Tackle for catching chub on the river in winter. Winter fishing for chub

Ice fishing has become increasingly popular among anglers in recent years. And this is not an accident. Of course, the chub does not have gastronomic qualities, but catching it is very exciting. The lively character, strong structure, and difficulty of fishing add their own piquancy and interest to his person.

Large, seasoned chub prefers to stay with the current in fairly deep places. Often it is caught along the way when fishing for bream, silver bream and roach. However, the handsome red-finned fish does not fish in pits, but on a gently sloping bottom, at depths from 1.5 to 6 meters.

The main difficulty when targeting chub in winter with a jig or fishing rod is finding a school of chub. Claims that this fish hibernates during the winter and leads a sedentary lifestyle have not come true in practice. I can say that the biggest catches last season were just during the deep winter, in February with temperatures far below -20 degrees.

Another feature catching chub in winter on the river with a jig is his natural caution. After catching one or two fish, the rest of the school moves away from the hole and almost never returns. In summer, the chub is no less shy, but in the warm season it can be brought back with additional bait.

Where to look for chub in winter

As a rule, it is not possible to “hatch” it, so the tactics of catching chub in winter are much like the actions of a winter lure fisher: five minutes of fishing the hole - and you have to move on, checking different levels, different depths. If there is a chub in the fishing zone, then it will manifest itself very quickly, literally on the second or third retrieve.

Tackle for catching chub in winter

At catching chub in the current with a jig in winter Traditional fishing rods with a long, moderately hard nod are used.

The fishing line should be quite thick: 0.15-0.2 mm in diameter, due to the strong resistance from the caught fish.

You can use two types of equipment:

• catching chub in winter with a tungsten jig (or another) (Figure “a”);
• catching chub in winter with an end sinker, above which a long leash with a shank is attached to the main line (Figure “b”).

Bites rarely occur directly under the hole - this is due to the chub’s caution. Him, like other fish in the current, catch chub in winter you need the “walking wiring” method. Its essence is as follows - the jig (sinker) sinks to the bottom, then rises slightly, is carried away by the stream and touches the ground somewhat further downstream. In this way, the bait can be floated 15-20 meters downstream. But this is the maximum range. Usually bites occur when the fish is released from 1 to 3 meters.

All jigs or sinkers must be selected very carefully. light baits are very quickly carried away by the current and lose contact with the bottom, while heavy ones simply cannot be handled. Both are unacceptable and can only bring occasional bites.

As a rule, with well-functioning gear, during each “raising-lowering” cycle, the jig is carried downstream by 5-20 cm, and contact with the bottom is not lost even after a long release, despite the increasing windage of the fishing line. Far from the hole, the time the jig falls to the bottom may increase, but the moment of “landing” itself must be clearly defined.

Bites can occur both when the jig is lifted, and when the jig touches the bottom, and even during some pause, which experienced fishermen withstand.

Catching chub in winter with a hook and sinker

The same principle is used when fishing with a leader and an end sinker. The length of the leash can be different - from 15-20 cm to 120-150 centimeters. Sometimes, instead of a hook, a light jig with a hook No. 10-12 (according to the international classification) is hung.

What equipment to choose for winter chub fishing - with a heavy jig or a leash - is up to every angler. For example, I prefer to fish with a heavy tungsten jig, and my friend prefers to use a leash. Our catches are almost the same, as far as they can be the same on a river in winter conditions, and even when fishing for chub.

Chub bite in winter

This fish asks us many riddles. It would seem that a large chub is a rather powerful fish, and bites should be expressive and sharp. however, this is not the case; it is not a flying chub. Only small chub take it sharply. A respectable individual presses the nod carefully, sometimes barely noticeably, which gives fishing for large chub in winter a special charm.

What else attracts us to chub fishing is its inexplicable, sometimes paradoxical tricks. Everyone knows the feeling of annoyance when in the summer these red-finned “dudes” walk under a river cliff and do not pay attention to any tricks of the anglers, presenting them with various delicacies almost on a silver platter.

Paradoxical behavior of chub in winter. I said that it is usually difficult to catch more than one from the same hole. But there are also exceptions.

Catching chub in winter video

Catching chub in winter using a jig from the ice “Rybolov Elite”

Fishing on small rivers of the Black Earth Region. Winter. Chub.

Winter fishing for large chub. You can fish this way throughout the winter. Large jig + bark beetle. Look on the border with the main current.

Targeted fishing for chub in winter is rarely practiced by the majority of winter fishermen. Largemouth are often caught as bycatch with roach, perch and other fish. The total number of chub in reservoirs is small, but in places with high numbers, fishing for this fish in winter can be very productive.

