Fishing for burbot in winter – 7 catchy gear for catching bigmouth predator

Unlike other fish species, which become less active with the onset of cold weather, burbot, on the contrary, only gains activity as the water temperature becomes lower. This predator prefers water bodies with cold and fast currents. Winter is the right time of the year for fishing for burbot, at this time it becomes voracious, and it is possible to catch it with ordinary tackle, from the most common and often used, the so-called bumpy, donkey and
zherlitsy… But the main difficulty lies in the fact that he prefers to go hunting at night, and most fishermen, as a rule, fish on the ice during the day. You can catch this fish in the daytime, but for this you need to find out where it stops. At night, the harder the frost, the more active the burbot becomes, and the catch can become much more significant. Therefore , it is much easier for anglers who prefer
to fish at night in winter to catch a large-mouthed spotted predator.

Changes in the behavior of burbot during the winter

With the appearance of the first ice, the habits of burbot do not change in any way, unlike some fish, which need to adapt to winter, and which stop pecking for a while. We can assume that the autumn fishing smoothly flows into the winter, but from the ice. As the ice hardens, burbots will begin to move closer to the bottom, where they hunt. Soon, having accumulated strength, burbots begin to prepare for spawning. River fish will gradually migrate upstream, lake fish will take places in shallow water. It is impossible to name the specific dates of spawning in burbot. It begins when the water temperature is at its lowest, but not during the deaf winter period. This occurs in December or November in a temperate climate, and in the northern regions earlier – in November-December. Then, as the spawning process ends, the burbot sinks deeper to the bottom, where it can be caught before the arrival of heat.

When the predator is active and where to catch it: burbot trails

In winter fishing for burbot, choosing the right place plays an important role. The fisherman must learn the habits and habitats so that he knows when and where to fish. On the net you can find videos of professional fishermen with recommendations and tips that can also be useful in preparation. Burbot prefers to move along a peculiar route, the so-called “burbot paths”. It is these trails that fishermen have to look for.
Winter campsites for burbot and burbot trails: black – say yes, red – pass by [/ caption] Parameters for locating such burbot trail are as follows:

1. The reservoir should be flowing and clean: there is no point in fishing where there is water and a lot of silt.
2. The bottom (sandy, pebble): the main thing is the absence of large boulders or blockages of stones.
3. Special bottom topography: access to the spits and shallows, the presence of a snag.
4. The presence of shelters on the river: where the burbot stops to avoid the current.
5. The depth is from half a meter to four meters.

On the eve of spawning, burbot is especially active. This period begins when the temperature is around zero. In the process of throwing eggs, the fish does not eat anything at all, but before and after it the predator has an unusually large appetite. This time is considered the most suitable for fishing.

Important! On a full moon with a clear sky, it is not necessary to count on what will bite.

What is promising to catch burbot in winter: bait

Live bait will be the optimal bait for catching burbot. As a rule, live bait is harvested in the afternoon at the same place where they are going to fish. However, there are fishermen who have got used to preparing it in advance; from autumn they are stored in cages and other containers with water, which are aerated. Suitable for catching burbot:

1. Ruff . Perhaps the best version of live bait for burbot for girders , bridle, donok. Burbot prefers this fish to others, besides, it is caught all the time while there is ice on the water bodies. Ruff is the best live bait for girders [/ caption]
2. Gudgeon . It’s also a good option, but here you need to take into account that you need to catch it at the beginning of the season, because closer to the middle of winter, it bites less actively.
3. Sleepy fish . Those of the live baits prepared in advance that “fell asleep” are still alive, but do not show activity, or have recently died, do not rush to throw them away. If, of course, they are not spoiled yet, they can be frozen and then used as a planting. However, it is better to use this option only when it was not possible to find a live bait.
4. Fish meat . Fish as bait is suitable not only whole, but also cut into pieces. Fishermen notice that burbot bite even better on chopped fish. Fish meat is effectively used as a supplement.

Interesting to know! Although it is believed that burbot can feed on carrion, it is still advisable to use fresh fish meat.

Catching burbot on a winter night

The most suitable time for catching burbot is from evening to morning. When choosing gear, it is better to give preference to those that can be safely left unattended at night. On frosty nights, burbot is often collected in large quantities in certain areas. Then he bites well, including on artificial baits: balance weights, spinners, etc. Anglers who are familiar with the reservoir can, after waiting for the right time, catch up to several dozen burbots per night.

Important! The burbot bite is strongly influenced by the lunar phases: during the growth of the moon, the number of bites decreases, and at the full moon it disappears.

