Where to fish on the Gorky Reservoir. Fishes of the Nizhny Novgorod region. What was found on the Oka, Volga and its tributaries. Fishing base on the Gorky Reservoir "Guest House "2 Captain"

The Gorky reservoir was created in 55-57 years of the last century during the construction of the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric station. Gorky Reservoir Geographically located on the lands of 3 regions, Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Ivanovo. This reservoir stretches along the Volga riverbed for a distance of 427 km, and its width can reach 16 km in some places. The total area of the reservoir is 1590 km². As for the depth, in some places it can reach 22 m. On average, the depth of the reservoir is slightly more than 3.5 m.

The Gorky Reservoir was created to solve issues of shipping and energy. Most shipping occurs in deeper water right side reservoir Fishing has also developed widely on the reservoir. Fishing on Gorky Reservoir very interesting and varied.

The Gorky Reservoir consists of two diverse sections. The first section belongs to the lake type and stretches from the Power Plant to the mouth of the Unzha River. The second section is located slightly higher and belongs to the river type.

From the town of Yuryevets to the upper reaches, the reservoir has the appearance of a full-flowing river, where the water surface is about 3 km wide. Near the dam, the expanses of water occupy the entire Volga valley and take on the appearance of a sea, where the width can reach approximately 12 km.

The ice cover leaves the reservoir, as a rule, in early May, somewhat later than on rivers. First, the ice breaks up the stretch of the reservoir, and then the bays. Before the flow in the Volga was regulated, at least 47 species of different fish lived in those rivers that became part of the Gorky Reservoir. But when the dam appeared, the habitat of many species of fish changed. Currently, the reservoir is inhabited by river, lake and lake-river species. The latter live almost everywhere, the latter only in low-flow or stagnant areas of the reservoir, and the former only in pronounced river areas of the reservoir.

Fishing in the Gorky Reservoir is interesting primarily because of the wide variety of possible catches. The reservoir is home to such species of fish as sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, asp, blackback, sterlet, podust, beluga, burbot, and sabrefish. Lake species, tench, loach, crucian carp, minnow. And practically throughout the entire water area, pike, pike perch, roach, bream, and perch are common.

It’s only natural that such a huge body of water has excellent fishing conditions. The shoreline of the reservoir stretches for 1340 degrees, and the depths range from 3 to 23 m. More than 600 rivers, rivers and streams also flow into the reservoir.

More often fishing on the Gorky Reservoir It is fished for species such as bream, roach, silver bream, pike, ide, perch, asp, pike perch, and somewhat less commonly sabrefish and white-eye.

Fishing in the warm season is possible in almost all areas of the reservoir, which is about 2 km wide and up to 345 km long. The dam area, which has the size and shape of a lake, and the stretch area, which is represented by the Kostroma Bay, where there is almost no current. In the river section of the reservoir, asp, dace, chub and even sterlet are caught. In the dam area, those fish that prefer low-flow areas or areas without current. In the conditions of the Kostroma Bay, pike, bream, roach and perch are most often caught.

As a rule, large, well-fed fish are caught in reservoir conditions. And the most good places where it happens fishing on the Gorky Reservoir This is primarily the Kostroma reach, the mouths of various rivers and streams, and small bays.

Now about winter fishing on the Gorky Reservoir. The reservoir has many different places for winter fishing. An excellent place is the mouth of the Unzha River, which is located near the small town of Yuryevets. This town has been known since ancient times, because it was from these places that they supplied various fish to the royal table. This area is attractive for fishermen because in this place three rivers Volga, Nemda and Unzha merge at once and here the reservoir overflows for one and a half dozen kilometers. The places here are difficult to access and getting here is much easier in winter.

The most popular place for fishing in winter is located near the dam, which is designed to protect Yuryevets from the Volga overflowing in the spring. Also successful winter fishing at the Gorky Reservoir occurs in the flooded beds of the Unzha and Nemda rivers. The current here is constant and the fish are highly active.

The places near the dam have a remarkable bottom topography. There are many underwater transverse spits, depressions and underwater deep holes. In addition, the slow current makes fishing easier. These are excellent places where you can conduct underwater fishing, because the drops from the spits into the depths are those places where you can always count on a good bite.

The most commonly used baits are the reelless “nymphs” and “devils”. However, there are times when the fish stop biting on reelless baits and then anglers switch to jigs with bait. Many local fishermen use dragonfly larvae as bait.

Large perch are caught near the “cross” - this place is located opposite the center of Yuryevets on the opposite bank of the riverbed. But you need to take a little to the left onto the flooded channel of the channel. When catching perch using a jig with a bunch of bloodworms, burbot often bites. When is the season last ice, many anglers move to a large sandbank, which is located a little to the right of the cross. A little higher up the riverbed near the left bank of the Volga, perch weighing from 0.2 to 0.6 kg is caught. In addition, there are many flooded trees and cases of bait loss are frequent.

On the coast of the Gorky Reservoir there are several recreation centers and fishing bases where you can stay for a fishing period.

Fishing base "2 captains"

This base is located near the mouth of the Mocha River, where it flows into the Gorky Reservoir. There are quiet beautiful places, virgin forests, wide expanses of water. In summer, in addition to fishing, you can take a walk in the forest and pick various berries and mushrooms. You can lie on the sand, on the shore and admire the magnificent local scenery. The camp site is famous for its excellent fishing. Best places located at the mouth of the Mocha River, which has always been famous for its abundance of fish resources. Pike, pike perch, asp, carp, roach, bream and perch are caught here. Successful fishing here is possible both from the shore and from a boat using a wide variety of gear.

Recreation center "Good Life"

Located in the Kostroma region in the vicinity of the village of Khabarovo. The base is located near the mouth of the Nemdy River, among a magnificent primeval forest. The camp site guarantees its clients excellent fishing and excellent relaxation. Here they catch pike perch, bream, pike, ide, perch, silver bream and other fish.

