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| Plan the fishing-year |
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By Jens Bursell
Like all other specimen-fishers Jens Bursell knows all about melancholy, when frost has put a lid on the lakes and winter-darkness creeps into every nook of the fishing shed. Luckily the coming years fishing is just round the corner. Now is the time for planning, so you obtain the ultimate benefit from the seasons and the methods, that resulted in large fish last year……
When the fishing waters lie deserted and the landscape is a mosaic of grey and brown the pent-up symptoms of fishing-fever start to push forward – restlessness, daydreaming and an itching to get out, where the wind is blowing.
Mild conditions of course mean fine possibilities for good fishing of pike, perch and zander both normal fishing and ice-fishing is cumbersome or impossible.
But what does it matter? You can always imagine the many happenings,that wait ahead. Is there f. ex. anything better than reclining in an armchair, with fishing magazines, maps and a cup of hot coffee planning expeditions during the coming spring, the summer and the fall to new, exciting waters? As a practical guide to the planning you can in the following read a number of tips about when it is most advantageous to concentrate your efforts on different specimen-species, if you mean to get the most action spread over the whole season.
March – the month of the predators
After a long winter it is a relief, when the woods wake into new life and the tits make known the arrival of the budding spring with their short, life-confirming stanza in the tree-tops. However the winter has developed, there normally no ice after the middle of March. At this time of the year pike and perch have already begun to think of the coming generations and are gradually gravitating towards shallow areas to spawn. The pike normally spawn in March-April, since they are protected in April, it is March, which is the time of the year, that the chances of catching one of the very large pike, heavy with roe, is greatest. Zander spawn later than the pike, and they frequently are to be found in somewhat deeper water than the pike during this period. Since the zander is protected in May, it is likewise the months of March and April on which zander-fishers should focus, if they aim to catch the fish, when their weight is topping
Whilst the lake-perch through the winter have remained relatively concentrated – frequently alongside slopes in deep water – during the spring more and more of the fish will be found at depths of 1-2 meters – frequently in areas with a stonereefs or a relatively hard bottom. The fishing may be hectic, if you find the right place and the right method. The closer you get to the time of spawning, the more finicky the fish get. At this time it may be more advantageous to use somewhat smaller bait, f. ex. lip-hooked roach of 5-10 cm presented on a 0,20 fluoro-carbon lead – if there are not too many large pike around…… That said, at this time there is after all a fair chance of landing the pike that get caught by mistake – frequently they take the small roach so carefully, that the hook has an extremely light grip on the extremities of the its mouth.
In this way a friend and I on a fine trip last spring got a number of pike in the 4-7 kilo class, along with what we primarily were going for: a solid bunch of lake-perch in a weight-range from 1300 to 1700 grams. Not a single pike was losr for reasons of a broken line, and the pike thus formed an extremely entertaining supplement to the perch-fishing.
If you want to provide a solution, that better safeguards against getting pricked by the teeth of the pike, but still is reasonably attractive to the perch, a combi-link, in which a wire-lead and fluocarbon are combined. An ultrasoft 11-19 lbs DD-softflex multistrandwire is used, as the trace. The metal-wire should extend to about 10-15 cm in front of the head of the bait In order to make the most elegant presentation, the soft wire should be combined with f. ex. 1 meter 0,30 fluorcarbon by means of a surgical knot.
Even although the spring water mostly is clear as spirits, you will frequently experience a blooming of silicious algae immediately after the ice breaks up. The water for a period becomes unclear, which may be a good reason to upgrade the predator-tackle with f. ex. propellers, rattle-.
If the perch in the brackish water have not already been active during the winter, the month of March is the time, when things start to happen in earnest. Those fish, tht have not already wintered in the stream or close to its mouth will now start to migrate into fresh water to spawn. Float-fished small roach or live shrimp from the fjord are as a rule the most effective bait. Exactly which bait is the best depends on the situation, and this matter has for the last couple of years been the subject of much discussion. During a succession of trips during 2001-2003 targeting the large perch of a swedish stream together with my friend Søren Beck and a couple of other Danes, there was no doubt – fjordshrimps caught significantly better than live roach caught on bottom lines – currently the most common perch-technique on the stream. The fjord-shrimps have since been diligently used on this river – also by locals. But, to tell the truth, it is not always like that. Even though the fjord-shrimps are a super bait, there may be days. When live small roach catches at least as well or even better – particularly if they are fished actively
April
April is the month, in which the fishing seriously gains speed, and it is frequently during the middle of the month, that the great spawning run of large perch takes place – followed by the spawning. Even though large fish are caught through the winter, it is frequently in April, that the really big ones in excess of 2 kilos are caught.. In the larger streams the run frequently starts a little earlier, whilst the fish in the very small streams sometimes do not spawn until the beginning of May, when they only remain a few days in the stream.