How to find a predator in an unfamiliar body of water – practical advice

Deep places may be promising on an unfamiliar reservoir: “ditches” and “ravines” at the bottom of sufficient length, holes in the channel, rifts, whirlpools, dumps, places where small rivers and streams flow into larger ones, etc. The bottom of the burbot prefers hard: stony, pebble, sandy, slightly less often clay, sandy-clay. But overgrown areas with a large accumulation of silt, on the contrary, tries to avoid. Winter burbot fishing does not tolerate haste, because everything must be carefully calculated. In order to quickly explore an unfamiliar body of water, as a rule, they use at least five gutters, placed along the coast about 3 meters from each other, in the direction from shallow to depth.
Zherlitsy allow you to quickly find sites and trails of burbot on an unfamiliar body of water [/ caption] No need to be upset if a suitable place is not found right away. The search for a burbot trail may take more than a day, but when it is found, the efforts are compensated by a generous catch. It is also recommended to organize groundbait where burbot will be caught. Giblets, pieces of fish, scales, etc. are suitable as bait. [Caption id = “attachment_4470” align = “aligncenter” width = “513”]
Place of catching burbot in winter during [/ caption]

About flow

Burbot is found in places with strong currents, but the difficulty of fishing here is that it is difficult to use a spoon or a jig. In this case, heavy snorkels are used, although they are also blown away when rising from the bottom.

On bodies of water without strong currents

It is not easy to find places where burbot is especially active in winter on reservoirs, slow rivers and lakes. Some ways to identify such places:

1. Find a person who will answer honestly and try to ask him.
2. Watch other anglers navigate the ice.
3. Do the search yourself, which is the most time consuming and time consuming.

Burbot habitats in Russia: small, medium and large rivers, reservoirs

Burbot chooses those habitats where it is coldest. It is found in the northern parts of Europe, Siberia, and North America. It is excellently caught in Siberia, on the Lena River in Yakutia, and in some places beyond the Urals this type of fishing is one of the main ones. Among the habitats of burbot are the following:

1. Volga river . Burbot is not very common; however, it is found in the Rybinsk reservoir.
2. Moscow region . Also not widespread. Found in the rivers Sherne and Klyazma, on the river. Volga in Dubna, on the river. Oka – in the Sknizhke tributary and at the 107 km platform.
3. Leningrad region . In small quantities it comes across in the Gulf of Finland, in the river. Neve. Can be caught in the Priozersk region, on Vuoksa and in Pasha.
4. Ural . Fishing for burbot has become widespread here in the river. Vyatka. And also in p. Nice.
5. Siberia . Here, the reservoirs are cold, the rivers are stormy, and these are comfortable conditions for the existence of burbot, so here it is found in large quantities. It is found in such rivers as the Amur, Lena, Ob, Yenisei.
6. Altai . Found in the river. Irtysh.

Burbot
habitat [/ caption] How to successfully catch burbot on the Volga in winter – video report: https://youtu.be/CysUYMZRc98

Important! During the day, you should not hope for a decent catch, even in those places where burbot is especially common. He is active at night, so the tackle must be placed at this particular time.

What tackle is suitable for winter fishing for burbot

When choosing tackle for fishing, it is important to consider how much it will be possible to supply and / or use each type of equipment in the given conditions. Fishermen use different methods for winter fishing: on a line, donk, zerlitsy (postavushki), winter fishing rods, snorkel, various spinners and balancers.

Catching on a line

Peremet – fishing tackle, which is a cord with live bait or other attachments, stretched in the hole with a massive float. The length can be quite significant and reach 100 meters or more on large rivers. The number of hooks can also vary. For this method of fishing, the largest hooks are chosen. The oreline does not require constant attention, it is enough to install it, and then only occasionally check for a catch. Fishing for burbot on a strand is not allowed everywhere, but, for example, in Siberia it is a permitted tackle: https://youtu.be/HsPeuBJgopE

In regions other than Siberia, the line should not contain more than 5-10 hooks (depending on the region), otherwise the tackle will be considered poaching.