Flashing. Catch: 1-3 kilograms (perch 300 gr)

Weather: Various

Tackle: Winter fishing rods

Bait/attachment: Tulka

Happy departed everyone! Starting in December, we roamed the Puchezh expanses, first on foot, then on a motorized towing vehicle. But the presence of equipment, cameras, echo sounders and points in Susanino did not bring decent catches, since fish were simply not found in quantity. And we decided to move up the reservoir. On December 30, there was a reconnaissance trip to Novlenskoye, but nothing outstanding was found there either. Since there was a long weekend ahead, it was necessary to choose a potentially fishing place to search. The choice fell on Yuryevets, since there is housing there and not far from the bersh, and it is so far the most stable fish this season. There were also hopes to get to the powerful tributaries of the Nemda and Unzha, as well as to visit the snags on the Nizhny Novgorod side. We left for our mini expedition on January 3 in the evening. The dog was brought into the parking lot and moved into a warm house with all the amenities.
Day one: at 6 am we get up, have breakfast, and get ready to at least start off from something in the evening, we agreed with a local fisherman named Igor Ovechenkov. He agreed to show us the perch place, and we were charged with delivery by vehicle. Upon arrival on the shore we met with Igor. And for the first time in 3 seasons, Brasik refused to start. Moreover, at home it was thawed and dried after the 30th, when snow poured into the carburetor and everything froze there. By the way, after this day I had to make a protective cover for the engine, which covered the weight of the dog’s right side from the snow swirls. After spending about 30 minutes rebuilding and warming up the carburetor, the dog came to life and took the four of us to meet the fish. Igor sat on horseback and showed the way, and also, since the snow was piled up to the half of his boot, his weight added to the cross-country ability. In fact, with a person on horseback, there was never a place where we would not have passed, especially that year became indicative when there was a lot of snow and we calmly rode 25 km a day to the exit of Unzhi. The only exception is snow with water, in this mess the torment begins.
Time 9 we are on the holes, or rather on the spot, since there was no specific reference, just an area with hungry rare perches and clouds of just millions of ruff (I caught it on camera and will post it later). Only ruffs ran around with a camera in the lens. We ended up searching with a balance beam, since Igor had already caught a couple of perches. They settled down not far from each other and the first bites began on the balancers, and they were all so greedy that they had to remove them from two hooks and such an adult took the bait. But the happiness did not last long and not because they drilled, no. There was simply no one to drill, since several dozen people could be seen all along the river and they were sitting on the long-distance and mostly on the bersha. And then the snow covered us from everyone, but after catching 4-5-6 perches, there was silence. And we went to check last year’s points, but there were only shells, sometimes with rare ruffs. So we got to the bershov bazaars. And we decided to return to the morning lenkas and drill there wider, maybe we’ll find something else. Igor, meanwhile, was probably already drilling the 50th hole and had 7 or 8 perches in his catch. And before dark we caught one more for all of us. When it began to get dark, we went ashore, Igor went home, and we had dinner (we even had to send a photo to our wives that we were eating well, so that they would not worry) and spend the night. We had a long dinner with conversations and goodies.
Day two: at 6 am we get up, after eating we go to the parking lot to pick up the towing vehicle and straight from the parking lot I take my people to the bersha to the cross, and I went to one to check the points near the skeletons and behind the islands and closer to Selyantsevo. At the first point I immediately came across a ruff and perch and forgot the balancer in the car))) At the 15th hole I found a lone roach near a stump and started trying. It doesn’t take me 10 minutes to shake, I lower the camera, there are no fish) I drill another hole, I see 2 roaches in the camera. I shake the main rod for 0.75 minutes, after five minutes there is a powerful bite, give the rod back and I feel the resistance of the roach on the other side of the tackle. Then there’s this picture: you drill a hole, there are 1-2 fish, you stick a jig in, you shake it, there’s silence. You lower the camera and there are no fish in 5 holes. Afterwards I came to the conclusion that the water that was under the snow when you trampled it with your feet made light, because where you walked everything was visible as if it were on first ice, where there was no trampling there, it was dark. It looked like the fish was moving away from the light. Then I went to check the points in the Nizhny Novgorod region. There, of all places, I saw three perches in the hole of one local man on a dog. I didn’t bother him, I went on to mix the snow with water, even on my own this is quite an adventure. Slowly the caterpillar began to slip. since the drive gears are already quite frozen. After checking the points, I went to get my bershatniks. They have several bites per day - 2 and 3 pieces. edible, plus 3 small ones were released. At sunset we drove into the city and decided to stop at the dam, since there were so many people sitting there. We checked the holes fed by someone with a camera, there are roaches, we persuaded one thing to GSh 0.6. Moreover, there were more fish near the dam than on the other side. On the 3rd day all thoughts are about roach. I decided to try fishing with food. We stopped at the store, picked up 1 kg of winter feed and a dump truck. Back for a beer and an overnight stay.
Day three: get up at 6 am, get ready for breakfast and go to the ice. He took his people to the bersh holes and returned to the dam himself. The tent campers are all already in place. Based on yesterday's holes with a camera, there are fish, but only in small quantities. I feed the holes with 2 dump trucks 15 apart from each other. And I begin to persuade. They used GS from 0.6-0.75g and bright jigs. different cubes. Everything is in vain. The turn has come to the chameleon cube and on the very first retrieve I catch a roach. And all this was the last fish of the day))) It seems that the frost of -15 and the lack of current turned off the roach. Even the tent campers ran from place to place. At 2 p.m. I went to check the snags near the islands, but there was desert there. I returned for my own people, they again brought bershas and caught several of them. We decided to go to the shore and then the moment came when the dog drove 10m and the goose was tightly jammed by a combination of snow and ice. For 1.5 hours, the three of us, like Papa Carlo, freed her from the icy captivity with screwdrivers, mallets and a spoon. Thanks to this, we saw Yuryevets at night from the ice)))) Having wedged the goose, a second problem came to us, namely, the frozen gears were completely out of gear. Somehow we made it to the path, and then slowly reached the parking lot. Upon arrival, we cleaned everything as best we could, but not completely, but we were good to go. During the dinner.
Day four: rise at 7, breakfast, complete packing. On this day, everyone decided to go for a bersh, since 3 roaches in two days didn’t make me very happy and the coverage at -17 would have guaranteed to catch our dog in ice captivity again. Thanks to the night frost, our path to the bersh holes was dry and hard. Deviation from the trail led to a guaranteed mix of snow and water porridge. We arrived at the holes at 9 am and after 15 minutes the first chews began, which by 11 o’clock turned into confident hits in the hand. In total, I had about a dozen bites on sprat, of which I took 3, shook off two small ones, dropped one good one, missed the rest, and all this from one hole until lunch. Mine saw bites in other holes, no matter how much I drilled, there was silence everywhere. Result of the day 3-5-1. We got to the car quickly and easily. According to tradition, we stopped in Kineshma for shawarma.

