Ring fishing is perhaps the most lucrative way to capture a large bream and a ulcer on rivers with strong currents. This method requires a boat and a certain skill, but the results often exceed the expectations of even experienced anglers. The essence of the method is simple and ingenious: the boat becomes a stationary point, and the bait creates a powerful plume that collects fish from the bottom directly underboard.
Unlike onshore fishing, here you have complete control over the depth and speed of the bait. Efficiency And this is because a fish that's going against the flow of food smells comes across your hook tool. It's important to understand that success depends not only on having fish in the water, but also on having the right fish in the water. fitting gear.
To start, you need a reliable boat that can withstand the weight of the fisherman, tackle and catch. You don't need to skimp on safety by choosing dubious inflatable models for serious rivers. Properly assembled gear allows you to use even short rods, which is extremely convenient in conditions of limited space.
Principle of operation and advantages of the method
The method uses a massive lead ring that slides down the main line from the feeder, so when you lift the feeder, the ring rises to the surface with the leashes, and when you lower it sinks to the bottom, which creates the effect of constantly playing bait without the participation of the angler's hands.
The main advantage is the ability to catch on a strong current, where ordinary donkeys are blown aside. Hydrodynamics The flow presses the fishing line to the bottom, and the heavy ring stabilizes the tooling, and the fish comes to the feeder and inevitably gets caught by the hooks located at the epicenter of the feeding spot.
⚠️ Note: Using the ring at depths of less than 3 meters or at very weak currents is ineffective, as the feeding plume is not formed properly.
And it also allows you to capture deep pits and bed brows where the bream goes to feed, and you can use different types of bait, from worm to barley, to adapt to the preferences of the local ichthyofauna on a particular day.
Use flavors with a pungent smell (garlic, anise, hemp), as the smell spreads quickly over the course, but also washes out of the feeder too quickly.
Selection and preparation of craft
For ring fishing, PVC boats with hard or inflatable bottoms are ideal. They are very stable and do not require complex preparation. Metal boats are also applicable, but they are noisier and can frighten cautious fish when they touch the side with a fishing rod.
The key is the way you anchor, you need to stand across the current or at a small angle, so that the feeding plume runs along the side, and using two anchors (in the nose and stern) or stretch marks allows you to lock the position as accurately as possible.
Fishing comfort is directly dependent on the width of the cockpit. In narrow boats, it is difficult to place a cage, a bucket with bait and a gearbox. So before you go, check if you will be comfortable with the tackle without risking overturning.
Keep in mind safety. Even on a calm river, a life jacket is a must, especially if you are fishing alone, and a sharp jerk of large fish or a gust of wind can cause trouble.
Assembling tackle: ring, feeder and fishing rod
The ring-fishing rig has a number of critical elements, the base is the ring itself, which can be removable or non-removable, and the removable ring has a slot that allows it to be removed from the fishing line in case of a hook, which is very convenient.
The feeder must be voluminous, mesh, so that the flow of water washes out the feeder evenly. The volume of a standard feeder is from 5 to 10 liters. The fishing line on which the feeder hangs must be strong, with a diameter of at least 0.5-0.6 mm, to withstand the weight of the wet feeder and the resistance of the flow.
The rod is short, 1.5-2 meters long, with a flexible nod or a sensitive tip. The coil can be any, but it is most convenient to use an inertial or simple non-inertial line with good laying.
☑️ Assembling tackle
The lead is thin, 20 to 50 cm long, depending on the activity of the fish. The number of leashes varies from 2 to 5 pieces. Using too long leashes on a strong current will lead to their entanglement.
Table of selection of loaders and diameters of fishing line
The right weight and diameter of the main line is the key to successful fishing. Too thin line will sail very hard, and too light ring will not be able to penetrate the bottom layer and deliver hooks to the fishing area.
| Current speed | Depth (m) | Ring weight (g) | Line diameter (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weak. | 3-5 | 40-60 | 0.20-0.22 |
| Average | 5-8 | 60-80 | 0.22-0.25 |
| Strong. | 8-12 | 80-100 | 0.25-0.28 |
| Very strong. | 12+ | 100-120 | 0.28-0.30 |
The data in the table is for classic lead casting, and if you use a ring made from another alloy or a complex shape, its weight may vary. Hydrodynamic resistance It plays no less a role than pure mass.
