Secrets of catching crucian carp in September

Fishing for crucian carp can rightfully be called one of the most common types of fishing. This fish is most often quite small, so not everyone can boast of a large trophy. The main thing is the pleasure that an amateur gets from sitting with a fishing rod, the excitement that he develops in the process of fishing out this careful and rather cunning prey from his native element. Crucian carp is considered a very worthy opponent even for an avid fisherman.

Seasonal fishing

Whether or not fishing for crucian carp in the winter months will be successful depends on choosing the right place. This fastidious fish, as a rule, prefers large bodies of water with a high oxygen content and a sandy or muddy bottom. It is enough to find one place where there is a good bite, and you don’t have to leave there: in winter, crucian carp rarely change their camps.

Spring is considered the best time of year for fishing for this fish. It is in March and April that you can catch respectable specimens from the shore using a regular float rod. At this time, large crucian carp often come closer to the shore, in shallow water - in warmer places. With the onset of the summer months, the living conditions of this fish change significantly. Spawning has already ended, and the water temperature has risen noticeably, and aquatic vegetation forms a real “underwater jungle” in which you can hide from predators and find food for yourself. Due to the abundance of food, which you don’t even need to hunt for, since the food is right under your nose, crucian carp become capricious and picky.

Therefore, it is quite difficult to predict in advance what kind of bait they will bite on during the upcoming fishing trip. In the morning, crucian carp can be caught using worms or maggots, and after sunrise - using dough or pearl barley, while during the day semolina or a soft crust of bread can work well.

Secrets of autumn crucian carp fishing

With the weather getting colder, anglers once again have a chance to catch large specimens. This is surprising, but it is in the fall that small prey bites much worse than in the summer months, but against this background, enviable trophies are increasingly being caught on the hook. Fishing for crucian carp is especially interesting in September. The fact is that it is at this time that you can most often catch fish of impressive size. September, which “opens” autumn, is already characterized by low night temperatures. Naturally, the water in those ponds and lakes in which this fish lives also cools down. She begins to feed less actively, so it becomes more and more difficult to catch her.

Interestingly, fishing for crucian carp at the beginning of September is significantly different from fishing at the end of the month. Therefore, the fishing period can be divided into two stages. Moreover, in the first and second half of September, the tactics for fishing for crucian carp will be different.

Where is the best place to catch crucian carp in September?

It is very important to choose the right fishing spot. At the same time, catching crucian carp in September primarily depends on the weather. Since warm days are usually observed in the first half of the month, fishing during this period can be very active. Fishing for crucian carp in September - in the first two weeks - is more effective on coastal shallows, near coastal vegetation. At this time, the area is full of insects and algae, which is why prey is looking for food here.

Fishing for crucian carp is best in September on fine days, when the sun is still warm and the wind drives the wave to the shore, bringing everything that falls into the water to it.

In the second half of the month the weather is already getting worse: colder weather sets in. The prey, gathering in dense flocks, moves away from the shore. Fishing for crucian carp in September on a pond, lake, etc. works better in deeper areas of the reservoir - from two and a half meters. It is very good if the bottom is uneven and there is even a slight drop. Usually food is collected in such places, so you need to look for crucian carp there.

When is the best time to fish?

Fishing times in September are different from summer. For example, throwing fishing rods at night no longer makes sense. In summer, bites at night are common. The fact is that crucian carp escape from the heat of the day and feed on cool nights. In the first month of autumn, on the contrary, it is uncomfortable for him, since the water temperature drops sharply after sunset. Therefore, fishing for crucian carp in September is successful only in the morning and afternoon, and occasionally in the evening. Moreover, in the first half of the month it is better to fish in the morning until dawn, and in the second half - from four o’clock in the afternoon until dusk. Often the bites stop even before it gets dark.