P.S. On this trip, we tested analog knives for the Mora Nova System 110mm drill from the Titan company, they drill very well. Their price is 450 rubles.
I also got myself a gearbox, with which now the screwdriver does not twist his arms and drills with it easily and naturally, and theoretically, the batteries will be enough for a larger number of holes.
I also switched to a homemade 7" camera with manual illumination, just plasma compared to 4.3 inches)))
The guys, sitting at home, came up with heated gloves, they are in the photo 👇🏻
Everything went well, no fish were found, we will continue searching...

tempting news

The decision to spend a vacation on the shores of the Gorky Sea did not arise immediately. Having become accustomed to fishing with a spinning rod on small rivers and lakes, I was dubious about fishing on large bodies of water, especially recently created ones.

The vast expanses of water and the almost complete absence of aquatic vegetation on the newly formed bottom of the new reservoir were confusing. Where can fish live in such conditions, where should one look for it?

However, already in the spring and summer of 1957, i.e. in the second year of the sea’s existence, rumors quickly spread among fishermen about large catches of pike and perch in the area of Chkalovsk and Katunki. Despite some inconsistency in these stories, one thing was clear: there are a great many pikes and perches in the new reservoir, they take any lure and in any weather, but mostly small fish are caught.

And this coming Sunday I am on the left bank of the sea, about fifteen kilometers from the hydroelectric dam. Needless to say, the three little bees I caught in a day did not evoke much enthusiasm. However, other fellow spinners fishing in the same area had approximately the same success.

The puppies were all of the same size and weight - 250-300 grams. Trying to unravel the reasons for the failure, I got into a conversation with the boatman who was transporting me through one of the bays of the sea. And that’s when I first heard the mysterious word: “Maura.”

If you want to catch pike, go to Maura,” said the ferryman, “there are a lot of fish on Maura!” Fishing is excellent with spinning rods and on the track!

From further conversation it became clear that Maura is a bay formed on the site of a former swamp, that it is located on the left shore of the sea just above Katunki and that it is necessary to fish there from a boat. In addition, you need a certain amount of time for travel, since without your own transport you probably won’t be able to manage it in one day.

I heard about Maura several more times that fall, but never had the opportunity to go there to fish. The spring of 1958 brought fresh data about the reservoir. In the stories of tireless nature scouts, fishermen and hunters, unusual names of the new rich began to appear more and more fishing spots. Most often these were sea bays formed along the floodplains of the Volga tributaries.

Interested in the next story, I carefully study the map of the Gorky Reservoir, examining the bizarre outlines of its numerous bays. Some of them go several kilometers deep into the coast. It would be interesting to know what was here before the flooding, what is hidden under the water?
I take out an old map of the Gorky region and find places that are now flooded by the waters of the sea. Here, under water, there were fields and meadows, there were swamps, here there were bushes and forests.

Well, what kind of swamp is this almost opposite Katunki? Why, this is the famous Maura! Now she's all under water.
Where to look for fish? Well, of course, in bays, in places where flooded meadows, swamps, bushes, etc. are flooded, that is, where there is a suitable environment for fish to live. The catches on the Maura and in the bays of the Trotsa, Yuga, Yachmenka, Michi, Laimpna and other tributaries of the Volga are not accidental.

All that remained was to choose a fishing area for the holidays. After some thought, the choice was made: these are the bays of the Michi and Shirmoksha rivers on the left bank of the reservoir. Judging by the map, it’s not far from here to Maura.

And now - vacation. Two days to get ready, half a day to travel. July 10 is the first day of fishing. The object of my study is the bay along the Miche River.

LOOKING FOR PLACES

On an unfamiliar body of water, everything is interesting: the nature of its banks, the fishing spots, and, of course, the fish that you expect to catch.

On that memorable day, July 10, the weather was favorable for fishing from the very morning. It was a gray, moderately warm day; A light westerly breeze was blowing from the direction of the temple. A quarter of an hour's journey along a narrow forest path - and I am on a high, steep bank of the bay.

Directly in front of me lies a wide expanse of the bay, on the opposite side of which a dense forest can be seen. On the right, about half a kilometer away, the waters of the bay meet the sea. In this direction, in my opinion, there is nothing to do: the coastline is too monotonous, there is too much water.

All that remains is to turn left and explore the shore of the bay until the Michi River flows into it.

Behind the small village of Vyazoviki, the picture of the reservoir changes: the shore becomes low and the bay becomes shallower. Vegetation is visible in places in the water. Fish splashing. I make test casts. They bring disappointment: the spoon clings either to the grass or to invisible, flooded bushes. Too small. With great difficulty I save the spoon and move on. A large island overgrown with dense greenery is visible ahead; it stretches across almost the entire bay, leaving only narrow straits near the coast.

The island attracts with its overly bright, unnaturally green vegetation. I carefully examine its base and clearly see how the island... sways on the waves. Now it is clear that this is a “wandering island”, or “otter”, as they are called here.

Otters are formed from the upper plant layer of former peat bogs - they are lifted, as if “pulled out” to the surface of the water after flooding. Their sizes vary: from a “patch” of several square meters to large ones, measured in hectares.

Under the influence of the wind, light otters constantly move around the reservoir and can interfere with navigation. Therefore, the largest of them are taken by boats into the depths of numerous bays. I try to fish in the strait, but even here the hook follows the hook. Having lost two spinners, I come to a very important conclusion: you need to fish from a boat, otherwise in a week you will be left without spinners.

I approach a small bay that cuts far into the land. Stumps, branches of flooded bushes, bunches of marsh grasses and algae are visible in the water. The middle of the bay is clean and, it seems to me, deep. Along the edges of this “window”, in the water thickets, splashes of small predators are heard every now and then. Having climbed onto a large stump, I cast. The spoon falls in the center of the “window”. I lead her close to the surface of the water, avoiding visible obstacles. I pull out a 500 gram pike. The job is done!

