Catching bream on a donk in the current. How and where to catch bream in spring? Tackle for catching bream in spring. Catching bream on a donk in still water

Bottom tackle has been proven over time and has been helping anglers for many years. It is used only in open water, in warm periods of the year, and thanks to it you can return from fishing with a decent trophy catch. Catching bream on a donk is a striking example of this, since bream prefers to sit out in the depths of reservoirs and it is very difficult to lure this fish out with a fishing rod. Donka for bream is also very good because it is an excellent alternative option in rain or cloudy weather with strong winds, when the use of float gear is difficult. And its low cost and ease of use allows even a novice fisherman to use the donka.

How to collect donka for bream

Today, the choice of bottom tackle for bream in specialized stores is very large. But there is nothing difficult about making it yourself. And if you also want to get an improved tackle, it can be equipped with a docking spring. Also, quite often, feeders are attached to the bottom, which helps to increase the bream’s biting activity.

So, a few tips on how to make a donka for bream:

1. When choosing a fishing rod, start from the approximate weight of the equipment. Usually its weight is 30-40 grams. (including spring and bait). The length of the rod can be any, the main requirement is the ability to jerk when fishing;
2. Depending on the type of reservoir, the presence and intensity of the current, a sinker is selected. During strong currents, you will need a heavy, flat weight that can hold the bottom tackle at the bottom. Where the bottom is muddy or rocky, a rounded load is more suitable for catching donkey with bream. You can attach it using several options. The simplest is to attach the load on a separate leash to the end of the fishing line, while the other leashes will be located higher;
3. The leash is made of thin braid. Their length should be within 5-10 cm, and their number should be no more than 3;
4. Choose sharp hooks so that the fish can swallow them as deeply as possible and hold on to them better. Since summer bottom fishing involves fish self-hooking, the appropriate hook size will help cut off small fish;
5. There are no special preferences for catching bream on the bottom regarding the reel and line. The most ordinary inertial reel will do, and the thickness of the fishing line also does not play a special role - 0.2-0.35 mm will do just right;
6. Attach a bell to the rig, which will signal a bite;
7. If you want to assemble a bottom tackle with a spring that will not only attract bream, but also keep the bottom at the bottom, take a spring made of thin steel, preferably stainless;
8. The feeder will make bottom fishing for bream more effective. You can make it yourself by taking a piece of lead, a small piece of copper wire and a little galvanized mesh. The feeder itself is made of mesh, the walls of the feeder are secured with copper wire, and a piece of lead is attached to the bottom of the feeder with a bolt and nut.

As you can see, there is nothing expensive or intricate in the bottom equipment. All components can be purchased quite inexpensively at any market.

Menu for bottom fishing for bream

Before catching bream on the bottom, it is necessary to prepare a bait mixture, since it is this that makes bottom fishing most effective. As bait for summer bream fishing, viscous mixtures of boiled corn, peas with the addition of sunflower cake, crushed worms and clay are used. As flavorings, you can add anise drops or a little garlic to the bait. The amount of clay in relation to the mixture itself is 1:2. Suitable baits include maggots, earthworms, steamed peas and corn, as well as bloodworms.

Where and when is the best time to catch bream in summer?

Sometimes you need to look for summer bream in river beds, in places where there is a difference in depth, as well as on edges at a depth of about 4-5 meters. Especially during intense heat, which usually occurs by mid-July, this fish hides in deep holes at the bottom of the reservoir. A stable bite can be observed in consistently good weather, but during heavy rains the chances of returning home with a good catch are slim.

Morning fishing for bream on donka begins even before sunrise, when upon arrival at a promising fishing spot, 4-5 casts of the bait mixture are immediately made, and then every half hour additional casts are made.

Depending on whether fishing occurs during the day or at night, appropriate bottom gear is used. For example, during the day a tightly fixed spring with two small leads on both sides is used. At night, it is better to use a spring with four leads as long as the spring itself.

We hope that our tips on summer fishing for bream on a donk will make your fishing an unforgettable adventure and help you return home with an excellent catch.

Bream on donka - video from a boat on the Dnieper

Catching bream on a donk: video

Bream is a fairly common breed of fish that is the prey of many anglers. It belongs to the carp family, but is the only representative of its genus. It is distinguished from other fish by a higher level of intelligence, which makes most individuals very cautious and timid. Such behavioral features often complicate the fishing process, so when fishing you have to take a number of precautions so as not to scare away potential prey.

