearsal: early snow falls, which most often melts quickly, and sometimes remains until the arrival of real winter.

Such sharp fluctuations in the weather, of course, greatly worsen biting, if not even make it impossible. Fishing with a float rod in shallow water is practically useless. I have repeatedly done this experiment … Not far from our village there is a small stream. The water in it is so transparent that every pebble and every blade of grass is visible at the bottom.

And among them slowly, it seems, not in a hurry, they swim quite decent-sized perches. And they are not in the least afraid of my presence. And than I tried to seduce the striped robbers into a bite: I planted an earthworm, maggot, caddis flies, burdock moth, bloodworm on the hook. Pisces - zero attention.

Even when I threw such tempting baits right under their nose, they moved away, but did not take. Although in October last year in the Moika river near Mga I managed to catch a dozen ruffs and roach. Naturally, such a small fish was not of any gastronomic interest, so it returned safely to its native element. But this was, perhaps, almost the only case in my fishing practice.

Figure 2 With decreasing temperature, the fish becomes lethargic, inactive and poorly fed. Spinning does not bring success in October either. Large perch, usually very active in the warm season, does not bite at all now. The same as the pike. Since peaceful fish gather in schools and with a cold snap gradually retreat to a depth where the water is warmer, predators also move there.

In addition, as the temperature drops below zero degrees, spinning fishing is further complicated by the fact that the fishing line often freezes into the pass rings. And during the casting, the line is constantly tangled. Some anglers claim that at this time, a tackle or tackle track brings success. I doubt it very much.

I have heard that fishing is successful in deep pits and pools near bushes hanging over the water, near thickets of aquatic grasses. But this is just talk, nothing more, everyone who argued this was referring not to his own experience, but to the experience of someone else. In October, such a pattern is still clearly visible: if the fish bite, then only during the day and only when the water warms up. In the dark, there is practically no bite.

Perhaps the only fish truly available to the angler at this time of the year is, of course, burbot. And the lower the temperature drops, the more active this predator becomes. I will not talk about the numerous tackles for catching winter burbot, but I will describe only those that I have seen or, at least, I think are promising.

Figure 1 shows the Finnish lure "Burbot harrow". Why it is so named, I can not judge, I only know that it is a very successful bait for burbot. Figure 2 shows an oscillating spoon with a hook on a leash. The leash length depends on the specific fishing conditions. Figure 3 shows a winter zerlitsa for catching burbot (it also happens!).

Figure 3:

1. Zherlitsa.

2. Wire sinker.

3. Fishing line with live bait.

4. Hook for checking the tackle through

additional hole. The most significant part of this tackle is a 30-50 cm long sinker made of steel wire and lying on the bottom (see Fig. 3, position 2). Loops are made at both ends of such a lead (see Fig. 3): one for the leash, the other for the main line. In order for live bait or burbot not to entangle the fishing line, the leash should be shorter than the lead wire. It is convenient to check such a tackle with a hook through an additional hole (see Fig. 3, position 4).

I happened to hear about a rather original way of catching burbot. I cannot presume to judge its effectiveness, but why not try it …

It is generally known that the best bait for fishing in autumn and winter are ruff and perch. Especially the ruff. However, it is not always possible to get them at the right time. Therefore, it is necessary to do this: to a large burbot hook on a short leash, attach a hook-swallowing hook with the attachment of a bloodworm, caddis flies or maggot. The ruff or perch will swallow the bait and stand still. The burbot scouring the reservoir will surely stumble upon the prey so desired for him and grab it. And together with it, a large hook will be pulled into the mouth.

And in conclusion, I'll tell you about my own rather curious fishing for this fish with a jig.

Alexander Nosov