Spring on Akhtuba and in particular in Three Rivers is a time that is not only amazing in terms of the beauty of nature, but also very interesting in terms of fishing. The fact is that on the Lower Volga, spring comes and blooms rapidly. In just a month and a half, the situation changes from almost winter (early March) to almost summer (April horses) - greenery, flowers, warm southern sun, birds chirping.
Fans of fishing in these places will be pleased with its diversity and the opportunity to try their hand at hunting for such coveted trophies, such as large pike, pike perch and Volga catfish. In addition, white peaceful fish (bel) is caught at this time is simply amazing. The absence of annoying insects, the stunning spring landscapes of the Three Rivers and excellent fishing attract many anglers who miss the open water during the long winter. The only disadvantages of this time of year for fishing and recreation on Akhtuba are the spring thaw and fishing restrictions from April 20th.
- In the second half of March ,
with the end of the ice drift, the season for catching a predator in open water begins. And although at night the air temperature often drops below zero, during the day the sun warms the air up to + 8 + 14 degrees C. Rains, if they happen, are very short in Three Rivers. At the same time, the later the water is freed from ice, the more intense and furious is the first spring biting of the fish, which is trying to restore strength before spawning.
Immediately after the ice melts, they begin to activate zander and pike. At this time, you can catch a predator both from the shore and from a boat, and if you managed to determine the parking lot of a large zander or pike, successful fishing is guaranteed. Pike perch at the end of March prefers to stay near their wintering pits, at depths of 5-7 meters. When fishing for pike perch from the shore, the most effective will be jig fishing with slow stepped wiring along the exits from the channel pits or across deep brows. From a boat 
it is convenient to catch by trolling (on the track) or “jigging” through the pits, rafting with the flow. And do not rush with wiring - due to the low temperature of the water in the channel (about + 4 + 5 degrees C), the March pike perch on Akhtuba is not very nimble and prefers to attack the bait from an ambush from a minimum distance. Pike perch is excellently caught in March and on live bait (on a wire rod or donk) from a boat and from the shore. At this time, catching zander on live bait is just as exciting and prey as in late autumn.
trophy pike can be found not only at the exits from the pits, but also in shallow waters, where she goes to hunt for small linen. Moreover, the biting of the March pike in such areas with warmer water (+ 6 + 7 gr.С) is at this time the most intense - pre-spawning zhor begins. It is only important to remember that the “toothy thunderstorm of crucians” is still somewhat inhibited after winter dormancy, and besides, it is stuffed to the eyeballs with caviar, which does not add to its agility. In March and early April, pike can be caught both on artificial lures by spinning and on live bait, which can be especially effective. In moments of spring zhora, the pike grabs everything indiscriminately, if only the prey passes within the reach of the predator, standing in ambush. During this period, it is better to choose artificial baits and live bait in a small size - the March pike does not like to fight with large prey.
Perch continues to actively feed, its biting does not stop with the ice melting and even intensifies. It is better to look for it with a spinning rod or a fishing rod with a small live bait on 
shallow areas where the ice melted as early as possible. After the ice drift, perch are attracted here by insect larvae and small fish.
- With the onset of April
it is getting warmer and juicy greenery is already rampant, the morning cold fogs instantly melt with the first morning rays of the southern sun, which, by the way, warms the air up to + 20 + 25 degrees during the day. C. The April bottomless sky is filled with bird voices - these are flocks of geese, cranes, ducks and starlings flying north to their native nesting places. Already the first thunder rumbled in the distance, not May - April, spring in Three Rivers always early.
The water begins to warm up intensively, more food appears in it, and this, in turn, causes a surge in the activity of peaceful fish that have starved for the winter. Before the start of the flood (the last days of April), spring fishing is most interesting for its diversity. Despite the fact that some fishing restrictions come into force on April 20, just the second half of April will be the most memorable moment in the “track record” for a real fisherman.
white fish pecks excellently in April, almost all: bream, blue bream, roach, silver bream. In shallow waters warmed by the sun, rudd begins to take. Tench and silver carp appear in thickets of aquatic plants. Fishing will be excellent both from the boat and from the shore. The usual tackle is suitable: a donka, a feeder, a float Bologna and a wire rod. As a bait for underwear, as in late autumn, bait of animal origin should be used: worm, maggot, bloodworm, insect larvae, shell meat (barley), as the fish is now looking for the most nutritious food rich in proteins.
Finally, the long-awaited carp and carp. Buffalo woke up - this amazing fish of the Chukuchan family, brought to the Volga from North America.
Bait for catching peaceful fish should be used necessarily, but carefully - it is important not to overdo it. At the same time, crushed fragments of animal bait should be added to the bait containing basic plant ingredients according to the principle: we catch a worm - add finely chopped worms, etc. In the spring, bait containing lean cottage cheese, an egg, and milk powder works well. It forms clouds of protein turbidity in the water and can successfully attract the attention of even such difficult-to-fish fish as tench.
And how are things going with fishing for river predators in April, you ask? - Fine!
Zander became more active, hunts for a long time, eats off before spawning. It is in April that trolling and jigging for zander bring the largest number of trophy specimens - in April, zander weighing 5, 6 and even 8 kg are regularly caught in Three Rivers. With the warming of the water, the “fanged” king of the Akhtuba depths and the most cherished prey of the fisherman begins to leave their winter camps, moving in search of small fish to the mouths of streams, entrances to channels and to shallow waters, where the sun already heats the water up to + 10 + 14 degrees C. He increasingly arranges ambushes near his "summer" places: snag under a steep pit, backwaters and whirlpools with a reverse stream. At this time, pike perch can often be found along deep coastal brows, near flooded trees that create whirlpools.