I carefully fish the “window” and its outskirts in all directions - and after half an hour I have two more pike and two good perch.

A collective farm herd appears on the shore. The teenage shepherds, about thirteen to fifteen years old, watch my actions with interest. Then one of them, a lively blue-eyed boy, with a face peeling from the sun and wind, advises:

You, uncle, should go to the other side. What kind of perches are caught there! - and shows with his hands the size of the “perches”, the size of which a good pig would envy. Another, smaller one, adds:
- And it would be best from a boat. They shine from our boats.
- And it hits? - I ask.
- Still would! Only more often pike.
- And big ones?
- All sorts of things.
- Where do they catch them?
- Yes, everywhere. But more on that shore, in the Zarechny meadow; Do you see the bay in the forest?

Yes, the opposite shore is indeed tempting. From here you can see its bays and forest, in some places descending directly into the water. But there - tomorrow. Today I am interested in this small bay. What was here before, before the flooding? It turns out to be a small but never-drying swamp, in which, “except for frogs, there were no fish,” as one of my “fans” explains.

The next day I continue “coastal reconnaissance”, this time along the other, forested shore of the bay. First I try to fish in deep places that are clear of debris and vegetation. But fishing turns out to be fruitless. For some reason, the “perches” promised by yesterday’s acquaintances do not manifest themselves. Behind the reliable wall of the forest in the bay there is no wind at all felt.

The mirror-like surface of the water is illuminated by the bright July sun. The algae that has grown throughout the bay is clearly visible. In shallow places they have already reached the surface, in deeper places they are a quarter away from it. The only solution in these conditions is to quickly move the spoon over the top.

The very first cast gives a bite. But then a gathering follows. Then, within ten minutes, something extraordinary happens: almost no idle casts and... not a single fish caught. This enchanted circle looked like this: cast - grab - fight with the fish for a second - escape.

I examine Trofimovskaya with surprise: the tee is in order. So, the reason for the disappearances is due to the too fast movement of the spoon and the nature of the vegetation of the bay. Hiding in the thick grass, the pike notices the fast-moving spoon too late, is late with the throw, clings to the tee somehow and then, passing through solid algae, easily gets off.

I try to move the spoon more slowly, but it immediately lands on the grass. Without hoping for success, I still continue to “catch” with fast retrieval. After several departures, with the next grip, I finally feel that the pike has “sat down” firmly. I am amazed by the unusual strength of her resistance, sharp throws to the side and some special tenacity when being pulled to the shore. The thought of a big fish involuntarily arises. I double my caution and... I pull out a small pike weighing half a kilo, with a tee stuck in its belly. Such a “bite” only confirms the idea about the reason for the derailments.

Having said goodbye to the bay of “cunning squinters” for today, I move on. It’s already five o’clock, and there are still many new places ahead. About ten minutes later I’m on a small cape, to the left and right of which shallow, heavily overgrown bays jut into the shore. At their bottom you can see many stumps. Since hooks are inevitable, and getting the spinners in this place clearly doesn’t suit me, I put in a very soft, weakly hardened tee.

True, if even an average fish grabs such a tee, such a tee will immediately straighten out, but frankly speaking, I don’t believe in the possibility of such a bite. I put the spoon “Trofimovskaya”, two-color. Thanks to the soft tee, I can cast to the most “unfortunate” places. It brings results. We caught two perches and four small beetles, 250-300 grams each.

They go by on a boat with a path. I ask about successes. They are not brilliant - up to a dozen of them squint.
The time is approaching seven o'clock. Suddenly - an unexpected and very beautiful grip. About five or six meters from the shore of the forest, she sharply went to the right and forward, towards a huge stump that was visible under the water. It is curious that this movement of the line was not transmitted at all to the reel and fingers.

Nevertheless, I made the hook and, without wasting time (mindful of the weak tee), I pulled out the pike, picking it up with my hands right in the water. The spoon was grabbed by the fish in the throat, and the tee with all its hooks dug into the gills - obviously, that’s the only reason it didn’t straighten up. The pike contained about a kilogram.

Returning home that evening, I try to summarize my first impressions of spinning fishing on a new body of water and am thinking about going to a hunting supply store and buying a backpack, because mine is completely worn out. The first and most important conclusion was that predatory fish there is a lot here, but it does not live everywhere, but only in certain places where the most favorable living conditions have been created for it: an abundance of fry, aquatic vegetation, etc. Naturally, on the new reservoir such places will be: former riverbeds and oxbow lakes rivers, their floodplains, former lakes and swamps, etc., i.e. places that had typical aquatic flora and fauna even before the formation of the sea.

But in order to fish all these places, hidden under water and sometimes located at a considerable distance from land, you must, of course, have a boat. When using a soft tee that saves lures, large fish can only be caught by accident. As for special spinners for fishing in snags, I didn’t have them. So, we need to get a boat!

FISHING FROM A BOAT. MAURA

The next day I relatively quickly found a light, stable and relatively strong boat. Its owner, handing me the keys to the oars, simultaneously supplies me with a voluminous ladle and tow (just in case!). The boat will be at my complete disposal for the entire vacation.

For several days in a row I have been fishing in the bays of Zarechny Meadow, inaccessible from the shore. They are small, shallow and heavily cluttered. Hooks are frequent, but there are no losses of spinners (the boat and the shallow depth help out).
The bays are almost overgrown with grass: after a week there was nothing to do here. Mostly squints weighing up to 500 grams are caught; almost no perches are caught. The bite can be different: sometimes very active, sometimes sluggish - depending on the weather and time of day. Gatherings are quite common. The average catch for six to eight hours of fishing ranges from 4-5 kilograms.

The bay of the “sly little ones” quickly became overgrown, but the bites and gatherings continued. Still, every day I managed to take two or three squinting pups here.

