Using bait for catching crucian carp in winter allows you to not only make it exciting, but also effective. Considering that after the onset of cold weather, when the reservoir is covered with ice, a natural slowdown in metabolic processes is observed in the fish’s body. Most heat-loving underwater inhabitants, including crucian carp, move to wintering pits. It is also possible to attract it to a promising fishing point with an aromatic mixture. Here it is important to know what ingredients to use, and how to prepare and use it correctly.
How does crucian carp react to bait in winter?
Winter feeding for crucian carp is very important, since this fish has an excellent sense of smell, which allows it to detect even aromas located at long distances. But, keep in mind that at different times of winter the reaction manifests itself differently:
- At the beginning and at the end of the cold season, crucian carp is actively searching for food. Using complementary foods will only contribute to success.
- In the dead of winter (January-early February), bait increases the chances of catching crucian carp if fishing takes place in areas with a relatively high oxygen regime.
Fishing will be productive if you plan it in those parts of the reservoir where there was a good bite in open water. Crucian carp prefers to live in areas with an abundance of food supply. To activate it during the period of ice formation, use bait, but without perishable ingredients.
Without bait, the likelihood of biting decreases
Delivery of winter bait for crucian carp to the fishing point is carried out using a feeder. It is advisable to remove it from the water after use. It is better if the bait is used the day before the day of fishing .
Porridge for catching crucian carp in winter
The main component of the bait mixture for crucian carp in winter is porridge. Depending on the variety, each has its own characteristics that should be taken into account when using:
Three types of porridge
- Millet porridge is universal and suitable for attracting most underwater inhabitants. But due to the presence of small grains, it is not able to stay in the feeder for a long time; it is quickly washed out of it during the feeding process.
- Pea bait has proven itself exclusively on the positive side. It can be used effectively to attract fish to the fishing point using a spring. This porridge is excellent for winter fishing for crucian carp; it has increased productivity.
- Hominy or corn porridge is also easy to use and is positioned as catchable.
- Due to the sufficient degree of viscosity, the mixed feed version stays in the spring for a long time.
Subtleties of preparing different types of porridges for crucian carp in winter:
- In order for millet porridge to be cooked correctly, you need to take the proportions taking into account 1 glass of cereal per 100 ml of water. Cooking lasts 15 minutes. You can achieve the desired viscosity by adding feed to the porridge.
- Pea porridge is cooked over low heat, measure 1 liter of water for 1 cup of peas. When the porridge boils, reduce the heat, remove the foam and cook until tender. To prevent the porridge from having a liquid consistency, add millet (100 g), salt and sugar (1 tsp each).
- The crucian carp especially loves corn porridge; it is his favorite food. Cooking time is 2 hours, but to avoid burning, it is necessary to cook over low heat with occasional stirring. When the porridge has cooled, it must be passed through a meat grinder together with the feed. You can increase the effectiveness of feeding crucian carp in winter, especially when fishing on the lake, by using flavorings such as garlic, dill, and valerian.
Bait recipes for crucian carp
Every self-respecting fisherman has his own best bait for crucian carp. Each fisherman has his own vision of the preferences of fish in a particular body of water and at a particular time of year or day. But novice fishermen do not always have an idea about the behavior of fish, so bait recipes for crucian carp will come in handy.
Bait for fishing in late spring and early summer
A very simple bait that does not require preliminary preparation, and all the ingredients for its preparation can be found on the shelves of a supermarket or store.
- First you need to mix the main ingredients: breadcrumbs, ground fried seeds and chicken feed. When mixing components, it is very important to maintain the same proportions.
- Now the resulting mixture must be moistened until the required consistency is obtained.
- Based on the bait used, you need to add chopped worms, maggots or bloodworms to the bait.
Also, do not forget that the bait for crucian carp should be sweet. To do this, you need to sprinkle less sunflower seeds or even replace them with barley. Sweet porridge does not work in all bodies of water
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Petrovich's bait recipe
This bait is great for fishing in warm water, that is, in the summer. It is best to use this bait in combination with maggot or corn as bait. Preparation
The porridge looks like this:
- It is necessary to grind corn and peas using a grain crusher.
- Now you need to separate the flour from the cereal by sifting the resulting mass. If you don’t have a grain crusher, you can buy cereal and pea and corn flour separately at the store.