As before, as at the end of March, pike perch can be successfully caught with all types of artificial lures, but it takes less and less time to jig - the warming of the water affects: pike perch rises from the bottom, leaves deep wintering pits. The bite of the April pike perch is more intense during the day than in the morning and evening. This is due to the fact that from noon to 15-16 hours of daylight hours, the water temperature in the sun rises by 0.5-2.0 degrees. C, which affects the activity of the predator, which is very sensitive to environmental conditions.
From mid-April begins to feed giant akhtuba catfish. It is large individuals in their "bottomless" channel pits (20-35 m) that wake up from the winter 
numbness first. And they are trying to feed. Spring catfish does not disdain anything, phlegmatically swallowing any bait or bait - if only it was brought to the mouth. Therefore, in the spring, catfish are caught, carefully examining the bait in all available deep channel holes and making the slowest possible wiring. And the result of hunting for April catfish is quite good: in Three Rivers, the largest catfish (58, 65, 72, 91 kg) were caught in the channels of Akhtuba and Mangut in April and July (by the way, July is the month of catching the largest catfish on the Lower Volga) . If you decide to catch catfish on Akhtuba in April, do not forget to collect the appropriate tackle. Despite the fact that the spring catfish resists rather sluggishly, hauling a mustachioed giant weighing half a centner is a task worthy of a real pro.
And here are the first signs of asp activity. In the second half of the day, surrounding small roaches and bleaks that had been overlooked under the steep bank, flocks of this beautiful and swift predator began to hunt. asp does not yet form the famous "asp boilers", it is not possible to notice it by tail strokes and splashes, but the circling of gulls and desperate flights over the water of small fish will clearly indicate the place of its hunting.
However, such surface signs of the presence of a predator can also indicate the course of the flock. sabrefish. At the end of April, rising up the channels of the Lower Volga from the Caspian in huge numbers, this predatory silvery fish rushes at everything that even slightly resembles its usual prey: small aquatic invertebrates, insects and fry. Both asp and sabrefish in April can be caught from the shore by spinning on small lures: rotating, oscillating (for example, Castmaster) - the main thing is that the shape of the lure is “running”, elongated, since these fish have a small mouth. In addition, sabrefish is also well caught on a worm on the bottom. Small shallow-water wobblers are also successfully used when catching sabrefish and asp from a boat (until April 20).
- Early May in Three Rivers
on Akhtuba coincides with an intensive rise in the water level due to flood discharges through the locks of the Volga reservoirs. Summer has almost come here, the day is hot, the water temperature in the ilmens and eriks rises every day. Everything around is blooming. But in the channels through which the northern flood waters flow into the Caspian, the water is still quite cold. Eriks, hollows and channels are flooded, and the water continues to stay before our eyes.
During this period, most fish species are spawning and fishing in the channels and spawning grounds is prohibited. However, it will still be possible to go fishing from the shore on the territory of the Three Rivers base. And quite well, judging by the experience of previous years. It is better to focus on catching peaceful fish, most of whose species, unlike predators, have not yet spawned and are fattening up a supply of fat for this costly event. In May, crucian carp are caught on Akhtuba: gold and silver, buffalo, silver carp, bream, rudd and many others from almost 60 species of local inhabitants of the river fauna. It is still better to use an animal bait, for example, a shell, worms or maggot.
You can catch a predator on spinning or live bait from the shore. Biting is not as intense as in April, but you are provided with good specimens of pike and perch.
Besides, in May on Akhtuba it is also very comfortable Outdoors. Many people come to the Trekhrechye fishing base with the whole family just to take a break from the bustle of the city, take a walk around the island and visit interesting sights (read about historical places and sights of the Astrakhan region). So fans of outdoor activities will have unforgettable experiences from fishing, entertainment and amazing spring nature this picturesque corner of the Lower Volga.
Come next spring! You will not regret!
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Spring in Astrakhan is usually dry, warm and partly cloudy. During the day, temperatures from plus 4 to 12 degrees Celsius prevail, at night the temperature is kept in the range from minus 4 to plus 5 degrees. Frosts at night in the Astrakhan region are possible until the beginning of May, but on some April days the temperature during the day can reach +30 degrees Celsius. In the spring, there are also periods of sharp cooling, when cold air flows from the north. The snow cover finally disappears in March, and precipitation falls in the form of short rains.
Let's imagine the spring chronology of events on the rivers, channels and ilmens of the Astrakhan region in the form of a fishing calendar:
Fishing in March
Ice drift in early spring on the Lower Volga and Akhtuba usually occurs in late February or early March. It usually lasts for 10-15 days. After this time, it is already possible to start fishing in open water (usually from March 15-18). On the Akhtuba and the Lower Volga at this time there is an amazing emptiness, there is almost no one along the banks, only occasionally a motor boat can pass along the fairway. The very long-awaited time has come when fishing on the Volga in March will allow everyone to retire with nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Since the water temperature is still quite low, the fish tries to stay on the deep riverine edges and in the vicinity of the pits.
