Fishing the Sazanne on the current from the boat: the complete guide

The river sazan, the wild ancestor of carp, is one of the most desirable and challenging trophies for a fisherman. Unlike its cultured counterpart, this deep pit dweller has incredible strength, cunning and caution, especially in the face of a powerful river flow. Catching a carp from a boat is radically different from slogging from shore, requiring a fisherman not only strong tackle, but also excellent swimming gear, the ability to properly anchor and precisely feed the point.

The advantage of using a boat is that it can reach remote bed bays, deep dumps and back currents, where it's physically impossible to throw gear from shore, and it's in these places where the water is broken by the roughness of the bottom that the sazan feels safe and actively feeds, but success depends on a lot of nuances, from choosing the right anchor to fine-tuning the friction of the coil.

Strong currents dictate its rules of the game: the gear must be powerful, the food heavy and viscous, and the search tactics mobile. A mistake in choosing a location or the wrong anchor can reduce all efforts to zero, because the sazanne will never come to the feed, which is instantly carried away from the point of catch. Below we will discuss in detail all aspects of this exciting fishing.

Search for promising places and bottom relief

Success fishing on river-bed It depends on 80 percent of the right location, and fish rarely sit on a flat table, preferring to stay within the boundaries of fast and slow streams, as well as local depressions, and to look for such anomalies from a boat, an echo sounder is indispensable, which allows you to see not only the depth, but also the structure of the bottom, the presence of driftwood, shells or sharp changes in altitude.

Particular attention should be paid to the eyebrows, where the depth changes dramatically from 3-4 meters to 6-8 meters. It is at the foot of such dumps that the sazan often finds food, washed out by the current from the upper layers.

When measuring depths, you should pay attention to areas with a backflow forming behind capes or large obstacles, and in such areas, food often accumulates, which attracts fish change, and then a large predator, and a carp, but here you need special care when anchoring, because the boat can wrap across the jet.

How to read the sounder when searching for sazan?

On the sonar screen, look not just for depth, but for “breaks” in the bottom line pointing to pits, and dense clouds of points at the bottom – it can be a foraging fish or a cluster of shells where a sazan hides.

Proper anchoring and positioning of the boat

The most critical moment of fishing on the current is the competent installation of the boat. Sazan has a great sense of smell and sharp hearing, so the noise of the engine or the impact on the hull can instantly scare the fish away. You need to position yourself strictly across the current (lagom) or at an angle, but in no case do not board to the flow if you use two anchors. The classic “in-stretch” scheme (one anchor on the nose, the second on the stern) provides maximum stability.

For angling in a strong current, the weight of the anchors must be calculated with a margin. If 10-15 kg per board is enough for calm water, then on the jet this weight must be increased to 20-25 kg or more, depending on the strength of the flow and sail of the boat. cat anchor or pole-anchor The anchor fascia must be of sufficient length to have a sharp angle of exit from the water, which increases the holding power.

It's important to consider the removal of the stern, and you should get up to the point, and you should expect the stern to be pulled downstream, and the boat should be upstream of the intended fish station, so that the feeding plume falls exactly on the feeding table, and even a meter away from the fishing point, the boat can carry the feed past the fishing point.

Choosing tackles for angling on a strong current

Fishing from the boat requires the use of specialized rod Standard shore feeders are not suitable because of the length and dough limitations, and short fishing rods or specialized fishing rods are the best choice. heavy-feeder rods 2.4-2.7 meters long with a dough up to 150-200 grams. a short rod is more convenient for working in the limited space of the boat and allows you to feel a bite better.

The coil should be reliable, with a large spools (size 4000-6000 according to Shimano classification) and a high-quality friction mechanism. The front friction is preferable, since it allows you to more finely adjust the force of the line descent when snatching fish. The Baytrander on the sazan from the boat is rarely used, since the tackle is constantly in the hands or under tight control, rather than lying on the stand for hours.

The main line is better to use a wicker cord. It has minimal stretchability, which is critical for cutting at depth and flow, and it also has a high tear load at a small diameter. The monophilic line sails strongly on the jet, creating an arc that worsens the transmission of the bite. However, if the bottom is rocky or shell, the two-rod shock leader is bound to the braid.

• 🎣 The rod: Onboard fishing rod or short heavy feeder (2.4-2.7 m) with a test up to 200 g.
• 🧵 Leska: A wicker cord of 0.16–0.20 mm with a fluorocarbon leash of 0.25–0.30 mm.
• ⚓ Hooks: Carp hooks No. 6-No. 8 according to the international classification with a short forearm.
• 🏋️ Bread: Metal feeder-cells weighing 100-150 g with a flat bottom for flow.

The bait and nozzle: what works best

The feeding for the seedlings in the course should be heavy, inert and fragrant. The main task is to bring the food to the bottom and keep it there, creating a concentrated stain, not a cloud that quickly spreads water. The basis of the mixture is large fractional components: boiled peas, corn, barley, millet and chopped worms. Small fractions (breadcrumbs, cake) are added in minimal quantities only as a binder and flavoring substance.

To make the bait heavier and make it more viscosity, you often add clay or soil from the shore of the reservoir, which allows the balls to reach the bottom quickly and blur gradually. The aroma should be natural: garlic, anise, hemp, sunflower cake or special carp attractants with fish or sweet smells. It is not necessary to overdo it with chemistry on the sazan, its smell is too thin.

