This fish is always in the special regard of fishermen. Small, but extremely tasty and healthy for the body, smelt has always been a good addition to the diet of fishermen living in the harsh conditions of the Arctic Ocean coast. Its unique taste makes fishermen go out to fish every year ice of the Gulf of Finland in relative proximity to the cultural capital of Russia – St. Petersburg.

Species and habitat

Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) is a small, marine, schooling predatory fish, which ichthyologists classify as a member of the salmon order. Scientists distinguish two subspecies of this fish:

• European smelt, which lives in water bodies belonging to the Baltic and Barents Seas;
• Far Eastern smelt, living in reservoirs belonging to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The European subspecies rarely grows larger than 10 cm. The Far Eastern smelt lives longer, growing up to 35 cm.

Please note that smelt should not be confused with stickleback. These are two completely different fish, whose names are surprisingly similar.

Sea smelt tries to stay in slightly salty waters; it is considered a semi-anadromous fish; it comes to river mouths to spawn, sometimes tens of kilometers away. The timing of spawning depends on weather conditions. Smelt doesn't like warm water and spawns at temperatures from 4 degrees Celsius. The maximum water temperature at which fish (freshwater subspecies of smelt) spawns is 9 degrees.

This fish is not easy. Its habitat is constantly expanding. European freshwater smelt (smelt), the large schools of which White Lake has always been famous for, are gradually colonizing other bodies of water.

The largest population of this fish lives in the Gulf of Finland. Smelt is also caught in Sweden, Latvia, Finland and some reservoirs in Estonia and Lithuania. In Germany, they note the appearance of schools of this fish entering the Elbe and Oder to spawn. Schools of freshwater smelt now live in all large lakes of the North Western Russia, as well as in the Volga reservoirs (including Ivankovskoye, Rybinsk, Gorkovskoye, Saratovskoye and Kuibyshevskoye).

What’s so special about smelt?

The body of this fish is elongated, elongated, covered with large scales. Before spawning, the entire body of the fish is covered with small tubercles. Like all predators, smelt has a large, toothy mouth, with an elongated lower jaw, characteristic of all representatives of the salmon family. Each subspecies, depending on the area in which it lives, has different colors of the abdomen and back, but even the classics of world literature on fishing note that smelt:

1. Brown-green back;
2. Silvery with a bluish tint to the sides;
3. Silver belly;
4. Light fins.

Combining all subspecies of smelt, it has distinctive features:

1. This fish is high in calories, reaching 100 kcal. The meat of this fish can be cooked in a frying pan without adding oil;
2. Fish meat is rich in micro and macro elements, vitamins and is recommended by doctors for the prevention of osteoporosis;
3. Fish has a specific smell. Caught smelt exudes the smell of fresh cucumbers, which disappears after heat treatment of the meat.

Let's watch a video about smelt, reflecting some of the features and secrets that this fish keeps.

Smelt is a freshwater species of smelt

Most often, fishermen in our country are faced with a type of smelt called smelt.

Back in the century before last, scientists established that smelt is a type of sea smelt that has degenerated into a small form. Smelt differs from its sea cousin only in size and weight. Smelt is a very small predator. Its length does not exceed 6 cm.

This species of smelt lives throughout the North-West. It is traditionally caught on Psovkoye Lake, Seliger, Ilmen and White Lake ( all year round). On the Volga reservoirs, this fish bites most often in winter.

Where and how to find it on a pond

Smelt is a schooling fish that moves away from the shore in summer. It is difficult to catch her during this period. The main period for catching it is in the autumn-winter period, when reservoirs are covered with ice.

At this time, it is easier to find fish in deep-sea places, near the mouths of rivers flowing into the reservoir. Most often, fish can be found in deep-water areas with a sandy or clay bottom, with a weak or moderate current.

Smelt prefers to stay in the middle water horizons, periodically slowly rising to the surface or sinking to the very bottom.

The search for smelt should begin by studying the bottom using an echo sounder or using a sinker - a Cheburashka, simultaneously determining the depth, the nature of the bottom and the strength of the current. A lot of holes need to be drilled. The flock, although slowly, will move. You will have to look for smelt at different horizons.

How and with what help to catch smelt

The diet of smelt consists mainly of small crustaceans, therefore, artificial baits can be used to catch this small predator:

• small winter spoons;
• nozzle jigs.

Smelt is often caught using bait of animal origin:

• pieces of fish;
• worm;
• bloodworm;
• shellfish meat
• other seafood.

Bait does not give much results; it does not keep the flock in place.

The gear for catching smelt is simple:

1. A winter fishing rod equipped with a thick (about 0.25 mm) main line.
2. Heavy load. The weight is selected based on the strength of the current in a particular fishing location;
3. Several leashes (with hooks) no more than 15 cm long. The number of leashes is selected depending on the fishing conditions and the behavior of the fish in a particular body of water. Usually there are at least two, but no more than five.

Of course, catching smelt has nothing to do with catching weighty trophies. Smelt is just a small fish that no gourmet will refuse to try.

The smelt fish has small sizes, belongs to the salmon family. It has a long body, its size varies from 10 - 20 cm. The smelt has a greenish back, and the sides are silver with a blue tint. Males have a longer lower jaw than females. During its entire life, a smelt fish does not gain more than 300 g.

Interesting! Fresh smelt meat has the aroma of cucumber and watermelon.

Habitat

Smelt fish live in schools.

Its habitat is northern, cold seas:

• German;
• White;
• Baltic;

There is also lake smelt, which lives only in large lakes, such as:

• Ladoga;
• Onega;

Did you know? This fish can live for another hour after being caught. Due to the wide cavities of the gills in which a large number of water.

Kinds

• Asian smelt.
• European smelt.
• Sea smelt.

The first two species are very similar to each other, but the sea one is distinguished by its small mouth and short fin.

Compound

Smelt fish is rich in vitamins:

But most of all minerals in smelt:

• Potassium;
• Calcium;
• Magnesium;
• Sodium;
• Phosphorus;
• Iron;
• Chromium;
• Nickel;
• Molybdenum;

Beneficial features

Boiled, fried, smoked - in any form, fish is easy to clean.

It contains a lot of calcium and phosphorus, which are good for bone tissue. Vitamin B - for metabolism and nervous system. Smelt contains a large amount of potassium, which is essential for the body. It is important for water-salt metabolism. Smelt meat has a pleasant taste and can be eaten by children and the elderly.

Harm

This fish cannot cause harm to health unless there is an individual intolerance to the product.

How to choose

The following indicates that the fish is fresh and can be bought:

• The smelt's eyes should not be cloudy. Take fish with clear and prominent eyes.
• Press the fish with your finger; the body should not be deformed. The hole that has formed should quickly recover.
• The aroma of the fish will resemble the aroma of cucumber; if you do not smell such a smell, then the fish is no longer fresh.
• If you take a smelt fish across the back with two fingers, the carcass should not bend or curl.

