Ring fishing is one of the most efficient and gambling ways to get large white fish on rivers with strong currents. The method used for centuries by Volga and Don fishermen is based on a simple but ingenious idea: bait is fed from the boat to the bottom, and the nozzle is in the plume of washing food.
To successfully implement this method needleThe current is your main ally, delivering the scent of food hundreds of meters down the river, but despite the seeming simplicity, fishing from boat to ring has many nuances, ignoring which will turn fishing into a barren seat.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all aspects: from the choice of boat and mounting gear to tactics of finding brows and pits. metal boat or high-quality PVC with a hard bottom is preferable to inflatable analogues for this type of fishing, and how to properly adjust the tackle so that it does not get confused.
Selection and preparation of a boat for fishing on the ring
The success of fishing on the ring depends on the stability of your platform. You have to work with heavy feeders (nets), which weigh decently on the current, and long fishing rods. The boat should be wide enough that you can conveniently arrange the angler and bucket with bait without risking overturning when the large fish jerk.
The best choice is to metal boat "Kazanka" or modern PVC boats With an inflatable floor of low pressure (LDP) or hard floorboard bottom. Inflatable boats with soft bottom ("sliders") to use extremely undesirable, as to rest with your feet when catching will be nowhere, and the board can bend under the tension of the fishing line. The length of the boat should be at least 3.2 meters for comfortable accommodation of two anglers and tackles.
⚠️ Attention: When fishing for the ring is strictly forbidden to use boats not equipped with reliable anchorages. A sharp jerk of a feeder or large fish can lead to overkill (tilt over) if the side of the boat goes under water.
The most important element of preparation is the anchor system. You need at least two anchors, one main (stern) and one auxiliary (nose) to put the boat on board the current. The weight of the anchors is calculated by the formula: 1 kg of weight per 1 meter of boat length in the middle current. On a strong jet, this weight should be increased.
Design and installation of the "Ring" gear
The heart of this gear is the loader-limiter ring itself, which slides down the feeder cord, and it delivers hooks with a nozzle exactly into the feeding plume. The ring is structurally a lead casting weighing 40 to 100 grams (depending on the strength of the current) with a through hole and a slot.
The slit in the ring is made for a reason: it allows you to wind and remove the ring from the feeder cord without lifting the last one on board. metal-tube Or a sleeve so that the fishing line can slide freely and not rub against the lead, and some anglers use spring-latched rings, which are more convenient but less reliable on hooks.
The fishing rod itself is a short (1-1.5 meters) powerful form, often homemade, made of durable material. nod It's a timespring or a metal plate that should work with confidence on the current. The line is used monophilic, with a diameter of 0.25-0.35 mm, because the wicker on a strong current is strongly sailing and entangled.
To make the ring yourself, use a brass or copper tube with a diameter of 6-8 mm, filled with lead, which will ensure the perfect sliding of the fishing line and the durability of the loader.
Leashes are mounted below the ring. Usually put 2-3 hooks on leashes from 30 cm to 1.5 meters. Leash length varies: on a strong current put short so as not to throw them out of the stern path, on a weak one - long to cover a large area.
Composition of bait and choice of bait
The ring fishing is 80 percent efficient, depending on proper bait, it has to be heavy, it has to be inert, it has to be a stable, murky plume, and the base of the bait is wheat porridge mixed with breadcrumbs, sunflower cake, and clay or loam for weighting.
As a living-component You have to add a worm, a chopped worm, a moth, and the living component makes the fish stay at your boat longer because the food is constantly moving and running away. It's important not to overfeed the fish, so the feeder volume is adjusted according to the activity of the snag.
As for nozzles, the worm is the ruler, and dung worm or leaflet is the best choice for bream, gusters and ulcers, but depending on the pond and the time of year, they work perfectly:
- 🪱 Oparysh (especially in a sandwich with a worm)
- 🌽 Canned corn (for large roach and carp)
- 🍞 Dough or mastro (peas porridge)
- 🦐 Boiled shells (pearls)
The secret ingredient of bait
Add some hemp oil or ground hemp seeds to the bait, which the fish can smell miles away and can reach the fishing point even from long distances.