Bream can be described as follows:

1. The maximum body length and weight are 80 cm and 6 kg, but in most cases smaller individuals are found.
2. The body is quite tall and has a flattened shape on the sides; the head appears small against its background.
3. The mouth is also small in size, but due to some anatomical features of its structure, this fish can easily find and obtain food for itself in dense underwater thickets or on the surface of the bottom of a reservoir.
4. There are 2 fins on the back, differing in size and shape of the rays.
5. All teeth are located in one row, there are 5 on each side.
6. The color of the surface of the back may be grayish or brownish, depending on living conditions.
7. The sides are a different color from the back, usually more golden in color.
8. The abdominal region has a distinctive yellowish color.
9. All fins are gray in color, with black edges.
10. There are young fish whose entire body is painted silver, but with age the color changes to that described above.

The shape, color and other features of appearance make bream a very recognizable fish, so the likelihood that it will be confused with other inhabitants of reservoirs is minimized even for novice fishermen.

Habitats

Bream can be found in many reservoirs; this breed is widespread throughout European territory except for some western and southernmost regions. Many populations penetrated and took root in Siberian rivers, so today their representatives can be found in the waters of the Yenisei, Ob or Irtysh.

In the conditions of the Far North, as well as in the southern CIS countries, this fish is completely absent.

Depending on the characteristics of the chosen habitats, 2 main varieties of bream can be distinguished:

1. Residential fish do not have a tendency to migrate frequently, so they live in one body of water for a long time, as long as there is food in it and the conditions meet the required ones.
2. Semi-through fish do not have the habit of staying in one body of water for a long time; for this reason, they do not have a permanent habitat. Such individuals are characterized by continuous migrations; the most significant distances begin to be overcome before the start of the spawning period.

Biting calendar by fishing season

The bream bite at different times of the year varies significantly, which has a tremendous impact on the specifics of catching this fish.

To make it easier to understand this issue, below are all the features of this process depending on the specific season:

Features of catching bream on a donk: fishing spots

There are no universal fishing spots, since this prey can change its location throughout the season depending on the individual characteristics of a particular season or the current time of day.

Basic tips for finding bream in specific areas are given below:

How to increase your fish catch?

Over 7 years of active fishing, I have found dozens of ways to improve the bite. Here are the most effective ones:

1. Bite activator. This pheromone additive attracts fish most strongly in cold and warm water. Discussion of the bite activator “Hungry Fish”.
2. Promotion gear sensitivity. Read the appropriate manuals for your specific type of gear.
3. Lures based pheromones.

Bottom tackle equipment

It is the most common and effective method, but to get an impressive catch, the fishing rod will need to be properly equipped.

All features associated with this process will be discussed in detail below:

1. Rod length doesn’t really matter, so you can take short gear up to two meters or longer models. The main requirements are that it must withstand the weight of the equipment used and the jerks of the prey, otherwise there will be a large number of fish runs that will not allow for a large catch.
2. Coil Any one can be installed, even a budget one made in China. Casts will be made extremely rarely; a significant part of the fishing process consists of waiting for a bite, so there are virtually no requirements for this device.

   However, the use of better quality reels allows you to expand your capabilities and catch not only bream, but also silver bream and other small species.

3. fishing line is selected with an average diameter, its indicator can vary from 0.2 to 0.3 mm. The choice of a specific option depends on the fishing conditions, working depth and the weight of the rest of the equipment. It is also necessary to focus on the speed of the current in the chosen place: the slower it is, the thicker the fishing line should be.
4. should be thinner than the working line, its diameter can be 0.1-0.2 mm, and its length varies from 5 to 10 cm.
5. Hook size is selected depending on the expected size of the prey, but they must be of high quality, since the fish will practice self-hooking. At the same time, you should not take too small ones, this will minimize bites from very small bream. It is recommended to have a set of various devices, which will allow you to quickly change equipment in the event of no bites.

Installation of bottom gear: a step-by-step process

Installation of the equipment can be done in various ways, but it must be remembered that the presence of a large number of nodes can significantly weaken the equipment.