Use in cooking

Smelt is easy to clean, making it easy to work with. It lends itself well to almost any processing. Fish can be fried, baked, boiled. The latter should be done very quickly because... the fish cooks quickly. If the fish carcass is about 10 cm, then it can be fried without gutting. It makes an excellent aspic and first courses.

Source: dom-eda.com

Fishing in the Leningrad region

Fishing has always been a favorite pastime of the male population Leningrad region. This is especially facilitated by the large number of various rivers, streams and lakes. Until now, many reservoirs are full of fish and fishermen have somewhere to roam. Moreover, the fish found in local, numerous rivers and lakes of the Leningrad region willingly go for both sports and amateur tackle. In addition, most of the Gulf of Finland falls in the Leningrad region. And the north of the region is literally strewn with clusters of numerous lakes. In addition to one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in all of Europe, Lake Ladoga, the following are popular among fishing enthusiasts: large lakes like Otradnoye, Glubokoye, Komsomolskoye, Balakhanovskaya, Cheremenetskoye and some others.
As for rivers and streams suitable for fishing, there are about twenty-five thousand of them in the region. There are not many large rivers (Neva, Vuoksa, Svir, Volkhov, Luga, Narva, Plyussa), most of the river system is made up of small rivers, no more than 10 kilometers long.
In addition to natural reservoirs, there are six large artificial reservoirs in the region, which also supply fishermen with fish.
The total area of ​​all reservoirs in the region is more than 12,000 sq.m.

Survey

The reservoirs of the Leningrad region are home to about 60 various types commercial fish, including valuable species like salmon, whitefish, brown trout and smelt. All species of fish are divided into anadromous and semi-anadromous, which enter rivers and lakes, lake-river fish, which are constantly in local inland reservoirs and marine species.
Among the anadromous and semi-anadromous species one can distinguish Baltic sturgeon, salmon, whitefish, smelt, and river eel.
The indigenous inhabitants of rivers and lakes include: roach, tench, perch, chub, bream, pike perch, dace, burbot, grayling, crucian carp, catfish, asp, rudd, whitefish, bleak, raw fish, loach, silver bream, river trout and many others, only about 30 species.
Among the marine fish that live in the Gulf of Finland, the most common are cod, herring, sea pike, and eelpout.
In addition, valuable species of fish such as carp, trout, omul and nelma are bred in reservoirs for paid fishing.

Descriptions of reservoirs of the Leningrad region

Fishing reports in the Leningrad region

Types of fish of the Leningrad region

Perch is the most common fish in various reservoirs of the Leningrad region.

In the summer period, medium and small perch try not to leave deep pools, but in September and October they go to open places. Large specimens try not to leave their deep pools at all, appearing in open water only at short intervals, in the evening and in the morning. Perch spawns in late spring, in May. During open water, perch goes well with a regular float rod, with a simple bait; to get it from deep pools, use a bottom rod or catch it from a boat, in the so-called plumb line, without using a float. Fishing is considered the most productive in August, when perches organize a collective hunt for fry.

The habitat of pike perch is the southern coast of Lake Ladoga, some northern lakes, and the Vuoksa River, which has a length of 156 kilometers. Pike perch spawn in late spring – early summer, and spawning for pike perch is quite long, about a month. Like perch, pike perch prefers deep holes and creeks. It is caught almost all summer, but the best period is considered to be the beginning of autumn. Fishing with live bait, which includes small fish: gudgeon, bleak, smelt, is considered effective. Also used are plumb lures, bottom fishing rods and line fishing.

Burbot is a nocturnal predator, and like all predatory fish, it is very voracious. Found in almost all rivers of the Leningrad region. Spawns in winter, in December-January. Fishing is usually divided into three periods: autumn, winter and spring. In autumn, the bite begins in September and continues until the end of October; it is caught with a bottom fishing rod. In winter, the burbot bite begins after spawning, and it even goes for spoons; in the spring it is caught immediately after the reservoir is free of ice. Since burbot is a predator, it is caught with a worm, meat, a frog, or a piece of fish.

Carp are mainly found in prepared reservoirs with a fishing fee. It is well caught both with a regular float rod and with a bottom one. Loves millet porridge, bread, soaked steamed peas. Unlike many, it is caught only in the summer months. The best bite is at dawn.

Tench prefers quiet, calm, deep pools, well warmed by the sun. Not found in Lake Ladoga. Not too picky about water quality, inactive, mostly standing at the very bottom. Tench is a fish that loves solitude, so it is rare to catch even several fish in one place. It overwinters, buried in silt, fishing begins with the onset of warm weather, spawns in the summer, in the month of June, and gives preference to its own reservoir. The best bait is considered to be a red worm, the best fishing time is morning before 8 o'clock.

Bream, one of the most common inhabitants of reservoirs in the Leningrad region, loves deep clay pits. Spawning on shallows covered with reeds and reeds, spawning lasts about a month, in late spring and early summer. The best time for catching bream is considered to be the period before spawning and early autumn. Well caught on float rods. Among the baits it prefers are worms, bread and dough. For bream, bait is required. At night it can also be caught using a bottom fishing rod.

Roach can be found in any body of water. Is the main one river fish, in the spring it stays throughout almost the entire reservoir, in the summer it goes into small tributaries and small bays. They usually spawn in early May. The main tackle is a float rod; the best baits are for bloodworms, worms and bread. Since the fish is standing quite deep, you need to make sure that the nozzle sinks almost to the very bottom.

Rudd prefers warm, still water in small bays and oxbow lakes or lakes with good aquatic vegetation. Lives at medium depths, rudd spawns in early summer, goes well for worms and bread. On lakes, it is good to fish where there are windows among the reeds.
The ide is a rather rare fish, found in deep lowland rivers and lakes with running water.

It is good to catch immediately after the ice melts, spawning in April and May. The best biting time is immediately after the end of spawning, in the summer in the morning hours before dawn, in the fall - in the late afternoon. It goes well both on a float and on a donk. You can fish with almost anything, from steamed peas to grasshoppers and dragonfly larvae, as long as you have good bait.

Although chub is considered only a river fish, it can also be caught in the Gulf of Finland. Spawn in May. Caught with a float rod, it also works well when fly fishing. Loves small insects, bread and cheese.

Dace is a small fish similar to a roach, found everywhere, prefers clean rivers with moderate currents. Spawns almost all spring from March until the end of May. Therefore, the best bite is in the summer, after spawning. It is well caught on a float rod with wiring and donks. It goes well on pieces of worm, and can be caught with fly fishing on any insect. In winter it is caught using bloodworms and maggots.

Cheese can still be found in southern regions region, in the rivers Svir and Volkhov. Loves fast, cold water. Spawns in May or June. In the spring, before spawning, it is well caught on a donk; in the summer, it is better to catch it with a wire or from a boat using a float rod.

