Fishing on Lake Baikal in winter: what fish, where and when to catch, tips

Winter fishing in itself is a very exciting activity, which certainly attracts fishermen. The reasons are different for everyone: some people have an irresistible passion to catch as many fish as possible, others like to admire the unique winter landscapes and also relax their souls.

There are many beautiful and catchy places, but fishing on Lake Baikal can be especially delightful. Every year in winter, tons of transparent ice freeze the water surface of the lake, making it an excellent fishing ground.

Winter on Baikal

The cold season is not an obstacle to your favorite pastime - fishing. The ice hunting season on Lake Baikal opens in December and does not close until spring. Hundreds of fishermen pitch their tents among the snow and ice, and also begin to actively look for catchy fishing spots.

Ice

On Baikal, water can freeze up to one and a half meters, or even more. The safest time is February. It is then that the ice finally freezes the lake. Knowing this, you can step on the icy surface without any fear, as well as move along it using a machine.

Some fishermen even manage to ride on the ice on a bicycle, so to speak, for pleasure or on business, for example, to come fishing. The ice becomes especially crystal clear closer to spring. This is explained by the fact that with the first warming rays of the sun, the snow melts, exposing the mirror-like clean surface.

Driving on ice by car

Traveling on the ice of frozen Baikal is a relatively new practice. It all started in 2003. Hiking and tourist rallies have become an integral part of winter events on Lake Baikal.

It is more convenient to reach any hard-to-reach areas of the reservoir on ice. Even trips on ice to the Baikal-Lena Nature Reserve are practiced. Taking the other route, by land, such a trip turns out to be longer, since it takes a couple of days to get to the reserve. With the help of a car, you can “jump” across ice in just a few hours.

ATTENTION! ICE FISHING COMPETITION ON BAIKAL!

II. Organizers of the tournament.

Ride on the most beautiful skating rink in Russia

Baikal is at the same time the largest and most picturesque skating rink in Russia. Skates are also the most convenient means of transportation. The ice is so mesmerizing that you always want to look at your feet, and not around. In addition, it is smooth and very slippery - ideal for skating. It is not recommended to travel far from the coast. Lake Baikal's weather is quite unpredictable and can change dramatically within an hour, so skiing is recommended only in coastal areas. There is no need to bring equipment from home - there are rental points on the shore.

Today, the official ice road of Baikal, along which transport runs, is regularly checked. It is not safe to drive anywhere outside this zone. It should be said that the ice of Lake Baikal is not only a natural attraction, but also a solution to logistics problems. There are few roads around the lake; in summer, the journey from Severobaikalsk to Ulan-Ude takes at least a day by train. In winter, locals simply cross Baikal diagonally.

Winter fishing on Lake Baikal

Winter Baikal fishing happens in a special way. Still, the location of the reservoir plays a role, as well as the features of its wonderful nature. Below we will describe the most favorable time for fishing from the ice of Lake Baikal, as well as the possible catch.

Best time for fishing in winter

The peak of the fishing season is mid-February. Here, on the largest lake, among the ice and snow, you can sit luxuriously and set up a mini camp.

Extraordinary beauty appears to visitors, as well as local residents, in the form of a clear clear blue sky, beautiful ice splashes along the coast and the rays of the sun playing in the icy “looking glass”.

What kind of fish can you catch?

Lake Baikal is rich in various species of fish. They are inhabitants of different depths, so from different fishing points the rich inner underwater world of Lake Baikal appears before the fishermen.

Here are the fish that a fisherman might catch:

Perch. This is the most common trophy. The favorite fish of many fishermen. Perch can, on average, be caught up to 30 cm in length and weighing up to 1.5-2 kg. Sometimes you come across particularly large specimens.
Pike. Another famous and also common trophy among fishermen. It is best to catch pike where it is not particularly deep, in shallow water, but there are some features of such fishing that depend on the time of year. When the first ice arrives, most fish species stay closer to the shores. Pike on Lake Baikal can be caught especially large, up to one and a half meters long, and weighing up to 15-17 kg.
Burbot. It also most often lives where there is no great depth. It is of medium size, approximately the same as that of pike.
Sturgeon . It is a rare and especially large specimen. In terms of parameters it surpasses large pikes or burbots. Sturgeon is listed in the Red Book, so spearfishing is prohibited. In addition to the above listed fish species, specimens of Whitefish, Taimen, Grayling and Omul can be caught from the lake. These are inhabitants of the deep sea.

Interesting fishing spots

Baikal has plenty of places for ice hunting. You can identify a list of places that are most popular among fishermen:

1. Baikal litter. This is shallow water, which is located in the eastern part of the lake coast. Here you can catch perch and roach, as they love to live in such places. A characteristic feature of sors is that they are a kind of small backwaters characterized by numerous vegetation. 2. Proval Bay. It was formed as a result of the submersion of a platform with a total area of about 200 square meters. Hence the name of the strait. The bay is located in the east of the mouth of the Selenga River. You can go directly to the ice in the village of Poyma. Fishermen will see the wide expanses of Proval Bay, where they can choose a place for fishing. The bay has a more or less flat bottom, which makes it possible to stop for fishing at almost any point in the Gap. 3. Lake Arangatui. It is located directly next to Lake Baikal. Arangatui has a shallow depth, the average value is about 12-15 meters.

Here you can find a wide variety of fish:

Ide;
Carp;
Perch;
Roach;
Pike, as well as many other species.

