Our planet has been inhabited by many different animals for millions of years. Among them, a special type stands out - fish. They filled rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. These animals play a large role in the natural food chain, as well as in the human environment. Both sea and river fish serve as a source of food for people, medicines and fertilizers for agriculture, as well as raw materials for light industry. What are these inhabitants of the rivers of our country, how do they survive and what do they eat? This issue deserves due attention, because all living organisms on Earth are necessary parts of nature.

Fishes of Russian rivers

The most common fish that live in Russian rivers are beluga, pike, burbot, catfish, sturgeon, stickleback, crucian carp, salmon, carp, perch, carp, rudd. And this is not a complete list of them. The fastest river fish include salmon, dace, podust, asp and sabrefish, and the most nimble include rudd, bream, roach, bream, tench and crucian carp. These aquatic vertebrates are divided into predatory and peaceful inhabitants. What river fish eat directly depends on this division. The former feed on smaller representatives of this class, while the latter spend most of their time searching for plankton and plant food. In the reservoirs of Russia, especially in the summer, various algae grow rapidly, which are a haven for crustaceans and mollusks. And this is not just food, but a kind of delicacy for fish. Predators (for example, pike, pike perch, perch), in turn, feed on smaller fish.

The largest representatives of river fish

Nowadays, any river fish whose length is more than 1.80 meters and weighs at least 90 kg is considered a large specimen. The record holders for size are several species of these aquatic vertebrates. One of them is the beluga. Its weight reaches 1400 kg, and its length is about five meters. Beluga and pike keep up with the size. Its largest representatives are found in the northern rivers of Russia.

The European (common) catfish weighs about 350 kg and is up to 4.5 meters long. He lives in almost all big rivers ah, both Russia and the CIS. The catfish is unusual in that its body consists of a huge head and a huge tail.

The most valuable freshwater fish

River fish of Russia have their most valuable specimens. The most expensive of them is the Russian beluga. For example, a female caught in the Tikhaya Sosna River, weighing 1227 kg, produced 240 kg of very high-quality caviar. Its value today is about two hundred thousand dollars.

The second most expensive is carp. It belongs to the category of especially valuable commercial fish. For example, in the seventies in the Volga River delta, the catch of carp was at least ten thousand tons per year.

Fishes of the rivers of Primorye

Russia has a vast territory, the reservoirs of which are home to many different species of fish. Thus, considering the inhabitants of fresh water bodies of the Primorsky Territory, one can count about one hundred and fifty of their varieties. Some, such as Sakhalin taimen, are even listed in the Red Book. Other river fish of Primorye can boast the most unusual names- for example, snake catcher, guar horse, yellow-cheeked and top gazer. In addition to the fish mentioned above, the local fresh waters are inhabited by Amur pike, catfish, crucian carp, carp, salmon, lenok, counj and grayling. One of the most unpretentious and widespread fish of the Primorsky Territory is the rudd. And although many locals consider it too bony, its taste is excellent. There are two types of rudd: small-scaled and large-scaled. Typically this fish grows up to half a meter in length and weighs up to one and a half kilograms.

Fishing in the Moscow region

For those who like fishing, the Moscow region has remained a favorite place for a relaxing holiday for many years. Amazing nature, quiet evenings, clean air and plenty of fish in the reservoirs - everything you need for Russian fishing. The rivers Pakhra, Severka, Ruza, Istra, Nerskaya, Protva, Nara, Besputa, Dubna, Sestra and others hide in their waters various popular and tasty fish. This includes perch, and carp, and crucian carp, and roach, and pike, and gudgeon, and bream, and chub, and bream, and asp, and bleak. River fish in the Moscow region are caught using fishing rods, spinning rods, fly fishing rods, boats and bales.

Pike - the queen of Russian rivers

Speaking about the fish that are found in Russia, one cannot fail to mention the heroine of Russian fairy tales - the pike. It lives not only in the reservoirs of our country, but also in the rivers of European countries, as well as Asia and the United States of America. The size of pikes is determined by the food supply: the larger the average size of fish in the river, the larger the pike can grow. It is rightfully considered one of the most predatory freshwater fish. Her appearance fully demonstrates this: a long flattened head with a huge mouth and a large number of sharp teeth looks terrifying. Many river fish have become prey for this agile predator. The color of pikes is mainly gray-green, with speckles. Thanks to their slippery cylindrical body, they move quickly and swiftly. Pike feed mainly on smaller fish (roach, perch and others), but there are often cases of eating individuals of their own species. In addition, the diet of these predators includes amphibians, reptiles, large insects, various garbage, small mammals, and even waterfowl chicks.

Rare and endangered fish

Today, on the territory of Russia, many river fish need human participation and care, the list of which is growing every year. These include Azov beluga, sterlet, Volga herring, Volkhov whitefish, black carp, Baikal white grayling, Baikal sturgeon, common sculpin, Kamchatka salmon and others. All these fish are on the verge of extinction. Take the Volkhov whitefish, which earlier, before the construction of the Volkhov hydroelectric power station (1925), played a big role in the fishery and was found in huge quantities in the Volkhov, Syaz, and Svir rivers.

The catch of Baikal sturgeon in the nineteenth century reached three thousand centners, and in the nineties of the twentieth century it decreased to two hundred centners. Today, most often these river fish are found in Lake Baikal and the rivers flowing into it - Angara, Kitoye, Belaya, Selenga, Barguzin and Khamar-Daban. A similar fate befell the Baikal white grayling, which was also previously widespread in these waters.