It’s hard to imagine our water bodies without pike, the most famous and insatiable predator of rivers and lakes. In water bodies it prefers to stay near the shore in thickets of grass. Large pike prefer deep holes and pools. The first bite begins as soon as the ice in the reservoir breaks down, the second bite immediately after spawning, which for river pike takes place in April, and for lake pike in May, the third period of the best bite is September and October. On Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland, the best time is the first ten days of June, and autumn until the ice begins to form. Naturally, he prefers live bait - a small fish - but squints go very well with worms.

Catfish is a large fish found mainly in the southern regions of the region, the northern border runs along the Vuoksa River. Prefers deep pools, from which it emerges very rarely. Catfish are caught mainly at night, when it comes out to hunt. Caught on donkeys. Several worms, small fish, and crayfish are used as bait, but catfish are best suited to a frog.

Palia is a large fish of the salmon family found in Lakes Ladoga and Onega. Open only for recreational spinning fishing. Live bait is used as bait.

Golden (common) crucian carp prefers to live in overgrown reservoirs; it feels good in water of poor quality, where other fish simply cannot survive. Spawns in summer. It loves well-warmed water, so, unlike other species, it is great to catch on a hot day, rising to the very surface. It bites well on worms, bread, and cereals. Perfectly caught on a float rod.

Bleak is a small fish that lives in small schools close to the surface and lives everywhere in rivers and lakes. Caught on a float rod best nozzle- flies, worm, maggot. Spawning lasts from late spring to mid-summer.

Although the loach is found throughout the Leningrad region, it is quite rare. Loves heavily overgrown areas of rivers and lakes. Spawning at the loach in the summer months, it is considered one of the most unpretentious fish, will survive where all other fish species die. Some varieties of loach are used by fishermen as bait when fishing for trout.

Gustera prefers to stay closer to the shore in small flocks. It is found in all major rivers of the Leningrad region, Ladoga and other lakes; it spawns in May and early summer. The best biting period is the week before spawning; after spawning, the biting is quite stable all summer long. The best time to fish is late in the evening, just before sunset.

The ruff is rarely more than twenty centimeters. Probably inhabits all water bodies in the region. It can be caught all year round using a bottom rod, a float rod and a plumb line.

Trout is a valuable migratory fish, found in the Gulf of Finland, Ladoga and some other lakes. Spawns between October and December. It can be caught with spinning rods, track and fly fishing.

Eel is valuable commercial species. There is a lot of it in the Gulf of Finland. Included in large rivers, flowing into the bay. Spawn in the western part Atlantic Ocean, then the larvae travel with the current to the shores of Europe, to the North and Baltic seas. It is well caught from the beginning of summer until late autumn, using a bottom fishing rod with a worm or live bait.

The asp is now a rare predator; it spawns in early spring; the best biting period is immediately after spawning; it lives near rocky rifts. The best time to catch is early in the morning when he comes out to hunt. It is well caught using a float rod, spinning rod, or fly fishing; small fish, such as bleak, and large insects are well suited as bait.

Grayling prefers northern rivers and reservoirs. Leaves to spawn in May. A very voracious predatory fish. If it is in a body of water, you will immediately notice it by its high jumps out of the water. Caught exclusively in daytime. Stays near the shore, with trees hanging over the water. Stays sedentary in small flocks. The best time to catch grayling is considered to be the period after the May spawning. It is caught by wire and fly fishing, and prefers worms and large insects from baits.

Video online. Fishing in the Leningrad region. A tributary of the Neva. Grayling. Part 1

Smelt is a commercial fish throughout the Baltic Sea, including the Gulf of Finland, and is found in large northern lakes. During spawning it enters rivers. Holds in large schools. Spawn in May. Well caught before spawning.

Whitefish are distinguished by a variety of different species and subspecies. There are river whitefish and those living in lakes. Sea whitefish are found in the Gulf of Finland and the Neva. In Lake Ladoga there is a species of whitefish called ludoga. White whitefish live in the Volkhov and its tributaries. Whitefish are schooling fish, love cool and clean water. Whitefish spawn in late autumn. The best time to fish for it is March and April. In winter it’s great to fish with a jig.

River trout is every fisherman's dream. It is very cautious and timid, so it can be caught using a float rod mainly from the shore. The best time to catch it is spring, after the ice melts, and autumn before freeze-up. Insects, flies, and worms are used as bait. Large trout prefer small fish such as minnows or bleaks.

The Karelian Isthmus is one of the best places for fishing in the Leningrad region.

The best place for fishing in the Leningrad region is considered to be the lakes of the Karelian Isthmus, which separates the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga. There are more than 800 small lakes rich in fish. All lakes have different depths and have different bottom topography. The best lakes for fishing are Lake Pitkojärvi, Lake Prodolnoye, Lake Saucer, Lake Beloye, Lake Osinovskoye, Lake Maloe Shchuchye.

Reservoirs of the Leningrad region

Other bodies of water

Fishing on the lakes of the Karelian Isthmus of the Leningrad Region

Lake Kavgolovskoe.

Lake Krasnogvardeyskoye

Types of fish: perch, ruffe, pike, bream, pike perch, burbot, roach

Lake Nakhimovskoye

Types of fish: perch, roach, ide, pike, bream

Nakhimovskaya Recreation Center

Bases on the lake:

Nakhimovskaya recreation center

Lake Kirillovskoye

Types of fish: pike, perch, roach, crucian carp

Lake Big Longitudinal

Types of fish: perch, roach, pike, bream

Lake Glubokoe

Types of fish: perch, bream, ide, pike, roach, pike perch.

Lake Vishnevskoye

Types of fish: perch, pike, roach, ruffe

Lake Lembolovskoye

Types of fish: perch, ide, roach, pike, bream, pike perch

Bases on the lake:

Baltic - 500 meters from the lake.

Gruzino-4

Onega - 500 meters from the lake, prices - from 3500 rubles / day.

Lake Pitkojärvi

Types of fish: bleak, ruff, pike.

Lake Beloe (Maloye Shchuchye)

Types of fish: Perch

Lake Osinovskoye

Types of fish: pike, perch

Lake Marchenkovo

Types of fish: roach, perch.

Lake Kharlampovskoe

Types of fish: roach, perch.

Lake Ulovnoe

Types of fish: crucian carp, bream, bleak, ruffe, perch, pike.

Lake Torikovskoye

Types of fish: roach, tench, perch, pike.

Lake Sukhodolskoye

Types of fish: roach, perch, trout, ide, bream, whitefish, grayling, dace, pike perch, salmon, bleak, pike.

Bases on the lake:

Cottage near Sukhodolskoye Lake

Recreation center Parus

Lake Sudakovskoye

Types of fish: pike perch, roach, perch, tench, ide, bleak, bream, silver bream, burbot.