Fishing for crucian carp in September with a fishing rod

In general, this fish can be caught using different gear. However, the most exciting thing is catching crucian carp (in September) with a float rod. This tackle is popular with a huge number of fishermen. After all, what could be more interesting than watching the antenna of a float and waiting for it to hide under water or move to the side? Judging by the reviews, it is precisely for this anticipation of a bite that fishermen love this method. However, catching crucian carp in September with float tackle requires choosing the right tactics, having a sensitive fishing rod and using the right bait.

Preliminary baiting of prey is extremely important. It should be carried out several hours immediately before fishing. And then during fishing, professionals recommend regularly throwing small portions into the fishing zone.

As for the tackle itself, you need to choose a leash with a diameter ranging from 0.08 to 0.14 millimeters. The hook depends on the nozzle, but it should not be larger than number ten, made of thinner steel and without an eye. Some people use options with a spatula, which are lighter, and the presentation of baits on them is more natural.

The rod should be telescopic with a rod length of four to seven meters. Such a big difference is due to the following: short versions are used for fishing from a boat, and long ones (6-7 m) are used from the shore. The float should have a small or medium-sized body. Feather floats or those with a metal keel “work” well during this period.

Which tackle to choose

Fishing for crucian carp in September can be carried out using the following gear:

fly rod;
plug;
match;
feeder;
picker;
half-bottom.

Of all the possible methods of catching this fish, only the “gum” has been removed, which in the fall does not allow one to achieve decent results. Let's look at each fishing method.

Fly fishing rod

On calm days with little wind, fishing for crucian carp in September is very convenient with the help of a float fly rod. They catch it both from the shore and from the boat. The recommended gear composition is as follows:

The rod is telescopic. The length of the form for coastal fishing is 5-7 meters (more is possible, but such rods are not very practical), for boat fishing - 4-5 meters. The preferred rod action is medium. It will allow you to hook the fish in a timely manner and remove it without a large arc of the blank and breaking the weak lip of the crucian carp.
Floats of 1-2 grams of carrying capacity, designed for fishing in still water - that is, an elongated shape with a long keel, as well as a visible and very sensitive antenna. In strong winds, you may need a heavier float - up to 3 grams, but this will greatly weaken the susceptibility of the gear to bite.
The number of sinkers and their location are selected based on the fishing conditions and the nature of the bite.
When fishing from a boat, crucian carp can be caught well with a jig. With a correctly matched float, it indicates a bite without delay.
The hook (size and thickness of the wire) is selected based on the nature of the bait and the size of the intended trophy. For animal baits and chatter baits, a hook with a long shank is selected; for vegetable baits, such as semolina, pearl barley and dough, a hook with a medium or short shank is selected.
The main fishing line on the fishing rod is taken with a thickness of 0.15-0.18 mm, it can be increased to 0.2 mm, no more. The line for the leash should be thinner than the main one - 0.08-0.12 mm and preferably from the same manufacturer (so that its tensile strength is not better). The bite of crucian carp in September is very careful, so it is better to use fluorocarbon on the leash, which is almost invisible in the water.

Using a fly rod to catch crucian carp is convenient and effective

As a rule, the hook is located at the bottom, at a distance of 7-10 cm from the bend of the leash. At mid-water this fish is rarely caught, but sometimes the bait is placed a little higher - 2-3 cm from the bottom (this is how the jig is positioned) or slightly touching it.

Plug

In September, crucian carp is already cautious, and it is possible to catch it with a very thin and sensitive plug tackle, which is the following combination:

A lightweight fishing rod over 10 meters long, consisting of several interlocking parts. There is no casting here; the equipment moves to the required distance by gradually increasing the length of the form.
A special rubber shock absorber is placed through the top of the rod, softening the jerks of the fish when playing.
The main line has a thickness of no more than 0.14 mm, the leash is up to 0.1 mm. Despite such a thin tackle, with a properly selected shock absorber it will not break even with a large fish on the hook.
Float no more than 1 gram of carrying capacity with a thin, very sensitive antenna.
Hooks are of the same variety as for fly fishing.
Complementary feeding is carried out using a special cup attached to the end of the plug.

