Bream biting and fishing in December, January and February. Winter fishing for bream What to use to catch bream in December

16.01.202027.05.2017

Bream fishing in winter is rightfully considered one of the most difficult, but at the same time exciting and rewarding pastimes. The success of fishing depends not only on correctly selected gear, groundbait and bait, but also on where and at what time you plan to fish. And if an experienced bream fisherman already knows all the secrets of winter bream fishing, then a novice fisherman, before going out on the ice in search of the coveted trophy, first of all needs to master basic knowledge about all the components of winter bream fishing - from choosing a place and time to fishing techniques and feeding.

Specifics of catching bream in winter

Fishing for bream in winter from ice has a number of features:

Bream can be caught all winter– unlike carp, crucian carp and carp, bream is actively caught throughout the winter period. At the same time, its high activity is observed in the first ice and the last ice, low - in the wilderness.
Bream are quite active in winter both in rivers and reservoirs with stagnant water - in winter you can fish in various reservoirs from medium-sized flowing lakes to large reservoirs and rivers.
You should look for this fish at depths of at least 5-6 meters– in winter, bream mostly move in schools at great depths in search of food. Outcrops of medium and small undergrowth can be observed at the beginning of freeze-up or during mild winters, when water bodies for a long time not covered with ice
Actively feeds and is caught at night– throughout the winter, large bream actively feed in the dead of night, when most other fish do not bite.

These features of catching bream in winter contributed to the fact that among fishermen who are keen on ice fishing, a whole caste has emerged, specializing in this fish - “bream fishermen”. You can learn a lot from these people useful information, accumulated by them on the basis personal experience. For beginners in this type of fishing, the advice of such experienced people helps them get on the right path and join the ranks of adherents this method catching

Video: winter bream fishing - underwater photography

Where and when to catch bream in winter

For effective bream fishing, you need to know when and where to catch bream in winter.

Fishing place

In winter, most of the time bream stays in deep places with a hard bottom covered with a small layer of silt.

As for the concentration density of bream depending on the bottom topography, the best place for fishing will be the so-called “tables”.

The main habitats of bream on the river are:

deep holes near steep banks at river bends;
reaches;
upper edges of channel ditches.

On large flowing lakes or reservoirs, the most suitable places for bream fishing are:

the deepest places of the reservoir (from 6-7 meters) with a bottom covered with a small layer of silt on which there are snags, lonely stones, pits, and mounds;
deep-water irrigation with depths of 5-6 meters, gradually moving into the riverbed part of the river blocked by a dam.

Month and time of day

During freeze-up, bream is active during the following periods:

On the first ice (in December) after the ice has completely frozen the reservoir.
Late winter - early spring (late February - early March) when meltwater penetrating under the ice saturates the habitat with oxygen, and the fish become more active.
In January-February– due to the lack of oxygen under water and insufficient lighting, the fish is passive.

During the day, the following patterns were observed in the activity of fish:

Weather

The weather significantly influences the behavior of bream in winter:

Peculiarities of catching bream in winter by month

December

December is the first month of freeze-up. This month, as a rule, a reliable ice shell is established, which greatly affects the behavior of the bream. Among the main features of bream fishing at this time are:

As water bodies freeze, bream tends to go to deeper places, where the temperature in the bottom layer at this time is 3-4 0 C. After the fish adapts to the new conditions, it begins to actively bite.
They catch bream on the first ice on deep-sea reaches, underwater plateaus, and on the upper edges of the riverbed.
On reservoirs and lakes, bream are caught using nodding and float gear, and on rivers - using a winter feeder.
When the bite is active, bream are caught in December using winter float gear or a feeder appropriate for the season; when the bite is more passive, they practice running fishing with jig tackle.
The jigs used at this time are large, golden lead jigs.
Small bloodworms are used as bait.
The main bait at this time is a large bloodworm, 3-4 pieces per hook or jig.
The bream is most active during the day at this time; trophy bream are more often caught during night fishing.

January

In January, there is low oxygen content and lack of light under the ice. All this affects the behavior of bream at this time:

In the dead of winter, bream prefers to stand in deep places - channel ditches, wintering pits, deep-water irrigation reservoirs.
They catch fish at this time using a winter feeder and winter float gear. Nodding tackle is used for passive stand-up fishing.
In the wilderness, dark or brown groundbait is used with the obligatory addition of food bloodworms and a small amount of flavorings.
During the day, small and medium-sized bream bite. In January, bream fishing is at its best at night.
In the wilderness, jigs use small tungsten ones.
For bait, bloodworms, maggots, and burdock moth larva are used.