Lake Stepanyanskoe

Types of fish: roach, crucian carp, perch, pike.

Lake Stavok

Types of fish: roach, pike, perch.

Lake Semiostrovie

Types of fish: rudd, roach, perch, burbot, bream, bleak, tench, silver bream, pike.

Lake Svetloe

Types of fish: whitefish, carp, roach, perch, pike.

Lake Rakovoe Bolshoye

Types of fish: roach, burbot, perch, crucian carp, rudd, pike.

Lake Razdolinskoye

Types of fish: rudd, roach, perch, bleak, burbot, crucian carp, bream.

Lake Pravdinskoye

Types of fish: roach, pike perch, burbot, pike.

Bases on the lake:

Cheerful elk – from 1250 rub/day

Lake Poperechnoe

Types of fish: crucian carp.

Lake Polyanskoe

Types of fish: bream, roach, perch, silver bream, pike.

Lake Poludennye

Types of fish: roach, burbot, perch, bream, pike.

Lake Pokrovskoye

Types of fish: rudd, roach, perch, bleak, silver bream, tench, bream, burbot, pike.

Lake Nizhneye Podosinovskoye

Types of fish: rudd, roach, perch, silver bream, tench, burbot, pike.

Types of fish: roach, perch, burbot, pike.

Lake Podgryadovskoye

Types of fish: rudd, roach, perch, tench, pike.

Paid fishing in the Leningrad region

Nowadays, for those who like to sit behind a fishing rod and relax their souls in nature, the best option is fishing for a small monetary contribution on paid reservoirs. And that's why. Many, especially small rivers, lakes and other open bodies of water now present a rather sad sight; the banks are in heaps of waste and garbage, the bottom of many rivers is simply a garbage dump, and the water is polluted or poisoned with harmful products and waste from various industries. Fish, if it has been preserved and adapted to life in such conditions, is absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
And on those rivers and lakes where more or less normal conditions For the existence of fish, poachers are in full control, catching natural remains with nets, drowning fish with explosives or killing them with electric fishing rods.
Therefore, it is better to pay a little, but still get pleasure from fishing.

Fishing bases in the Leningrad region:

Cordon Kuzmich - cottages on the very shore of the Gulf of Finland, from 12,000 rubles/day.

Mikhailovskaya – Recreation center on the shore of Lake Vuoksa, from 3000 rubles/day.

The Pikhtovoye recreation center is located in Vyborg on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, from 4,500 rubles/day.

Hotel "Dubki" is located in the ecological zone of the village of Dubki, a 20-minute drive from the port of Ust-Luga on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, price from 2500 rubles/day

Ozerny Bereg is a cottage complex located in Priozerskoye on the shore of Lake Vuoksa.

Under the cover of Ladoga there is a recreation center 150 km away. from St. Petersburg on the shores of Lake Ladoga.

Bite forecast No. 1 for today

The forecast of the probability of a good bite for the Leningrad region is displayed in a digital value from 100% highest level fish bite for different times of day.

Forecast No. 2 for tomorrow

According to weather

Bite forecast

By lunar phases

Bite forecast

Weather forecast in St. Petersburg

Source: udochka.rybalkanasha.ru

Types of smelt

Currently there are three types of fish: European, Asian and maritime. And they differ not only in physiological characteristics. These species also differ in the length of time they can live, as well as in weight. For example, the European one can live for three years, but weighs only eight grams. As for the length, in this variety it can reach 9-10 centimeters.

And another variety (Siberian) can live up to 12 years, and the length is 35 centimeters. As for weight, this species can gain up to 350 g. When calculating life expectancy, it is important to take into account the rule - the longer the fish matures, the longer it will live.

Appearance of smelt

As we already understood, appearance each type may differ from each other. Let's take a closer look at the appearance features characteristic of each variety of these fish.

Smelt habitats

Depending on the species, smelt can live in different places. The fisherman needs to know what to do if he needs to catch this fish. And you need to start by understanding the places where you can catch these fish. Let's find out where each species is found in more detail.

What food does lake or sea smelt eat?

Mostly all species eat zooplankton. This category of food products for this fish includes a whole range of “dishes” - cladocerans, mysids, cumaceans, and so on). Smelt also loves young fish quite strongly. She also has one dish that people also love - caviar. True, one cannot say that the diet of fish is the same as that of humans. For example, all species usually eat most in the summer and fall near the shores where these fish can be caught.

Puberty

Every type of smelt lives for different number of years. We learned about this a little earlier. Since life expectancy can differ radically, the period of development of animals also differs significantly from species to species. For example, the European smelt begins to reproduce at one or two years of age, since the lifespan of this species is only three years. And the Siberian variety of this fish can begin to spawn after seven years, since this variety lives up to 12 years.

Spawning progress

The beginning of fish spawning may indicate end of ice drift. As soon as the water warms up to four degrees above zero, sluggish spawning of fish begins. A significant increase in the spawning rate can be judged if the water warms up to six or nine degrees. When these numbers have been reached, the fish begin to travel quite long distances in search of a place where they can reproduce.

For example, in the Elbe, smelt can travel about a hundred kilometers until it finds the most favorable place for breeding. If the potential prey lives in the White Sea, then the distance is somewhat shorter. This family of fish in this reservoir can cover a distance of up to three kilometers, which is a fairly short distance against the backdrop of the Elbe. The process itself usually lasts several days.

Features of spawning of marine smallmouth species

This species of smelt becomes sexually mature after one or two years of life. Maximum amount The number of times this fish spawns is only three. Spawning usually begins in April and lasts until May. If smallmouth fish live further north, then spawning begins in June. Where are the eggs deposited? As a place where you can leave your future offspring, smelt chooses the surf zone of the seas, sand or algae. During one time, this type of smelt can leave up to 35 thousand eggs.

In general, it all depends on what city you live in. For example, in St. Petersburg you can catch smelt somewhere in December. True, usually only small specimens can be caught at this time. A catch of about 500 fish usually rarely exceeds six kilograms.

If you need to catch large smelt, then you need to wait until the end of January or the beginning of February. The thing about catching smelt is that it truly takes your breath away. In this case, two qualities are required from the fisherman: dexterity and endurance.

Tackle for smelt

To catch smelt, you don’t need any very expensive and elaborate gear, since this fish is quite light, and even not the most durable fishing rod, fishing line, and so on can withstand it. Another important thing in gear is convenience. They must be truly comfortable, since a person can’t catch fish. And since a certain skill is required when trying to catch smelt, convenience comes to the fore here. Also, comfortable gear greatly reduces the risk that the fisherman will be tired and will not be able to truly enjoy fishing.