When choosing a fishing line, choose fluorocarbon or specialized sinking cords. They are less stretched and better transmit a bite. A regular monophilic fishing line at a depth of more than 10 meters can stretch very hard, making the cut belated.
Searching and searching for a promising place
Finding a place is 90 percent of the success. Look for dips, dips, bedbrows. Bream likes a clean, hard bottom: sand, shell, clay. In muddy backwaters, it's harder to catch a ring because the feeder can sink into the mud.
The composition of the bait should be heavy. Use millet, barley, peas mixed with earth or clay for weighting. Scent It's important, but it doesn't have to interrupt the natural smell of the ingredients, and crackers, cakes and special bream fishing mixes work really well.
The secret ingredient
Add some live food (a worm or a worm) to the feeder, which will make the fish stay longer at the feeder as it tries to gather mobile food.
Fill the feeder and lower it to the bottom. Stretching the feeder line and securing it. Now you can lower the gear. If you don't bite after 20 to 30 minutes, try changing the fishing horizon or adding an attractant to the feeder.
⚠️ Warning: Never use light bait (for example, a clean breadcrumb) on the current without weighting - it will instantly be carried down the river without lingering at your boat.
Fishing and catching techniques
The technique of catching is simple: lower the tackle to the touch of the feeder ring, then make a smooth climb and lower again. The game should be monotonous. Often the bite occurs at the lowering or at the moment of stopping.
When pecking a large bream or ulcer, it is important not to let it go sideways or under the boat. Rescuing It's made confidently, but without jerking, and if you're a big fish, you can tire them by periodically loosening and pulling the line.
Bring the fish to the surface and take it in the sucker. Use the lift is mandatory, as the bream has slippery mucus and weak lips that are easy to tear. Once you take the fish out, quickly take it off the hook and send it to the cage.
The secret to success is a constant rhythm. Don't take long pauses, the fish get used to the movement of the feeder and are wary of stopping.
Once you catch a fish, check the nozzle. If it's knocked down or eaten with a change, replace it. Fresh bait always attracts more attention from the larger fish.
Frequent errors and their elimination
One of the most common mistakes is to use leashes that are too long, and they swirl around the main line, and instead of fish, you pull out a beard. The optimal leash length is 20-30 cm.
The second mistake is choosing the wrong weight of the ring, and if the ring is too light, it won't reach the bottom, and you'll catch a few more big fish in the flounder, and if it's too heavy, it'll lie on the bottom and not respond to the ups.
The third mistake is boat noise. Breath is very careful. Loud talk, tackles on the side or trampling can scare the whole pack. Be quiet like a hunt.
What do you do with the hook?
If the ring is stuck on the feeder, don't pull sharply. Try to pick a slack line and make a sharp jump up. If it doesn't work, remove the ring (if it is removable) or trim the leashes, retaining the main line.
These simple rules will make you a true ringfishing master, and this method brings incredible emotions and trophy catches that are worth going out on a cloudy day.
Can I catch a ring from the shore?
Technically, you can throw a feeder far away, but it loses all sense of the method: the essence of the ring is to vertically feed the bait exactly into the feed plume. From shore, you can't create such accuracy, so the method is considered exclusively boat.
What size of hooks is optimal?
For bream and slacker, use hooks 10-14 according to the international classification. For a large ulcer or sazan, you can take 8-10. The main thing is the sharpness of the sting and the thickness of the wire corresponding to the nozzle.
Do you need a sonar to catch the ring?
The sounder is useful for finding relief and confirming the presence of fish, but not necessary. Experienced anglers determine the place by external signs: the color of the water, the vortex of the current and the nature of the bottom probed by the marker.