Another endangered species is black carp. Due to a sharp decrease in the number of this fish in the seventies of the last century, a ban on its fishing was established. Today, black carp is found in Lake Khanka, as well as in the Amur and Ussuri rivers.

Impact of the environmental situation

Unfortunately, today the environmental situation is affecting many river systems. Quite often there are cases of river pollution by emissions from factories and industrial enterprises, storm water, which contain various hazardous chemical substances. Under such circumstances, river fish, crayfish, turtles and other inhabitants not only change their usual way of life, but also become victims of mutations or disappear altogether. And it’s no secret that insufficient attention from outside human society may lead to irreparable environmental disaster.

Photos of the largest river fish often show catfish. And this is most likely connected with the same question: do real cannibal catfish exist in reality? These huge fish are too mysterious and there are so many fables about them. But there is still evidence of catfish attacks on people in our time, given that giant individuals are still found. According to US zoology specialist David Wheeler, there are catfish weighing half a ton and measuring more than six meters. Such facts are given in his book about catfish of unprecedented sizes that still live in large bodies of water.

And in our time, catfish attacks on animals occur, the victims of which are usually pets and young cows, sheep, goats, as well as adults. People also became targets of attacks by underwater predators, and most often these were children. Midsummer 1982 research fellows and the rangers of the Khopyorsky Nature Reserve witnessed a catfish attack on a young deer and its death when a huge fish pulled it under water. Bears crossing the river also became victims of catfish. This is still talked about in the Siberian region.

So, the largest freshwater fish is the catfish? Among other things, and a cannibal? Quite possible. Here are some more facts, moreover, from very recent history. This happened in the Voronezh region at the end summer season, in the 90s. Near the village of Kulakovo, a boy and a woman became victims of an attack by a huge killer catfish. They swam in the evening in hunting areas of man-eating catfish.

Similar cases of people disappearing in the evening were recorded in China at a large reservoir. People went swimming and did not return from the water. The mystery of their disappearances was solved when a giant catfish measuring three meters in size was caught with human remains in its stomach. One head of this catfish was a meter in size.

It is difficult to judge whether this is true or not, but according to some sources, a five-meter catfish was found on the side of the vessel in a tugboat that sank on the river, which had made a hole in the hull. In the stomach of the monster, the remains of three Polish tourists were found, who, after the disaster with the tugboat, transferred to a small rescue vessel, but never made it to the shore. It was on the Dnieper.

Beluga

The list includes the largest freshwater fish or river monsters, beluga should also be included. It would, of course, be in first place in size among the fish of Russia. But this huge fish is not a permanent and typical river inhabitant, since it is a migratory fish species and enters rivers only to spawn. Meanwhile, in the local history museum of the Republic of Mari El, among the exhibits there is a beluga weighing a ton, once caught in the Volga. But this is not the limit of the weight and size of the beluga. According to unspecified and unofficial data, not so long ago individuals weighing up to 2 tons and up to 7-8 meters in length were encountered. Confirmed data indicate the capture of the largest specimen of this fish, weighing one and a half tons and 4.2 meters long. Some of the largest belugas are truly long-livers, as their age can be 100 years.

The largest river fish in Russia, although they do not constantly live in rivers, nevertheless spend a very large part of their lives there. This is due to the characteristics of reproduction. Being inhabitants of the Caspian, Black, Azov and, according to some information, the Adriatic seas, belugas come to spawn mostly in the Volga, as well as in the rivers: Ural, Terek and Kura. But if earlier these powerful and ancient fossil fish rose quite high along the Volga, to the middle reaches and higher, then with the emergence of the Volga cascade of dams and hydroelectric stations, the rise of the beluga stopped, at least to the previous levels.

The fish passages didn't help either. In addition, some dams either did not have them at all or did not work at full capacity. For example, at the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station in the first years, instead of fish passage structures, only an 8 cm grid was installed, on which passing large fish were cut and died, falling to the bottom under the release of water from the dam.

The largest river fish in the world hardly reached the size of the Russian beluga, at least those individuals that entered our rivers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Meanwhile, in our time these valuable sturgeon fish, supplying once a lot delicious meat and delicious black caviar are on the verge of extinction, despite the prohibitions. And in the good old days, even a simple peasant could afford to taste the delicious beluga meat and the same delicious black caviar, and in large quantities. It happened one fine day in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one, when strong wind unexpectedly and quickly drove water from the bay from the shore Sea of ​​Azov near Taganrog. In a shallow puddle in the bay, this lucky guy found a beluga weighing 20 pounds (327 kg). There was almost 50 kilograms of black caviar in it. This is where you could eat plenty of real fish and black caviar, even with a tablespoon, simply!..

Siberian taimen

The largest freshwater fish in Russia are also found in Siberian rivers. And the largest and most beautiful predator of icy waters is taimen. This is the most ancient fish of all salmonids, since taimen lived about 18 million years ago. Most species and subspecies of taimen, including lenok and char, are predominantly freshwater, with the exception of the Sakhalin taimen, which at certain times adheres to river mouths and the desalinated part of the sea.

In our country, taimen live in the rivers of Siberia, as well as in the rivers of the Amur basin. These powerful and incredibly beautiful fish are the object of sport fishing according to the “catch and release” principle. This strict principle is a vital necessity, since the Siberian taimen is already an endangered fish species.

Among Russian fish, taimen stand out for their size and weight. Most large specimens Not long ago they reached a weight of a hundredweight and a length of two meters and a hook. Since 1993, the record has been held for the largest taimen caught on sports gear and released back into the waters of the river. The weight of this trophy fish was 41.95 kg. However, no, no, and information will get through, they say, they caught a taimen weighing 50 kg, or even 80 kilograms, somewhere in a mountain river. In a word, taimen is the largest freshwater fish in our country beyond the Ural ridge.