Another of the highlights of the spring is the fishing for well-grown spawningorfe, that run more or less synchronously with the perch. There is nothing to beat a clear day in the spring with the meadow-lark singing and an open sky over a shallow stream, where orfe are clearly discernable in the clear water. But let it be said at the outset. Set out to enjoy the spring and catch some large fish – spawning orfe offers a modest fight. Loose-line fishing or stalling with bread, maize or worms frequently produce the best results. If you are about to fish with a float, the best choice will be small transparent crystal wagglers of 4-8 centimeters length.
The first half of April is likewise the time, if you are going for a record roach. The fish spawn at a temperature of 10-15 degrees centigrade, which in most lakes is attained in the middle of or at the end of April. The fishing for roach from brackish water migrating upstream is likely to include specimen-fish, and here you should aim at the end of March to the beginning of April.
Fishing for the crucian carp may likewise be super in April, when the tench-fishing has not as yet topped. By planning your fishing of crucian carp at this time, you will in most waters be able to increase your chances of catching large fish, because there is less disturbance at the site at the time. Even though the carp with saintly patience can be caught all winter, it is not until the middle of April, that they begin to feed in earnest. The last half of April, can give good fishing – particularly in shallow water, where the water quickly gets warmed by the spring-sunshine
Light nights
Big fish and light nights – the early summer is magical. When the marsh marigold flowers, it is high time to fish for large bream in shallow water – either with a float/spin (see next issue of Fish und Fang) before the spawning – or regular pursch during the spawning itself. Precisely when the spawning will take place will vary much depending upon local conditions. In shallow lakes it frequently takes place during the period 10. to 20. May, but if it has been a cold early summer or in the case of a very deep lake, the spawning will take place, when May changes into June.
The period May – June is often one of the best periods for the carp-fishing on norhtern lattitudes. The water is now so warm, that the activities of the fish are switching into high gear. The carp are searching for food and can be caught by practically any method. It is amusing to utilise a different approach to the fishing – warm, still days during the first half of May offer just about the optimal conditions for dapping. The water is still relatively clear and the upcoming spawning season has not as yet dominated the minds of the fish to the extent that they exclusively act to perpetuate their genes. With a single rod a light gear at the ready many unforgettable fishing-adventures lie ahead. The fish normally spawn during the first half of June, but unhappily it is only in a few lakes, that anything comes of it.
The tench is to a somewhat greater extent a lover of warmth than are the bream and the carp – and frequently it is not until the middle of May, that a start is made on the fishing. Up until the spawning, which in shallow lakes takes place during the period 5th to 10th June the fishing is frequently best along belts of weed in depths of 0,5 to 1,0 meters. Deep and clear gravel- ,clay- and marl-pits are frequently quite good waters for catching large tench, and in these waters the spawning occurs considerably later – occasionally right into the start of July.
In order to optimise the fishing of tench, the thing thus is to concentrate on the shallow lakes in the beginning of early summer and otherwise to save some of your efforts for the deeper waters in June.
The rudd can be caught the year round,but the fishing for the large ones is easiest on warm evenings in early summer, when the fish are actively searching for food – both at the bottom, midwater and at the surface, where fishing with slowly sinking or surface bait frequently gives the best results.
As regards the predators particularly the month of May offers really good fishing for pike and perch, if it is action and fight you are looking for rather than kilos and grams. And with the onset of fishing zander first of June, the stage is set for entertaining fishing for played-out fish
Midsummer
When the spawning is over, there will be no more records, heavy with roe. On the other hand the cyprinids are hungry, and in many waters you will be able to catch quite a few slim fish, that fight well, from mid-June to mid-July.