In these early days of boat fishing, I tried to find the most efficient and active techniques for it. In small, heavily cluttered and shallow bays, where predators are everywhere, the method of “drifting” the boat with the wind turned out to be the most productive method for prey. This method turned out to be especially effective in light winds, when the slow movement of the boat makes it possible to thoroughly “sweep” all places suspicious of fish. The duration of the drift is 5-20 minutes (depending on the wind strength, the length of the bay, the number of bites and hooks).

Then you row again against the wind, and everything starts to roll.

At good bite in the bay near the clearing and the Long Bay, I sometimes made up to ten drifts in a row, pulling out an average of two or three squinting pups per trip. The drift was very pleasant on other days, with winds of varying directions, when active fishing was carried out almost without interruption.

Drift efficiency decreased sharply in strong winds at open places. (The drift speed increases, the time and effort required to lift the boat against the wind increases, hooks in strong winds are more dangerous.) In such cases, it was necessary to either climb into a remote bay, protected from the wind by a forest, or anchor the boat and fish from the spot.

I did not forget to fish from the shore, where it was possible and sometimes advisable. This combination of techniques introduced variety and increased the yield of fishing.

Still, the sporting results of fishing do not satisfy me. Large fish are not caught. Road workers plying the bay of the Michi River in all directions also miss the mark. Many of them advise me to go to Maura.

Oka again, this mysterious Maura! I remember the semi-fantastic stories that circulated among Gorky fishermen, in which “pound-sized” pikes, “gray-haired” perches and... tattered gear appeared. I find out from local fishermen that Maura, or Giblaikha (the second name is less attractive, but, as we will see, is more true), in the past it was a large peat bog, now it is a bay of the Gorky Sea.

It stretches for about twelve kilometers along the left bank of the reservoir and with its southern edge reaches a point almost opposite Katunki. From the bay of the Michi River to Maura there are five to seven kilometers of water, no more.
On the next calm day we are going to Maura. With me is a whole group of vacationers who have gathered to pick strawberries. The road passes cheerfully and unnoticed. After about an hour, the first otters are seen - signs of Maura's proximity.

This area is called Urog. Before the formation of the sea there were floodplain meadows. I could start fishing already, but my berry pickers are in a hurry, and I don’t risk delaying them. Half an hour passes and we are in Maura.

She greets us with an abundance of otters of various sizes and colors. Some of them amaze with their bright and lush greenery, others with the lifelessness of intricately intertwined blackish-brown roots and stumps. Some of them stand still, others constantly move under the influence of the wind. The boat enters the maze of these floating islands.

We are not alone. At different ends of Maura you can see fishing boats, mostly with motors. Many of them, judging by the characteristic poses and movements, are spinners. Okie is what interests me.

We climb into the depths of the bay. And here is the first disappointment. The water in Maura is blooming! (The water bloom in the bay of the Michi River began 7-8 days later, and the bloom never reached such strength as here.) Having landed the berry pickers and agreed with them on the meeting place, I still started fishing. The day is very hot, cloudless and windless.

I hide from the scorching rays of the sun in the shade of huge trees that surround the shores of the bay on all sides. The boat drifts quietly. I carefully study the situation. The nature of the reservoir, its vegetation, flooded bushes and stumps, “outs”, trees that stepped straight into the water - all this is surprisingly reminiscent of the Trans-Rechny Meadow. Only it's darker here. The thought flashes that Trans-Rechny Meadow is “Little Maura”.

A boat comes across with three fishermen from Sormovich. Two of them have spinning rods. I ask about the results.

Yesterday we fished well. Today he doesn't take anything.

With the same success, a second boat comes across, a third...

Still I continue to drift. I set up my tinned iron crown spoon of the “Trofimovskaya” type and carefully “tangle” every stump, every snag. By six o'clock in the evening I have a dozen black and flexible, like a viper, squinting fish and one perch (the entire catch is no more than 3 kilograms).

I'm heading back. Here comes Urog. The berries have not arrived yet, and I direct the boat to the nearest “otters”. Near the islands you can hear the characteristic “clattering” of perches.

I throw down the oars and start drifting. There are no bites. The boat passes very close to an otter, between the roots of which a mass of scurrying fry is visible. This means the predator is somewhere nearby. Now I throw the spoon directly to the island and lead it along its edge. After several casts I hook a small pike.

During the next cast, the tee caught on the leash. The spinner does not “play”. I pull her towards the boat. And here, before my eyes, a hefty striped bass pokes its nose several times into the “non-playing” spoon. My passions flare up, and I repeat the cast another time, a third - but all in vain.

Meanwhile my companions arrive. Their “catch” is richer than mine: full baskets of fragrant, ripe berries.

OUTERTS OF ZARECHNY LUG

Several days pass. The weather is hot and sunny, and the water is blooming. Every day the fishing gets noticeably worse. Small bays become overgrown with grass and algae, and it becomes impossible to fish in them. Only Long Bay is accessible, but the bite here is inconsistent.

I try to fish in new places, I travel around almost the entire bay, but the results are not encouraging: I only take small things, and even then rarely. I try to fish early in the morning and late in the evening, at dawn - the result is the same. I put on different spinners, change the depth and tempo of the retrieve - still no success. Due to the deterioration of fishing, the number of road fishermen is also decreasing. Despite the failures, I still stubbornly continue to look for fish; She must eat something, somewhere and sometime...

Meanwhile, in Zarechny Meadow, on the site of a flooded swamp, interesting processes are taking place. Even in the first days, I noticed several small otters here. They were ordinary, unattractive-looking, black-brown, “mud” islands. I believed that they were brought here from the reservoir. Imagine my surprise when these islands sharply increased their area over the past 24 hours.

Interested in this discovery, I drove around and carefully examined the largest of them. Well it is! This islet is of local origin; This is evidenced by its western shores, which gently extend into the water and are closely connected by a complex root system to the bottom of the reservoir. In other words, the surface of the island was a continuation of the surface layer of the bay bottom, and the root system was a kind of anchor that held the island in place.

The formation of the otters was apparently accelerated by the strong winds that had recently blown and caused great disturbances throughout the bay, which contributed to the detachment of the top layer of peat bog and its rise to the surface of the water. It should be noted that the outlines of the otters changed very quickly, and their sizes increased just as quickly. Later, new islands appeared, and the three first otters merged into a single island.