Before the start of the flood on the Lower Volga and Akhtuba in March, there is an opportunity to catch a pike perch with a jig spinning and catch a fanged one on the track (trolling). Fishing with a jig should be across the edge, when searching for zander flocks, it is useful to cast at the exits from the pits, it is also worth looking for a fanged one on an underwater spit. Wiring is a classic stepped one with a pause of about 1-2 seconds. Sometimes a jig, along with pike perch, also comes across, which takes the bait straight from the bottom.
Fascinating fishing in Astrakhan in March makes it possible to catch pike and perch. They are preparing for spawning in lakes, ilmens and quiet bays. At the very beginning of spring, pike and perch are actively feeding and will not miss your bait, pike biting in April is very greedy. In the pits under the steeps, it is possible to catch a small catfish with bottom gear with a crawling worm or live bait bait.
Now let's say a few words about catching peaceful fish when fishing on the Lower Volga in March. In ilmeny there is a great opportunity with the help of a donk or a float rod to catch a worm for a silver bream, a rudd, a scavenger, a roach, a vobla, a sabrefish and even a perch! In a couple of hours you can fill your tank with a wide variety of white fish. With the help of bottom gear (feeder, rubber band, etc.) on the Lower Volga at this time a large spring bream is caught, which is preparing for spawning. Just stock up on a worm in advance and bring it with you to the fishing base, because getting a worm in these places is very problematic!
At the end of the month, white crucian carp and carp begin to emerge from their wintering pits. Tench begins to appear in floodplain lakes and ilmens.
In summary, we can say that you have a great opportunity to open the exciting fishing season on Akhtuba in March, already on the 15th-20th of the first spring month. Please note that from March 15, we have a new price list for services and accommodation!
Fishing in April
In April, the first greenery begins to break through along the banks of the Lower Volga, which gradually increases its intensity. The air temperature on some days reaches 20, and sometimes 25 degrees Celsius. According to statistics, April is the most popular time for fishing in Akhtuba and the Lower Volga. Places at our fishing base are booked in advance this month: from the New Year, and often also in the fall of last year. And all because in April fishing in the vicinity of Astrakhan can bring joy to absolutely all categories of anglers.
In the first days of April, the fanged pike perch and its younger brother, the bersh, stay in their usual places for the winter period - on the edges and pits with a depth of 4 to 7 meters. When fishing, you should also not miss the entrances and exits from the pits and places with a bumpy bottom in a strong current. As jig baits at this time, you can use green vibrotails and twisters with a head from 20 to 45 gr. Pike perch in early April on the Lower Volga peck all day, and during the day its biting is more active than at dawn (the increase in water temperature in the daytime affects). You can search for flocks of zander by rafting downstream and casting across it. If a bite occurs, then in such a place you can lower the anchor and linger longer.
As the water warms, along with its slight increase by the middle of the month, a large “marine” pike perch enters the Akhtuba reaches. He grazes flocks of white fish rising to spawn from the Volga delta. At this time, there is a great opportunity to catch trophy zander weighing 8-11 kg on Akhtuba. It is best to catch spring pike perch by trolling, focusing on the accumulation of gulls over the stretches. Seagulls at this time are chasing flocks of white fish, which are invariably accompanied by pike perch.
Large Volga catfish begin to show their first activity in the pits in April. You can seduce them at the exits from the pits by slowly wiring a jig bait right under your nose. The spring catfish has not yet fully recovered from the winter stupor, but it is always a joy to compete with it after a long winter. While fishing on Akhtuba in April, catfish sometimes come across even on the stretches. As a jig bait for catching catfish, you can use large vibrotails (from 15 cm with a load head of 40-80 g) and spinners with a front load (Master type). Catfish also begin to fall for trolling with a deep-sea wobbler when fishing for entrances and exits from pits.
As the water warms up under the coastal bushes, snags, as well as near the breaking coastal streams, the asp begins to take. It does not give itself away as a habitual summer fight, but when guiding the bait in the water column under a bail stream, you can take a trophy copy. As baits for spring asp, you can use spoons, spinners and wobblers.
Fishing in Astrakhan in April can please you with excellent biting pike and perch, which greedily grab spinning lures in lakes and ilmens. Fishing with a shallow wobbler or lure this month is a pleasure, because the underwater vegetation has not yet reached the water column, so it does not interfere with the wiring at all. In April, pike in lakes often stands right under the shore, where it is very effective to catch it on a popper. A small pike can also be found in medium-sized eriks with a weak current, where it preys on fry. Larger pike are sometimes caught at depth when jigging zander.
As for catching peaceful fish on the April Akhtuba, everything is very cool here too! Large accumulations of leucorrhoea gather at the entrances to the pits and in places with a reverse flow. With the help of bottom tackle baited by a worm, in April, a handsome bream, large bream and roach are caught on the Lower Volga. They can also be caught from the shore with a float rod, if you lure the place. But keep in mind that a bream weighing up to 300 grams comes across near the coast, while in deeper areas sometimes specimens weighing up to a kilogram come across.
Such fishing continues until the beginning of the flood in Astrakhan, which usually begins in the last week of April, but in a protracted spring it can also fall into the first week of May.