However, the process of catching smelt is so unpretentious that you can even make a fishing rod with your own hands, and the fish will bite and pull out quite normally. One of the ways to create a homemade fishing rod is this: first you need to carve a cylindrical handle from high-density foam plastic. After this, the whole thing needs to be equipped with two support legs. For nods, you should use a coil spring. The free end of this spring must be equipped with a red foam ball.

Fishing line it is not necessary to use wide. This will not have much effect on the bite. Hard types of fishing line definitely cannot be used, as they interfere with normal biting. This happens due to their twisting. It is important to understand that since this fish is caught most often in winter, the fishing line will be in constant contact with the ice. Therefore, it will need to be changed every season.

Tactics for catching smelt

It is not advisable to start fishing at the beginning of the season and at the end of it, since very few fish are caught. To improve your biting results, you need to look for places that are as far away from people as possible. After all, large crowds frighten fish. Also, the place where you want to catch this fish, you need to look for such that there are no large differences in depth.

When a school of fish has been found, you need to set out about eight fishing rods. It is advisable to arrange them in a checkerboard pattern. Also good options: diagonally or across the stream. If there is no bite, then the fishing rod needs to be moved to another place. We thoroughly clean the holes from snow or sludge.

To improve the bite in weak currents, the line needs to be lowered 4 turns. Thanks to this, the play of jigs improves, which leads to an increase in the number of fish that fall on the bait. At the same time, it is better not to lower the line beyond this threshold. If this advice is violated, it may lead to a decrease in the quality of catching fish.

What conclusions can be drawn?

This is the basic information that can be used to summarize the above.

Source: ulov.guru

What does smelt eat?

Basically, any little thing that comes across its path - very small fish, eggs laid by other fish, and also collects silt from the bottom and strains out the organisms living there.

Is it easy to catch smelt?

If you use a fishing rod, then you need luck. Hook fishing has been known for a long time, and in some places you can catch up to 300 fish in a day.

The line should be very thin (smelt is shy), the sinker should be small and the hooks should be the smallest. As bait, you can use ordinary colored foam rubber, cut into small pieces of 0.5 by 0.5 mm. And, of course, any float to suit your taste, but preferably light.

Is it possible to catch three fish at once?

Smelt can be caught two or even three at a time (up to 5 hooks can be placed on the fishing line at a distance of five to ten centimeters from each other). A great joy for a fisherman is when 3 fish catch at once in one bite.

I remember we lived then in Nakhodka, Primorsky Territory, I was 10-11 years old at that time. We fished from the pier, where a ship arrived at approximately 1-hour intervals. The fish then, of course, all ran away, then appeared again. Dad has gone somewhere. And the men sat at a distance from me and caught. And then the smelt began to shoal, and my bite began to be simply fabulous. You don’t have time to cast the fishing rod - like one, two, or even three fish in one catch. The excitement is beyond words.

And then, out of the corner of my eye, I notice that the fishermen began to slowly approach me. They felt offended - their bite was sluggish, but for me, a little fisherman, it was one after another. When my father arrived, the fishermen were about three meters from me both to the right and to the left. But then the flock passed and the bite began to fade. We had to wait for a new jamb...

Is smelt only caught in salt water?

No, there are freshwater smelts - smelt. This is mainly a lake fish. And throughout the Gulf of Finland, smelt is the second most important fish after herring. Smelt is a relic of ice age. This fish is very sensitive to pollution, so it lives only in clean waters. Where rivers are heavily polluted, the number of smelt, and other commercial fish, has decreased greatly.

How does smelt reproduce?

Lays eggs on sand and small pebbles. The caviar of this fish is sticky. Fertilized eggs immediately stick to grains of sand and pebbles. The eggs carried by the current quickly develop and after a few days the larvae emerge from them. The smelt itself and its larvae are excellent food for larger fish. Smelt is very prolific, so its numbers are large.

How is smelt prepared?

Many people probably know that smelt has a slight smell of fresh cucumbers. Indescribable, amazing smell. The simplest smelt dish: peel, gut, salt and pepper. Place in a large greased frying pan and fry on both sides until golden brown. Separately, fry the onion (you can do without it). Fill everything with omelette. Overeating - take my word for it. There are other ways to prepare smelt, but this is the easiest and fastest. Real jam!

Smelt – sea ​​fish The salmon family is well known to many connoisseurs of delicious fish dishes.

This fish is widespread in the waters of the Northern Hemisphere (North Atlantic, Arctic Ocean, Northern Pacific). Many species enter river deltas to breed.

In the Russian Federation, smelt is found in the Baltic, White, Barents Seas and on Far East, in addition, it is common in reservoirs on the upper and middle Volga.

Description

The smelt has an elongated body, large, slightly falling scales. Large mouth. The body color is silvery on the sides and brownish-green on the back. The jaws have small, weak teeth.

The lateral line is usually visible up to the fourth - sixteenth scale, but sometimes up to the fourth - eighth scale. When a fish spawns, tubercles form on its body, head, and fins.

On average, smelt is fifteen to twenty centimeters long, although there are fish up to thirty centimeters. The smallest representative of smelt is smelt, a little more than eight centimeters long.

The smelt itself smells like a fresh cucumber. This fish has a difference from the similar bleak - an additional fin on the back.

The difference between the European and Asian smelt is that it has weaker teeth and a shorter line on the side. The smallmouth smelt has a small mouth and a large protrusion at the lower jaw.

The shorter dorsal fin has a slightly different location compared to other breeds; like the ventral fin, it is located in the center of the fish’s body.

The length of sea smelt is smaller, the line on the side is limited to nine to thirteen scales.

Spawning

Smelt begins to spawn after the ice melts, when the water temperature rises to four degrees, and reaches its peak when the water is about eight degrees Celsius. The eggs are bottom-based, attached to stones and plants.

Sexual maturity of smelt is reached in the second year of life, Baltic smelt in the second - fourth, White Sea smelt in the third - fourth, Siberian - in the fifth - seventh.

In order to spawn, smelt have to climb high in rivers and streams, often over very long distances.

For example, on the Elbe River this distance reaches one hundred kilometers.

In the White Sea, fish swim from hundreds of meters to three kilometers to spawn.

In smallmouth smelt, sexual maturity occurs in the first or second year of life. One female is capable of laying eggs only three times during the entire period of existence.

In more southern latitudes, it begins to spawn in late April - early May, in northern latitudes - closer to June. The eggs mature in the surf zone: on algae or sandy bottom.

From eight to thirty-five thousand eggs are produced at a time.

Varieties of smelt

In total, the smelt family includes six genera and ten species of fish.

On the territory of our country, this breed is represented by three genera: smallmouth smelt, capelin and smelt, which, in turn, is divided into two subspecies: Asian (toothed) smelt and European smelt. Each species has its own habitat.

Where are European smelt found?

European smelt is found mainly in the basin of the North and Baltic Seas, on Ladoga and Lake Onega.

