The rapid development of industry in the Saratov region led to the emergence of numerous warm drains, which gradually transformed into reservoirs. The fishermen living in Balakovo were luckier than others.
The canals, ponds and lakes formed in the city and its surroundings are fed by warm wastewater from industrial enterprises, creating comfortable conditions for fish and good opportunities for fishing enthusiasts. And if we take into account that the settlement stands on the banks of the Mother Volga - the main water artery of this area, then we can safely call Balakovo and the region of which it is the center a fishing region.
It should be noted that, despite the harmful impact of the industrial sector on the environment, they were able to preserve nature in its original form, and now the Balakovo region is considered one of the most environmentally friendly in Russia, and people from all over the country come here for recreation and fishing.
Fishing in Balakovo - overview of the region
Due to the large number of reservoirs with which the Balakovo region is literally dotted, it is called the Volga Venice. In addition to the Volga, many large and small rivers abounding in fish flow through its territory. The most popular among fishermen are Bolshoy and Maly Kushumy, Bolshoi Irgiz, Mayanga, Revyatka and Kulechikha. As for closed reservoirs, there are simply countless of them and you can catch something in each one.
For example, on the so-called Hospital ponds within the city limits you can catch huge pikes. These are relatively small bodies of water, the width of the largest does not exceed 80 meters, but the conditions turned out to be suitable for the spotted predator. In addition, the proximity of people does not allow poachers to carry out their “dirty business” on them. Trophy fishing is also possible on the Technical Lake (another name for the Discharge Canal). It is home to carp, which can be caught all year round thanks to the warm runoff. In addition to those mentioned in Balakovo and the region, there are many more interesting ponds and lakes created by nature or as a result of human activity, so there are no problems with choosing a fishing spot. The only question tormenting fishermen is: where exactly to go? I want to try everywhere, but as always I don’t have enough time.
Fishing in Balakovo and overview of the area
In the area, you can choose to go to bodies of water that are located outside populated areas or fish without leaving the city. Here, as they say, it’s a matter of taste; each fisherman decides for himself which conditions are more comfortable for quiet hunting.
Fishing places in Balakovo:
- Volga;
- Big Kushuma;
- Small Kushumy;
- Big Irgiz;
- Hospital ponds;
- Mayanga;
- Discharge channel;
- Kulechikha;
- Revetka.
This is not the entire list of promising reservoirs on the banks of which you can relax and fish. As in all regions here
You can fish on free, wild beaches or go for trophies at paid recreation centers.
What fish and what to catch?
On the Volga and large tributaries you can catch good fish for bream, silver bream, roach and other peaceful species belonging to the carp family. The best tackle for such fishing will be a feeder, although some local fishermen are no less successful using ordinary donks with a lead sinker instead of a feeder. Their secret is simple - they know the points where schools of bream and other white fish stand.
The Balakovo region offers ample opportunities for spinners. Pike and perch live in almost every body of water, with the exception of artificially stocked carp ponds. Pike perch can only be found in deep sections of rivers. It’s the same with the asp, he loves depth and rapid currents. In small rivers, chub can be caught from the shore, and in such conditions, classic spinning rods often lose out to fly fishing gear.
The crucian fishermen occupying the crucian carp ponds are a separate caste. These are serious fishermen. At first glance, catching crucian carp seems like a simple task, even childish, but in reality it requires careful preparation, otherwise you won’t see a good catch. Avid crucian fishermen feed the fish in the evening, and in the morning it is neither light nor dawn and they are already sitting on the shore. To catch silver beauties, they use simple fly rods, match rods for long-distance casting, pickers (light feeders) with a catchy “crucian killer” rig, time-tested donks with a rubber shock absorber or, in common parlance, rubber bands. By the way, tench often live in crucian carp reservoirs, but this representative of the ichthyofauna is too careful, so not everyone manages to catch it.
Lovers of trophy fishing and thrills gather at carp plats. When fished, a carp weighing more than 5 kg can put up such a fight that your hands begin to shake. At the same time, the tackle “squeaks and groans”, it seems that a little more, and it will not hold up. But in most cases, experience and an irresistible desire to catch a big fish win. Carp anglers use heavy feeder rods, reliable traction reels and special equipment that can withstand the resistance of large carp. During such fishing, the by-catch often includes grass carp and silver carp, which can also “please” with long, grueling fishing.