Video: winter bream fishing in January

February

In the last month of winter, the fish become noticeably more active. Fishing at this time is characterized by the following features:

Bream and white bream are caught not at the very bottom as in the middle of nowhere, but about 1-1.5 meters from it.
It is better to feed at this time, opening the feeder 2-3 meters above the bottom, so that the gradually falling mixture attracts the bream standing below.
At this time, the bream comes out of holes and channel ditches to water with depths of 4-6 meters near the places where small streams and fast rivers flow into the reservoir.
During prolonged thaws, bream bite not only at night, but also during the day.
Feed with a homemade or purchased mixture with the obligatory addition of bloodworms
Bream is caught at this time, as on the first ice, using jig tackle; when a promising place is found, they move from running search fishing to stationary fishing using 2-3 float tackle.

Video: winter fishing for bream in February

What to use to catch bream in winter: basic gear

A variety of gear is used for catching bream in winter - from an active jig (nod), to a stationary float and a winter feeder.

Winter float rod

To catch bream in winter, use float gear consisting of:

Fishing technique

Fishing for bream in the winter float rod somewhat different from the summer counterpart. The entire fishing process consists of the following stages:

The process of fishing with float tackle consists of drilling two holes at a distance of 60-70 cm from each other, feeding them with a dump feeder, casting the baited tackle and waiting for a bite.
When biting, the angler can clearly see it by the movement of the nod or float “up” or “down.”
The hook is performed with a short sharp jerk on the line.
When fishing for a lively bream or large bream, the entire process is controlled by holding the line between the index and thumb right hand. With strong jerks, the fish is not “surrendered” a large number of fishing line, keeping it constantly taut.
If there is no bite for a long time, supplementary feeding is done with a pinch of food bloodworms or balls of bait mixture the size of a chicken egg.

Mormuscular (nodding) tackle

The jig is used for catching bream throughout the entire freeze-up season. This tackle consists of the following parts:

Fishing technique

The fishing technique differs from the usual one used for small roach. It consists of the following sequential operations:

When fishing for bream with a jig, the amplitude of oscillations (the stroke of the nod when playing) should be greater and the frequency less than for perch, ruffe, and roach.
The rise of the bait from the bottom is accompanied by 2-3 second pauses every 15-20 cm.
The lifting height depends on the activity of the fish and weather conditions: with low pressure and active fish it is less, with a weak bite and high blood pressure- more.
When fishing, a “tandem” is used, consisting of two baits of this type - one at the end of the fishing line, the other 20-30 cm above.
The fishing technique is similar to trolling - the bait is smoothly raised 15-20 cm above the bottom, then allowed to fall to its original position under its weight. The bait of bloodworms on such a jig is hooked only when there is a weak bite or uncertain bites and frequent departures.

Winter feeder

This winter tackle for bream is similar in fishing principle and composition to its summer counterpart. The winter feeder consists of the following parts:

Rod - for the winter feeder, special carbon-fiber rods up to 70-80 cm long are used with durable and flexible whips, equipped with guide rings, a cork handle with a reel mount.
Reel - used in this gear spinning reels size up to 1500.
Line – monofilament with a cross-section of 0.16-0.18 mm for the main line; 0.12 mm – for a leash.
Equipment – “Paternoster”, “Gardner loop”, asymmetrical loop.

Fishing technique

When fishing with this tackle, it is necessary to take into account the strength and direction of the current. The process of fishing with this gear, although similar in structure and equipment, differs from the summer feeder.

Fishing with a winter feeder is carried out in places with weak or medium currents.
To install the gear, two holes are drilled at a distance of 1-1.5 meters, so that they are oriented along the flow line.
The holes are fed with a “dump truck” feeder, dropping 2-3 portions of the mixture into each of them.
As supplementary feeding, tightly molded balls of groundbait with ballast - clay or loam - are used.
A tackle with a feeder is installed in a hole installed upstream.
In the feeder rig installed in the adjacent hole, the feeder is replaced with a drop-shaped sinker of equal weight.
Bites in this gear are signaled by the bend of the tip of the rod whip.
Hooking and landing fish is done using a fishing rod and reel.