The lake dwarf smelt is distributed in lakes in the north-west of the European region of the Russian Federation and northern Western European countries.

This breed acclimatizes well. Its active distribution is noted in the Volga River basin, in particular, it is found in the reservoirs of Saratov, Rybinsk, Kuibyshev, Gorky.

European fish are the smallest with a short lifespan. For example, the weight of smelt is up to eight grams, its length is up to ten centimeters, and its lifespan is up to three years.

Where to find Asian smelt?

The distribution range of Asian smelt is the North Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans. It lives in the pre-estuary areas of rivers and coastal marine areas.

In the Russian Federation it can be found from the White Sea waters to the Bering Strait. On the American continent, this type of fish is found in the area from Cape Barrow to the Mackenzie River.

In the Pacific Ocean - in the west: Chukotka - Japan and Korea, the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, Sakhalin, Amur, the Razdolnaya River in Peter the Great Bay.

Each region has its own fish size. The largest one floats in the waters White Sea, its length reaches thirty-four centimeters, its weight reaches three hundred and fifty grams. Her life span is up to ten years.

Where are smallmouth smelt found?

Smallmouth smelt have colonized the northwest Pacific waters. It is found near the Kamchatka Peninsula and below the zone down to the Korean Peninsula, in the Peter the Great Bay area, off Sakhalin, the southern Kuril Islands, and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

This type of smelt reaches a length of twenty-five centimeters, weighs one hundred and sixty grams, and lives up to eight years.

Habitat features of smelt

Smelt is most active in autumn and summer close to the coast.

This predatory fish feeds on zooplankton: cladocerans, copepods and cumaceans, calanids, mysids, as well as fry and eggs. She prefers fairly clean water.

Is it only in salt water that smelt are caught?

The habitat of smelt is not only the sea; large lakes with very clean water can pamper you with such a freshwater variety of this fish as smelt.

Fishing for smelt

You can use the simplest gear for winter fishing, as long as it is comfortable. Many people make them at home. Dense foam goes on the handle - it is made in the shape of a cylinder, with two legs attached for support.

A twisted spring nod is made about eight to ten centimeters long, and a bright piece of foam in the form of a ball is attached at the end.

The fishing line is taken with a diameter of approximately zero point three millimeters. Due to constant friction with ice, it must be constantly updated annually.

If the jig glows, it’s very good. The spindle shape is very popular.

The hook must be well sharpened and suitable for the appropriate dimensions of the intended catch.

Typically, from two to fifteen jigs are used, it all depends on the conditions in which fishing is carried out.

Interesting and effective are shelf fishing rods that immediately cover several layers of water.

For them, of course, more jigs are consumed, which are placed at approximately a meter distance from each other. A standard fishing rod usually has a couple of jigs.

A drop-shaped sinker, weighing about forty-five grams, is attached five centimeters below the lower jig. The upper jig is located about twenty centimeters higher than the lower one, and the third one is a meter narrower from it.

The amount of fish caught is influenced not only by fishing luck and existing experience. Much depends on how large a school of smelt has entered the waters of the bay. This plays a big role in the bite activity.

The movement of fish is influenced by currents arising from the tidal activity of the sea. Weather conditions do not have much influence on the effectiveness of biting.

For a successful fishing result, you need to carefully understand the features of the bottom surface and have many years of experience in fishing at specific points.

Fishing place

Experienced fishermen prefer the following places when fishing for smelt:

• depressions along fairways;
• holes, tubercles, stones and other changes in the bottom surface where fish can hide and hunt fry;
• the presence of thick algae;
• intersection of different currents at depth.

The depth must be more than three meters. The use of an echo sounder is of great help to anglers.

Is it easy to catch smelt?

It is curious that in Europe fishermen do not like to catch smelt, considering it an uninteresting pastime due to the primitiveness of the process.

One angler can catch up to five thousand fish without stress. In our country, this type of fishing is extremely popular.

Fishing in the vicinity of St. Petersburg

The smelt bite in the vicinity of St. Petersburg becomes more active in the first winter month. At this time there are not very large fish. For example, the weight of four hundred to five hundred smelts is no more than five to six kilograms.

Larger fish begin to bite at the end of January. The process of catching smelt is very exciting and exciting, especially if it is active, but to catch this fish the fisherman requires good dexterity and endurance.

The most successful place for catching smelt in the waters of the Gulf of Finland is considered to be a canal near the village of Manuly, located near the city of Primorsky (four kilometers away). Fishing is also good in the area of ​​Vysotsk.

The origin of the canal is artificial, the depth is over thirty meters, it stretches along the coast at a distance of hundreds of meters.

The differences in depth are quite large, which attracts fish, although mostly small ones, although there are also medium-sized Baltic smelt.

The places are considered very catchable, but due to the small size of the catch, it is more advisable to come near Vysotsk in December, and then move on to catch larger fish.

To choose a place where decent smelt bite, you should find out what the ice conditions are in the reservoir.

Based on this indicator, the southern part of the bay, near the villages of Krasnoflotsk, Lebyazhye, and Krasnaya Gorka, is considered the most successful.

In these places you can catch fish of considerable size. There are no more than ten to twelve fish in a kilogram of catch.

During the winter auspicious day You can catch up to thirteen kilograms.

In this case, you need to be extremely careful, because in this area quite often “fresh” cracks appear, ice floes break off and float away.

If there is a danger of being on the ice surface of the south of the bay, it is advisable to move to the other, northern shore, where there are also enough places to catch smelt.

A very interesting place “Scarlet Sails”, located at the twenty-fourth kilometer. The bottom surface here is calm, there are no changes.

There is a good bite near the small town of Peski. Here the bottom relief is more uneven with depth differences of up to three meters.

Further away, from the twenty-eighth to the twenty-ninth kilometer, the bottom becomes smoother and the catch depends on how the fish approaches. At the thirty-third kilometer there are often problems with ice conditions, but the catches here are sometimes very decent.

Places of regular good catch end near Okuneva Bay at the forty-fourth kilometer. However, it should be taken into account that ice conditions in these places are extremely unpredictable. Moving further than four kilometers from the shore is extremely dangerous.

In the area of ​​the fifty-sixth kilometer, the Berezovye Islands are located, which are natural protection for the coastline, so icing in this area is stable until the spring months.

Five kilometers deep in the bay you can catch a hefty catch, twenty fish per kilogram. Very good results can be obtained on the last ice, and they also bite near the shore.

In St. Petersburg this interesting fish has become somewhat of an unofficial symbol. Winter smelt fishing turns out to be a city holiday.

Every St. Petersburg resident who can handle fishing gear considers it his duty to take part in it. If you choose the right place and have a little fishing luck, you can catch a lot of it.

Well, at a festival dedicated to smelt, everyone gets an unforgettable pleasure. Few things can compare in taste to skillfully fried smelt.