Therefore, it is recommended to use the most reliable option:

1. The end of the working line is threaded through a sinker, which should be of the sliding type. Recommended shape: drop or olive.
2. The weight is secured using a cambric made of rubber on the hook side, but at your discretion, you can use other types of stoppers.
3. It is necessary to check the reliability of fixation of the selected stopper, since it represents the most vulnerable part of the equipment. If its quality is in doubt, then you can use a pellet with a soft structure made of lead.
4. An alternative option is to knit a swivel, which is carried out immediately after threading the weight. A leash with the selected hook is already tied to it.
5. At the final stage, the hook is tied to the working line; the only knot in this version of the equipment is tied precisely for these purposes.

Bream bait recipes

Feeding the chosen fishing spot is one of the most important stages, since the bream remembers the places where a large amount of food was found and then often returns to them.

It is recommended to prepare bait mixtures that combine ingredients of plant and animal origin; they are especially effective in the summer, when the main growth of fish is observed, which contributes to more active consumption of food.

One of the recipes:

1. The basis of the mixture will be millet, which is pre-cooked and then mixed with sunflower in equal proportions, the recommended volume of components is 300 grams of each.
2. Bran in a volume of about 200 grams is added to the resulting mass.
3. As an additive of animal origin, you can use bloodworms; take about five matchboxes.
4. Sand or clay is added as a sealant; it is recommended to take them directly from the reservoir where the bream will be caught, since in this case the bait will have a familiar aroma and will not cause any special suspicion.

Alternative cooking option bait mixture to attract bream:

1. The basis of the mixture is boiled buckwheat, which is taken in an amount of 0.5 kg. This component is quite nutritious, so the bait will need to be used in minimal quantities so as not to overfeed the prey, which may become full and not show interest in the bait.
2. About 300 grams of bran and about 250 grams of sunflower cake are added to the base, which will create a dust cloud in the reservoir that will attract bream even from a long distance.
3. The additive of animal origin will be in the amount of three matchboxes and bloodworms in the amount of five matchboxes.
4. Clay or sand is also used as a sealant; the requirements for these ingredients remain the same.
5. About 3 tsp can be used as aromatic additives. pre-ground coriander or 100 grams of breadcrumbs, it’s good if they have a vanilla smell, which bream finds very attractive.

Nuances of choosing bait

Bream is an omnivorous species of fish that can take an interest in virtually any bait of plant or animal origin. Usually it bites well on dough with the addition of a small amount of natural honey, various insects or their larvae.

At the same time, mining preferences depend on many factors, and it may be impossible to predict them in advance, so it is recommended to take into account the following features:

Techniques and tactics of catching bream on a donk

When using, there are several rules that determine the specifics of fishing:

1. The choice of location is carried out according to the standard scheme, but it must be taken into account that fishing with a donkey is most effective on capes that flow into the river, as well as those that deviate the direction of the current to the opposite coastline.
2. Bottom tackle is well suited for fishing in deep underwater holes, as well as along the edges of dense thickets.
3. Catching bream from rafts to the bottom is also often a very effective technique.
4. Casting must be targeted and carried out in pre-fed areas; this is a prerequisite.
5. Casts must be made slowly, but they must be sweeping. Such precautions ensure the safety of equipment, which usually has an impressive weight.

When the number of bites decreases, the area needs to be re-baited, but it is necessary to be able to correctly determine the volume of portions used, since overfeeding bream can also negatively affect the fishing process.

6. When fishing from a boat, casts should be made 10 meters from the boat or further, otherwise cautious prey will prefer to keep their distance.

Catching bream with a classic donka, which came to us from the Soviet era, is very popular and not too expensive. This kind of fishing is suitable for going out for barbecues, as an auxiliary activity, and for full-time fishing. In addition, the donka allows you to use modern types of gear.

Donka classic: what is it?

Bottom fishing rod is one of the most famous and ancient methods of fishing. In its original form, it is simply a fishing hook with bait, tied together with a fairly heavy sinker on a fishing line, which is thrown into the water to catch fish. In modern fishing, such tackle is also used and is known as “zakidushka”.

When they talk about a bottom fishing rod in the modern sense, they usually mean something else. This is a tackle with a rod and reel that performs the same role as a baitcaster - to deliver the load and bait to the bottom and pull out the fish. Doing this with their help is much more convenient than throwing and pulling out by hand. The fishing pace increases several times, as a result, with an active bite, you can catch more fish. And such tackle gets tangled less. There are many other advantages to using a rod and reel. This includes the ability to use thin fishing lines, lighter sinker weights, effective hooking with a rod, and a number of others.