This type of fishing, like plug fishing, has undoubted advantages - it is possible to fish in hard-to-reach places, there are no splashes from bait balls, from falling equipment when casting, a thin line does not alarm the fish. But such a rod is very expensive in itself; it requires special retractable rollers and other devices.

September crucian carp on a match fishing rod

Using a match fishing rod, an angler is able to fish not only the coastal zone, but also remote places. However, such tackle is heavier than fly fishing tackle and requires some skill in handling a spinning reel. The gear set consists of the following elements:

The rod is a match rod. The length of the form is from 3 to 4 meters, plug-in or telescopic, depending on the fishing conditions and the preferences of the angler. The preferred action is fast for casting from inconvenient places, the test rod is no more than 30 grams (a more powerful one is not needed for such fishing).
The reel is a spinning reel, no larger than 2000 in size, with a spool holding at least 150 m of 0.2 mm fishing line. The gear ratio is approximately 5:1.
The main line is 0.18-0.2 mm thick, the leader is up to 0.14 mm, preferably fluorocarbon - it is stiffer and has the same light refraction as water, so it is almost invisible to fish.
Floats are used in two types: sliding for great depths and with a blind attachment to the fishing line for fishing at depths of up to 3 meters. The farther from the shore you plan to catch crucian carp, the greater the carrying capacity is selected. The float antenna should be visible at a great distance and among the glare on the water.
The criteria for selecting hooks are the same as for fly tackle, but special attention should be paid to their sharpness, since hooking has to be done at a great distance from the shore.

A match fishing rod is a convenient tool for catching large crucian carp

When fishing with a match, the main problem is the accurate delivery of bait to the selected fishing point. If you cannot throw the balls of the mixture by hand, use special slingshots.

Features of fishing with feeder and picker

Crucian carp is a bottom-dwelling fish, so it is successfully caught using a donka - feeder or its small variety - picker. With their help, it is possible to cast bait over a long distance. The composition of the gear is as follows:

The rod is plug-in or telescopic with guide rings. For the feeder, the length of the form ranges from 3 to 4 meters, the test is up to 120 grams. For picker, the maximum length is 3 meters, and the test is no more than 80 grams.
The factory-made bite alarm is a flexible tip of different colors depending on its test. The kit includes several whips with different flexibility. Fishermen often build their lodges, attached either to a fishing line or to a rod. In such cases, there is no need to use expensive rods with flexible multi-colored tips, and they clearly show when the crucian carp is biting.
A spinning reel no larger than 2500 in size with a gear ratio that allows you to quickly bring the fish to the shore.
The main line is monofilament with a thickness of 0.2-0.22 mm, a leader up to 0.14 mm.
The size of the hook and the length of the shank are dictated by the size of the intended trophy and the type of bait.
To catch crucian carp, fishermen use mainly two types of equipment - a symmetrical or asymmetrical loop or paternoster. Using a feeder is advisable, but not necessary. You can make a starting feed with it, and then fish with a regular sinker of the same weight.

Note! To prevent breaks when casting, you should use a shock leader - a piece of monofilament fishing line about 0.3 mm thick and 5-9 meters long, which is tied between the main fishing line and the equipment.

What to fish with

The best baits for catching crucian carp in September are: corn, mastyrka, maggot, pellets of bread, earthworm or dungworm. At the same time, a beginner needs to know some features. For example, maggots on a hook must be pinned across, not lengthwise, so that the sting is completely hidden. The most common bait for catching crucian carp in September are bread pellets, and rye bread is optimal. The crumb, well soaked in vegetable oil, is then flavored with vanilla or a small amount - literally a few drops - of anise oil. Experienced fishermen advise taking several types of bait when fishing for crucian carp in September. And if the fish doesn’t bite on one bait, try another.

The best baits for autumn crucian carp

Having figured out the place and time of hunting, now you need to understand what to catch crucian carp with and which bait option is considered the best.