Taimen are true predators, capable of swallowing large fish. Externally, this large fish is live torpedo, for which strong currents and rapids of mountain rivers are not an obstacle. The usual coloring of taimen consists of brown tones on the back and silver on the sides with dark spots. IN mating season these fish become even more beautiful. They are distinguished and bright by their red, almost orange ventral fins, as well as their juicy red anal and caudal fins with a copper tint.

The element of taimen is icy mountain rivers and the same lakes. Hunting places are holes immediately beyond the rapids, where tired small fish roll down and become prey for a predator. Taimen also stay in small groups and in places with an uneven bottom on stretches and even in river bays. If only there was depth in such a bay.

Pike

The category of the largest freshwater fish also includes pike. According to Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev, pike weighing 48-64 kg were found not so long ago in northern and Siberian rivers. And predators weighing 100 pounds and weighing 20 kg are not particularly rare in Russian waters, especially in the expanses of the Volga reservoirs. The pike caught during the reign of the German Emperor Barbarossa, which was 5.7 meters long and weighed 140 kg, is considered legendary. She was ringed and thrown into the lake. The pike lived for more than 200 years in this lake and, when caught, was whitish in color, as if faded with age. The skeleton and ring of this pike are still kept in one of the museums in Germany. True, there are doubts about the authenticity of these artifacts, since the maximum age of pike is estimated by leading ichthyologists at 33 years.

Even in forest peat lakes there were giant pikes. The 30-kilogram pikes of Lake Luzhier were written about in the pre-war newspapers of the Mari Volga region. Large in area, but only 2-3 meters deep, this peat interdune lake still remains a haven for large pike. The lake's tenants, who set themselves the goal of completely catching predators and introducing cultivated fish species, failed to cope with this task. The lake seemed to have a second bottom where predators were hiding. And in the process of seine fishing, fishermen saw giant fish exiting and jumping through the net, and also observed live logs in shallow areas. Log pikes came out onto the shallows to escape the net. And the fishermen simply did not dare to catch them, despite the reach of the prey. A similar giant pike, which can be judged not only by descriptions and stories, was caught in Lake Ilmen. She weighed 34 kilograms. And the authenticity of the capture of a large predator is confirmed by a black and white photograph, which can easily be attributed to the series - photos of the largest river fish.

Predators weighing 12-16 kg even now often become prey for winter pike fishermen.

Carp and carp

According to the information presented in the books of L.P. Sabaneeva, carp and its cultivated variety carp were in ancient times truly gigantic size and weight. The record holder of that time can be called a carp weighing more than three pounds, or more precisely, 55.6 kg. This fish was caught with hooks, gear that is now considered poaching. There were rumors of a 68.5 kg carp caught in a net. Nowadays, these fish also come in large sizes and heavy weights. At least, carp weighing 20-30 kg are considered not very rare prey, especially in the lower reaches of the Volga, and are called trophy fish that every angler dreams of catching.

These powerful and large fish, encased in strong silver-golden scales, are also included in the category of the largest freshwater fish, only among the relatively peaceful underwater inhabitants. Why - conditionally? Any, even the most herbivorous and peaceful-looking fish, having reached a certain age and size, becomes to some extent a predator and is not averse to swallowing fry.

In addition to the Volga delta, large carp are found in paid reservoirs, where, with proper feeding and regulated fishing, they quickly reach large sizes and weights, since the peculiarity of these fish is their rapid growth.

The largest river fish in the world

The largest freshwater fish or river monsters are also widely represented in the rivers of other continents. Moreover, some of them are related to our Russian predators, for example, the American musky pike. It is also called the giant pike.

musky pike

The Muskinong is almost no different in appearance from our pike, but in size this predator is comparable to our pikes of previous centuries and long ago. External differences can only be found by a specialist or a person who knows these differences in advance. Firstly, the musky has no scales on the lower part of the gill covers and the edges of the caudal fin are sharper than those of our common pike. The muskie is distinguished by the sensory points that the lower jaw of the fish has. This pike has more of them than the Russian predator, most often over seven. Pike in our waters have no more than six. The color and stripes that turn into spots often coincide, especially if the conditions, that is, when the color of the water and soil also coincide in the American predator with the living conditions of our pikes.

Maskinongs can be up to 1.8 meters long and sometimes weigh 30-32 kg. But most often fishermen come across them using sports gear, so to speak, in the middle weight categories - 2.5 m long and weighing 16 kg.

Like our pikes, muskies prefer river bays with weak currents or standing water. The hunting objects of these predatory fish are also similar. Like the pikes of our rivers and lakes, muskellunges hunt fish and all living things that fit into their mouths: chicks, birds, frogs, crayfish, snakes, mice, muskrats.

The armored pike is also a relative of the pikes mentioned above, but rather a distant relative. It is also a serious fish that falls under the definition of being the largest freshwater fish.

Bull shark

But this is a real monster, which cannot be called a good fish, because, like all sharks, this predator is a real aggressor. The bull shark is found both in the vast expanses of the ocean and in the coastal zone. But this same shark can also be found in the most ordinary freshwater body of water: a river or even a stream, as long as the depth of this stream allows this powerful fish, which often reaches a size of more than 2.5 meters and a weight of 312 kilograms, to accommodate it. The insidious feature of such a shark is that it often stays in the shallow coastal waters of beaches and can be dangerous, as it is an aggressive and ruthless predator. This shark easily falls into the category of one of the largest fish in the world and can often be found in a series of photos of the largest river fish.