With the beginning of the rise of water due to its discharge at the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station, fishing conditions are seriously changing. The hunting grounds for pike perch move right under the shore, to flooded bushes and sandy spits. Accents in pike perch at this time are shifting from artificial lures towards live bait. Astrakhan pike during the flood period comes directly to the shores of lakes and ilmens, where it waits in ambush for white fish. In places at the entrances to water meadows and lakes, catfish begin to watch for their prey, you can catch them on live bait (crucian carp, perch, tench) or a frog using bottom tackle. When fishing on the Volga in April, during its second half, you can already find the first boilers of fattening asp.
As soon as the water reaches a suitable temperature, flocks of white fish rush into numerous bays and backwaters, which begin to prepare for spawning there. Catching it at this time is simple, simple: just moor on a boat near the coastal bushes and throw a float fishing rod. The biting of white fish at the end of April is simply excellent - the biting will not be better in the whole season of fishing in open water. Fishing at the end of April follows the principle: cast, peck, hook, bait, cast again ... And if you feed the fishing spot, you can count on catching larger specimens. At this time, silver bream, rudd, bream, roach, sabrefish and crucian carp are perfectly caught on the worm. Towards the end of the month, the famous run of the Astrakhan vobla begins. Vobla can be caught right near the shore, but in deeper places bites of the largest specimens occur. And at the end of April on the floods of the Lower Volga and Akhtuba it is already possible to catch carp.
Fishing on the Lower Volga in April is the very time that lovers of catching peaceful fish with bated breath are waiting for the whole year. The bite of the fish is so intense that there is no way to catch 2 rods at once... :)
Fishing in May
From May 16 to June 20, fishing in the Astrakhan region is possible only on fishing grounds (FPU). Each fishing base has its own fishing areas. Amateur fishing on other people's RPU is possible only after purchasing a ticket from their owners. In addition, fishing is allowed in settlements and on the coastal territory of fishing bases. You can fish on a donk, float rod and spinning. Fishing during this period is allowed only on the main channel.
The rise of water in May on Akhtuba reaches its maximum value due to floods. The water in this spring month can rise up to 6 meters. During high water, you can see with the naked eye how the water level rises several centimeters every hour. Melt water gradually floods almost the entire Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, creating landscapes of amazing beauty. Underwater inhabitants from among the fish tribe gather in huge flocks and rush to flood meadows in the so-called. "poloi", which are ideal for spawning. The peak of the flood occurs by mid-May, after which the water level in the river remains at its maximum value for about 2 more weeks.
In general, fishing in May on the Lower Volga is a period for catching white fish.
At the end of May, spawning of many peaceful fish begins on the deep floods of the Lower Volga. Silver bream, rudd, vobla, roach and many other fish species spawn in grassy shallow waters. Yellow-sided handsome bream rub under the coastal bushes, the muzzles of males are covered with spawning tubercles. In the reed thickets, everything goes in different directions, carcasses of spawning carp scurry about there every now and then. Following the melt water and white fish, the mustachioed catfish enters the flood lakes, where it can not only warm itself, but also hunt for spawning fish. Large pikes also come into the polo to hunt. So fishing on Akhtuba in May, when fishing in flood lakes, will not leave spinningists idle.
In the last week of May, the water level usually begins to decline, and then the famous Astrakhan midge appears. Fishing at this time should be in shallow water with a depth of no more than three meters. In such areas, spawned pike hunts, which at this time can be caught on any spinning bait. Together with the pike, a striped robber is caught - a perch. Finding a perch, however, is not as easy as the same pike in shallow water. Striped prefers to stay only in certain areas of the reservoir, which you first have to find. Perch fighting in the spring takes place in the water column, so it is not so easy to localize it. Asp at the end of May on Akhtuba hunts in a fast current at the entrances to the channels, as well as under washed banks and steep banks, not far from fallen and flooded trees.
Fishing for zander in May on the Lower Volga begins from the moment when the fanged predator comes to spawning grounds and guards its nests with caviar. Look for pike perch near flooded bushes. For fishing in such conditions, you can use a small vibrotail with a jig head in a non-hooking mounting option. A floating wobbler is also suitable, since pike perch bites occur even in the water column.
In addition to the hollows at the end of May, you can also catch white fish on the channel part of the rivers. True, finding such a catchy place is not so easy. Fish are caught in such areas throughout the daylight hours. The best time for fishing comes when the water stops coming and all the mud is gone. You can fish with bottom rods, pickers and feeders. The best bait is the worm, and the main fish are buffalo and bream. Sometimes pecks sabrefish. Such channel fishing on the Volga in May is in no way inferior to fishing in floodplain areas in terms of yield.
In short, no bite in the lower reaches of the Volga in the spring will definitely not threaten you, and even at the peak of the flood - in May, fishing in Astrakhan is amazing. Come to our tourist base near the Akhtuba River and see for yourself!
Spring time on Akhtuba not only impresses with the beauty of nature, but is also very productive in terms of fishing. Fans of fishing in spring in these places are pleased with the variety and the opportunity to get a good catch. The absence of annoying midges and mosquitoes, excellent landscapes and fishing attract many fishing enthusiasts here. As shortcomings, only spring thaw and a ban on fishing from April 20 can be noted.
Fishing spots
On Akhtuba, it has piled up interesting places to catch fish. The most popular among them are:
- "Three Rivers". The most famous place;
- Black Grove - between the villages of Pirogovka and Sokrutovka;
- Mikhailovskoye. Located on the right bank, with a ferry crossing;
- Gerasimovka. Crossing the bridge in the village of Bataevka;
- Sasykoli. Crossing to the islands, it is possible with a car;
- Forest on the left bank of the Akhtuba, between the city of Leninsk and the village of Malyaevka.