Paid fishing in Balakovo
Fishing is a priority for most tourist centers located in the Balakovo region. The proximity of the Volga and numerous reservoirs included in its basin has an effect. The owners of the establishments relied specifically on fishing and were right, because many want to combine a vacation in a picturesque corner with the opportunity to learn how to fish or test their fishing skills. So, where can you go:
Eden is a fishing base on the banks of the Volga near Balakovo, specializing in active recreation. In addition to paintball and other extreme entertainment, excellent fishing is organized here. You can catch perch, pike, ide, asp, and carp. There have been cases of catching sterlet, but not all visitors are so lucky. The local restaurant serves the best dishes of European and national cuisine, including fish.- Fishing on Kalinikha - a camp site on the banks of the river of the same name, which flows into the Revyaka channel (Bolshoy Irgiz river). Guests here will enjoy a calm and carefree holiday in the fresh air, a large guest house and a Russian bathhouse. For large companies, we built a gazebo with a capacity of up to 50 people. In addition to the river itself, there is also a lake, which also has a lot of fish. Fishing on Kalinikha in Balakovo always brings good catches and a lot of positive emotions.
The atmosphere is like a country club where you can meet famous sports fishermen and learn a lot from them. There are ideal conditions for fishing here at any time of the year. Visitors are offered master classes from professionals, rental (sale) of necessary gear and fishing accessories, professional photo and video recording of successful moments when catching fish, and assistance from a guide. The prices are a little bit high, but the quality of the holiday is quite consistent with them.
There are still many places in the Balakovo region where you can fish in comfortable conditions. The most popular databases are listed above. Since they do not experience a shortage of visitors, it is advisable to arrange their arrival with the administration in advance.
Balakovo. Fishing
The Saratov region is famous for its many places for good fishing. There are especially many of them in Balakovo. The well-developed industry here creates good conditions for fishermen, thanks to warm runoff, as well as natural reservoirs. The main water artery is the Volga. Also attracting fishing enthusiasts are Bolshoy and Maly Irgiz, Revyaka, and the Saratov Sea.
Fishing in Balakovo has the main feature - year-round. It's just as interesting here in winter as it is in summer. Free fishing is common on the Discharge Canal or Technical Lake, which is formed by warm industrial wastewater. The canal is 3 kilometers long and 100 meters wide. From warm, clean water, fishermen often catch carp, crucian carp, and bleak. In Balakovo it is possible to organize a hunt for predatory pike. Large specimens are found in the Hospital Pond, the widest part of which is only 80 meters.
Revyaka is considered a popular place among fishermen. The fast-moving, deep river has a cool temperament. Pike, pike perch, and perch are caught here; in winter you can catch a fish on a hook.
Free fishing
When asked what fishing is like in Balakovo and where the fish bite, the answer is simple - everywhere. The Volga is big, there’s enough space for everyone, I don’t want to catch it! But there are separate reservoirs in this area where fishing never stops, even in the off-season. Thanks to warm drains, they do not freeze in winter, so you can, for example, lure pike with a summer spinning rod in December. Fishermen are drawn to such reservoirs like a magnet, and fishing on them is absolutely free:
The cooling pond of the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant is a huge technical reservoir, which is just a stone’s throw from the city, only some 12 kilometers. The water in this “warmhouse,” as the locals call it, is so warm that even at the lowest temperatures, green grass does not stop growing. The fish caught is very diverse, there are large perch, pike perch, and pike. The only problem is that fishing in the cooling pond was banned a few years ago. They say that terrorists can infiltrate the nuclear power plant under the guise of fishermen. However, this did not stop our brother. Some “by acquaintance”, some at their own peril and risk, but everyone continues to catch.- The discharge channel is a technical lake 3 km long and about 100 meters wide. The pipe from it goes straight to the Volga. This reservoir receives industrial wastewater from all over the city. It would seem that what kind of fish would live in such a terrible “cocktail”, but it lives and feels great. And it catches well too. The water in the canal looks clean, transparent like glass. It is inhabited by carp and crucian carp, a lot of fatty bleak, but spinning anglers have nothing to do here. It’s not that there is no predator at all, it’s just that for some reason it doesn’t react to either artificial bait or live bait. But fans of spinning fishing will be able to have a blast on the Volga section, starting from the junction with the canal and all the way to the mouth of the Revyaki River. This section is full of promising riffles, drops and snags, favored by predatory fish.