White sturgeon

The white sturgeon is also a giant fish and among the sturgeon family of North America, it is its largest representative. Moreover, this fish can be called the largest among freshwater fish of this continent. The largest individuals of this species reach a length of about 4 meters and these sturgeons weigh almost half a ton. These fish also differ in their life expectancy, which is 100 years or even more. Therefore, old fish, one can say without exaggeration, have seen a lot in their lifetime.

Nile perch

This is another relative of our domestic fish, or rather, perch, familiar to all “sailors”. Only the size of the overseas brother is impressive and awe-inspiring. As the name suggests, this “perch,” reaching a length of 1.8 meters and a weight of more than 180 kg, lives in the always muddy Nile River, and also in the rivers of Niger, Congo, and Senegal. Like our perches, the Nile perch has yellow eyes with black pupils. But the coloring of this perch is somewhat different, without stripes, instead of which the sides shine with silver with some bluish tints, which makes this seasoned predator very beautiful.

Alligator garfish

The largest river fish in the world are represented by another species that is truly a monster. This is an alligator garfish. The appearance of this monster is almost a copy of the alligator crocodile, at least that's what the head of the fish looks like. But, despite such a picturesque and fiercely aggressive appearance, these fish have never attacked people before, at least no such information has been received. These inhabitants of the water depths are also not offended by their size. Garfish alligators can weigh up to 140 kilograms with a length of 3 meters.

Arapaima gigantea

This is a fish that really deserves to be on the list - the largest freshwater fish. Specimens 3 meters long and weighing more than 68 kilograms are not uncommon in the waters of the Amazon. Confirmed data speak of arapaima weighing up to 200 kg. This is a fast and furious predator that not only manages to catch up and swallow fish, but also jumps to reach birds and small animals sitting in trees.

Arapaima can live in the most impassable swamps, where the water is very poor in oxygen. But this cunning fish has adapted to breathe atmospheric air, for which it needs to rise to the surface of the reservoir at certain intervals, which are about 20 minutes. The giant arapaima is protected by very dense and strong scales, but this did not save it from extermination by local native tribes, who from time immemorial caught this fish for food. These fish are now protected and are likely to be farmed.

Goliath Tigerfish

The largest freshwater fish will be horrified by the appearance of another real monster, which will frighten even any predator with the sight of its terrible teeth, since the Goliath tiger fish is a giant piranha. In addition to the fact that it is one of the largest fish and reaches a length of 180 cm and weighs 50 kilograms, this fish is also the most dangerous among all types of predatory fish.

And this danger threatens both a weak person and an equally bloodthirsty strong crocodile. And the teeth of the goliath fish even bite through metal leashes if the metal chosen for them is not the most durable. Apart from the Congo River, these fish are not found anywhere else.

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Carp is the common name for freshwater fish of the carp family. They are widely distributed in various bodies of water around the world. They prefer quiet, stagnant or slow-flowing waters with a hard clayey and slightly silted bottom. Capable of growing up to 1.2 meters in length and weighing more than 100 kg. They feed on mollusks, crustaceans, worms and insect larvae. The largest carp caught by a British angler in 2013 weighed 45.59 kg.

The common taimen is a species of large freshwater fish, the largest representative of the salmon family. They live in fast-flowing, cold rivers of Siberia and in the Amur River basin. Common taimen can grow up to 1.5–2 m long and weigh 60–80 kg. However, most mature fish caught averaged between 70 and 120 cm in length and weighed between 15 and 30 kg. The largest specimen caught, recorded by the International Game Fish Association, weighed 41.95 kg with a length of 156 cm. The species is listed in the Red Book.

The common catfish is a large freshwater, scaleless, bottom-dwelling fish that lives in deep rivers, deep channels, lakes and reservoirs throughout Europe and Asia. The body length of catfish can reach 5 m, weight - 100 kg. There is a lot of information about giant catfish reaching 250–300 kg, but there is no documentary evidence of the existence of such catfish. It is a typical predator and feeds on fish, large benthic invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl, small mammals and even relatives. Like the pike, the catfish is an excellent orderly for reservoirs; it eats sick and weakened fish. Cases of attacks on people have also been described.

Nile perch is a type of large freshwater predatory fish that lives in the basins of the Congo, Nile, Senegal, Niger rivers, as well as in lakes Chad, Volta, Turkana and other reservoirs. Found in Lake Maryut in Egypt. They can grow up to 2 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kg. However, adults usually reach a length of 121–137 cm. The Nile perch is a predator that dominates in the reservoirs of residence. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and insects. Where food resources are limited, they can also eat relatives.

Beluga is a species of fish from the sturgeon family. It lives in the White, Caspian, Azov, Black, and Adriatic seas, from where it enters rivers for spawning. Their body length can reach 5 m, weight - 1000 kg (usually individuals up to 2.5 m and weighing up to 200–300 kg are caught). As an exception, according to unconfirmed reports, there were individuals 9 m long and weighing up to 2 tons; if this information is correct, then the beluga can be considered the largest freshwater fish on the globe. It feeds mainly on fish, but does not neglect shellfish.

Fifth place in the list of the largest freshwater fish on the planet is occupied by the White sturgeon - a species of fish of the sturgeon family, the largest freshwater fish in North America. Inhabits the bottom of slow-moving rivers and bays along the west coast of North America. The white sturgeon can grow up to 6.1 m long and weigh 816 kg. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and mollusks.