Second half of March
With the end of the ice fishing season begins in open water. Despite the fact that at night the air temperature stays below zero, during the day it rises to 7-13 degrees. The rains are not lasting. And the later the ice finally melts, the more intense the spring bite begins, because the fish need to restore their strength before spawning.
Immediately after the ice melts zander and pike are active. During this period of time, fishing for predators from boats and from the shore is successful. And if it is possible to determine the place of accumulation of pike or zander, then the success of fishing is guaranteed. In March, pike perch preferentially stay close to their wintering grounds, at a depth of about 5 meters. Catching pike perch from the coast will be more effective on a jig, with a leisurely wiring near the exits from the channel depressions or across the edges.
When fishing from a boat, trolling or jig and rafting are preferred. And you should not rush with the wiring, because due to the low water temperature, the pike perch on Akhtuba is still quite slow and usually attacks the bait from ambush, at the smallest distance. In March, it is perfectly caught on live bait from the coast or from a boat. At the beginning of spring, zander fishing for live bait is as effective as at the end of autumn.
Pike fishing is successful in all places, except for exits from wintering pits, in shallow waters, where the predator hunts for linen. It is noteworthy that pike biting in March in shallow areas with relatively warm water, warming up to 6-7 degrees, is the most intense, since pre-spawning zhor originates. It should only be borne in mind that pike after winter is a bit slow, besides, its playfulness is reduced by the fact that it carries a lot of caviar.
In March, the pike is also great for artificial lures - with the help of spinning and live bait, which is most effective. By the beginning of the spring zhora, the pike grabs everything, the main thing is that the prey is close to the predator waiting in ambush. Live bait and artificial lures should be small in early spring, as pike do not fight large prey in March.
The perch in March continues active feeding, its biting does not stop with the melting of ice and may even intensify. They catch him at this time by spinning on live bait - in shallow places where the ice has come down before. Perch are attracted to these places by small fish and insect larvae.
Fishing in April
By early April, the water warms up and much more food appears, which stimulates the growth of the activity of hungry fish. Before the onset of the flood, which occurs at the end of April, fishing is the most diverse. Despite seasonal fishing restrictions, the last decade of April becomes the most memorable period of spring fishing.
By the beginning of April, the biting of white fish begins: blue bream, silver bream, bream, roach. In shallow water heated by the sun, rudd is excellent. Silver carp comes to life in coastal thickets. Fishing comes from the shore and from the boat. As a tackle, a feeder or a donk is used. Animal bait is suitable: maggot, larvae, worm, because the fish at this time needs protein-rich food.
Crucian carp and carp are activated, long expected by anglers. Buffalo wakes up - a fish that was brought from America.
Feeding non-predatory fish should be done with care. Animal bait is added to complementary foods along with the basic ingredients of plant origin. In the spring, complementary foods, which include milk powder and lean cottage cheese, give a good effect. It gives cloudy areas in the water and perfectly lures prey.
As for river predators, everything here is also favorable for catching.
Features of zander fishing
Pike perch have a period of increased hunting activity, he needs to get enough before spawning. Therefore, throughout April, jig and trolling fishing of this fish give excellent results: the weight of the caught specimens averages 5-6 kilograms or more.
As the water warms up, pike perch leaves their winter places and, in search of prey, moves to shallow water and to the mouths of streams, where the water temperature already reaches 10-15 degrees. He begins to hunt near his favorite summer places: snags, backwaters and whirlpools.
Like in March zander responds well to all artificial baits, and the jig is caught less often due to the heating of the water. Pike perch in April is more effective in the daytime, since from 12 to 15 pm the temperature near the water surface rises by about 1.5 degrees, and this is reflected in the hunting activity of zander, because it is especially sensitive to the surrounding climatic conditions.
Catching Akhtuba catfish
By mid-April, a giant Akhtuba catfish appears, which immediately begins to look for food. In the spring, catfish do not disdain anything and take on any bait that is nearby. Half-asleep catfish reacts only to very slow postings. And in case of success, large individuals turn out to be on the hook, on average 70 kg.
To catch a catfish, you need to choose the appropriate gear for his manners. Despite the spring lethargy of the fish, it is very difficult to play a barbel weighing 50 kg, which requires considerable skill and experience.
Asp and sabrefish
In April, the asp comes to life - it actively hunts bleak and small roach. The place of activity of the asp is often indicated by the circling of gulls and the flights of small fish over the surface of the water.
Similar signs are also evidence of the passage of a school of sabrefish. In the last decades of April, rising along the Volga from the Caspian Sea in incredible numbers, this predatory fish rushes at any prey similar to its usual diet, and it eats small invertebrates, fish fry and insects.
Chekhon and asp are caught from the coast by spinning on various lures, while it must be taken into account that its shape should be narrow, elongated - due to the small mouth of predators. In addition, the sabrefish takes well on the worm.
Fishing in early May
During this period, there is an active rise in the level of reservoirs, the reason for this is the discharge of water from reservoirs.