The ponds in Hospital Town are a quiet, peaceful place next to the city hospital, where you can go fishing for a couple of hours before or after work. Here you have a chance to catch a hefty pike and only that; there are no other predators in the ponds. The main beauty of fishing here is that you can determine the activity of a toothy fish in 20-30 minutes. If she is feeding, bites will follow on the first casts; if not, you can go home straight away.- The Saratov Sea is the popular name for a huge reservoir with an area of almost 2 thousand square kilometers. It is home to large bream, carp, pike perch and pike; catching fish weighing up to 10 kg is not uncommon here. But the coastal topography leaves much to be desired. It is too difficult and inconvenient to fish comfortably from the shore, so most anglers prefer to come here with boats.
The Bolshoi Irgiz is a left tributary of the Volga, abounding in fish. Since the distance from Balakovo to this river is decent, most often Balakovo fishermen make multi-day trips to it. This has its advantage. One day you can stand on bream and other “herbivores”, another day you can devote to hunting a predator. The main thing is to preserve the result of your efforts, and here it is always impressive. Even for beginners. That is why fishing in Balakovo on the Irgiz is popular not only among local fishermen, but also among those living outside the Saratov region.
This is not a complete list of fishing places in the Balakovo region. If you wish, you can find corners untouched by civilization, where people rarely set foot. These are small rivers, streams and forest lakes, which also contain fish. Here, no one will stop you from indulging in your favorite pastime, forgetting about pressing problems, taking your mind off work and everyday life, and admiring the mesmerizing beauty of nature.
Fishing, how to catch, what bites, bait, groundbait and tackle - Central Forum of Russian Fishermen
Balakova - this city is famous for its fish wealth, located in the Saratov region, on the Volga River, there are many reservoirs, ponds and small rivers. Even in the old days, the best sturgeon fish was delivered directly to the royal table. “Zubastaya” is well caught in small rivers and ponds. Quite good fishing in the area of the village of Devichy Gorki, Botov’s base there. and by motor boat from there it’s not far to the bays for pike, and it’s also a stone’s throw to Revyaka. You can also go to B. Irgiz in the Tupilkin area. Another fishing spot is the cooling pond of the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, in this pond the water is so warm even in winter that “grass” grows there even in severe frosts. Right next to this very “grass” the fish is spinning. In warm year-round water, pike grow up to 6-8 kilograms, and perch up to 2.5 kilograms. Balakova is an industrial city, in its vicinity there are naturally industrial warm drains that flow directly into the Volga. Of particular note among such drains is the Discharge Canal - Technical Lake (about 100 meters wide and 3 kilometers long). The water is quite clear and there are a lot of fish - crucian carp, carp, huge fat bleak.
Another fishing place is the “Hospital” pond (about eighty meters across). This is a small lake in Balakovo; all storm water flows here. This lake is the joy of all spinning anglers with heavy pikes.
The Revyaka River is a tributary of the Volga, deep and swift. It provides excellent fishing for pike, perch, and pike perch; asp have been caught in winter.
By the way, you can find detailed information about fishing on the website - lovitut.ru
The Saratov Sea or Saratov Reservoir freezes very late; fish only from a boat due to the incessant winds and strong waves. The main fishing for large pike and pike perch. In these places, pike reach up to twelve kilograms, and pike perch up to nine kilograms. It is somewhere around the end of October, beginning of November that all these “monsters” become active.
The Volga below SarGES is the main channel of the Volga; due to the strong current and fluctuations of the water, it does not freeze for a long time. Here you can catch pike perch and coastal perch under the steep banks; asp are sometimes active on the deep rifts.
Simply amazing fishing in the Chardym area, on the channels, happens in December. Between the islands, near the town of Volsk, there are interesting channels, but they are only accessible by boat. But in the snags there live quite enviable “crocodiles”. Fishing in Balakovo will give you a lot of pleasure.