The Chinese paddlefish or psefur is a freshwater fish that lives only in the Yangtze River, sometimes swims into large lakes and the Yellow Sea. Their body length can exceed 3 meters and weight 300 kilograms. There is information that in the 1950s, fishermen caught a paddlefish 7 meters long and weighing about 500 kg, although the veracity of this story is unconfirmed. It feeds on fish and crustaceans. Its meat and caviar are highly prized in China.

The giant freshwater stingray (Himantura polylepis) is a species of freshwater stingray that lives in tropical waters of several large rivers Indochina and Kalimantan. Capable of growing up to 1.9 m wide and weighing 600 kg. They feed mainly on crustaceans and mollusks, possibly earthworms. The giant freshwater stingray is not aggressive, although they must be handled with care as their poisonous long spine can easily penetrate human bone. This species is endangered.

Mississippi girt

The Mississippi shellfish or alligator pike is a species of large freshwater fish common in the lower Mississippi River valley and its tributaries in North and Central America. This is a very fast and strong, but shy fish. According to experts, the Mississippi shellfish can grow up to 3 m in length and weigh more than 130 kg. In 2011, the largest shellfish caught was officially registered, its length was 2.572 m, weight 148 kg. It feeds mainly on fish, small mammals, birds, turtles, etc. There are known cases of attacks on children, fortunately, they never ended fatally. Included in the list of prehistoric fish that were considered extinct.

The giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish and is endangered. It is found only in the lower Mekong River, as well as in the Tonle Sap River and Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Fish of this species can grow up to 3 meters in length and weigh 150–200 kg. They are herbivores - they feed mainly on algae and phytoplankton. The largest specimen caught in 2005 reached a length of 2.7 m and weighed 293 kg, and it was recognized as the largest freshwater fish caught by humans.

In this article I would like to analyze the most coveted and significant fish Siberia, fish from northern rivers, mountain taiga streams with cold water and rocky rifts, lakes. Freshwater ichthyofauna of Siberia, as well as the Urals. Ichthyofauna of the entire taiga belt of Russia. I will not mention the fish that are abundant in the southern zone, and will focus only exclusively on the fish of the taiga, the fish of the north. Noble breeds of fish that are hunted by amateur fishermen in pursuit of a big trophy, tourists traveling through the taiga, and indigenous people of the north, for whom fishing is a way of obtaining food, and not sport, entertainment and the pursuit of a trophy.

Muksun

Valuable commercial fish from the genus whitefish and the salmon family, lives in the rivers of Siberia, in particular in the basins of the Ob, Irtysh, Lena, and Yenisei rivers. It is valued for its taste, as well as its nutritional value and the presence of essential substances. Well consumed lightly salted. It is enough for the muksun to stand in salting for about 9 hours, and only then it can be eaten. The meat is fatty and melts in your mouth. The calorie content of meat is about 90 kcal per 100 g. It is also widely used for preparing stroganina.

Fishing methods: In many regions of the country, fishing for muksun is prohibited, in others it is caught with nets, and muksun can also be caught with a fly, having a varied supply of bait with you.

Nelma

Valuable commercial fish of the whitefish family, reaching a weight of 50 kg. It lives in the rivers of Siberia, in the Arctic Ocean basin. Considered one of the most delicious fish Russia, and any a fish dish It always turns out amazing. Just like muksun, nelma is good lightly salted and as planed meat. Is an endangered species.

Fishing methods: In all southern regions In Siberia, fishing for nelma is prohibited; it is caught industrially by artels in the northern part. Yes, and catching it with a spinning rod in the southern part is quite difficult, which cannot be said about the Ob or Yenisei delta, where nelma likes to live. The fish is very careful and shy. Nelma catches well on various spinners and spoons, most often ordinary ones, silver in color, matching the color of smelt and vendace fry.

Cheer

Chir (or Shchokur) is a representative of the whitefish genus. A valuable commercial fish, it lives in both fresh and semi-fresh water at the confluence of large Siberian rivers with the Arctic Ocean. Also available in Kamchatka. Chir serves as a bonus for commercial fishermen when catching nelma and muksun. Also lives in freshwater lakes.

Fishing methods: Just like muksun, whitefish are caught with nets, but, unlike whitefish, they bite quite well on a fishing rod and spinning rod. Various insects, larvae, meat of mollusks living in seashore, and, of course, artificial bait.

Omul

Valuable commercial fish of the whitefish genus. Small sizes, up to 6-8 kg. Baikal omul lives only in Lake Baikal and nearby rivers, where it spawns. In the river basin of the Arctic Ocean lives arctic omul . It is well used salted, smoked, and also as planed meat.

Fishing methods: omul is caught at any time of the year. Fishing is possible both from the shore and from a boat. Omul takes well on small, bright, stationary and moving baits, including spinning rods. Local residents use pieces of foam rubber, fresh meat or a piece of fish as bait. In the depths of winter, omul descends to depths of over 200 meters, and appropriate gear is needed to catch it.

Pyzhyan

Siberian whitefish lives in rivers of the European north and Siberia. Weight up to 5 kg. Length up to 80 cm. Has good taste qualities, is an object of both recreational and commercial fishing. It has a characteristic transition from the head to the body. Pyzhyan feeds on mollusks, larvae, and various insects.

Fishing methods: Fishing takes place using cast seines and the installation of nets. Amateur fishing takes place using ordinary gear and bait. The best nozzle is a chiromanidae, also caviar, mollusk, fly, bloodworm.

Tugun

A small commercial fish of the whitefish genus. In the Urals it is also known as Sosvinskaya herring . Fish of northern rivers live in the basins of the Ob and its tributaries (in particular, Northern Sovva, Pur, Taz, Nadym, etc.), on the Yenisei, Lena, etc. Length up to 100 cm, weight up to 100 g. Tugun meat tastes like fresh cucumber, the meat is tender and fatty. Tugun is smoked and consumed salted.