In the first days of May, most fish spawn on Akhtuba and fishing in spawning grounds is prohibited. But on the territory of the Trekhrechye camp site, it will be possible to go fishing, however, only from the shore. It is best to go fishing for peaceful species of fish, because most of it has not yet begun to spawn, spawning is still predominantly among predators. In May, on Akhtuba they catch quite well:
- Silver and gold carp;
- silver carp;
- Rudd;
- Buffalo;
As bait, it is desirable to use a worm, maggot or shell. Predatory species of fish are caught from the shore on live bait. Their bite at this time is not very active, not to compare with April, but still you can leave with a pretty good catch.
On Akhtuba you can not only fish well, but also just relax in nature. Many people specially come to these parts with the whole family in order to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, take a walk around the neighborhood. For outdoor enthusiasts the most pleasant impressions after contemplating the beauties of this colorful place in the lower reaches of the Volga.
Before proceeding to the features of spring fishing on Akhtuba, I would like to dwell on the current rules and restrictions.
Rules for fishing on Akhtuba
According to the established rules of amateur fishing in the Astrakhan region, it is impossible to catch crayfish in the period from 1.04 to 30.05. From May 18 to June 20, fish can only be caught within the boundaries of settlements and in fishing areas assigned to fishing bases.
In addition, there are restrictions on the minimum size of harvested biological resources:
- Pike - 32 cm
- Asp - 32 cm
- Catfish - 60 cm
- Pike perch - 40 cm
- Carp - 40 cm
- Bream - 24 cm
- Tench - 22 cm
- Case - 22 cm
- Roach - 17 cm
- Vobla - 17 cm
- Rudd - 17 cm
- Crayfish - 10 cm
According to the current resolution of the government of the Astrakhan region No. 167-P of April 13, 2010, a catch rate of 5 kg per person per day is set, except for cases when the size of one fish caught exceeds these same 5 kg. It is forbidden to fish in fishing grounds without the consent of their owners. As a rule, it is enough to buy a fishing permit from them.
Pre-flood fishing in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain
Due to the sharply continental climate, spring comes early to the Astrakhan region. Sometimes already at the beginning of March areas of open water form on Akhtuba, and by the 20th of March there is no ice left at all. As practice shows, the later the ice melts, the more intense is the pre-flood bite of the predator. But the weather in March is not stable: in the morning you often have to catch in light frost (-3 degrees), and by lunchtime the air warms up to 18 degrees. At the same time, a cloud can fly in during the day and cover the fishermen with wet snow.
Meanwhile, for the normal activity of underwater inhabitants, open water alone on the spring Akhtuba is not enough. To a large extent, the bite is affected by the temperature of the water and its level, determined by the operation of the Volgograd hydroelectric power station.
There is an opinion that for a normal bite, the water temperature in Akhtuba should rise to plus 6-8 degrees Celsius. It’s hard to argue with this, but on fine days you often get a good bite of a predator at a water temperature of only plus 3-4 degrees.
In early spring, fishing from the shore is quite problematic, because. impassable mud along the banks interferes. At the same time, the water in the Volga and Akhtuba remains clear throughout March and the first half of April. The farther in early March you climb from Volgograd down the Akhtuba, the more ice and slush floats, but there are more fish themselves.
In the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, many promising places are located in lakes and eriks. The only problem is their availability, because driving to them on loose roads at this time is not easy. The stronger was last year's flood, the better will be the bite in the floodplain reservoirs.
The first really cool days in floodplain reservoirs coincide with the time when the floodplain begins to dry out and it is possible to drive to the lakes by car. Here the water warms up faster. It is already possible to fish for pike along the walls of reeds and reeds. Pike bites at this time are quite greedy and almost knock the spinning out of their hands.
On Akhtuba, immediately after the ice melts, the biting of fish is quite capricious. As specific places for fishing with spinning in open water, one can advise snags at the edges, clay ridges, entrances and exits from holes.
But if in Akhtuba the predator has moved away from winter stupor, then this is already for a long time. Even a sudden cold snap cannot immediately spoil the bite, because. warmed water in the river is mixed with the lower layers. In floodplain lakes, the situation is much more affected by temperature due to the shallow depth. Here, windy weather can greatly muddy the water and put an end to fishing.
In a fine spring, Akhtuba can warm up to a temperature of +7 degrees in early April. Until the water warms up, jig is often more effective than trolling. In April, you should not pay attention to especially deep areas - they come across a lot of little things. From the end of March, the fish begin to peck throughout the day without noticeable peaks. If you take hot tea with cognac and sandwiches into the boat, you can spend the whole day fishing. The period of evening twilight deserves special attention, when trophy specimens of zander come across.
In early spring, usually all the fish comes from the Volga to Akhtuba along the Mitinka, and then along the Kirpichny and Banny rivers. As for Kharabalyk, there are options…
It is on the path of the spring migration of fish to Akhtuba that you should look for cool points in late March and early April. Here we can recommend referring to the plan-scheme of secret places in the vicinity of Selitrennoye on our website.