Bottom fishing gear is more effective than many other gears. When fishing from the shore for this fish, no other method can compete with it, and it only provides several advantages to alternative types of fishing. Of course, each body of water has its own characteristics, and in some places bream may bite better on a float.

Fishing with an English feeder

The feeder, in fact, is a more advanced version of the donkey, when the industry met the anglers halfway and produced a lot of specialized gear. As a result, a new type of fishing developed from the usual donkey in England. In the USSR, consumer production was not so willing to accommodate people, and as a result, donka was preserved in the form in which it was originally abroad. Many people still fish with this kind of gear, and I must say, very, very successfully. Donka is a spinning rod adapted for bottom fishing, which was produced by enterprises and was more suitable for such fishing than for spinning.

What is a classic bottom fishing rod? Typically this is a fiberglass rod, 1.3 to 2 meters long. It has a fairly large test and is designed for casting heavy bait, usually up to 100 grams in weight. This rod is equipped with an inertial reel with a drum diameter of 10 to 15 cm. An inertial reel requires experience in handling, in particular, the ability to slow it down with your finger at the right moment so that there are no beards. A fishing line with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.5 mm is wound onto the reel, usually 0.3-0.4 is used.

The fishing line is monofilament, since casting with inertia and cord is problematic. At the slightest underholding, the loops come off, and the cord in this case has the peculiarity of clinging to the reel handles, rod rings, sleeve buttons, which makes fishing with it and the inertia impossible. You have to twist the brake on the reel, which sharply reduces the casting range. Therefore, for those who want to use a line on a donk, there is a direct path to using feeder tackle with modern inertial reels.

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A weight and a pair of leashes with hooks are attached to the end of the fishing line. Usually the weight is placed at the end of the main line, and the leashes are attached above it. It is usually not possible to attach more than two hooks, since in this case you have to either sacrifice or increase the overhang of the fishing line when casting, which is not always convenient. On bottom fishing rods for catching bream, wire mounts are often used, which allow you to increase the number of hooks used to four - two on the mount, two higher on the main line.

Generally speaking, increasing the number of hooks on the tackle is a common method for bottom fishermen when trying to catch bream. The probability of a bite on several hooks is always greater than on one, albeit disproportionately. However, with a large number of hooks, you have to put up with the fact that they will get tangled. Here it is worth choosing the golden mean and there is no need to chase too much for quantity. Usually two hooks are more than enough.

The feeder is not used very often when fishing with a donk. The fact is that the evolution of feeders led to the appearance of a classic feeder feeder with a loaded bottom, to. And for the donkey, the classic is catching bream on a spring, a feeder that does not hold food very well and gives a lot of it away when it falls. The bream gets it in small quantities, but most of it is sprayed in the water column and attracts schools of roach to the fishing spot, which prevent the bream from being the first to be hooked.

This is another reason why it is almost never used when fishing, or only a feeder feeder is used. The spring of the feed reaches the bottom very little in the current, and flies and holds the bottom much worse compared to a conventional sinker. Of the latter, a spoon is used most often on donk. They place it for reasons of ease of fishing: the spoon takes off better and does not catch grass and snags when pulled out, and also goes well along the rocky bottom.

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Cormac and steel

Still, of the many options for bottom gear that fishermen used in the USSR, a bottom using cormak and rimmed with steel was most suitable for catching bream. Cormac is a very large feeder. It was used to deliver a large amount of food to the bottom at a time. As you know, a school of bream stays for a long time only where there is enough food for it, and the likelihood of a bite in such a place will be higher. In feeder fishing, to create such conditions, starting feeding is used, precisely throwing several feeders at the fishing point.

Donka does not allow you to accurately throw several times in the same place. Therefore, the goal is achieved by using one cast of bait, but of a sufficiently large volume. The feeder for such complementary feeding was usually made of metal mesh and filled with rather thick porridge. It weighed about 200-300 grams together with the sinker, which often led to breakage and overload of the rod. However, if you use very rough crocodiles, which are still on sale now, you can throw such equipment with them quite safely, without the risk of breakage.

Steel is steel wire that was wound onto a reel instead of fishing line. It must be cold-drawn wire, preferably coated, so that it can slide freely through the rings. Wire from a semi-automatic machine, which could easily be obtained at that time, is excellent for this purpose.