Remembering fishing for otters on Urog, I decided to check out a new place. The very first cast between the two islands brought a small puppy. A few minutes later, while moving the spoon along the edge of the island, a pike of 700 grams “sat down” and on the next cast, a small perch. Then came two gatherings in a row.

The start was promising. I extremely regretted that I got here only in the evening. It was necessary to find the most rational way of fishing. Drifting was clearly not suitable here: the fish stayed near the islands and under them; In addition, the boat was carried away very quickly, so it was impossible to make more than three casts per trip.

The method of consistent, systematic fishing with securing the boat in place suggested itself. This was not difficult to do: I simply drove onto the island and carefully fished the surrounding area. The fishing was really “fun”, although there were no large fish caught. There was pike weighing up to 500 grams.

The next day turned out to be cloudy, with heavy short-term “mushroom” rains. The weak breeze changed direction frequently. At twelve o'clock in the afternoon I was at the islands. I fished with short breaks until eight o'clock in the evening. On this day, the pike and perch were larger (pike up to 1.2 kilograms), but the bites were less frequent.

In the following days, the area around the islands becomes “crowded”: road workers appear again. Several boats circle around the islands - and not without success. Acquaintances from Sormovich, whom I met on Maura, also arrive. They adapted their spinning rods for fishing as a track. One on the oars - two fishing. Then they change roles.

We compete in the number of “heads” caught. If they manage to overtake me, they reassure: - After all, we have 2 spinners.

My “sedentary” way of life on the islands is complemented by another fisherman who comes by motorboat from Puchezh. He quite successfully catches perch in the “windows” of the islands using... winter lures.

This goes on for about a week. Then the bite slowly but surely begins to weaken. This is especially noticeable in the boats of trackers: often they completely disappear from sight, fishing in distant places. Meanwhile, new otters appear nearby. I immediately move there - and again there is good, “fun” fishing for several days.

And then - again attenuation. I'm trying to understand what's happening. The following explanation suggests itself. When a new otter is formed, the normal living conditions of the flora and fauna in this area of the reservoir are disrupted. There is no doubt that, together with the plant layer, a significant part of the plankton rises to the surface of the water, on which the juvenile fish feed.

It is no coincidence that around young otters there is a huge concentration of fry, which, in turn, attract predators. Therefore, at the moment of otter formation, the most intense pecking is observed. But some time passes. The otter formation process ends. Everything gradually calms down, balance sets in. The fish disperse and go to other places. The bite is dying down.

FISHING IN AUGUST

The weather in August was extremely unstable. A few warm, fine days were followed by stormy and cool weather, with rain and strong winds. Fishing conditions have worsened.

Particularly harmful were the strong southwestern and western winds, which drove a large wave from the direction of the reservoir. On such days, the fishing area was strictly limited to quiet areas. But the same western and southwestern winds, obviously, drove Volga fish into the bay along with the water.

In August, we often came across pike coming from the sea, which were lighter in color than the local ones. Of course, pike perch and even asp came from the reservoir, small specimens of which were sometimes caught on a lure.

In general, in August the bite was more sluggish, but larger fish took it. Pike weighing 1-1.2 kilograms were caught almost every day. The number of perch bites (and especially large ones) has increased.
The fishing spots also changed: the fish continued to move. I remember the last days. On the twelfth of August, having already finished the rather boring fishing that day, I slowly drove up to the boat parking area.

Among the coastal bushes flooded with water, I noticed a small raft tied together from five or six logs and on it the figure of a fisherman. It was a boy of ten or twelve years old. He caught it with a spoon, throwing it directly from his hand. After several casts, the young angler pulled out a small bee, followed by a perch. I was not so much interested in the fishing method (it is common here) as in the place itself. I carefully checked it in July and did not give a single bite then. I moved closer. On the fisherman's raft there were about a dozen squints and two perches.

Do they take large ones here? - I asked.
“They take it, but they all fail,” the boy answered.

In the following days, using the drift method, I fished the entire area adjacent to the flooded bushes. Among the bushes (where the boy was fishing) there are the grips of small squints and perches. Further from the shore, in deeper places, pike weighing 500-600 grams, and sometimes more than a kilogram, are found. Gatherings are very rare. Fishing became “fun” again. The sudden appearance of a large number of predators in the area is apparently due to the wanderings of a large green otter.

Just these days, under the influence of the eastern wind, the otter was moved from its home and migrated to Vyazoviki. The otter's wanderings caused the fry to move, and a predatory fish followed the fry.

CONCLUSION

Having stayed at the reservoir for more than a month and devoting at least six to eight hours every day to my favorite pastime, I had the opportunity to thoroughly study the reservoir, which allows me to draw certain conclusions:

1. The decisive moment of successful fishing was the choice of location. As experience has shown, the concentration of the predator was observed only in certain areas of the bay (areas of former swamps, lakes, rivers, oxbow lakes, water meadows, flooded bushes, otters, etc.), i.e., where immediately after the formation of the sea for fish its own, related environment was created. In the neighboring bay, formed along the Shirmoksha River, there are almost no such places (here, mainly fields and vegetable gardens were under water), as a result of which fishing in it was unsuccessful.

The depth of the reservoir in the fishing area was generally small. Still, most of the grips were observed in small places (1-2 meters). Frequent snags were a significant hindrance when fishing, but the loss of spinners was minimal, since the shallow depth made it possible to get them out using the simplest means.

2. When fishing in a good place, the weather did not have a noticeable effect on the bite. Fish were caught in any weather. Better - on sunny, with cumulus clouds, moderately warm days. Somewhat worse - in heat and bad weather. The wind direction also had no of great importance.

The prevailing winds were the winds from the western quarter, from the direction of the reservoir. Fishing was usually done with them. But even with directly opposite, eastern winds, there were good catches. The strength of the wind played a big role.

With strong winds from any direction, the fishing situation became dramatically more difficult. A large wave rose on the reservoir, which, even with a good bite, forced us to abandon a good place and look for calm. The bizarre shape of the bay, as well as the wooded shores, made it possible to find such a quiet place in any wind.
Most often these were small bays of Zarechny Meadow.