Usually, by the beginning of April, pike perch reaches the site of Akhtuba opposite Selitrennoye. Here you can start trolling at a depth of two to four meters. Further, the pike perch for several days climbs even higher upstream - to the arrow of Mangut and Akhtuba. Here, from the arrow itself to the ferry crossing at Selitrennoye, you can catch pike perch on a jig from a drifting boat. You have to catch at a depth of 3 to 5 meters with jig heads weighing 10-15 grams. The fishing scheme is as follows: a boat with anglers floats downstream, who, in calm or light winds, make casts perpendicular to the current - on opposite sides of the boat. The wiring is stepped, jig baits are used. If a strong wind is blowing, then casting is best done against the wind - this way the wiring is more sensitive, compensating for a close casting. If the wind blows from the side, then the boat will constantly be carried to the shore, and you will have to periodically return to the starting position. Worst of all, when the wind blows with the current and increases the speed of the boat. The best option is when a sailor blows against the current.
After swimming on the way back, where bites were observed on the navigator, you can go trolling with a loose wobbler.
With this tactic, the fishing area increases and the efficiency of fishing increases. If you try to anchor in a place where several tails have been caught by the alloy, you may not see a single bite at all!
In addition to jigging when fishing with an alloy, you can also try fishing with suspension wobblers with a working depth of up to 4-5 meters. Immediately after casting the wobbler, it is necessary to make several quick turns of the reel to deepen the bait, and then you can make a step in the water column in 2-3 turns of the reel handle, followed by a pause for a couple of seconds, etc. In addition to the step, the usual monotonous winding also works - here you can choose depending on the mood of the zander.
By the second half of April, trophy specimens of pike perch begin to come across more and more often, and somewhere around the tenth day, flocks of pike perch reach Mangut. On Mangut, trolling works best for zander.
As for catching catfish in April on Akhtuba, its bites are rare at this time. Purposeful catfish fishing, perhaps, is not worth doing yet - it is better to focus on zander. On the Middle Akhtuba (the area from the upper three rivers to the arrow with Ashuluk) in April there is a lot of bersh, pike is caught, but an abundance of pike perch is usually not observed there.
Catching during the release of water on Akhtuba
The flood in some cases coincides with the opening of the shandors (gates) at the Volga hydroelectric power station, and sometimes it begins already when the Volga and Akhtuba overflow their banks. The fact is that the hydroelectric power station increases the discharge of water before reaching the control point in the reservoir. The water level in the floodplain is high at this moment, but the rivers do not overflow their banks yet. Shandors at the hydroelectric power station are opened only when the discharge of water reaches 10,000 m3/s, which generates a plume of foam below the dam. The current in the Volga and Akhtuba immediately intensifies, and from that moment the water begins to enter the hollows. Usually sandors do not open until April 15, so you can do pre-flood fishing until that moment.
The peak of active biting falls on the last week before the opening of sandors at the Volzhskaya HPP. At this time, both predator and white fish are caught. The predator gets out of the pits and gathers at places adjacent to spawning grounds (backwaters, eriki, ravines, flood beams). As for the asp, before the flood it often comes across not far from the krutoyarov, in places where the turbidity from high water borders on clean water. It is more convenient to catch it here not on the usual castmaster, but on a foam rubber fish in a non-catching version - this way the bait will cling less to the coastal roots of trees.
Ide and bream at this time are somewhat more difficult to find, because. hard to get on the day they come out of the pit.
Severe floods occur in those years when the frosty end of winter is replaced by a cold beginning of spring, followed by a sharp warming. The soil has not yet had time to thaw, and the Sun begins to intensely melt snow and ice. Melt water does not have time to seep through the frozen soil and flows into rivers.
The period of fishing in open water before its release on Akhtuba usually passes under the superiority of jig lures. After the opening of sandors at the Volzhskaya HPP, water reaches Selitrennoye in about 2 days. As soon as the water begins to "go", its level rises rapidly, but the predator does not stop taking it. Sometimes, during the period of rising water, even larger specimens of pike perch begin to come across. But such happiness does not last long - only 3-5 days, the water becomes cloudy, and the current increases significantly. From this point on, the jig prioritizes trolling until trees and other debris start to float down the river. In such conditions, when posting on the line, all sorts of things are collected, which makes fishing almost impossible.
I would like to tell you about another secret method of fishing on Akhtuba during the rising water. This is especially true for the first few days. The fact is that pike perch, when the water level rises, gathers in eriks before being sent for spawning. Here, at the entrances to eriki, the fanged one watches for white fish in order to get enough to eat before the upcoming starvation. It is only necessary to find in advance such places, which include open and closed eriks. The lower the bottom of the ravine is from the closed erik to the water's edge, the earlier it will begin to fill with water.
When examining such places, it is necessary to catch a sector 30 meters from the entrance to the erik. Here you can expect bites almost immediately, but sometimes you have to first “salt” the water with your jigs ... Sometimes in such places it happens to get on a truly fabulous exit of pike perch, when a specimen weighing 2 kg or more sits on almost every wiring! The exit may last only one or two hours, but if you happen to get on it, then fishing will be remembered for the rest of your life. As an option, you can still catch the estuary section of the Erik with the help of trolling or even with a wobbler. Sometimes a catfish guards its prey here, but it is not easy to take it with the help of light tackle, designed for baits weighing 10-20 grams ...
At the very beginning of the flood, fishing in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain is associated with a certain extreme - water comes right before your eyes, so it is not recommended to be on the floodplain with your own car.
At this time, pikes gather in pairs and do not pay any attention to the baits of spinning players. Perch is caught only in places, and pike perch goes to spills, where it can be quite successfully caught - you just need to find ... Do not forget to take float rods for fishing - a lot of white fish come into the polo! First of all, the fish enters flooded banks and ravines. Here you can meet ide, bream, silver bream, roach and carp. Often a lot of garbage floats on the surface, under which linen scours in search of food. In the windows between the debris, you can find bleak, which is periodically exterminated by spawned perches. Fishing in such places is quite unpredictable and interesting.