But, in general, winter fishing for bream on a feeder from the shore is considered more effective.

How to feed bream in winter

In addition to everything described above, when winter fishing for bream during any freeze-up period, experienced bream fishermen try to be as noisy as possible - even at great depths, bream are often alarmed by loud steps on the ice, frequent drilling, as well as blows from the drill auger when “pumping” ready holes.

Also, for bream fishing, in addition to gear, at this time of year it is important to have equipment such as a tent, portable flashlight, warm clothes, camping gas stove - fishing for bream in winter at night in an open area without these things is not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous to health.

Video: catching bream in winter - tips from experienced fishermen

In contact with

About 10 days after the reservoirs are covered with ice, bream fishing begins in December using various winter gear. The effectiveness of fishing at this time is associated with the search for promising areas - various edges, hillocks and tables, as well as pits rich in food, in which bream often accumulates in significant quantities.

Fishing for bream in December with the right gear and a well-chosen place can be very effective.

In December, bream is caught using various winter gear - a winter float rod, a jig with a nozzle, a reelless bait and a rocker. In order to increase the chances of success, you can attach the bream to the fishing point for several days. To do this, in the selected fishing location, bait is dropped into prepared holes every 1-2 days. If the place is chosen correctly, then after a few days you can go fishing.

If you do not have the opportunity to introduce bream in advance, then you need to start feeding several holes immediately before fishing. After waiting some time after feeding, you can start fishing.

When fishing for bream with a reelless bait, many fishermen do not feed the bream, relying on an active search for fish.

Baits for catching bream in December

In December, bream switches to protein-rich food. At this time, to catch it, it is best to use bloodworms, maggots, worms, caddis fly larvae and burdock moths.

There is no need to put too many larvae on the hook - 3-5 larvae are enough for large bream and 2-3 larvae for bream.

Despite the obvious priority of animal attachments, one should not completely ignore plant attachments. Even in winter, there are situations when bream responds well to semolina, dough, pearl barley, and rolled oats.

When going bream fishing in December, take with you the most diverse set of baits and try to offer different options to the bream.

Bait for catching bream in December

When stationary fishing with a float rod, a jig with a nozzle and a rocker, you cannot do without bait.

You can feed bream in December with bloodworms, but you can use ready-made or homemade bait mixtures as a bait base. You can and should add bloodworms to them as an animal component - about 30%.

When using ready-made bait, you need to choose those mixtures that are intended for winter fishing. If you prefer to make your own bait, you can use ground crackers, cookies, rolled oats, or sunflower cake as a basis. You can also add ground sunflower and hemp seeds, millet, and dry peas.

You need to add flavors to your bait in December with a sense of proportion, focusing on the most natural flavors possible - anise, cinnamon, vanilla. There is no need to use too strong odors - this can scare off the bream.

As a rule, 1 to 3 kilograms of bait is enough for one fishing trip. However, you need to understand that feeding in large quantities may require significantly more feed.

In shallow places, bait balls can be lowered directly into the hole. If fishing is carried out at great depths, it is better to deliver bait to the bottom using a winter feeder, which is opened at the very bottom.

Catching bream in December with a float rod

Stationary bream fishing in December is usually carried out using. They usually fish on 2-3 holes; often a winter tent is placed over the holes for greater comfort.

Tackle for catching bream in December using a float rod

You can choose any fishing rod for catching bream with a winter float rod that is convenient for you - a “filly”, a “balalaika”, a winter fishing rod with an open reel. The fishing rod should have legs for convenient placement on the ice.

The fishing line for catching bream on a float rod is winter monofilament. Its diameter is about 0.1 - 0.12 mm for white bream, 0.14-0.16 mm for bream.

The choice of float depends on the fishing conditions. At great depths and in areas with a current, floats with a greater load-carrying capacity are used; in shallower irrigation areas, a lighter float can be installed - with a load-carrying capacity of 1-2 g.

The weight of the sinker depends on the carrying capacity of the float. The weight of the pad installed on the leash usually ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 g.

The optimal hook size is No. 14-12 according to the international classification. The hook should be made of thin, high-strength steel - such hooks allow you to carefully attach the bloodworm and ensure reliable hooking.