Fishing improved significantly before the storm. It happened that the fish grabbed almost every cast. The intensity of the bite clearly depended on the time of day. In the morning the fishing was very sluggish. The pike really started catching only from eleven o'clock.

The number of bites continuously increased until seven o'clock in the evening, after which a decline began.
The hours of the most productive fishing (with the maximum number of bites) are from five to seven in the evening. The largest specimens were also caught at this time.

3. Large stock time allowed me to try out the entire set of spinners I had. It turned out to be the most productive homemade spoon"Trofimovskaya" type, made of tinned iron. The relatively wide stroke and pale golden color of this spoon probably made it look like crucian carp, which is quite common here.

I remember the evening of July 30th. I fish in the area of the former oxbow river Michi. There are no bites. I put on the Trofimovskaya and go drifting. Immediately the gripping begins. In just forty minutes I pull out five pikes (from 500 grams to 1 kilogram) and two good perches. Travelers traveling on a parallel course in two boats fish with silver and nickel-plated spoons and do not get a single bite.

True, on some days the fish began to “be capricious” and took better on various white spoons. As for the speed at which the spoon was retrieved, it varied depending on the nature of the bottom and the level of vegetation in the reservoir.

The direction of casts as the boat drifted was also varied. However, flank casts had an advantage; casts to the rear were used less frequently. Casting forward, along the course of the boat, was practiced even less often, since with a strong drift it always led to snags.

4. I have already repeatedly pointed out that mainly small pike were caught with spinning rods and on the track. This, of course, does not mean that there are no big fish here. It must be taken into account that the fishing was carried out in the most “non-pike” time (July and the first half of August), during the period of the hottest weather and blooming water. And yet the fish were caught! In spring and autumn, according to local fishermen, large pike are not so rare. I personally twice had to observe large pikes in the bay of the Michi River.

The first time, it was at the end of July, I fished in the area of young otters. After the next cast, I dragged a small pike to the boat. To my surprise, she was accompanied by a large pike, at least a meter long. Not paying any attention to me, the predator tried to grab “my” pike. But she did it somehow reluctantly, slowly, without excitement, which allowed the pike to avoid her terrible mouth.

Amazed by the impudence of the fish, I immediately stopped reeling and let “my” pike go deeper, naively believing that it would be immediately swallowed by a large pike. After waiting a few minutes, I resumed reeling. The picture was completely repeated. And at that moment a crazy thought came into my head: to catch the robber with a landing net.^ Having shortened the line to the limit, I continued to pull my prey to the boat with the help of a rod. A large pike followed her as if enchanted. Grab in right hand landing net, lowering it into the water and bringing it under the fish - it was a matter of one second.

I make a lightning-fast movement with the landing net, and... the large body of the fish easily slips out of it. The landing net turned out to be too small: it only captured the tail. Dissatisfied with this technique, the pike again reluctantly goes into the depths, but this time forever. I look after her in confusion. Taking advantage of the turmoil, “my” pike safely leaves the tee and leaves after its “savior”. As they say, you're chasing two birds with one stone...

Another incident occurred a few days later - in early August. The weather was hot and sultry, foretelling the approach of a thunderstorm. The boat slowly drifted towards a large green otter. There were no bites. The stuffy, heavy air, the steady rocking of the boat, the lack of a bite - and I began to feel sleepy.

Overcoming drowsiness, I cast out of habit and mechanically reeled in the line, literally falling asleep in moments.

Suddenly the forest stopped. “Hook,” I thought and opened my eyes. Carefully (so as not to land the lure) I twitched the tip of the rod. And only then did I realize my mistake. A huge body of a pike darted from the depths to the surface. Illuminated by the rays of the sun in clear water, it seemed to me unusually large and... beautiful.

The pike shook its head and the spoon flew out of its mouth. She didn't show up again.

What would have happened if I had hooked it?

In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about the protection of the fish resources of the new reservoir.

I already talked about that huge damage, which was caused to the fisheries of the sea by an unexpected drop in water level in the winter and early spring of 1958, when massive fish kills occurred under the ice in the bays. I am not an expert, but it seems to me that such phenomena can be avoided by coordinated (between the Gorky and Rybinsk hydroelectric power stations) regulation of water levels in winter.

Finally about poachers. These grabbers are currently showing their highest “activity” on the Volga, below the Gorky hydroelectric station, where there is a large concentration of various fish. They “catch” with motor boats, equipped with the latest poaching technology, mechanical “lifts” with a fine-mesh net (“spiders”, “wobbles”, “parachutes”, etc.).

On some days, below the hydroelectric power station, we saw dozens of boats of these predators, even climbing into the restricted area of the station itself. They literally scoop out the fry of perch, pike perch, ide and other fish. Their “catch” amounts to bags and is used to fatten livestock. They say that some of the most “enterprising” poachers from Gorodets and surrounding villages have already made entire houses from fish.

And all this is being done despite the strict ban on fishing 1500 meters below the hydroelectric dam with any fishing gear (including sporting gear) throughout the year. Sports fishermen carry out this order, but poachers act according to the principle “And Vaska listens and eats!” The question is, where is the State Fisheries Inspectorate?

It cannot be said that she does not carry out any fight against predators; her boat is often seen in the area of the hydroelectric power station. But poachers also have boats with motors. Try and catch up! In our opinion, the only way out is to involve a wide mass of amateur fishermen in the protection of fish stocks, and to establish permanent posts in the area of the hydroelectric power station to combat the predatory extermination of fish.

One of the most wonderful vacation spots in the European part of Russia is the Gorky Reservoir. This artificial reservoir, formed in the 50s of the 20th century during the construction of the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric power station, is called the Gorky Sea.

The reservoir extends 427 km in length and reaches 16 km in width in the area of the dam. Along the entire coast there are numerous tourist centers offering not only a wonderful holiday, but also excellent fishing. You can relax here with the whole family - everyone will find something to their liking.