The fishing frequently goes completely dead in the hot period from mid-July to the end of August. The best bid for action during this period is night-fishing or looking for deep waters or lakes with a good water-exchange. Alternatively you should consider switching your angling to the rivers, that frequently offer good fishing through the summer.
Late summer
When the summer is waning and the oppressive heat is replaced by heavy fronts and forbidding weather, that signals the impending arrival of autumn, it is time to get out of the start-holes. Late summer and early fall offers tremendous fishing of all cyprinids - turbo-fishing, that offers really good chances for well-fighting fish of the absolutely right size. Frequently it is easier to get into contact with the fish now than in the period leading to the spawning – even although they are not with roe, the condition and state of feeding frequently considerably better.
Another advantage of late summer and fall-feeding is, that most specimen-fisher use all their gun-powder early in the season or in the summer-holidays, - the latter frequently with meagre results. The result is, that you – even in well-frequented waters – can have the fishing more or less to oneself from late August until the cyprinid season peters out mid-october
Autumn
When the first frost covers the waters – typically in the middle or the end of October – the striking rate of the
Cyprinids declines. A sudden shift to mild and overcast days may periodically give good fishing for amongst others carp, crucians, roach and bream when the frost settles in earnest, the time has come to focus again on the predators. A short while after the frost has arrived, the algae-curtain of summer starts to fall. The result is a marked clearing of the water, this means again ideal hunting conditions for the predators – particularly pike and perch, that mainly hunt by eye-sight.
PLANIFIEZ VOTRE ANNÉE DE PÊCHE
Par Jens Bursell
Comme tous les pêcheurs, Jens Bursell ressent un peu de mélancolie lorsque le froid enveloppe les berges des lacs et que l’obscurité de l’hiver rampe et recouvre la végétation dénudée. Heureusement, la saison suivante n’est pas loin malgré tout, et il est maintenant temps de tirer le bilan de la saison écoulée, des méthodes qui ont marché et rapporté de gros poissons, pour en tirer un bénéfice optimum pour la suite.
Des conditions clémentes laissent bien sûr de bonnes possibilités pour les carnassiers, brochets, perches et sandres, mais souvent, il n’y a rien de mieux à faire que de s’asseoir dans un fauteuil, avec des magazines de pêche, des cartes et une tasse de café bien chaud pour planifier les expéditions au retour des beaux jours. Pour vous y aider, voici un certain nombre de trucs sur les périodes où il est plus avantageux de concentrer ses efforts sur certaines espèces si vous voulez avoir le maximum d’action tout au long de la saison.
Avril
Avril, c’est le mois où la pêche reprend vraiment des couleurs, et c’est fréquemment vers le milieu du mois qu’ont lieu de grands rassemblements de perches en vue de la fraye, puis la fraye elle-même. Même si de gros poissons sont pris tout au long de l’hiver, c’est fréquemment en avril que les vraies grosses, au dessus de 2kg sont capturées. En grandes rivières, les concentrations démarrent fréquemment un peu plus tôt, alors que dans les tout petits cours d’eau, la fraye n’intervient pas avant début mai.
La première moitié d’avril est aussi un bon moment pour la recherche des gardons record. Ce poisson fraye à une température de 15°C environ, ce qui intervient sur la plupart des lacs au milieu ou à la fin du mois. La pêche du gardon en bordures lors des migrations de pré-fraye est susceptible de rapporter des poissons spécimens, avec le maximum de possibilités de fin mars à début avril.
Pêcher les grosses carpes peut également être super en avril, lorsque les autres poissons blancs ne sont pas encore très actifs. En prévoyant des sessions à cette époque, vous augmenterez sur la plupart des eaux vos chances de toucher gros, parce qu’il y a moins de perturbations de toutes sortes à cette époque. Même s’il est possible de prendre des carpes en hiver, au prix d’une sainte patience, ce n’est pas avant mi-avril qu’elle s’alimentent avec ardeur. La deuxième moitié d’avril donne de bonnes chances de captures, particulièrement dans les eaux peu profondes qui se réchauffent plus vite sous l’effet du soleil printanier.