Fishing methods: Tugun is caught using seines; fishing with a rod or spinning rods is ineffective. Fishing most often occurs during the spring flood, when the fish go to fatten; they are also caught in the summer.

Lenok

A genus of fish in the salmon family. Lives in freshwater reservoirs and rivers. Most often in fast, cold mountain rivers, on rapids. It lives in Siberia and the Far East, as well as in China, Mongolia, and Western Korea. It is not found in the European part of Russia, west of the Ural Mountains. Predator, feeds on various insects, mollusks, worms, flies. It has other names: Russian - lenok, Turkic - uskuch, Evenki - maygun, Yakut - byyit and literary - Siberian trout. Is an endangered species.

Fishing methods: There is no commercial fishing; lenok is one of the popular fish for sport and recreational fishing. Fly fishing and spinning gear is used. Young lenok are caught with a fly, similar to grayling, larger specimens are caught with spoons, various spinners, wobblers, etc.

Grayling

A popular fish of northern rivers of the salmon family. It is an object of sport and amateur fishing and is valued for its excellent taste. There are Siberian, European and Mongolian grayling. Reaches a weight of 2.5-3 kg. It feeds on various larvae, mollusks, insects that have fallen into the water: midges, leafhoppers, grasshoppers, gadflies, etc.

Fishing methods: The most popular way to catch grayling is fly fishing. It can also be caught with a spinning rod and a regular fishing rod. Most often, grayling is caught using a fly. There are 4 places where grayling catches well: on riffles, rapids, immediately after the stones, standing facing upstream; near fallen trees; near large stones (standing at depth); on a riffle, to the side of the main stream. If fishing is done with spoons and spinners, then, as a rule, light baits are selected, but large grayling can also be taken with heavy ones.

Taimen

The fish of the salmon family is listed in the Red Book of Russia; in some reservoirs it is grown and fishing is prohibited. It is a coveted trophy for any taiga fisherman. It can reach a weight of 70-85 kg and a length of up to 2 meters. Lives in fresh, cold water and does not go to sea. It lives throughout the taiga belt. The further north his habitat is, the more comfortable he becomes.

Fishing methods: Taimen is a predator and the fishing methods are the same as for other predators. In those rivers where there are many small fish, such as grayling and various types of whitefish, taimen also live. Fishing for taimen most often takes place under a special license or only for trophy photography, after which the fish are released. They are used with various spinners, spinners, wobblers and other spinning gear.

Sterlet

Valuable commercial fish of the sturgeon family. Body length reaches 130 cm, weight - up to 20 kg (in rare cases). Large specimens live mainly in northern rivers. It feeds on invertebrates and eats the eggs of other fish. It lives in the basins of many Siberian and European rivers in Russia, as well as in the seas. It is an object of fishing and spearfishing. Has excellent taste. An endangered species.

Fishing methods: is the target of poaching. Amateur fishermen catch sterlet under license. The most common tackle is a bottom bait with a bait in the form of a worm.

Burbot

Fish of the cod order, the only one that lives only in fresh water bodies. It is found throughout almost the entire taiga zone, most common in the rivers of the Arctic Ocean basin. As a rule, the weight of burbot does not exceed 1 kg.

Fishing methods: The best periods for catching burbot are winter and early spring. The best tackle is a donka, as well as a float rod. As bait you should use live bait, fry, frog, leech. It goes well at night, because at night it comes out of its burrows and lies in wait for prey near snags. It is also effective to place burbot perches at night in winter.

Pike

Not a species, but a whole family of pike. It lives both in Siberia and throughout Russia, almost everywhere. The most popular predator in our waters. The length of the pike reaches 2 meters, and the weight is 35 kg, but in rare cases.

Fishing methods: for live bait, for frog, for tadpole. When using a spinning rod, any bait works well, depending on the body of water and the situation, be it all kinds of spinners, wobblers that imitate a wounded fry, vibrating tails, etc. This one is best bloodthirsty predator caught in the spring, before spawning, and in the fall - during the feast, from late August to mid-October (in the north - until September)

Dace

A small fish of the carp family. The dace lives in clean flowing rivers, both with sandy and pebble bottoms, as well as in lakes. It feeds on small insects, invertebrate plankton, and plant shoots.

Fishing methods: like all carp - a float rod with bait on a hook. Also bottom tackle and fly fishing. Bait: bloodworms, maggots, porridge, bread, worm.

Rainbow trout

Other name Mikizha . Fish of the salmon family. Small in size, length up to 55 cm, weight up to 1.5 kg. Lives in cold water, loves clean mountain rivers and lakes. Predator, feeds on fry of other fish, minnows, verkhovna, insects, etc.

Fishing methods: fly fishing or spinning. Small trout are caught on a fly, like Siberian grayling; larger individuals will bite on spoons and other spinning gear.

Minnow

The minnow is a small representative of the carp family. On the right photo lake minnow , on the left - river . The length of the fish is up to 15 cm, weight - up to 90-100 g. It feeds on mosquito larvae, flies, and small insects. The body is covered with small scales. Minnows are usually used as bait for larger fish, but can be eaten.

Fishing methods: minnows are caught during the day in calm, windless weather; at night the fish do not bite. Worms, bloodworms, and maggots are used as bait. Minnow fishing occurs in early autumn; later it goes into hibernation.