The consistency of the mixture should be such that it washes out of the net in 15-20 minutes. If the feeder emptys faster, add clays, if slower, reduce the amount of binder or make the mixture looser.
Fishing technique: from anchoring to cutting
The process of fishing begins with the selection of a place. Look for deep pits, dumps, bed brows or the boundaries of the main flow and back flow. When anchored upstream (10-20 meters from the perspective point), lower the feeder to the bottom. The feeder cord should be stretched vertically or at a small angle.
Then you lower the gear, and you put the ring on the feeder cord, and you put the fishing rod on the board, and you pull the line out, and the hooks are placed exactly on the stern. Control of grazing It's nodding. It works rhythmically in strong currents, and any change in rhythm, bend or straighten signals interest from the fish.
You need to cut abruptly and sweepingly, while lifting the ring up the cord of the feeder, which often provokes the fish into a grip, catching by hand, selecting the line with your hands, folding it to the bottom of the boat or in a special yawner, so that it does not get confused.
☑️ The algorithm started catching
It is important to constantly monitor the tension of the feeder cord. If the current weakens, the cord can sag, and the ring will stop coming down to the hooks, in which case the cord must be periodically jerked or selected a heavier loader ring.
Table of selection of equipment depending on the conditions
The right weight of the ring and the length of the leashes is the key to implementing all the bites. Below is a table that will help you navigate the gear for different fishing conditions.
| The force of the current | Ring weight (g) | Length of leashes (see para. | Line diameter (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weak. | 30–40 | 50–80 | 0,18–0,22 |
| Average | 50–70 | 30–50 | 0,22–0,28 |
| Strong. | 80–120 | 20–30 | 0,28–0,35 |
| Very strong. | 120+ (steel) | 15–20 | 0,35–0,40 |
The only reason steel rings are justified is on rivers with a high flow, where lead loads are ripped off and carried away, and steel is heavier, but it doesn't deform when it hits rocks and bottoms.
The main rule of setting: the ring should lie on the bottom or barely touch it, but the current should not drag it with a drag on the ground, otherwise the tackle will get confused.
Safety and behavioral rules on the water
Boat Fishing, especially with heavy loads and on the run, is risky. First rule: always carry it with you. lifejacketEven if you're a great swimmer, the current, the tangled line and the heavy clothing can play a cruel joke.
The second important thing is the knife, which must be attached to the belt or be in an accessible place in working condition, and when fishing for a ring, the line often gets tangled around the legs or seats, and in the case of sudden tension (a snag hook or a large catfish jerk), it is the knife that can save the situation or even life if you need to get rid of the tackle urgently.
⚠️ Attention: Never wind a fishing line on your finger or hand when fishing on a ring! Picking a large bream or ulcer on the flow has tremendous power and can lead to serious injuries to the hand or fingers.
Keep your sailing rules in place. Don't stand on the fairway, display a flag or buoy, so that passing motorboats and boats can see you, and the wave from a passing vessel can shake anchors and send your boat into free drift.
What to do when the cord of the feeder breaks?
If the cord is broken, don't try to swim for the feeder if it's heavy. Mark the place by the shore landmarks. Often the feeder is nailed to the shore downstream, and you can find it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I catch a ring from an inflatable boat without a hard bottom?
Technically, it's possible, but it's very uncomfortable and dangerous, because without a rigid leg rest, it's hard to control the tackle, and hooking is common, and it's better to use a boat with a hard floorboard or plywood sleigh.
What fish is most often caught on the ring?
The main trophy is bream. Also often pecking guster, blue, ulcer, roach, choke and occasionally large carp. On the Volga and Don, the worm often takes a sazanne.
Why is the tackle constantly getting confused?
There are several reasons: too long leashes for the current, the weight of the ring is wrong (it drags along the bottom), or the line is too soft. Use a tougher line and shorten the leashes.
Do I need to feed the point if the current is very strong?
Yes, but the bait must be very viscous and heavy, and often in these conditions, more clay is added and less dry components are added so that the plume forms at the bottom, rather than eroding into the water column.
How long should the feeder cord be?
The cord should be at least 2-3 meters longer than the depth at the fishing site so that the feeder lies on the bottom, and does not hang in the floes. Usually a capron cord with a diameter of 1-1.5 mm is used.