Nuits étoilées
Gros poissons et nuits étoilées – le début de l’été est magique. Quand les soucis d’eau fleurissent, il est grand temps de rechercher les grosses brèmes dans peu d’eau. Le moment de la fraye diffère d’un plan d’eau à l’autre. Dans les lacs peu profonds, elle a lieu fréquemment entre le 10 et le 20 mai, mais si le début d’été a été froid ou en cas de lac très profond, c’est plutôt fin mai, début juin.
La période mai-juin est souvent une des meilleures pour la carpe. L’eau est maintenant assez chaude pour que l’activité alimentaire soit élevée. Les carpes cherchent leur nourriture et quasiment toutes les techniques sont prenantes. Il est amusant de pêcher différemment. Les jours chauds et calmes de la première quinzaine de mai offrent les conditions optimales pour la traque en surface. L’eau est encore relativement claire et les carpes n’ont pas encore l’esprit omnubilé par la fraye. Avec une seule canne et un équipement léger, il est possible de vivre d’inoubliables aventures de pêche. La fraye intervient durant la première quinzaine de juin, mais malheureusement la reproduction ne donne pas toujours de résultats.
La tanche semble apprécier la chaleur encore plus que la brème et la carpe, et c’est fréquemment seulement en mai que sa pêche commence. Jusqu’à la fraye qui a lieu entre le 5 et le 10 juin dans les lacs peu profonds, la pêche est souvent meilleure le long des herbiers entre 0,5m et 1m de profondeur. Les postes profonds, à fond de gravier ou de terre sont fréquemment de bons endroits pour capturer de grosses tanches et la fraye s’y déroule plus tard, parfois début juillet.
Pour optimiser les pêches de tanches, le mieux est donc de se concentrer sur les petits lacs en début d’été, puis sur les eaux plus profondes en juin.
Le rotengle peut être capturé toute l’année, mais la traque des plus gros est plus facile lors des chaudes soirées du début d’été, lorsque les poissons recherchent activement leur nourriture, aussi bien à fond, qu’entre deux eaux ou en surface, où la pêche avec des appâts flottants ou coulant lentement donnent fréquemment les meilleurs résultats.
Par rapport aux carnassiers, mai donne de vraiment bonnes pêches de brochets et de perches, si vous recherchez plus l’action et le combat que les kilos. Et juin marque le départ de pêches intéressantes au mort manié.
Milieu de l’été
Après la fraye, finies les prises record car pleines d’oeufs. D’un autre côté, les cyprinidés sont affamés, et dans beaucoup d’endroit, vous pourrez prendre pas mal de poissons amaigris et bien combatifs de mi juin à mi juillet.
La pêche devient généralement plus difficile lors des périodes chaudes, de mi juillet à la fin août. Le mieux à ce moment étant de pratiquer pendant la nuit ou de chercher des eaux profondes ou des lacs qui bénéficient de bons échanges d’eau. On peut aussi s’orienter vers les rivières qui offrent de meilleures conditions d’oxygénation.
Fin de l’été
Lorsque l’été touche à sa fin et que la chaleur oppressante laisse la place aux nuages, signal de l’arrivée imminente de l’automne, il est temps de se remettre à l’ouvrage. La fin de l’été et les premières pluies offrent de superbes pêches pour tous les cyprinidés, tant en taille des captures qu’en intensité des combats.
Un autre avantage de la fin d’été et des frénésies alimentaires qui l’accompagnent, c’est que la plupart des pêcheurs se sont concentrés sur le début de saison ou les vacances d’été. La conséquence est que, même sur les eaux très fréquentées, vous pouvez avoir l’eau pour vous seul de fin août à la fin de la saison des cyprinidés mi octobre.
Automne
Lorsque les premiers froids couvrent les eaux, typiquement mi ou fin octobre, l’activité des cyprinidés décline. Un soudain retour à des températures plus clémentes peut périodiquement donner de bonnes pêches pour la carpe, le gardon et la brème. Peu de temps après l’arrivée du froid, les herbiers d’été commencent à tomber. Ce qui entraîne un éclaircissement de l’eau et donc des conditions idéales de chasse pour les carnassiers, particulièrement les perches et les brochets qui chassent principalement à vue.
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