Chub in winter

The chub is a semi-carnivorous representative of cyprinids; it feeds on both plant and animal foods. Growing up, this fish becomes an almost pure predator. Chub eat small fish, insects, frogs, mice - whatever they can catch. The difficulties of winter fishing are associated with the chub’s lifestyle. The chub prefers reservoirs with clean running water, stays on the current or next to it, moving circularly in small schools across a certain water area. This fish usually winters at depth, on a clean sandy or rocky bottom. This fish does not like muddy bays and backwaters.

It is easier to find flocks of several individuals in clean small rivers in holes and reaches behind rifts, under shelters at depths of up to 6 meters (it practically never happens even deeper), near whirlpools and places with reverse currents. In large bodies of water it is difficult to predict its location; it often gets hooked along with roach and bream in places with a current, a hard bottom and depths of 1.5-6 meters. The main place for hunting chub in winter is small and medium-sized rivers. You can successfully catch this fish on large rivers, if its wintering places are known to the fisherman. The chub gravitates to the same points.

Catching chub on the first ice or closer to spring is much more effective than in the middle of winter. A good bite is observed precisely at the beginning of winter and closer to spring. During the dry winter period, largemouth are inactive. You can catch it only if you put the bait literally under your nose. But sometimes, especially during long periods of high atmospheric pressure and long-term stable sunny weather, this fish is caught even if the frost is constantly pressing - 20 degrees and below.

The main hunting sensor of a chub when hunting is vision. Therefore, it is difficult to catch in muddy water under a layer of thick ice and snow. But on first ice, with transparent ice cover, activity is quite high. It is simply difficult for the redfin robber to navigate in a dark space; this fish prefers to wait out conditions of poor visibility in shelter.

Where to look for chub in winter

So, for targeted fishing it is chosen right time, the beginning of winter or the end of freeze-up, before the water becomes cloudy. Places for catching chub in winter on small rivers (in the upper reaches of large ones) are easier to find. In bodies of water where there is no current at all, it is useless to look for it.

The most promising places:

• Areas with a current at a depth of 3-6 meters with a sandy bottom with uneven surfaces;
• Deep gullies with current near the shore;
• Whirlpools and places where the return stream flows into the main stream, holes under rifts and after rapids;
• Exits from pits with swirling water flows.

During periods of passivity, the chub stands in small schools at the bottom, almost without moving in the indicated places. Since in many such places there is a fairly strong current, gullies can form there and it will be dangerous to move around. But these are excellent conditions for chub. The chub chooses its routes around the territory using vision, preferring areas of light ice or similar gullies. Search for it by the first ice or the last ice needed throughout the summer water area. During this period, the largemouth is active, circulating around its usual places in search of food.

How to catch chub in winter

Winter fishing for chub requires special tactics, since this fish never gathers in large schools and loves strictly defined places. In the right place, you can catch many of these representatives of our reservoirs, but not one by one, but with a certain interval of time (waiting for the arrival of the next fish prowling along the route).

The tactic is to constantly search and fish all promising places. If the promising water area is small, then drill best places you need it right away, before it gets light and the chub goes along the patrol route. This fish, and especially large specimens, are careful. After this, we begin fishing the holes. You should not sit over each hole for more than ten minutes. There is no bite - we move on, drill a group of holes again and check. This tactic is advisable when fishing with the use of artificial baits (reelless lures) in small reservoirs where the number of bigheaded fish is small (but there are trophy specimens, up to 3 kilograms).

In places with a lot of fish, the method of stationary fishing with bait, fishing rods or winter donks with bait is advisable. Holes in which the catch was successful are remembered. Sitting for a long time and waiting for the next bite is not rational - it is better to fish another hole and then return. The fighting still scared everyone around. Better to look elsewhere. However, the catching hole must be noted and remembered. The capture of at least one individual means that this place is promising. This means that sooner or later, another chub will take the place of the previous one.

In winter, fishing occurs from the bottom. You should also check the level at a distance of 30-40 cm from it. When trolling, the entire layer of water is checked. In good warm weather, the predator rises up and goes aground. Catching chub in winter on a current requires equipment that can withstand this flow, but its roughness is unacceptable. He sees the rough elements of the equipment perfectly well and does not approach the bait, sensing a catch.

Jigs

More often, when catching chub in winter, jigs, baits and reelless baits are used. The peculiarity of fishing for largemouth is its excellent vision, timidity and caution. Therefore, it is not recommended to use fishing line thicker than 0.14 mm. Mormyshki are preferable to natural colors - dark, black, brown. The form is ordinary droplets or pellets. More often than not, it makes no sense to color the jigs at all - the chub normally goes for lead. What is more important here is the micro-oscillations of the body of the jig, reminiscent of the movements of an underwater bug. White and yellow versions made of cambric or beads are used as decorations. Read more about catching chub with jigs.