- You need to pour boiling water into the cereal.
- You can safely go to the pond, taking flour with you. Upon arrival at the fishing spot, you need to add flour until you get the desired consistency of the porridge.
- After you fill the feeder with the resulting porridge, you should soak it in flour. This action will provide a trace and smell when the feeder moves on the bottom.
Some fishermen prefer to boil the porridge rather than steam it. Then you will have a good bait for method fishing.
Bait for fishing in early spring
In early spring, crucian carp are very sensitive to bait, so it is important to approach the process of preparation and selection of components with special attention. To get good porridge you need to acquire the following components:
- Crushed sunflower seeds.
- Barley grits.
- Crushed crackers.
- Anise or dill, to add extra flavor and aroma.
The recipe for preparing bait for fishing during this period of the year is as follows: mix everything and moisten it until the desired consistency is obtained. You can add some chopped worms to the bait.
Simple classic recipe
- Shredded wheat must be poured with boiling water in advance.
- Upon arrival at the reservoir, you need to add dry crushed wheat to this mixture until the desired consistency is obtained.
This type of bait is often effective when fishing in a small lake or on dams. It is easy and simple to prepare, and all the ingredients are available to any fisherman. This bait for crucian carp works especially well in reservoirs located near farms.
Salapinskaya porridge for crucian carp
Salapin porridge is known to all fishermen. It is an indispensable bait for catching crucian carp in deep reservoirs or in strong currents. Its recipe is quite simple and any fisherman can handle it.
- You need to take 1 glass of pearl barley and fill it with 9 glasses of water and let it cook.
- When the cereal is almost ready, you need to add two glasses of millet. Also, do not forget about the flavoring; in the classic recipe it is vanilla.
- Now you need to cover it with a lid and cook until the millet starts to puff. The millet grains will burst and release steam.
- Then you need to turn off the heat and remove the pan from the stove.
- Once ready, add 4 cups of dry cereal to the porridge. Corn or wheat grits are best suited as such an additive.
In combination with such bait, it is best to bait the hook with corn or pearl barley.
Recipe for fishing in the fall
The water begins to gradually cool down around mid-September, during which time the crucian carp begins to feed with extreme caution. The best recipe for fishing for wary fish is as follows:
- You need to mix 1 part breadcrumbs with 2 parts soil (purchased soil for seedlings is perfect).
- Now you need to slightly moisten the resulting mixture.
- Anglers recommend adding dry semolina to create a cloudy cloud around the bait.
If you plan to use a worm as bait, it won’t hurt to add a small portion to the bait mixture. If you are going to fish with semolina, then add garlic as a flavoring agent. It will be useful for you to read: how to prepare semolina for fishing.
Adding animal components to complementary foods
Since it is important for underwater inhabitants to get enough protein in winter, they choose food with high energy value. Among the best baits for crucian carp in winter are:
Adding animal components will enhance the performance of bait
- feed bloodworm;
- maggot;
- worm.
A good option for a nutrient mixture for catching crucian carp in winter is plant matter with the addition of live larvae. It is enough to crush ordinary bloodworms with your fingers and add them to complementary foods.
To increase the protein in the bait mixture, use milk powder, fish or bone meal, and egg powder.
Homemade bait
This is where methods for making bait with your own hands come to our aid. In it you can choose a unique and individual set that will suit a given situation best.
Recommended reading: Winter fishing for pike perch at night from ice and shoreline
Homemade bait for crucian carp in winter does not differ much in composition from other baits for carp-type fish. The main thing to remember is that crucian carp is not a particularly voracious fish; if you overdo it with bait, it will simply refuse your bait, having eaten in advance.
For an effective mixture, you need to include the following elements:
- semolina;
- millet;
- cereals.
The smaller the component, the more productive the bait will be. Some fishermen add egg powder or milk, but such an element will only be justified if the pond is devoid of small fish, in particular roach.
How to add flavorings so as not to scare away the fish
The presence of an attractive smell for crucian carp in complementary food increases the likelihood of catching it in winter. But there is one nuance that is worth knowing - using several flavors at once is not recommended, this will only scare away prey.