The wire used had a smaller cross-section than nylon fishing line - it was possible to set it to 0.25 mm and get the same characteristics as on 0.5 fishing line. In addition, the wire made it possible to cast very far, since it was very weakly blown into an arc and, due to its smaller cross-section, slowed down the load less in flight. And tangling of loops with wire equipment was much less common than with fishing line, which was ideal for inertial loops. Such wire, wound on a reel and moistened with machine oil to prevent corrosion, was called “steel.” Craftsmen threw such tackle over record distances - up to one hundred meters! Fishing with it was more effective than with a rod equipped with a nylon line, but the scope of application was limited only to bottom fishing, and there were a lot of nuances in such equipment.

In modern conditions there is no need for steel. All its advantages can be obtained using a modern cord and spinning reels. Cormac is also a relic of the past. Feeder gear easily solves the problem of large feeding, even more than feeder can provide. But at the same time it is much more convenient to use.

How to catch bream on a donk

Fishing is usually carried out on the current. At the selected location, the fisherman places from two to five bottom fishing rods. Fishing for one is rarely used, and fishing rules in many regions do not allow fishing for more than five. But where it is allowed, you can see a dozen. Bells are used as bite alarms on donks. They are quite easy to use and are most effective when fishing with several fishing rods, as they allow you to register a bite even in the dark, without the use of fireflies.

In fact, those who claim that you can confuse which fishing rod is ringing are wrong. In complete darkness, a person can easily find the source of a sound, and a firefly is not required. This is how auditory perception works, and most people with good hearing do not have problems with it.

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There is no point in placing fishing rods close to each other, since in this case there is a greater chance that a fish will bite on one of the fishing rods in a large area than on all of them in a small area. As a result, there are about eight baited hooks thrown into the water and a section of shore about thirty meters long occupied by the fisherman. The bite on a bottom fishing rod largely depends on chance.

However, an angler who knows this body of water and the habits of the fish has great advantages. Bream usually visits the same areas, so there are places where it bites, and there are places where it does not occur. In addition, based on past experience, the fisherman will identify such points on an unfamiliar body of water. Of secondary importance is the choice of nozzle, equipment and installations, correct tension and adjustment of the gear.

Modern tackle

In the modern understanding of the fisherman, donka is rather a relic of the past. Increasingly, feeder-type spinning rods and feeder rods are used for bottom fishing. Fishing with a feeder rod without a feeder is called donka by many, but this is not so. The feeder is a much more sporting tackle; there is not such a share of luck in biting fish as in fishing with a donk, and the experience of the fisherman decides much more.

Due to artificial breeding, bream is quite common in our country today. It is found in quiet, deep lower reaches of rivers, where the current is slow and the water is warm, as well as in channels and creeks. It can often be caught in deep holes and flooded sand or gravel quarries, characterized by a soft bottom.

general information

This fish prefers bends and places above dams, as well as depressions or holes, always trying to stay away from the shore. In reservoirs overgrown with vegetation, it stays in the depths during the day, and in the evening moves to shallow water to the surface. Bream lives in groups, migrating during the day in search of food. As a rule, it avoids areas where the bottom is rocky.

This fish is caught mainly in the summer, although it also takes bait in the warm autumn. And in some water areas below reservoirs you can catch it even in a non-freezing winter. In very hot weather, bream practically does not bite. And in established clear and windless weather, it can be caught both early in the morning and late in the evening, but provided that the water at the depths is clean. However, many anglers are interested in bream in the spring. The reason is that it is during this period that this fish can be caught almost right next to the shore.

Spring fishing

It is at this time, according to many avid hunters, that catching this inhabitant of reservoirs is most interesting. Bream is most active in spring, and this, accordingly, affects both the quantity and quality of the catch.

And although it is believed that it is better to catch this fish in the summer, nevertheless, many go to the reservoirs for it precisely after winter has receded, considering this time to be the most suitable for fishing. In the spring before spawning, bream gather in schools and feed intensively. This, in turn, also gives fishermen a certain advantage. But not everything is so simple: it is not always possible to boast of a great catch. Bream fishing in the spring has its own characteristics. You need to know about this in advance in order to properly prepare, because without this you can return home empty-handed.