Terrain features

Stretching over 4 regions, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo and Kostroma, the reservoir is distinguished by its magnificent nature and interesting varied landscape and provides ample opportunities for excellent fishing and recreation.
In the upper part, only the floodplain of the Volga River is flooded; then, at the confluence of the rivers, bays 2-3 km wide are formed, which smoothly flow into endless expanses of water. The depth of the reservoir reaches 22 m, but for the most part does not exceed 3-4 m.
The left bank is flat and has narrow reaches, perfect for summer recreation. The entry into the water is generally long - you can wade knee-deep for 100-200 m. The right bank is steep and very picturesque. It is the right side of the reservoir that is navigable.
As a rule, in early May the reservoir is cleared of ice. Shallow water quickly warms up, which provides the basis for rapid growth of vegetation. By the end of June, some vacation spots are overgrown with algae. By the end of summer, due to the rapid proliferation of blue-green algae in stagnant water, a death of fish may begin, which the water washes ashore.

Fishing

Thanks to the diverse flora and fauna, about 50 species of fish are found here. The populations of some of them are maintained artificially - fry are released and special organisms that serve as food for them.
Now you can find:
River fish: sterlet, sturgeon, beluga, podust, asp, blackback and others. They live in the upper reaches of the reservoir, in the floodplains of rivers, as they need running water. They almost never swim into the reservoir itself.
Lake and river fish: pike, pike perch, dace, perch, bream. It is found everywhere.
Lake fish: tench, rudd, loach, crucian carp, minnow. It thrives in stagnant water and lives in the main part of the reservoir.

Summer fishing

In summer you can fish everywhere - the abundance of bays with standing water and rivers provides excellent opportunities for good catch. River floodplains are the best places for fishing; the mouths of Sanakhta and Trots are considered the most fishy. Fishing is also excellent in the area of the Kostroma Razliv reach. Fishing is also good in the areas of Trubinka, Andronikha, Obzherikha, Novlensky, Santelevo, Krasnaya Gora, and people also go fishing to Kostromka.

Winter fishing

For lovers of winter fishing, this is a real haven. The ice on the reservoir is strong due to the fact that the current near the reservoir is small. This is where you can easily pull out a 3-4 kg pike-perch or a two-kilogram bream. You can also catch roach, bersh, perch, and you can catch burbot or smelt.

The most fishing places are considered to be Pichugino, Kineshma, Gremyachevo, Yuryevets, but in other places you can stay with your catch.

Fishing is good along the old bed of the Volga - thanks to the river's flow, the fish are always active and responsive to bait, and there are no kills here.
In general, ice fishing is good anywhere in the reservoir. If you have not resorted to the services of rangers or guides from a tourist base, you can watch the local residents who have thoroughly studied the fishing spots.

Fishing Gorky Reservoir

Recreation centers

The whole family should go on vacation to the Gorky Sea. Men will enjoy fishing, while women and children will have a good time swimming and sunbathing.
On the shore of the reservoir there are numerous recreation centers, providing the opportunity to relax in a civilized manner, disconnecting from everyday worries. Here, experienced instructors will offer real fishing routes, provide a boat and everything necessary equipment for great fishing.
The Good Life country club in the village of Khorobrovo, Kostroma region, specializes in eco-tourism and is distinguished by wonderful fishing routes in the area of the Nemda River.
“Guest house “2Kapitana” is located near the village of Yurkino, Nizhny Novgorod region on the Mocha River. For spinning, dock or regular float rod you can catch pike perch, bream or roach.
The Ershikha base in the Kostroma region offers fishing from the banks of the Volga or by boat at the mouth of the Nemda River.
The Demidovka base is located on the banks of the Volga in the Yuryevets district of the Ivanovo region. Almost all types of fishing are available here, but ice fishing is especially good.
The Gorky Reservoir is a vacation spot for the whole family. Excellent fishing, magnificent nature, warm water, sandy stretches and contact with wildlife will leave a sea of positive emotions.

The Gorky Reservoir was created to solve issues of shipping and energy. Most of the traffic occurs on the deeper right side of the reservoir. Fishing has also developed widely on the reservoir. Fishing on the Gorky Reservoir very interesting and varied.

More often fishing on the Gorky Reservoir It is fished for species such as bream, roach, silver bream, pike, ide, perch, asp, pike perch, and somewhat less commonly sabrefish and white-eye.

As a rule, large, well-fed fish are caught in reservoir conditions. And the best places where it happens fishing on the Gorky Reservoir This is primarily the Kostroma reach, the mouths of various rivers and streams, and small bays.

Now about winter fishing on the Gorky Reservoir. The reservoir has many different places for winter fishing. An excellent place is the mouth of the Unzha River, which is located near the small town of Yuryevets. This town has been known since ancient times, because it was from these places that various fish were supplied to the royal table. This area is attractive for fishermen because in this place three rivers Volga, Nemda and Unzha merge at once and here the reservoir overflows for one and a half dozen kilometers. The places here are difficult to access and getting here is much easier in winter.

The most popular place for fishing in winter is located near the dam, which is designed to protect Yuryevets from the Volga overflowing in the spring. Also successful winter fishing on the Gorky Reservoir occurs in the flooded beds of the Unzha and Nemda rivers. The current here is constant and the fish are highly active.

Large perch are caught near the “cross” - this place is located opposite the center of Yuryevets on the opposite bank of the riverbed. But you need to take a little to the left onto the flooded channel of the channel. When catching perch using a jig with a bunch of bloodworms, burbot often bites. When the last ice season arrives, many anglers move to the large sandbank, which is located slightly to the right of the cross. A little higher up the riverbed near the left bank of the Volga, perch weighing from 0.2 to 0.6 kg is caught. In addition, there are many flooded trees and cases of bait loss are frequent.

On the coast of the Gorky Reservoir there are several recreation centers and fishing bases where you can stay for a fishing period.

Fishing base "2 captains"

This base is located near the mouth of the Mocha River, where it flows into the Gorky Reservoir. There are quiet beautiful places, virgin forests, wide expanses of water. In summer, in addition to fishing, you can take a walk in the forest and pick various berries and mushrooms. You can lie on the sand, on the shore and admire the magnificent local scenery. The camp site is famous for its excellent fishing. The best places are located at the mouth of the Mocha River, which has always been famous for its abundance of fish. Pike, pike perch, asp, carp, roach, bream and perch are caught here. Successful fishing here is possible both from the shore and from a boat using a wide variety of gear.

Recreation center "Good Life"