It is enough to add a little of one flavor to the nutritional mixture:
- sunflower cake (roasted seeds, vegetable oil);
- hemp (seeds, cake, oil);
- vanilla;
- dill;
- mint;
- cinnamon;
- honey;
- garlic;
- cocoa;
- valerian;
- anise;
- Zvezdochka/Doctor Mom ointment;
- WD-40;
- kerosene;
- Moskitol.
It is impossible to call any of the flavors universal and you should experiment, but in doses. In practice, crushed roasted sunflower seeds and vanilla have worked well.
What is the best way to feed crucian carp in a hole?
In winter, the issues of feeding fish must be approached thoughtfully, not only in the selection of bait, but also in the method of delivery to the fishing point. The crucian carp needs to be lured, but not overfed. A winter feeder dump truck will help deliver the nutrient mixture to the work area.
We feed with a feeder in the current, and with balls in still water.
In reservoirs with a current, it is better to use a stationary option, when the feeder is in the water and the food is washed out naturally, under the pressure of the current. Considering the strong flow of water to attract fish, it is recommended to drill an additional hole a meter from the main hole. If fishing occurs in a quiet current, in standing water, then a drop-down feeder is suitable.
In reservoirs with calm water, use dense balls formed from a bait mixture. They are lowered into the hole and they go to the bottom. If their structure is loose, then in the process of decay they will create a column of turbidity.
Winter feeding tactics for crucian carp
To increase your chances of catching, you should use homemade bait with the addition of a store-bought mixture to lure fish to the fishing point; you only need a little of it. Unlike the summer version, the finished winter mass contains vanillin and anise in a lower concentration. Flavorings are needed to attract crucian carp, and porridge is needed to keep it in the fishing area.
Before starting fishing, it is recommended to throw the bait mixture into 2-3 holes. When the bites begin, you should periodically throw 5-7 bloodworms into the hole.
The fish will identify such bait even from a great distance. In most cases, in winter it is possible to catch fish weighing 300 grams, which is good for this time of year. Using bait for crucian carp in winter increases the chances of catching finicky fish. Every fisherman can prepare a mixture that is attractive to fish at home. The main thing is to prepare the necessary ingredients and follow the cooking instructions. Do not overdo it with flavorings, otherwise, instead of being useful, they will scare away prey from the fishing site. Proper feeding tactics contribute to success in winter fishing.
Comparison of store-bought and homemade bait
Opinions vary greatly on which bait to prefer: store-bought or home-made. That is why you should consider the positive and negative aspects of each method.
Advantages and disadvantages
Mastyrka, mash and semolina are often used as bait.
| Pros and cons of self-made bait | ||
| Lure | pros | Minuses |
| Chatterbox | Quick cooking | Applicable only in standing water conditions |
| Mastyrka | Active bite | When cooking, stir constantly until the mixture becomes dry. |
| Semolina | There are several of them:
| These include:
|
Store-bought bait also has positive properties, but is not without its drawbacks:
| Store-bought mixtures for crucian carp | |
| pros | Minuses |
| Because they are made by true professionals, the mixtures concentrate only the most necessary components in the right parts. Advanced developments are used in the use of synthetic substances that have a strong effect on the olfactory and taste receptors of crucian carp. The composition of the mixtures is strictly controlled, so the fisherman always knows how much it will be needed for fishing. | Unlike a store-bought mixture, when prepared, the fisherman, conducting his experiments, better understands the taste preferences of crucian carp in a certain place in the reservoir. In addition, with a strong dependence on store-bought bait, the fisherman’s independence is reduced, and constant purchases can hit the pocket. And sometimes expensive amino acids do not affect the catch, but have a significant impact on the final cost. |
What to prefer?
Store-bought mixture is preferred if the fisherman:
- does not know the characteristics of the local reservoir and the behavior of fish;
- believes that the mixture recipe developed by professionals will be more effective, in contrast to his own preferences;
- does not know how to create a balanced bait;
- no time to cook.
But with all this, fishermen understand that universal bait cannot take into account the nutritional characteristics of crucian carp in a certain body of water, especially if it is located in the area of a village or village.
Good to know! This is when traditional mixtures come to the rescue of fishermen. Crucian carp are accustomed to agricultural products, only in some places corn grits will be more effective, and in others - millet or other grains.