Fishing time

You can start fishing for this fish in the spring as soon as the ice melts. The water should at least slightly return to its usual level in the reservoir. In order for fishing to be successful, experienced fishermen take into account such an indicator as the degree of water transparency. This time usually falls at the end of March or beginning of April. The bream bite improves as the water clears and its temperature increases. The closer the spawning period, the larger the size of the school and the closer the prey comes to the shore. At this time, it is important for the fisherman not to frighten the fish with rustling noises or awkward movements. Bream bites most consistently in the spring in May.

catchable places

Before starting, it feeds on worms and insect larvae at the very edge of aquatic vegetation, especially in shallow bays. If spawning occurs in rivers flowing into a reservoir, then it must be caught at their mouths. Here this fish actively feeds, and as soon as the water warms up, it goes upstream to the spawning grounds. Knowing how to catch bream on the river in the spring, you can return home with a fairly large amount of catch.

In large waterways, before spawning, this fish accumulates near dams and near pits, as well as next to oxbow lakes, where it then spawns. In some rivers, bream remain in their permanent habitats for a long time, heading to the spawning grounds at the very last moment. The spawning period, even in one reservoir or river, can last almost a month and begin only in May, depending on weather conditions.

On the donk

Properly selected gear for catching bream in the spring is the key to the success of this activity. First of all, this fish is fished for, which, according to many anglers, is the most effective. There are quite a lot of devices for this fishing method. Often, for their production, a spinning rod is used, which is converted in such a way that with its help the bait can be thrown far enough and, most importantly, in the right direction.

The diameter for the main line should be in the range from 0.3 to 0.35 millimeters, and for leashes 0.25 mm is usually enough. Hooks are used with a long shank, sizes five to seven. The donka is equipped with two or three stings. Fishing in spring is best done with red dung worms. It is advisable to feed the future fishing spot in advance. And as complementary food, experienced hunters use boiled wheat with the addition of sunflower cake or chopped worms.

The fishing distance from the shore with this type of gear for catching bream in the spring can be up to twenty meters from the shore. It is very convenient to use the donkey even in strong winds or when there is a large wave in the pond. In this case, the rod must have a length of at least three meters, and the leash must have a size of 0.14-0.16 millimeters with a length of up to fifty centimeters. The feeder should be selected depending on the speed of the flow and the composition of the complementary food.

Catching bream on a feeder

In spring, on the river, this fish swims quite close to the shore. This circumstance must be taken into account; when equipping gear for catching bream in the spring, it must have a long rod with a plug.

Considering the fairly high cost of such a feeder, many opt for a six or seven-meter telescopic version with passage rings. But it should have two features: lightness and quality.

A main line with a diameter of 0.25-0.27 millimeters with a leader thickness of 0.2 mm is wound onto a spinning reel. Sometimes a second copy is mounted above the sinker. This way, according to some anglers, it is easier to track in which horizon the bream feeds.

The hook should be made of thin wire and not very large: such that bloodworms and worms can easily attach to it. The float should be teardrop-shaped with a load capacity of one to three grams.

It is preferable to fish in spring from late April or early May. At this time, the prey, having already fattened up a little near the shore, goes to the spawning ground. And it is on the feeder that you can catch trophy specimens.

Wiring

This method of spring fishing for bream from a boat, which deserves no less attention, is suitable for relatively shallow reservoirs in which there is a quiet and even current. It is preferable to select a place for fishing based on the bottom: it should be dense and sandy-clayey. When fishing with bait, feeding is mandatory. Red dung worms are used as bait, and maggots also work well.

In the spring, bream prefers peas, steamed wheat, and pearl barley as bait. The most optimal time for fishing is early morning or late evening. Most often, it is during these periods that you can count on a bite of respectable specimens.

Nozzles

You need to fish for bream with the following baits of animal origin: bloodworms, maggots, worms and caddis flies. If the first option is preferable in reservoirs rich in this larva, then the other baits are better suited for catching trophy specimens, especially when the water is warm enough. “Sandwiches” made from maggots with worms, bloodworms and maggots are also catchy. As the reservoir warms up and spawning time approaches - the beginning of May - some experienced bream fishers also fish with various vegetable baits: steamed pearl barley, peas, canned corn, bread crumbs, semolina and even pasta.

There are also artificial catchable baits. Bream also bite well on foam balls, as well as on dough balls into which a piece of thread is implanted. Then they are boiled and dried. The pellet is hooked onto a hook using a protruding piece. This bait “works” well on the river during bottom fishing.

Fishing for bream on a donk is very popular among our fishermen, as it is a widespread representative of the carp family, which can be caught at any time of the year and even in winter from under the ice.