Cucumber smelt is a fish that belongs to the smelt family. It is also called root, naked. The scales are small and translucent. The abdomen is white-yellow, and the back is covered with greenish-blue scales. The appearance of the predator depends on the species.

Smelt is a largemouth fish. There are several rows of sharp teeth in the mouth and tongue, as the individual is considered a predator. A small naked fish eats fry, crustaceans, larvae, and eggs.

An individual can reach 350 g. The length of the root can be 10−40 cm. All varieties of smelt look approximately the same, but the Far Eastern smelt differs from the rest in its small mouth, lower jaw, which is pushed forward, and dorsal fin, which is also shorter than that of other representatives fish family.

A representative of the smelt family remains active in nutrition all year round.

Varieties

There are several varieties based on habitat, behavior, appearance and spawning characteristics. Dimensions, weight of smelt different types are different.

European smelt lives in the Baltic and off the coast of the USA. It is common for this individual to form large flocks that are capable of entering rivers to spawn. Representatives of this variety weigh 150−200 g, the size of the smelt reaches 20−30 cm in length. The individual has dense, large scales and a green-brown back. The body is narrow, elongated. This species is also called smelt.

The smallmouth naked lives in the Far East, near sea ​​shores and can enter fresh water rivers. This is a Sakhalin fish: it lives on Sakhalin, as well as in the south of the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka and in the waters off the coast, up to the northern part of Korea. This member of the family smells more like a cucumber than others, so another name is borage. The representative has a small mouth. It reaches no more than 9 cm in size and weighs 30 g.

Asian smelt lives in lakes (for example, Ladoga, Onega), seas (Baltic, Northern, White). This species of individual lives in the rivers of the Far East and Siberia. It is also called catfish smelt - Asian or American. It can reach 35 cm in length and weigh 350 g. It is the largest representative of the smelt and can live up to 11 years.

Lake smelt lives in northwestern Russia. The individual lives in lake water. The population is high, which allows it to be caught in industrial quantities. The fins of the individual are colorless. Weight - 20 g, length - 25 cm.

The lake root has a light-colored back so that it can be camouflaged on the muddy lake bottom.

Sea smelt is also called capelin. Another name is uek. Capelin can reach 22 cm and weigh about 60 g. There is a dark border on the fins, and the sides and belly of the smelt are covered with brown spots.

Different species of smelt choose the most suitable habitats for themselves. At the same time, the distribution area is extensive.

Habitats

Where is smelt found: throughout Russia, especially in reservoirs in the central part of the country, in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. Fish is caught in lakes Ladoga, Onega, White, the Baltic seas, the northern part of Russia, and in the Volga basin.

The representative of smelt lives in salty and fresh waters. Naked is found in bodies of cool water, in the depths of seas and lakes, or near the coastline. The habitat varies depending on the species of the individual, since the appearance helps to camouflage itself taking into account the living conditions, since it is a predatory fish and it needs to hunt others.

Features of behavior

It is necessary to take into account the behavioral characteristics of individuals in order to choose the most favorable areas for fishing:

• representatives of smelt love depth, so it is worth looking for deep reservoirs with fresh or salt water;
• at various depths, fish are able to hide from other predators or catch fry, smaller fish in order to get food;
• in areas with thickets;
• in areas of the water area with different currents.

When choosing a place for fishing, you need to pay attention to places with a depth of 3 m. In this case, the bottom topography should be different so that you do not have to fish with an echo sounder.

You don't have to wait for hours to catch specimens. In a short period of time you can catch up to 500 fish.

• thin - for those individuals who are cautious and do not bite;
• nets or grabs - for catching fish that are in spawning conditions;
• three-wall networks;
• seines;
• spiders.

In summer, when fishing from the shore, sensitive tackle equipped with small weights and hooks is used. Use ultra-thin fishing line and the most sensitive float.

For bait, you can choose natural baits or those made from foam rubber material. Natural - live bait, pieces of fish.

If you fish from a boat, use gear that consists of a hook equipped with a long shank, organza, thread, varnish and beads.

Mount the gear like this:

1. Take the hook and fix it in a clamp or tank where the flies are tied.
2. The fibers are separated from the organza, which are then pulled into the eye of the hook.
3. The fibers are pulled along the forearm and tied with a mounting thread to create an analogue of the abdomen of an insect.
4. The tackle is strengthened with varnish, which gives a glow in the dark.
5. The final stage is attaching the beads and fixing them again with the same varnish. The beads are left within the eye of the hook to imitate the head of an insect.

For final installation, take an ice fishing rod with a nod, a 0.1 mm fishing line, 5 artificial baits, and a 3 g lead weight.

The tackle is assembled as follows:

1. Line is wound onto the reel.
2. Tie 3 leashes 10 cm long.
3. Hooks are attached to the leashes, and everything is secured with a reliable knot.
4. The leashes are attached to the main line, at a distance of 25 cm from each other.
5. Attach 2 hooks to the main line, but do not secure them. It is enough to thread the fishing line through the eye.
6. A load is secured to the main line.

Spawning

The lifespan of an individual depends on the species. The European one ages by 3 years, the Siberian lake cat can live 12 years.

The smelt season also varies depending on the species. The European spawns at 1 year of age, while the Siberian spawns at 7 years of age. Capelin prepares for spawning at 4 years of age and lives up to 9 years.

Males are larger than females and have more developed fins. Males are able to follow females over long distances. This is necessary so that individuals can find a suitable place for spawning. Near fish nurseries, it is important to ensure a good influx of prey, while other predatory fish should be avoided.

Individuals feed on zooplankton, eggs, and young animals. Most food is required in summer and autumn.

The start of spawning is after the ice drift. The water temperature should be +4°C. Smelt actively spawns at +6…+9°C. Reproduction continues for 2 weeks.

Nutritional value of smelt

The product is sold fresh or frozen; you can find chilled, smoked or dried fish of the smelt family on sale. The product is used to prepare baked, pickled dishes, soups and even okroshka. Juicy fish is combined with various sauces and side dishes.

The meat is tender, the fibers come apart easily, they are light in color with a gray tint. The peel can be peeled without difficulty. The bones of the fish are small and thin.

Smelt is a valuable food product, as it contains minerals and elements: zinc, selenium, manganese, copper. Fish contains vitamins that can strengthen and rejuvenate the human body.

100 g of product contains almost 18 g of protein, 2.5 fat, 0 carbohydrates. Total - 97 kcal. The product is considered low-calorie, so it can be used in dietary nutrition. There are fewer calories in hake, crucian carp, and flounder. Tilapia has the same calorie content.

Nutritional value changes during heat treatment. If cooked on the grill, the calorie content is low. But when fried or cooked in breadcrumbs, in oil, or even when consumed in dried or dried form, the product cannot be called dietary.

The fried dish has a calorie content of 109, the dried one - 221, and the dried one - almost 148 kcal per 100 g of product.