Even more interesting may be fishing in hydro-reclamation systems, in which flood water enters through a pipe. In such places, on the inflow of clean water into the lake, favorable conditions are created for underwater inhabitants. Often carp, tench and large crucian carp visit here, tearing lines from gear unprepared for fishing.
Fishing on Akhtuba in the flood
At the very beginning of the flood, pike perch keeps at the entrances to eriki and canals. The chances of finding it increase if there are underwater irregularities nearby, for example, spits with a depth difference. Such places in a strong current can be caught using trolling, when the wobbler at the exit from a deep section begins to plow the bottom with its nose and falls back into the depths as soon as the spit ends. At this moment, the judging bite usually occurs. In a similar place, you can also catch on a floating wobbler, if you anchor upstream and float the wobbler below the spit when casting. It will be useful to have a long anchor rope, with which you can maneuver within 15-20 meters from side to side. In such places, minnow-type wobblers with a diving depth of 5-6 meters work well. Moreover, for large baits, the number of bites is even higher.
As the flood continues on Akhtuba, the fanged predator leaves the near-river areas for relatively shallow eriki and backwaters with a weak current. Finding it at this time is much more difficult, but it's worth trying your luck in the places that can be found on the map below:
Here, under the number 1, the bay on the left bank of the Akhtuba is indicated, which branches off just above Selitrenny. Under the number 2 on the right side of Erik Banny, 1.5 km from the entrance, there is another promising bay. Erik Cross (number 3 on the map) is also of interest, especially at the entrance from Akhtuba. Eric Poperechny's exit to Banny is also promising. Erik Sukhaya Mitinka (number 4) is of interest in three places: the entrance to it from Kharabalyk, the exit to Mitinka and the exit to the Volga.
It is not worth looking for any special relief drops in such places - the maximum number of zander bites falls on the borders of clear water and underwater vegetation. The most effective is an active search for fish with a constant change of places until the bite. If the fanged one took the bait, then in this place it is worth staying a little longer and looking for his fellow tribesmen nearby. Oddly enough, spinning baubles and jigs turn out to be the most catchy in such places; zander does not favor wobblers here. It makes sense to use jig baits in a non-engaging mounting option (Caroline, Texas, etc.), because. around full of remnants of old grass and young growth. It is better to do the wiring stepwise. In addition to zander, often trophy specimens, small asps and perches are found in the catches. Even less often, medium-sized pike encroach on the bait.
As you can see, fishing in the spring on Akhtuba, even during the flood period, can give anglers many pleasant moments and please them with trophy zander. Come to our Astrakhan fishing base and see for yourself!
April is considered one of the most catchy months on Akhtuba. Pike, perch, asp and zander bite perfectly throughout the month. In the second half of April, all anglers successfully catch roach. Bream and catfish are also well caught throughout the month. Such activity of the fish is due to the fact that the air temperature reaches 15 degrees and above. The water is already warming up quite well, and in small areas you can successfully catch white fish and predators.
What can you catch in April on Akhtuba?
When more or less warm weather sets in, the water warms up and its level rises, then large pike perch up to 10 kg are well caught on the Akhtuba reaches. The period of successful catching of trophy zander begins approximately from the middle of the month. At this time, pike perch actively hunts for white fish. It is better to catch it from a boat. The places where pike perch walks are the accumulation of gulls in relatively calm sections of the river.
Catfish at this time is better to be caught on jig baits: vibrotails with a load of up to 100 gr. and heavy spinners. The most promising places are exits from the pits. Catfish go to smaller areas in search of food. Therefore, it can also be caught on heavy wobblers at the exit from the pits.
Asp starts to catch well at the end of April when the water warms up. The best places to catch him will be the coastal zone along the bushes and near the snags. The bait is driven at medium speed in the water column. The best baits at this time are spinners, wobblers and spoons.
Pike and perch
During the whole month there is an active biting of pike and perch. If the pike has a post-spawning zhor, then the perch just bites well. The most catchy baits are a wobbler for fishing in shallow areas and a medium-sized spinner. Very often, pike stands right under the shore, so it can also be caught on poppers.
peaceful fish
In April, bream, silver bream, roach and, of course, roach are well caught. Bream can be caught on a worm and a bloodworm both with a feeder and a donkey, and with a float rod. The most promising places for catching white fish are bays and backwaters, exits from pits. In these places, bersh, roach and silver bream are caught up to 300 grams. In deeper areas, you can catch specimens up to 1 kg or more.
Very exciting and catchy fishing is possible with a fly rod near the shore. In the second half of April, the water already warms up enough and the roach begins to move. At this time, she is well caught even without bait. As a nozzle, you can use a red worm and maggot. Larger specimens are caught in deeper areas. Fishing is carried out with one rod, as the bite is very active. You can fish on the feeder with one weight without a feeder. The concentrations of fish are so large that it makes no sense to use bait.
Vobla and roach are caught very well in the wiring in sections of the river with a fast and medium current. At the end of the month, all white fish, even large carps, are perfectly caught in river floods. Therefore, lovers of catching peaceful fish are waiting for this time.
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