A detailed video on how to catch a burbot in winter on a nest: https://youtu.be/wNucsecHZVQ

Fishing on the donk

Donka is a popular and fairly simple type of tackle. Often, anglers use the autumn version of this tackle to catch burbot, slightly altering it for winter conditions. At the autumn donkey, the sinker is at the end to avoid overlap, as much as possible, when throwing a certain distance. The winter version is simply dipped into the hole. The sinker is on the line here to put the bait on the bottom. Because burbot is a bottom fish, this is important when fishing. An important element of the winter bottom is the reel – a plank with a slot in the side, on which the fishing line is located. In length, it is selected no less than two diameters of the hole, the width and thickness of the plate are arbitrary, but, in general, it should not be too bulky, but strong. The bait is lowered into the hole to the very bottom, the fishing line is inserted into the slot on the reel, and it itself is laid across the hole, so,so that the line is clearly centered. Despite the simplicity of this tackle, it is reliable and you can get a good catch with it.
The donkey’s equipment is the simplest – the burbot is not picky, it is more difficult to find it than to catch it [/ caption]

Catching on girders (stavushki)

Zherlitsy (or postavushki) – a common type of tackle for winter fishing for burbot. You can make such equipment yourself or buy ready-made ones in the store. The tackle is effective when set at night in open water from the shore or in a hole. It is better to fish with the help of girders on live bait – fry and small fish, which it is important to plant correctly. In order for the bait to resist less and stay with the flow, it is advisable to push the leash through the gills and mouth, fastening the hook in the back of the fish. The length of the main thread should be chosen taking into account that the nozzle should be as close to the bottom as possible when immersed. It is better not to use more than one or two leashes, because burbot deeply swallows the bait. Using a single leash when fishing will help to avoid tangles and snags in the hole and make it easier to pull the catch.
Winter zherlitsa [/ caption]

Ice fishing

Catching burbot is possible using a live bait fishing rod. This ice fishing rod is equipped with a key brake reel. As a rule, fish are used as bait. The process of catching burbot with a winter fishing rod consists in moving with it from hole to hole, which are drilled either randomly or along the burbot path. It is advisable to stay near each hole for at least 20 minutes, periodically picking up the bait, and then, lowering it to the bottom for 5 minutes, and letting it lie there quietly. If the predator in the spots is attracted by vibrations, then he will come to the bait. You can put several rods in different holes at once: two or three at the same time. On fishing rods, special pins are sometimes provided to fix the rod in the snow with a handle. A rod for catching burbot requires a strong one, and a fishing line – at least 0.3 mm,so that large prey could not break a line that is too thin.
Fishing for burbot with a winter rod and girders: https://youtu.be/n86-C9eG55Q

Catching winter burbot with a burbot

A snitch is a tackle that, according to some information, came from the banks of the river. Yenisei, where the method of such fishing is actively used. It is a rather powerful spinner – a balancer, which is often made by hand, brass or bronze is used for this. However, it can also be purchased ready-made. The fishing line is used thick; a large snorkel is hung at its end.
Large snorkel [/ caption] The technique of catching a snorkel is simple: the bait is tossed several times near the bottom and abruptly lowered to lift silt from the bottom and create a knock, a pause is periodically made. Burbot is sound-oriented, so the louder it is, the more likely it is to attract this fish. Live bait or fish fillets are usually used as bait. A greater effect is obtained if this type of fishing is used in conjunction with supplies (girders). Zherlitsy passively stand, and the fisherman actively explores the holes with the help of a sniffer https://youtu.be/fuFlWyFkyC0

Fishing with lures and balancers

In the absence of others, spinners and
balancers for winter fishing for burbot are different: the same as for pike perch, for pike. Of course, the best option is special bait spoons for burbot, but they are not easy to buy, and therefore fishermen make them on their own.

It is not the spinning game itself that attracts burbots, but the sound that collects them nearby, so it is imperative to knock on the bottom.

Fishing lures for burbot (mostly horizontal) are sharpened by fishermen, cast from lead, remade from balancers, removing the tail from the tail and cutting the loop under the tee, etc.
Special burbot lures are not easy to find, but easy to make [/ caption] But not all places have the ability to knock on the bottom; where the bottom is soft, the anglers came up with a spinner that makes a noise. Such a spoon is hollow inside, balls are placed inside – according to the principle of a rattle. There are also modern spinners – vertical, as well as jigs, and fishing is carried out using a winter spinning rod with an inertial reel.

Some Recommendations

The main recommendations for winter fishing for burbot include the following:

• It is better to fish at night when the moon is growing or there is none at all.
• The more windy and frosty the weather, the more likely it is to catch a decent specimen.
• It is important to determine where the burbot trail passes, because this fish almost never changes its route.
• It is preferable to use live bait as bait.

If everything is done correctly, then there is a high probability of catching the long-awaited prey from the first time.

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