As a nozzle, canned or boiled corn, a large crawl, a bunch of worms, boilers (especially salty or with the smell of a shell), as well as “sandwiches” of corn and corn, work perfectly. The nozzle must be securely attached to the hook to withstand the bite of small things and the impacts on the bottom when cast.

Fishing techniques and feeding tactics

The fishing tactics of the boat are point feeding. Unlike shore fishing, where the food is thrown by a bucket, each ball or feeder is placed in one point with a diameter of no more than 1-2 meters. First, the start feed is made: 5-10 heavy balls the size of an orange or 10-15 full feeders are delivered strictly to the selected point. It is important to do this quickly to create a concentration of feed.

After the start feeding, there is a pause of 20-40 minutes. The sazan is a careful fish, it needs time to come to the smell and start feeding without fear of foreign sounds. At this time it is better to be silent and not make sudden movements. The catch begins after you see the first signs of the approach of the fish (bubbles, splashes or pokes in the tackle).

In the process of fishing, you need to regularly feed the point, but in smaller portions, so as not to overfeed the fish. 1-2 balls or one feeder every 10-15 minutes is enough. If the peck weakens, you can try to change the nozzle or reduce the size of the feeder, so that the fish more actively look for a tasty piece.

Parameter	Starter feed	The fishing process	With a weak slap.
Volume	5-10 balls / 10-15 feeders	1 ball / 1 feeder	Minimum feed
Frequency	Once.	Every 10-15 minutes.	Every 30 minutes.
Composition	Lots of large factions.	Balanced	More live nozzle.
Purpose	Bring in fish.	Hold it to a point.	Move it.

Removal of the trophy from the boat

Getting the sazanne off a boat is a separate art, requiring coolness and proper technique. When you feel the sub-sac, the fish make a powerful leap, often going under the boat or to the side. The main mistake is to try to drag the fish by force. You need to keep the rod at an angle of 45-60 degrees to the water and work with a friction, allowing the fish to take the line, but not letting it sag.

The most dangerous moment is when the sazanne comes to the surface of the water. Seeing a boat or a fisherman, he can make a final, desperate jerk ("candle"), which often leads to a descent. So you need to bring the fish to the boat as smoothly as possible, constantly holding it in tension. In no case do not bend over the sides, trying to grab the fish with your hands, this is fraught with loss of balance and falling into the water.

⚠️ Attention: Never try to drag a large carp into a boat with your hands behind a line or tail! Tail blows can knock a tackle out of your hands, and a sharp jerk can tear your lip. Use only a pad with a long handle and a strong net.

If you want to get the fish safely, use a mat or a net. If you have a big one, you'd better stun it by hitting the brain area (right behind your eyes) before you take the hook off, or use a carp mat chair. It's a humane way that also keeps your nerves and your trophy safe. Remember, the carp can live out of the water for quite a long time, but for the photo, it's best not to delay the process.

Safety and catch conservation

Boat Fishing on the current is always risky. Heavy flow of water, engine screws, sharp hooks and fighting with large fish require strict safety rules. Be sure to have life jackets on board, even if you are a great swimmer. The current can quickly carry a person, especially if he gets entangled in the gear.

When working with hooks, be very careful. Sazagna hooks are very sharp and large, and a powerful cut can lead to injury to the hand or face. Always monitor the position of the hook stinger when re-throwing and catching. Also watch the position of the anchor ropes so that they do not wind on the engine screw in case of an emergency maneuver.

⚠️ Attention: When fishing in hot weather, the sazanne spoils quickly. Use a cage dipped deep into the water, or pour ice/salt catch immediately after catching. In warm water, the fish "fall asleep" and lose their appearance in a matter of hours.

To keep the cool and ecologically active, some of the catch, especially juveniles or injured fish, should be released carefully, allowing the fish to recover in the water next to the boat, and only after making sure that it is able to swim on its own, you can let it go.

What is the minimum distance to the anchor required for fishing on the current?

To keep the boat firmly on a strong current, the anchor tile must be at least 3-4 times the depth at the fishing point, which provides an acute angle of exit of the rope from the water, which increases the holding power of the anchor. If you stand on a short choke, the anchor can simply drag along the bottom.

Why does the fish not eat, even though there is a fish?

A common cause is overfeeding or the incorrect consistency of bait, where if the feed is eroded too quickly by the current, the fish will eat up with dust and will not find the nozzle, and the sazanne may also react to noise, pressure or weather changes (atmospheric pressure surges).

Can I catch a sazanne at night from a boat?

Theoretically, it's possible, but it's extremely dangerous. It's difficult to control the position of boats, driftboats and other vessels at night. The Sazan is really more active at night, but safety on the water should be a priority. It's better to use night time for observation or fishing from equipped shore.

Which sonar is better for searching for sazan?

To search for bottom fish and relief, two-beam sonars with a frequency of 83/200 kHz are suitable. It is important not so much a beautiful picture as a clear display of the structure of the bottom and the ability to distinguish between hard (stone, shell) and soft (sludge, clay) bottom, since the carp prefers hard areas.