Float rods and donks

The choice of bait for fishing for chub in winter on the river is determined by the strength of the current. If the current is weak, it is better to use an ordinary winter float rod(due to the big-headed man’s love for thin rigs). In strong currents, light equipment cannot be held, and winter donkey options are already used here. Usually this is a retractable leader with a blind sinker at the end of the main line or a sliding olive at the bottom.

Equipment

Winter rigging for chub depends primarily on the size of the intended trophy. If there are no large individuals in the reservoir, then it is better to use thin fishing lines, up to 0.14 mm. For targeted hunting of trophy fish, the fishing line needs at least 0.2 mm. The redfin has a large mouth, so it needs large bait(a mole cricket, a finger-sized fry, a piece of liver 2-3 cubic centimeters in volume) and, accordingly, a large hook. Regular float and winter bottom rigs are suitable. The main thing is that the bait is kept in the fishing zone. If the strength of the current and the bottom topography allow it, then rolling works well. This is a donkey with a sliding ball weight and a leash, which is twitched by hand, due to which the rig is gradually pulled under the ice by the current. This method significantly increases the fishing area per hole.

An example of winter donkey rigging

Rolling equipment

The principle of operation when fishing by skating

Baits

What do chub bite on in winter? Large chub on the first ice and closer to spring feed mainly on fry. Therefore, the best bait for chub in winter is a live fry placed under the dorsal fin. He will not disdain worms, bloodworms, or any larvae. You can check shrimp, fish guts and chicken giblets. In some places, chub are successfully caught in winter using the liver. In the dead of winter, it is better to use small baits - 2-3 bloodworms, maggots, bark beetle larvae. If the fish is hungry and actively hunting, any “meat” bait will do.

Lure

Some fishermen are convinced that there is no need to feed the chub. Others use fertilizer while fishing. It depends on the conditions of the reservoir and the preferences of the fish. For bait, it is better to use animal ingredients - bloodworms, maggots, minced meat, blood. Part of the feeding is dumped to the bottom by a dump truck, then the feeder is lowered into the second hole, and the feeding is gradually washed out of it, forming a tail of particles downstream. You can lower a piece of gauze or cotton wool moistened with blood to the bottom.

Flashing

Winter spinners can also try their luck at fishing for the handsome redfin. Accordingly, the probability of being caught with spoons is higher during periods of activity. Small gliding spoons (up to 40 mm long), small balancers or ratlins are used as bait. The redfin also reacts to edible rubber of natural colors in the form of natural underwater insects. There are no special wiring - a standard game corresponding to the selected bait. It’s better to use everything one by one, trying to find a working fishing option.

Features and secrets

Ice fishing for chub is characterized by some additional subtleties:

• Chub is a cautious fish. The behavior of the fisherman on ice is therefore required to be quiet, and the equipment to be thin.
• The bite is sharp, the fish grabs the bait immediately, once it has decided to take it.
• A predator that is caught in winter usually does not resist for long. However, large specimens make several strong jerks at the beginning of landing.
• Additional glare from an overly shiny spoon can alert the redfin.
• Sometimes large individuals ignore other baits and take only a spoon or jig that resembles a fry.
• You should not clean sludge from the hole. It is better to make a hole with a stick and fish through it. The main enemy in sunny weather is a sharp change in lighting in the water (in the hole) when the angler moves against the sun.

Chub using a jig in the summer is a rather unusual and very interesting method of vertical fishing. Its essence is as follows: slip the bait vertically directly into the fish’s mouth, while hiding in the shelter. This is the only way to sometimes catch a chub, which is quite capricious and no less timid.

The hunt for it can continue until late autumn. The most active bite is observed at dawn and before sunset. However, even during the day, when other fish completely ignore the bait, the chub can be easily seduced by bait. He grabs sharply and greedily, and the hook must be done instantly.

It’s not for nothing that the chub is called the master of river rapids. Much to the delight of anglers, this fish is no less active in winter, so it is successfully caught not only in reservoirs open in winter, but also from under the ice. But it’s very, very difficult to catch him, even in the summer.

That is why a fisherman’s catch may be insignificant, only a few caught specimens, but this only makes fishing more significant. It is believed that its way of life has not been studied enough, and all the information collected is not always confirmed by the practice of fishermen.

Here are the main behavioral features:

• Even in the deepest winter, fish are very active and search for food, so chub using a jig is a reliable fact.
• Habitats in winter are radically different from the concentration of fish in summer.
• Unfortunately for fishermen, with the onset of cold weather the fish, despite all their activity, do not lose their alertness.
• When going fishing, you should remember that you will need special bait.