Considering the peculiarities of catching crucian carp in the fall, the treasured trophy responds best to:

bloodworm;
maggot;
a combined sandwich of bloodworms and maggots;
red, earthworm and dungworm.

Photo 3. Worms are the best fall bait.
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Important! When placing bait on a hook, the sting should be hidden as much as possible. For example, such bait as maggots is pricked not along, but across.

Catchy baits of plant origin include:

balls based on rye bread with the addition of sunflower oil and vanillin;
mastyrka made from pea porridge, semolina and raw egg yolk;
mash of honey water, semolina and chopped garlic.

In warm weather and when the bite is quite active, you can experiment with baits, choosing the best option.

Feeder or float rod?

In this matter, everyone comes from personal preferences. Although experienced fishermen advise: when catching crucian carp in September on a small pond or river, where the prey is located at a relatively short distance, it is better to use a float rod. In this case, it will be much more efficient than the feeder. Fishing with a float will be quite silent. Otherwise, splashes from the feeder may frighten the prey. But in reservoirs where crucian carp stay far from the shore, and the depth reaches four to five meters or more, float gear is not very relevant. In this case, fishing with a feeder is more comfortable. In addition, in some regions, professionals often fish with a float rod in the early days of the first autumn month.

Selection of catching gear

Fishing for crucian carp in September is highly dependent on weather conditions. On calm and warm days, it is better to use the classic version of a float rod as a suitable tackle. In strong winds, a good catch will be ensured by such tackle as an elastic band; thanks to the heavy load, the device is confidently held at a given point, and the presence of a large number of hooks increases the chances of a bite.

Float tackle set:

a rod with a length of 5 - 6 m, in some cases 7 m;
inertia-free coil model;
fishing thread with a thickness of 0.18-0.4 mm;
sharp hook with a long shank No. 5-6;
ultra-sensitive float, taking into account small and imperceptible bites of crucian carp.

You can make a float yourself; you can use a feather as a material. Sliding products or stick-shaped floats are effective.

Important! To prevent the float from losing its sensitivity, the weight of the load should not exceed its carrying capacity. Otherwise, when swallowing the bait, the fish will feel resistance and will definitely spit it out.

Avid anglers note the high performance of feeder gear at this time of year. Equipment included:

light or medium class rod with a length of 2-3 m;
inertia-free coil for 3000 units;
braided fishing line with a cross section of 0.1-0.15 mm;
hooks from No. 7-13;
for leashes, regular fishing line with a thickness of 0.15-0.18 mm;
feeder weight 40-60 g.

You can choose the type of feeder at your discretion; the paternoster and anti-twist tube have proven themselves well.

Photo 2. Fishing rod with bells on a stand.

Fishing for crucian carp in September on a feeder

This tackle is widely used by fishermen on ponds and especially on rivers when there is a need for long casts. With the help of a feeder it is easy to fish during strong winds on lakes and in holes where large crucian carp are hiding, as well as in areas with a muddy bottom. Some anglers are pessimistic about the sensitivity of this gear during cautious prey bites. However, by choosing the most sensitive tip for their rod, they can notice even the slightest touch of the fish to the bait. The benefit of a feeder when fishing for crucian carp in September is that it has no alternative in such difficult conditions as strong winds, high waves, etc.

Equipment of bottom fishing rods for fishing crucian carp

To catch crucian carp on a donk, you will need several rods. You can use telescopic spinning rods, steel rods, or a picker for short casts. The reel is adjusted to the fishing distance. If the tackle is cast to a length of no more than 35 meters, then a reel with a spool capacity of 3000 is suitable. If the casts go beyond 50 meters, then we set 4000, and if even further, then 5000.

The fishing line is used with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.25 mm. We make sure that it is fresh and not torn at the knots. Crucian carp is a very strong fish that can break an unreliable or old vein. If casts are made over 30 meters, it is appropriate to use a fence. At such distances, the line stretches and gentle bites go unnoticed. It is better to wind braided line on one spool and monofilament on the other.