Like crucian carp, this fish prefers bottom layers of water. And this is the main reason why the donka for bream is the most catchy equipment. Many anglers are interested in how to catch bream on a donk correctly, and this is exactly what we will talk about.

The habitat of bream is quite wide, and in our country it is often found in rivers with strong currents and in lakes with standing water. Holes and undercuts, snags, islands of sandy and muddy bottom - this is where you should look for bream. Choosing the right fishing spot is a prerequisite for successful fishing. The main food of bream is:

• mosquito larva;
• snail;
• shell;
• zooplankton;
• insects;
• crustaceans.

In search of food, bream moves over considerable distances, but feeds during daylight hours, preferring to hide in shelter at night. The active bite of this fish begins in early summer, but the first successful fishing occurs in early spring, even before the start of the spawning period.

In summer, in hot weather on lakes and other bodies of water with stagnant water, bream does not show activity, and you need to catch it early in the morning, or at sunset. Autumn fishing from the shore gives especially significant catches, because in the autumn months and until early winter, bream feeds very actively, gorging on fat for the whole winter. For catching bream the following are used:

• float tackle;
• feeder tackle;
• Donka.

Features of behavior

This is a very cautious fish, so large specimens are practically never caught when fishing with float tackle. Fishing with a feeder has its own specifics and deserves separate consideration. Catching bream on a donk is a particularly exciting and productive activity, and with the right choice of equipment, bait and bait, a decent catch awaits you.

Bottom gear for bream

The most popular bottom gear for catching bream are:

• donk with a spring;
• donk with a rubber shock absorber (or elastic band);
• Tyrolean stick;
• bottom tackle with a triangular feeder “Method”.

These rigs are used for catching other types of white fish that prefer to feed from the bottom. But an elastic band, a Tyrolean stick and a tackle with a “Method” feeder show the best results.

Assembling a donk for catching bream

Making a donk for bream with your own hands is not difficult, and inexpensive and widely available components are used for this.

Tackle for bream Tyrolean stick

To catch bream you will need:

• spinning rod or rod 330−390 cm long;
• spinning reel with fishing line 0.25−0.28;
• bottom equipment;
• bite alarm.

In fishing stores, simple and catchy rigs for bream such as Donki-Tirolka are available for sale, but you can make them yourself. For this you will need:

• cone-shaped lead weight;
• a soft plastic tube 10–15 cm long and 1.5–2 mm in diameter;
• a piece of fishing line with a diameter of 0.25−0.28, a length of 50 cm;
• 3 leashes made of fishing line with hooks 10−18 numbers according to the European classification;
• 2 swivels 6−8 number.

To make a Tyrolean stick you need:

1. put the fishing line into a tube;
2. pass the fishing line through the sinker and tie a swivel for better fixation;
3. insert the sinker tightly into the tube so that there is no gap left;
4. solder the tube on the opposite side;
5. at a distance of 5 cm from the sealed end of the tube, tie the first leash with a figure eight knot;
6. above, at a distance of 10 cm from the first, tie a second hook;
7. tie the third hook 10 cm above the second;
8. Attach a swivel to the upper, free end of the fishing line to connect it to the main fishing line.

Next, you need to tie the main line to the rig and cast it to the fishing point. The advantage of the design for catching bream on a donka - a Tyrolean stick - over other types of rigs is that when pulled along the bottom when reeling out the tackle, it will not get stuck between the stones and will not get tangled in the grass.

Due to the flexible tube, the equipment can be easily pulled out, even if it gets into narrow crevices, and it can be used in the most difficult conditions. The high flight characteristics of this equipment make it possible to throw it at 70-90 meters and further.

Important! When making a Tyrolean stick, it is necessary to tightly seal the tube on both sides; to do this, it can be heated over steam.

Elastic band for bream

When the bottom fish are actively biting, you have to re-throw the tackle very often. In order to save yourself from unnecessary physical activity, you should use a rubber band. When fishing for bream with an elastic band, the equipment is always located at the fishing point. Its delivery is carried out due to the elasticity of the rubber, which acts as a shock absorber. To make a rubber band for bream you will need:

• a piece of transparent fishing line 1 m long, with a diameter of 0.25−0.28 mm;
• 5-10 leashes made of monofilament fishing line with hooks 10-14 numbers according to the European classification;
• 2 swivels 6−8 number;
• Fishing elastic 15-20 meters long.