If fishing on various types fish can be caught with any bait using bait, then jigs for chub in winter are mainly used without reeling. Experienced fishermen note three species as the most catchy. The pellets of various shades have proven themselves well. At the same time, the use of a tightly packed cambric on the forend is encouraged.

The next type is hemispherical baits with bright eyes. It has been noticed that these prominent spots serve as a kind of target for fish, irritating them for some unknown reason. The last type is the larva. Catching chub with a jig with different fishing patterns in a reservoir is very attractive for fish.

Sometimes another type of nozzle without attachments works well - the so-called drop, which we wrote about in the article “ What kind of jig is used to catch bream in winter and methods of fishing for it" True, its color is somewhat unusual - either light green or bright orange.

Of course, you can try to hunt using various baits, but the chub is very indifferent to them. Sometimes only a small individual can covet a worm, maggot, bloodworm, burdock moth larva, or even dough. A goat or a devil will work much more effectively.

In winter, chub bite on jigs in different ways. The bite alarm suddenly straightens up sharply, and it seems that a bream has been hooked. It goes down just as sharply - the fish greedily grabs the bait. In any case, it is necessary to hook immediately. If the hooks are empty, the bend of the hook tip should be increased, since the fish does not swallow the bait, but clings to the lip.

It is best to look for chub on small rivers with not very strong water movement. In order for the fish to be in this particular place, three factors must coincide: a sufficient food supply, an abundance of oxygen and the average depth of the reservoir. Unlike the warm season, the chub moves to areas with uneven bottom topography with an abundance of snags and various rubbish.

A chub on a jig is a desirable trophy for an angler, you just need to know where to find it. Often, in search of food, fish tend to shallow water. In general, the narrower the river, the easier it is to find this aquatic inhabitant. When the temperature drops very sharply, the search is carried out on channel edges, near stone ridges and islands located not far from wintering pits. There is no point in venturing into rapids and great depths.

Tackle and jig for chub when ice fishing

Even a small individual has a very fighting character. The attack of the bait follows from a swoop, with a sharp blow. And such behavior on the one hand and the caution of the fish on the other force the fisherman to look for a compromise between the strength of the equipment and its invisibility in the reservoir.

For a rewinder, it is quite appropriate to use a line with a cross section of 0.1 mm. It seems that this diameter is too small for a water fighter, and it is capable of breaking the equipment, but at the same time the number of bites will increase significantly. If fishing is carried out with the bait of large specimens weighing more than a kilogram, then it is worth using a line with a diameter of 0.15 mm.

In principle, a compromise can be found in using a line with a cross-section of 0.12 mm; here it turns out that it has a greater margin of safety than 0.1 mm, and at the same time the performance of the baits used does not deteriorate significantly. The chub on the jig relates to the fishing line in principle.

The winter fishing rod does not matter at all; it is only important to pay attention to the whip, the flexibility of which is essential when fishing for chubs. You need to install the softest one you can find on the handle. But the nod is set to the one that is most convenient for the fisherman to work with, but in the current its rigidity is slightly increased.

We wrote above about the types of jigs used. However, bites often occur on ordinary lead pellets with a diameter of up to 10 millimeters or tungsten ones, which have to be placed in a strong current. The fact is that the specific gravity of tungsten is much greater than lead. The hook is preferably number five with a tightly set cambric of white or yellow color. It should be borne in mind that a dangling tube is more likely to scare away the fish.

The technique of the game is similar to the wiring used to catch perch. The bite often happens on the rise. True, if the fish can be caught at mid-water, and even in the uppermost water horizon, chubs attack no higher than thirty centimeters from the ground of the reservoir. In this case, horizontal wiring becomes more successful.

Jig chub - these concepts do not combine with noisy fishing, mass movement on the ice of a reservoir, frequent drilling of holes and loud conversations. Even the hole should be shaded during fishing, and when landing a large fish, soft snow should be added to it.

Of course, fishing with a bait you make yourself is much more enjoyable than with a purchased one, especially if it turns out to be successful in terms of catchability. The manufacturing principle is the same: molten metal is poured into the prepared mold, as we wrote about in the article “ Magnificent track: how to catch roach in winter using a jig».

First you need to decide on the material from which you can make the mold for casting. Both wood and metal will do. It is clear that working with wood is much easier if you have a chisel or a regular knife on hand. You will have to work with metal with a drill.

There is an interesting way to make a mold from aluminum. To do this, you need to take two blanks and a ball from the bearing. The ball is placed between the plates and clamped in a vice until it pushes through the aluminum and the plates fit tightly together. It remains to make two holes - one for the hook, the second for pouring molten metal.