4. Delta of the Selenga River. All the fish that can please fishermen bite here:

Pike;
Roaches;
Yazi;
Soroga and so on.

Fishermen are eager to fish in the Selenga delta even on the first ice, when its thickness reaches barely 15 cm. January is marked by gusty winds, but they do not stop either experienced or novice fishermen. It is at this time that you can discover a couple of places where there was a successful bite, and then come here.

When February comes, the ice finally gets stronger, so there is simply no such thing as dead winter on Lake Baikal. Immediately more fishermen appear.

5. Chivyrkuisky Bay. Very large in area - about 300 square meters. This bay attracts fishermen from all over the world. This is where professionals devote themselves completely to fishing and get tremendous pleasure from the process.

Special fishing tours are organized here, which include:

Meeting at the airport;
Delivery to the place of housing;
Nutrition;
Fishing tackle and equipment, suits;
Bath, rest;
Return trip to the airport.

Nuances of fishing in winter

Ice fishing on Lake Baikal lasts almost six months. Even in April you can see fishermen sitting with fishing rods over the holes. It is worth noting that ice hunting will be most successful when the weather is favorable, the sun is shining outside the window and illuminating Lake Baikal, making it even more attractive.

It is also worth noting that the bays are the first to freeze, so this is where you should start ice hunting. By the end of December, the ice there becomes stronger, while there may still be large thawed areas closer to the center of the reservoir.

VIP program (6 days)

Route: Irkutsk - Small Sea - o.
Olkhon - Irkutsk Cost for a group of 6-8 people: 39,750 rub./person

1 day

Meeting at the airport of Irkutsk. Transfer to Maloye More. (220 km.) Along the way, stop for lunch in a suburban cafe (lunch at your own expense). Accommodation at a tourist base. Lunch, free time. Dinner

Meals included: lunch, dinner

Spearfishing

Spearfishing is a wonderful pastime for those who enjoy direct contact with the fish, rather than through a fishing rod. In winter, fishermen wear wetsuits to protect them from cold and moisture.

There are two types of spearfishing:

Active. This implies constant movement, active swimming in search of the coveted trophy. It is worth noting that active hunting will be successful if you know the habits of your prey, because you need to keep an eye on it. It’s ideal when a fisherman finds that very treasured fish trail and doesn’t leave it.
Passive hunting. It differs from active hunting in that the fisherman stays in a certain place and arranges a kind of impromptu ambush for himself. It is worth noting that it is not advisable to make random shots just to catch some fish. Excessive noise frightens large specimens, which can swim away from the nearest area, and then fishing will be disrupted.

When underwater hunting, the following types of weapons are used:

crossbow;
pneumatic gun.

Reviews from fishermen

My favorite fishing spot is Chivyrkuisky Bay. This is not far from the village of Monakhovo. It’s not a well-known place, since it’s a bit far from the city, but fishermen really like it, including me. Most often I go there in the summer, the bite is wonderful. I recently decided to go for the New Year. Fishing was not particularly successful - the weather conditions were very bad. A strong wind and snow ruined everything, and my catch was only ide and one small pike. Grade:

Maksim

My friends and I did not dare to go to Baikal as savages. We finally decided to relax and go fishing on a special offer. We didn't regret it for a second. I liked everything very much - the service is excellent, even more than that. For example, we were surprised by some things: they brought us to the fishing spot, created all the necessary conditions, even to the point of placing a heated house next to the fishing spot. The service was of the highest level! Grade:

Vitaly

Fishing on Lake Baikal is very addictive. It is worth noting that the landscapes alone are worth it. There is beauty all around, clean and fresh air. I am also attracted by the wide variety of fish that live here. There are more common species, but there are also rare specimens, which, if you get hooked, are a great success. I remember how I pulled out omul and grayling one after another. This was a real luxury for me. I caught it with a drill; other animal baits are not relevant here. Grade:

Arseny

I personally feel real winter fishing one hundred percent when I come here to Lake Baikal. My goal is always the same - grayling. If I come across another fish, then I am also incredibly happy. Since I often go to Lake Baikal, I have already identified a couple of catchy spots for myself. Of course, the best bite is in the eastern coastal zone. I especially like to be in backwaters, in shallow water. Grade:

Leonid

I most often plan fishing closer to the month of February. It seems to me that this time is the most ideal, the ice is strong, the frost subsides, the sun begins to appear more actively in the sky. Sometimes I allow myself to drive on ice in a car. This is much more convenient, and sometimes you don’t need to pitch a tent. Grade:

Alexander

Baikal pleases with its magnificent flora and fauna. I was lucky enough to catch carp, perch, grayling, ide, and so on on this lake. I heard that there are large specimens of carp in the lake, but I personally came across a carp weighing about two kilograms. Next I wanted to pull out another one, but, alas, it failed. And I always go home very happy. Grade:

Sergey

A great place is Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake. It immediately captured my heart. Somehow I set my personal record. It was winter. I drilled several holes and put gear on them. My record is that I pulled out 53 perch from one hole. The result may not be too great for some, but for me, as a beginner, it is a very high indicator. Grade:

Vladimir

Thus, it is worth noting that this large body of water attracts many different fishermen. This is a great place for fishing and you can have a wonderful time and relaxation with your soul. For this purpose, special tours are organized here, which include absolutely everything you might need while living in nature.