Chukuchan

A small freshwater fish of the whitefish family. Dimensions of Siberian vendace: up to 35 cm in length and weight up to 1 kg. Semi-anadromous fish, i.e. lives both in the salt water of the ocean and in the fresh water of Siberian rivers flowing into the Laptev Sea. Vendace is consumed fresh, salted and smoked. Rich in nutrients as well as Omega-3 fats.

Fishing methods: commercial fish. It is caught mainly with seines, because the effectiveness of conventional fishing rods is low.

Ide

Fish from the carp family. Young animals are called roaches . Lives everywhere in the taiga zone. In Siberia it is found up to Yakutia. Reaches a weight of 3 kg and a length of 55 cm. Lives up to 20 years. Omnivorous fish. Lives in rivers, lakes, ponds. Avoids fast cold water and mountain rivers. Prefers rivers with more stretches of calm water and great depth.

Fishing methods: ides are caught using conventional types of gear. Float rods, donks, spinning rods, with various spinners and spinners. The ide takes well at dusk, because at this time it feeds. The bait is worms, bloodworms, maggots, bread, bran, etc.

Perch

From the perch family. Found throughout northern Eurasia. Reaches a size of 44.7 cm and a weight of more than 2 kg. Predator, very voracious. It is eaten as a base for fish soup, fried, smoked, and dried. It is an object of sports, amateur and commercial fishing.

Fishing methods: Like all predators, perch takes well to bait of animal origin. For live bait, worm. Takes well with spinning tackle, wobblers (right picture), spinners, vibrotails, and various spinners. It usually lives together with pike, in places with a large number of small fish.

Chebak

Fish of the carp family. Chebak is a subspecies of roach, distributed mainly in the Urals and Siberia. In Siberia, the chebak lives almost everywhere. It is found in large quantities on the Kolyma, Indigirka, Lena, Yenisei and other Siberian rivers. Basically it is a small fish, but reaches a weight of up to 3.5 kg. In many reservoirs, chebak is the simplest and most popular fish. They eat it themselves and feed it to livestock, dogs and cats. Fish soup is made from it, fried, dried and smoked. In my opinion, chebak is especially good in the ear, when boiled.

Fishing methods: Chebak, like all carp fish, is omnivorous. It bites both on bait of animal origin and plant origin. Good for bloodworms, maggots, worms, dough, bread crumbs, corn. Classic chebak fishing occurs with a simple float rod.

Ruff

A species of fish from the perch family. In Siberia it lives everywhere up to the border of the tundra. A small fish, reaching only 30 cm in length and weighing up to 250 g. An unpretentious fish that can adapt to its living conditions. Schooling fish. It lives in both fresh water and slightly brackish waters. Predator, nocturnal.

Fishing methods: bites best in spring, autumn and early winter- at this time he begins to feel hungry. The time for fishing is morning and evening. In summer it is caught at night, in cool times. It bites on bloodworms, worms, and maggots. Tackle - float rod.

Our planet has been inhabited for millions of years a large number of a variety of fish. Their habitat became numerous lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Both river and Marine life Since ancient times, the underwater kingdom has served as a source of food for people, rich in a huge amount of useful substances, such as a variety of amino acids, protein and various vitamins. Fish farming products are widely used in the production of medicines and nutritional fertilizers for agriculture, as well as raw materials in light industry.

Features of river inhabitants

We all know that fishing on rivers is an exciting and varied activity. Therefore, any fisherman, before starting to equip fishing gear, must accurately answer the question of what kind of fish are found in the river. And, of course, every amateur fisherman should know the physiological characteristics of the object of hunting:

Depending on the nature of the food taken, river fish can be classified as:

• predatory;
• herbivores;
• omnivores.

River predators

Predatory individuals feed on other fish, some can eat animals or birds. Largemouth species swallow so much prey at one time that it is enough for several days of active life, but smallmouth fish need to hunt constantly, since their prey is small.

The most common predatory river fish in Russian waters. Maximum dimensions pike reach up to 1.5 m and weigh up to 30-35 kg, but specimens are known weighing up to 60 kg and longer than human height. Average duration lifespan up to 25 years, although there are individuals with a maximum age of 35 years.

The fish is very strong, tireless and agile thanks to its slippery cylindrical body. It is shaped like an underwater torpedo with a long, flattened head and a huge mouth filled with many sharp teeth.

Pike is so predatory that sometimes it even attacks its own relatives. True, it prefers carp fish for food: crucian carp, bleak, roach, rudd. But he treats spiny species (perch, ruff) with great caution; even if he catches such a fish, he does not immediately swallow it, but holds it in his mouth until it stops moving. During the hunt, it misses very rarely, but if attempts are unsuccessful, it returns to ambush and awaits other prey.

The spotted body color of the pike allows it to camouflage perfectly among the vegetation of the reservoir. In rivers it lives in places that are not very deep, with weak currents and grassy banks.

Pike meat contains little fat and is therefore considered dietary. It contains a lot of protein, which is easily absorbed by the human body.

spiny perch

This predatory fish, like pike, is widespread in the waters of Russia and almost all European countries. It has a laterally compressed body, which has a peculiar hump with dark stripes. The tail fin and eyes are highlighted with an orange tint. The color of the perch depends entirely on the transparency of the water. Individuals living in a dark environment with a muddy bottom have a more saturated color than fish living in light water.

The fish is quite large in size; there is evidence that perch can reach a weight of up to five kilograms and a length of up to half a meter. The average life expectancy is about 17 years.

In terms of extraordinary gluttony and predatory greed, it is not inferior to the pike. Having swallowed one fish, it can immediately continue hunting for another. There are cases when a caught perch had several fry in its stomach. It feeds on any fish of suitable size, and is active both in summer and winter.