With this shape, the chub goes well with a jig on the first ice. Other geometries are easy to cut in wooden blanks - oval, teardrop-shaped, elongated. In addition, in homemade products it is easy to make an eyelet for attaching the scaffolding, which is different from rewinders.

Jigs for chub made from coins are quite good. Using a hacksaw blade, the metal is cut out required form. A cut is made on the resulting blank in which the shank of the hook will be fixed. Having carefully tinned the workpiece, apply a hook and apply solder of the required thickness. A hole is drilled under the line, the resulting bait is processed with a file and sandpaper.

As with catching other types of fish, bait for catching chub can be divided into summer and winter. In ice-free reservoirs, larger weights are used, sometimes with brighter colors. And although there are baits that fish prefer most, this does not mean that they do not pay attention to other types.

As you can see, there is plenty to choose from, and if you choose the bait wisely, based on weather conditions and the characteristics of the reservoir, the results will exceed all expectations. Of course, all this is selected experimentally. In addition, do not forget about the thickness of the line, which significantly affects the number of bites.

As soon as the flood stops and the water is cleared of turbidity, interesting fishing begins, which may not subside until late autumn. Of course, the favorable time for fishing is early morning and evening, but during the day you can catch some good chubs.

The five-meter form is equipped small coil, even a wired one will do, or better yet an inertia-free one. The reel, however, like the guide rings, are not involved in fishing and are required mostly for quickly lowering the line, which is wound on a drum with a cross-section of 0.15-0.20 mm. Since fishing is often carried out in heavily overgrown areas in a vertical line, there is no use for the clutch, since there is nowhere to let go of the line.

Like the jig for chub in the summer, one of the most important elements is the nod, which is made from any available materials - a soft metal spring, thick and elastic line. To ensure that the bite is clearly visible at such a distance, the alarm is painted in bright colors. Since the chub grabs the bait greedily, you can get by with a soft tip of the blank.

Jigs for chub in summer differ in size from winter ones. If a flock of chubs is located in the upper water horizon, an attack can occur at the moment when the bait touches the water. When a small specimen is removed, fishing continues, since they are not so careful, but if a worthy specimen is hooked, you can safely stop fishing in this place.

The chub jig in summer is still more often attacked at the bottom. When playing, it is necessary to set vibrations of small amplitude. The tactics of the game are as follows: the bait is placed on the ground of the reservoir for a few seconds, then slowly rises with slight swaying.

By the way, in Scandinavia a combination that works well is a jig on a chub, bread rubbed with garlic. And they catch him not with some kind of bread crumb, but with a piece of white bread with a toasted crust. This bait sits firmly on the hook even in the current and attracts only large fish.

The owner of river rapids is the chub, and in winter he leads an active lifestyle. Moreover, this fish can be successfully caught not only in the open water of ice-free rivers, but also from under the ice using jigs.

Catching a chub is not easy even in summer, but those who have some experience and desire can actually do it at any time of the year, including winter. And even if the number of chubs in the total catch will be inferior to other fish, several individuals purposefully caught per day, even if they are small, will give fishing special significance.

The lifestyle of the chub in winter has been studied very little by experts, and a number of available information on this matter is contradictory and far from reality, which is confirmed by the practice of winter fishermen. Therefore, I will highlight the main messages that I am personally convinced of.

The first is that throughout the winter, including the dead season, chubs lead an active lifestyle and feed. The second is that the places where chubs are concentrated in winter are either completely or partially different from those where they dominate at other times of the year. Third, chubs in winter do not lose their caution and agility. Fourth, not all baits are suitable for catching chubs in winter. I will dwell on the key components of these messages in more detail.

For target winter hunting Rivers with a gentle current are most suitable for chub with jigs. Having waited for them to freeze up, we boldly set off to catch the “lobasty”. You should first prepare for this kind of fishing, which differs from fishing in still water. We’ll talk about this below, but for now I’ll note the second, even more attractive option for choosing a chub water area.

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These are river bays, backwaters, channels and mouths of small rivers. Their advantage is the absence of a strong current, which allows the use of almost any weight jig. At the same time, the favorable oxygen regime in these water areas, coupled with small and medium depths (1.5–3 m) and a good food supply, invariably attracts chubs here. And even though for the most part these are small individuals, they are also capable of delivering incomparable joy.

There is another feature of the habitats of chubs in winter: these fish stick to snags, cluttered areas with an uneven bottom. They often go out to shallow coastal waters to feed. This means that the narrower the river, the easier it is to find chubs, taking into account the indicated landmarks.