The procedure for making an elastic band:

1. tie a swivel at one end of the fishing line;
2. tie an elastic band on the other side of the swivel;
3. at a distance of 10 cm from each other, starting from the swivel, tie the leashes with a figure eight knot;
4. cut off the excess fishing line, leaving 20 cm;
5. tie a swivel for fastening to the main fishing line;
6. tie a weight to the free end of the elastic band.

Which weight to choose

Cast lead blanks with an eye for attaching an elastic band are used as weights, which you can make yourself. If for some reason you don’t have a lead weight at hand, you can use an ordinary stone of the appropriate weight.

The weight of the load must be more than 3 kg, so that when tensioned, the elastic does not move it from its place. The rubber band is carried on the boat until it is fully stretched, and the load sinks to the bottom. A nozzle is put on the hooks, and the tackle is sent to the fishing spot due to the elasticity of the elastic band.

Important! It is useful to feed the fishing spot, immediately after the load is lowered into the water, the hooks will be located on the bottom in the area of ​​the load, and you can see exactly where to feed.

Tackle for bream with a feeder "Method"

Equipment for catching bream with a “Method” feeder is very popular among European fishermen, but it is also successfully used here. Triangular plastic feeders have high flight characteristics and “hold” the bait well, so the angler is confident that the equipment is in the working position. To make such equipment you will need:

• a piece of fishing line 70 cm long, diameter 0.25−0.28;
• feeder method;
• leash made of monofilament fishing line with a diameter of 0.10−0.14 mm;
• 2 swivels number 4.

To mount the “method” gear you need:

1. insert the fishing line into the feeder and tie the swivel;
2. pull it into the body of the feeder;
3. tie a leash to the swivel;
4. tie a second swivel to the free end of the fishing line.

The weight of the feeder is selected depending on the fishing conditions. In strong currents you need feeders weighing 60-10 grams, and when fishing on a lake - 30−50g. The classic “method” rig turns out to be “deaf”, and during periods when bream is especially careful, it is better to make it sliding. To do this, place a bead in front of the lower swivel with a leash, and when biting, the fishing line will move freely in the body of the feeder.

How to catch - tactics and technique

Bream — a very attentive and cautious fish, so it is important for the angler to maintain complete silence on the shore and maximum camouflage, even if fishing is carried out at a considerable distance. During periods of weak bite, it is necessary to lengthen the leashes. When fishing in the current with “Method” feeders, they reach 50–70 cm.

Bream bites are very accurate, and it is advisable to use electronic alarms to register bites. The alarm is adjusted so that it can react to the slightest tug on the fishing line, and the fisherman manages to hook the fish in time. When fishing in still water, bait that is not very sticky is used, but on a fast river, only sticky bait should be used.

Making your own bait for bream is not difficult. It must contain peas; they are also used as an attachment. Bream — I’m a big fan of peas, but you must also use semolina, it ensures the viscosity of the mixture. To prepare homemade bait you will need:

• 1 kg yellow peas;
• 0.5 kg semolina;
• 0.5 kg corn or wheat flour;
• 200g ground sunflower seeds.

Peas for bait should be soft, so you need to prepare it like this:

1. 1.5 liters of water is poured into the pan and brought to a boil;
2. Pour peas into boiling water and cook until fully cooked;
3. little by little add semolina into the softened peas;
4. cooking continues for another 10 minutes;
5. seeds are added;
6. The dough is kneaded with the addition of corn grits.

The finished dough is laid out on a cloth and cools. The cooled dough is wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in the refrigerator. In such conditions it will keep for at least a month and will be fresh.

Important! You should stir the peas while cooking to prevent them from burning. If the dough becomes dry when kneading, you need to wet your hands with water.

Features of bait at different times of the year

When catching bream using bottom rigs, you need to actively feed the bream only in the warm season, when the water temperature is more than 10-12 degrees. To feed the fishing point, boiled whole peas and corn are used, and this mixture is scattered throughout the swim.

If you are fishing for bream in October using a feeder or other bottom equipment, there is no need for additional feeding; the food supplied in the feeders is sufficient. Fishing for bream in November involves using the most delicate rigs and extra-long leashes.

Important! Even with active bream biting, it is necessary to regularly supplement the fishing point. For this, bait rockets or boats are used.

Catching bream on a donk at any time of the year and on any body of water — a very exciting type of fishing. Despite the fact that trophy specimens of this fish are not hooked so often, by choosing the right tactics and catchy gear, you can still achieve decent results.