Prefers to stay at depth, but not at the very bottom. During a hunt, it easily rushes at prey within upper layers reservoir

The largest predator is catfish

This is the largest fish living in rivers. Its body length can reach five meters, and its weight can be over 300 kg. According to scientists, such specimens are 80-100 years old. In most cases, the color is brown with a brownish-green tint, and the belly is white. The color change can be almost light yellow depending on where it lives.

Catfish is considered an active nocturnal predator, which daytime prefers to lie down in snags or holes.

The diet of this large predator is very varied. Easily eats frogs, shellfish or large fish. Sometimes geese, ducks, water rats and other animals and birds can end up in the mouth of a catfish.

The meat of this inhabitant of the river depths contains some bones and fat. It is very nutritious and beneficial for the human body.

A predator reaching a length of up to one meter and a weight of up to 10 kg. Pike perch can be found in clean water large rivers and lakes. Life expectancy is up to 15 years. It is a relative of the perch and has the same vertical stripes on both sides.

An adult tries to stay near stones at depth or in holes, but young animals, on the contrary, prefer shallow sections of rivers. At the beginning of life, the fry primarily feed on zooplankton, insect larvae and small fish from other fish.

Pike perch actively hunts for prey, while trying to avoid areas with thickets where it itself can become food for pike. However, his location is very unstable. Where pike perch was caught well the day before, you may not find it the next day.

Among freshwater fish, burbot is the only representative of the cod family. It is sharply distinguished from other fish by its unique body shape. The body is strongly elongated and compressed on the sides, especially in the tail. The head is flattened, similar to a catfish. The back is grayish-green in color and has dark stripes and spots, but the belly is whitish.

Burbot is an insatiable and extremely greedy predator whose diet includes insect larvae, frogs, mollusks and small fish. Sometimes upon opening adult a large number of small perches, minnows or ruffs are found in the stomach. Despite its sluggish and lazy appearance, it swims deftly and quickly. At the same time, it is especially active in winter, when other fish are more sleepy and motionless.

Burbot can reach a length of up to one meter and a weight of up to five kilograms, although there are also specimens weighing up to 24 kg. Life expectancy is quite high - up to 22 years.

There are also smaller predatory fish, such as:

1. Bersh is very similar to pike perch, however, it reaches a size of up to 50 cm.
2. Chop - found less frequently, in the Danube or Dnieper rivers.
3. Ruff is a widespread fish, often called thorn by fishermen, because it has sharp, spiny fins.

Herbivorous fish

This type includes fish that spend most of their time searching for plant food and various river plankton. Various types of algae grow in reservoirs and rivers, especially in warm weather. summer time, which are an excellent haven for various mollusks and crustaceans. They are the perfect treat for herbivorous fish.

Common fish - crucian carp

It is the most common fish in almost all reservoirs and rivers of Russia. The fish is quite unpretentious; it prefers shallow sections of the river, warmed by the rays of the sun and overgrown with vegetation of all kinds. Weakly responds to lack of oxygen and water quality in its habitat. In the winter season, crucian carp is capable of freezing into ice and not even dying.

It belongs to the family of carp fish, appearance very similar to carp, but does not have antennae. Weighs approximately 0.5 kg. It feeds mainly on zooplankton, various aquatic plants, worms and larvae.

There are silver and gold carp. Shows the greatest activity in warm time of the year.

Carp and its species

Belongs to the family of carp fish and is the most desired prey of fishermen middle zone Russia. There are individuals of quite large size, weighing up to 10 kg. According to scientists, life expectancy can reach 100 years.

Exist the following types Karpov:

1. mirror;
2. scaly;
3. naked;
4. frame carp and others.

All these representatives differ from each other in the shape of the body, the type of scales and habits. It can feed on bread crumbs, undercooked potatoes or cake.

The fish is very strong, so experienced fishermen often fish for it, using reliable and powerful gear.

Main types of carp

Bream and its use in cooking

This schooling, inconspicuous fish often lives in places with calm currents and muddy bottoms. Life expectancy is up to 20 years, but bream growth is very slow. Only by the age of ten is he able to gain weight up to 4 kg.

It feeds mainly on crustaceans, mollusks, insect larvae, worms and algae. The coloring of bream is predominantly dark silver. Spawns at water temperatures of 13 degrees.

The meat of this fish is characterized by excellent taste. It is used boiled, salted, fried, dried or smoked.

Small representative - roach

This fish is found in almost all rivers and lakes. It leads a gregarious lifestyle and prefers to hide from predators in quiet sections of rivers overgrown with grass and algae.

In appearance it is very similar to the rudd. The color of the body depends on the composition of the water in its habitat. Fish small size(15-20 cm), however, there were also specimens up to half a meter in length and weighing up to two kilograms.

Roach spawns at a temperature of plus ten degrees, and after this period it is particularly active. The best time to catch this fish is considered to be early morning or late evening.

Of course, within one article, it is very difficult to describe all representatives water world. There are also a huge number of species of river fish:

1. The rudd is a beautiful fish that looks like a roach.
2. The silver bream is a distant relative of the bream, silver in color with reddish fins.
3. Carp is considered a freshwater fish, but is also found in the Caspian Sea basin.
4. Tench is a royal fish with excellent taste characteristics.
5. Chub is a freshwater fish that is found exclusively in rivers with fast currents.
6. Bleak is a ubiquitous fish, known to almost every angler.

Other types of river fish

Unfortunately, many river systems are negatively affected by the unfavorable environmental situation, which is caused by various emissions from industrial enterprises and factories. Victims of such a person’s attitude towards environment become the inhabitants of many rivers and reservoirs.