In very frosty winters, it becomes possible to catch chub on large rivers with strong currents, but even in this case it is better to stick to designated landmarks or look for channel dumps, rocky ridges and islands, especially those located in close proximity to wintering pits. You still can’t find them in rapids and great depths.

In general, there are no clearly defined distinctive chub spots on a particular water body and cannot be. Sometimes it is only possible to declassify points where chubs are caught regularly, sometimes several specimens one after another, which is a rather rare occurrence in winter. Such holes, which qualify for the “gold” category, should be remembered well and given increased attention and additional time.

During any active winter fishing, pre-drilling multiple holes is always a good idea. When we keep the chub in mind, it is also smart in terms of subsequent noise minimization. In winter, the chub is no less timid and cautious than at other times of the year. In this regard, silence should be maintained on the ice. I consider masking the holes obligatory. You should not get sludge out of them. It is more rational to make a hole with the handle of a scoop or a specially prepared stick.

Chub are not perches, there are not so many of them, and they often stay alone, which is clearly visible when using a video camera. It’s worth staying at each hole longer than usual, making not 3-5 entries, but more. In addition, if the fishing spot is well studied and the likelihood of a chub appearing is high, it makes sense to stay at the hole even if there are no fish in sight. Then their appearance will definitely not go unnoticed.

Tackle and equipment

Before I talk about chub jigs, I’ll touch on the issue of equipment, because it’s not easy. Chub, even if they are small, are quite strong and playful, they attack the bait dashingly, sometimes with a blow, so the equipment must be strong. But, on the other hand, thickening the fishing line negatively affects the quality of the wiring. How to remove the contradiction that has arisen is an individual matter.

My friends take exactly the opposite positions on this matter. Reelless fishers prefer not to use fishing line thicker than 0.1 mm. Several jigs torn off by chubs during fishing are compensated by a large number of bites. Those who use jigs with attachments and target really large chubs (from 1 kg and above) use a fishing line with a cross-section of 0.15–0.17 mm.

My personal choice is 0.12mm line. It would seem that it is a little thicker than 0.1 mm, but already with a margin of safety, and the baits used with such fishing line work quite well.

If you plan to fish in a strong current, a different option is needed. In that case good choice there will be a main line with a diameter of 0.18 mm. I arrange the equipment by analogy with the bottom summer version. A sliding “olive” sinker, a swivel and a leash made of fishing line with a diameter of 0.14–0.15 mm and a length of up to 30 cm, to which a jig is tied.

When fishing in a current, holes are drilled at an angle in the direction of the current. It is possible to use a blind end sinker and one located above it diverter leash, but sliding equipment seems to me more effective.

I omit the question of choosing a fishing rod, because it is not important, unless in the current it is worth using a small wire reel.

I’ll dwell on the six in more detail. Its flexibility when catching chubs is very important. Nowadays, manufacturers are increasingly producing several sixes of different softness in sets for winter fishing rods, so when assembling, you should use the most flexible one. If this option is not provided, you can make the six-piece softer at home by sharpening it to the desired condition.

The nod is selected for the equipment, taking into account your own winter wiring skills. When there is a current, it should be more severe.

If, when catching other fish, both jigs with and without attachments can be used equally successfully, then when hunting for chubs, one must take into account that these fish are more tempted by unattached jigs. Of these, I have identified three types for myself.

The first is spherical, and of different colors. Several pieces of brightly colored cambric should be tightly pulled onto the shank of their hooks, but so that the pieces do not move freely along the shank. The chub reacts negatively to all kinds of pendants moving during retrieval.

The second type of jigs are hemispheres with bright eyes. These eyes and the above-mentioned cambrics apparently act as attack points, acting as an irritant for the chubs. And the third version of the jigs I liked is “larvae”. Despite the fact that all of these types of jigs behave differently in the water column when fishing, they attract chubs.

This winter I’m testing in practice the fourth type of nozzle jig, which I noticed last season. A fisherman I know was very successful in catching chubs using “mussels” and “drops” jigs of bright orange and light green colors, which are usually used when catching large roach.

As for jigs with attachments, it should immediately be noted that chubs are cold towards bloodworms. I only caught very small fish on it. Other commonly available baits for fishing include a worm, maggot, burdock moth larva, and dough, but bites on them are more rare. Therefore, I repeat, chub is an object for baitless fishing. In addition to the profile jigs mentioned above, you can successfully use “goats” and “devils”.

Chub bites look different. This can be tossing the bait, when the nod, as if catching bream, straightens, or simply stopping the moving nod or its sharp bend downwards. The hook must be sharp and follow immediately. If the fish is not hooked once or twice, you should pay attention to the bend of the hook and change it upward. The chub is caught at the edge of the lip and rarely swallows the bait completely.