Technique for catching bream with a winter float rod

Usually in December bream is caught with 2-3 float rods on holes located close to each other. After the starting feeding has been done, you need to wait 20-40 minutes so as not to scare away the fish that are going to the fishing point.

Then the equipment is sent into the water. The float should be in the center of the hole, 2-3 centimeters below the surface of the water. When a bream bites, the float will float to the surface of the water. At the moment the float rises, you need to make a hook.

If there are no bites for several minutes, the equipment can be raised about half a meter and smoothly lowered back to the bottom to provoke the fish to bite.

Catching bream in December with a jig is possible both with and without bait. Fishing with bait is usually carried out on baited holes, and fishing with a “reelless” bait involves actively searching for bream sites, moving around the reservoir and drilling a large number of holes.

Tackle for catching bream with a jig

Most often, a “balalaika” type fishing rod is chosen for catching bream with a jig, but you can also use a fishing rod with an open reel and a “filly”.

When fishing with a jig, a nod must be used, which is a bite signal and gives the jig the correct action. For catching bream with a jig, a lavsan nod 8-10 cm long is well suited. You need to adjust the nod so that under the load with the jig it bends by about 30 degrees.

It is better to use winter monofilament fishing line, 0.1-0.16 mm thick, depending on the size of the intended prey.

It is better to use a tungsten jig, since with the same mass they are smaller in size than lead jigs. You can start fishing with traditional models - “droplets”, “pellets” or “uralka”. But it is better to have other types of jigs with you, since bream preferences may differ depending on many factors.

The rocker is a wire or tubular frame in which a leash with two hooks slides. You can use either a float rod or a fishing rod with a nod.

Tackle for catching bream on a rocker

The rod chosen is the same as for winter float fishing - a “filly”, “balalaika”, or a winter fishing rod with an open reel are suitable.

For catching bream on a rocker, you can use a winter monofilament line 0.14-0.16 mm or thin braid 0.06-0.08 mm. We use monofilament fishing line for the leashes; the diameter depends on how large the bream we are going to catch.

You can choose either a float or a nod as a bite alarm. Hooks are chosen depending on the bait - as a rule, these are hooks No. 14-12 according to the international classification made of thin wire. It is best to use bloodworms as bait for fishing with a rocker. Or you can use different baits on different hooks.

Technique for catching bream on a rocker

Catching bream with a rocker is technically not much different from fishing with a winter float rod. First you need to feed the selected holes. After the starting feeding, we wait 30-40 minutes so as not to spook the fish. Then the equipment is sent into the water.

When fishing with a float, when a bream bites, the float will float to the surface of the water. At the moment the float rises, you need to make a hook.

If you are using a rod with a nod for fishing, you need to tighten the line so that the nod is curved appropriately in order to register the most careful bite.

Choosing a place to catch bream in December

In December, bream sticks to the edges; you should also look for it in the turns of the riverbed, on plateaus and mounds surrounded by deep areas. It is imperative to check places with uneven topography such as holes, mounds, ridges in the middle of a monotonous topography not far from the riverbed.

Find out in which bodies of water in your region it is possible to catch bream in December:

Among all the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom in all fishing seasons, one of the most long-awaited trophies among amateurs fishing is His Majesty the bream. Catching bream in winter with a jig can be an extremely exciting activity, you just have to approach it thoroughly and with knowledge of many nuances, which we will talk about in this article.

Choosing a fishing spot

In winter, bream prefers to stay in areas with running water and deep water. The main winter sites for this fish are:

Channel pits on reaches, in bays;
Deep and elongated ditches (“troughs”) under steep banks;
Upper edges of channel ditches;
Level platforms (“steps”) separating the upper edge of one slope from the lower edge of another;

Most often, bream in winter is found in places with a muddy, clayey or pebble bottom - such a variety of the nature of the bottom preferred by fish at a given time is associated with the presence of such food items as bloodworms in muddy sediments or zebra mussels that live on stones and other solid objects.

When is the best time to catch bream in winter?

The activity of fish in winter is very dependent on the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water. And since this indicator, as aquatic vegetation dies off, decomposes with the absorption of a large amount of this element and the release of destructive carbon dioxide, and the growth of the ice shell, first decreases, and then, as spring approaches and the ice melts, it begins to increase again, the activity also changes fish.