Valuable properties:

• strengthening the heart and blood vessels, restoring blood pressure;
• improving brain activity, strengthening memory;
• strengthening bone tissue;
• fight against anemia;
• improving digestion and accelerating metabolic processes;
• strengthening immune system, improvement of intestinal motility;
• elimination of vision problems;
• rejuvenating effect - hair, nails, skin are filled with radiance;
• harmonization of the processes of the nervous system, which helps a person overcome disorders and stressful situations.

Despite the high nutritional value, this dish should not be consumed by everyone. There are contraindications:

• gastritis, gastrointestinal ulcers;
• individual intolerance to components, allergies to seafood;
• poisoning if a large amount of toxic components has accumulated in the meat.

Dishes from representatives of the smelt family are contraindicated for those with a high concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Smelt fish, valuable in terms of its content of useful elements, the benefits and harms of which are determined by the characteristics of human health, can be included in the diet if there are no contraindications indicated above.

The small fish smelt is very popular among domestic fishermen. It brings a lot of pleasure while fishing, and smelt meat has a special, refined taste. The richness of the catch will depend on the right time and place for fishing. Based on the seasonal behavior of the cucumber fish, the optimal fishing method and equipment are selected.

Smelt fish different regions has names such as smelt, naked, root and root. She is a member of the smelt family. Distinctive feature the fish's small scales became translucent. On the back it shimmers with bluish-green shades, and on the rest of the body the color is yellowish-white. The fins of smelt can be colorless or gray. Unlike similar freshwater fish (dace, dace), the smelt has an additional fin on its back.

There are teeth in the fish's mouth and on its tongue. In males, the lower jaw protrudes somewhat, and before the mating season they have many tubercles on their heads. Body length ranges from 10-40 cm, and Weight Limit is 350 g.

There are many varieties of smelt. Domestic fishermen most often encounter the following species.

• Smelt has a short lifespan (2-3 years), and individuals of this species become sexually mature a year after birth. The length of smelt reaches only 10 cm and weighs 6-8 g.
• The largest representative of smelt is the Siberian subspecies. This fish lives up to 12 years, growing to 35-40 cm in length and gaining a weight of 350 g.

Spotted! The later the smelt becomes sexually mature, the longer the fish lives and grows larger.

Habitat

Depending on their habitat, smelt have a certain division.

• European smelt lives in Lakes Ladoga and Onega, as well as in the basins of the Baltic and North Seas. It has a short lateral line and poorly defined teeth. Smelt is often called a dwarf European subspecies that lives in freshwater areas. The population of this fish began to increase in the Volga basin, while the “stock” in White Lake was decreasing.

Photo 1. Lake Ladoga.

• Lake smelt is found in some lakes in the northwestern part of Russia. It is mined on an industrial scale.
• Asian or American smelt is common in the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. The fish has a longer lateral line and strong teeth.
• Another species lives in the Far East, called smallmouth smelt. This fish lives in coastal areas and often enters freshwater areas.
• Capelin also belongs to the smelt family. However, this fish is not caught with amateur gear, since its habitat has become the northernmost waters, far from the shores densely populated by people.

Nutrition

Despite their small size, all types of smelt are voracious. The bulk of the daily diet consists of zooplankton. However, this small fish is not averse to feasting on fry, which is not much smaller than it.

Smelts love various small animal organisms. Numerous swarms destroy fish eggs, insect larvae, as well as amphipods, daphnia and cyclops.

Since smelt is not too picky about its diet, and also acclimatizes quite easily to new conditions, it began to be artificially bred in industrial quantities. This requires a deep pond with cold running water. Lakes located in the central part of Russia are best suited for fish farming.

Behavior by season

Schools of smelt lead a fairly active lifestyle throughout the year. But for fans of fishing with fishing rods, winter and spring are the most attractive. From summer to late autumn, the fish spends time in the sea away from the coast. Therefore, at this time, fishermen are unable to catch it with a fishing rod. Some species can live near the shore throughout the year; in such places you can constantly catch “cucumber fish”.

• In winter, after freeze-up, schools of smelt enter bays and estuaries, where they find food. The fish occupy horizons ranging from 6 to 25 m. In pursuit of a feeding school, fishermen often have to travel several kilometers across the ice.
• comes even closer to the coastline, preparing for the mating season. At this time, the fish feeds at a depth of 4 to 6 m.

Observation! The easiest way to find an active school of smelt is to look for a crowd of anglers. If you sit alone a few tens of meters from a gathering of competitors, you may not get a bite.

Spawning

Before the mating season, most sexually mature representatives of smelt go through a different migratory path. Its length depends on its habitat. If the species live in the White Sea, then the Yenisei relatives can travel about 1 thousand kilometers. The flocks spend approximately 3-4 months on this move. Amur individuals go to spawning grounds, which are located within 300 km. And coastal smelts enter rivers no further than 20 km. Lake inhabitants prefer to lay eggs at the mouths of inflowing rivers.

As soon as the water warms up to 4ºC, the first individuals begin to spawn. The most massive smelt spawning occurs after the water temperature reaches 7-10ºС. Accordingly, the timing of the marriage period differs significantly. In the waters of Western Russia, the beginning of spawning dates back to March, while in the east of the country spawning occurs from April to May, and in Siberia mating season observed only in summer.

The duration of spawning is limited to 2-3 days, after which the fish leaves the spawning ground. The masonry is located at a depth of up to 2 m, where there are stones, tree roots or abundant vegetation.

The eggs hatch into fry after 15-20 days. They immediately go downstream, feeding on plankton. As they grow older, they become eggs and fish fry.

Fishing methods by season

Depending on the smelt fishing season, a suitable fishing method is selected. Since the size of the fish is small, the fishing rod should be light and elegant.

Gear and bait used

Fishing gear that is used for fishing for smelt can be divided into winter and summer. Each group of fishing rods has certain equipment secrets.

Having installed a dozen tyrants, the fisherman can only watch the nods. From time to time you can approach each tackle to play along with the bait.

To catch a nimble schooling fish with the smell of cucumber, you need to stock up on attractive baits. They are natural and artificial.

• The best natural baits are baits. It could be worms or fish meat. Smelt has its own preferences for fish meat, which is explained by the food supply. In some regions, carp or carp works well. Somewhere, perch or perch meat attracts smelt better. And St. Petersburg fishermen successfully catch borage using eelpout.

• Among artificial baits, I would like to mention foam rubber, which is painted white or yellow. The bait holds perfectly on the hook, and bright color attracts fish. The best spinners are considered to be light, narrow-bodied silver-colored baits. Tandems of vertical spinners and phosphorus jigs have proven themselves well.

Catching smelt using amateur gear is popular in different regions of Russia. Local fishermen use their own set of gear and bait. It is important to take this point into account when going fishing.