The most promising fishing horizon is 5–70 cm from the bottom. In this case, the chub almost always grabs the bait during pauses when it is raised. Best time day for fishing - the second half of the day, in any case, I did not come across this fish early in the morning. And of course, one cannot help but mention such a promising period for chub fishing as prolonged thaws. They come across more big-fronted predator, most often large individuals.

Subject to availability small current good effect releases the jig raised above the bottom. It moves slowly, attracting the attention of wary fish. When fishing this way, you should position yourself facing upstream so that when hooking, the line does not catch the edge of the hole.

When fishing in a strong current with an “olive” sinker and a leash with a jig, in case of a weak bite desired effect can give the use of a hook instead of a jig while simultaneously lengthening the leash. But in this case, the mandatory use of an attachment will be required. As the latter, I recommend a medium-sized bright foam pea of ​​yellow or orange color, which traditionally attracts chub well in open water.

Targeted ice fishing for chubs with a jig can add variety to winter fishing, adding new colors and bright emotions to it.

The chub does not stop feeding in winter, so many anglers successfully catch it on winter fishing rod, provided that the reservoir is covered with ice. Naturally, the bite is not stable and depends largely on weather conditions, but this does not prevent avid fishermen from “hunting” chub. This article will help you decide on some of the subtleties of winter chub fishing. But most importantly, some fans of winter fishing will be able to find out that chub can be caught not only in summer, but also in winter.

Some sections of the river, under certain conditions, do not freeze, so it is possible to use classic summer gear, such as:

• spinning;

There is no point in explaining how these gears are used in winter, since there is practically no difference compared to their summer use. Moreover, conditions when the river does not freeze occur quite rarely. This is either the location of the river in the southern regions, or the replenishment of the reservoir with warm water, or an abnormally warm winter. Therefore, it makes sense to dwell on how to catch chub from the ice, using the following baits:

• jigs;
• spinners;
• balancer

Any of these three baits are great for catching chub if done correctly. For your dream to come true into a good catch, you need to choose the right place, select the appropriate bait in size and color, and present and hold the bait correctly.

Winter fishing, especially “hunting” for chub, means a constant search for a place to stay for this fish. It very rarely happens that after going out on the ice and drilling a hole, a fish, especially a chub, immediately begins to bite. You need to work very hard and then luck will not pass you by and you will be able to catch a chub. At the same time, you need to be prepared that in addition to chub, other fish will be caught, especially perch, which is the most numerous inhabitant of our reservoirs.

In winter, chub should be looked for where there are significant irregularities in the river bottom, such as edges, holes, dumps, underwater accumulations, such as driftwood or fallen trees. Before you start punching holes, it is advisable to carefully study the nature of the reservoir, especially if it is unfamiliar.

At this time, he prefers to stay at a depth of 4 to 8 meters. At the same time, bites can follow on any of the water horizons. Therefore, the fisherman’s task is to find the horizon where the chub is located at that time, which is very difficult. Although, as experienced fishermen point out, in the main (and this is 90%), the chub takes the bait at a distance of 30-40cm from the bottom. It rises closer to the surface of the water very rarely.

To search for fish, you should immediately drill several holes, in a checkerboard pattern, at a distance of 5-6 meters from one another. You can choose any layout for the holes, depending on the geometry of the reservoir. They begin to fish the first drilled hole, because the fish, frightened by the noise, manage to return to it, if they were in the area.

You should not spend more than 10 minutes on each hole. If after several strokes (3-4 strokes) there was no bite and it was not possible to provoke the fish, then this is a signal to move on to the next hole. If not a single hole turns out to be productive, then you will have to move to another place and start all over again: drill holes and fish them.

If any hole still pleases the chub with a catch, then you should leave it and move to another hole. It is unlikely that you will be able to catch several individuals from one place. It is better to mark a productive hole and upon arrival next time, this hole will again delight the angler with a chub bite.

At the beginning of winter and at the end of it, the chub can come closer to the shore, where there are thickets of aquatic vegetation. At the same time, the chub prefers places where there is, albeit a weak, current. In areas of the reservoir where there is no current, there will be no chub, therefore, it makes no sense to drill holes in such places in search of this fish.

The best time to catch chub is in winter

Chub can be active even in the dead of winter. Despite this, the most productive periods may be the first ice and last ice. During these stages, the chub tries to stock up on nutrients.

Around 10 o'clock in the morning he begins to show his activity. Naturally, it is better to prepare for this time in order to have time to drill holes. At the same time, chub can be caught all day long. During this period, its bite can be either active or passive. Despite the fact that the chub is considered a heat-loving fish, it can be actively caught even at 20 degrees below zero.

Catching chub in winter with a jig

This is one of the most catchy ways to catch chub in winter. If you choose the right jig, your fishing will be very productive. It makes sense to decide which jig may interest the chub more in winter.

It is desirable that the fishing line has a minimum thickness. As a rule, this is a fishing line with a diameter of 0.14 to 0.17 mm. If you take a thicker fishing line, the number of bites can be significantly reduced. This is due to the fact that the chub is a fairly cautious fish.

The following models of jigs are suitable for catching it:

• pellet;
• Uralka;
• cone;
• ant;
• disk;
• drop;
• oatmeal.

Among this variety of jigs, there is a classic jig - a “pellet”, which attracts the chub most of all. This jig accounts for the majority of bites. In addition, there are some subtleties.

As a rule, chub are caught using baitless jigs, and various animal components are imitated using multi-colored elements that are located on the hook. When using live components, it is better to use:

• bark beetle larva;
• fly larva;
• bloodworm.

With the addition of natural ingredients you can get no bad results when fishing for chub. Since the chub is a cautious fish, you should not clear the hole of ice residues so that light does not penetrate into the water column. Best option, you can take a stick and make a small hole just enough for the jig to pass through.

The best jig for catching chub

As mentioned above, the best jig for catching chub is a “pellet” with a diameter of about 6 mm. If the current is strong, then it is better to take a pellet with a diameter of about 8 mm. The pellet is equipped with hook No. 5-6, according to domestic numerology. For greater attractiveness, the jig should be decorated with cambrics in white or yellow shades. They work well both individually and together.

When putting a cambric of the same color on a hook, its length can be within 5 mm. If you want to wear multi-colored cambrics, then you should take a 2 mm piece of yellow color and place it between two pieces of white cambric of the same length. As a rule, the combination of white and yellow shades is most attractive to chub during this period.

As for the color of the jig, the chub perceives the color of lead normally and there is no point in coloring it. Although, experienced fishermen claim that on clear sunny days it is advisable to give preference to matte colors that do not give glare. Additional glare under the ice can alert the chub.

Playing with a jig

The game of the jig is to organize frequent oscillations during its rise. Moreover, it is advisable to start the ascent from the very bottom and to a height of about 30 cm. The ascent should be slow. If there are no bites, sharp up/down swings of the jig are made at the very top of the rise to attract fish from afar. Thus, several entries need to be made. If there are no bites, then it is better to move on to the next hole and try to repeat everything from the very beginning.

At the same time, we should not forget that the chub can be in the water column, at some distance from the bottom (more than 30 cm). In this case, it is better to try to fish higher horizons.

Catching chub in winter with a spoon

This method of catching chub is preferable for conditions when the first ice has appeared or the last ice is observed on the reservoir. During these periods, he is still interested in the fry or is already beginning to be interested in them. In the midst of winter, the chub stops chasing “trifles”, as this requires effort and energy. Therefore, he switches to stationary food.

The spinners are selected in silver or white color, 3-4 cm long. At the same time, it must be taken into account that fishing is carried out in the current, which predetermines the use of gliding type spinners. It is also possible to use diving spoons, especially in areas with weak and moderate currents. Using such a lure, you can count on success, although the main prey may be perch. The technique of using the spinner is very simple. Using a fishing rod, a jerk is made to a height of about 30 cm, after which it returns to starting position. After the jerk there should be a pause of about 1-2 seconds. As additional information, it should be noted that pauses must be present, otherwise the results of fishing may not be seen.

Catching chub on a balance beam in winter

Catching chub with a balancer, as with other spoons, is preferable at the beginning and end of winter. As for fishing in the depths of winter, it will be possible to fish with a balancer during periods of thaw. The rest of the time it is better to use various jigs. The chub balancer should be selected within the range of 4-6 cm in length, with a weight of 6 to 12 grams. Here a lot depends on the speed of the current. The larger it is, the more weight must have bait.

Balance game

Selected experimentally, based on trial and error. These can be either light movements of the bait or sweeping ones, with obligatory tapping on the bottom. Tapping on the bottom additionally attracts fish by raising a small cloud of turbidity. At the same time, we should not forget about pauses so that the fish can attack the bait. It is imperative to take into account the fact that fish in winter are not as active as in summer.

In case correct selection bait and its correct presentation, there is a high probability of chub bites. Most anglers who go fishing in the winter are very surprised when they hook a chub. Most of them are set up to catch fish such as perch or catch pike perch on a balancer. They don’t even think about the fact that other fish can be caught in winter, especially such as chub. In this regard, most winter fishing enthusiasts do not pay much attention to the selection of baits, as long as they catch perch.

To make sure that catching a chub in winter is realistic and possible, you can watch several videos. This will help you better understand the information you read in this article.