Rope fishing

Rope fishing

The rope is probably the most coveted catch among float fishing enthusiasts, and it's not for nothing that it was chosen as the national fish of Lithuania. Unlike bream, tench is more of an amateur fishery than a sport fishery. This is because it is a much more cautious fish that lives and feeds on seeds and is rarely caught when there are many fishermen fishing in one place. Therefore, targeted fishing is only possible in secluded areas where you can fish alone and no one will scare the fish away.

In Lithuania, tench live in ponds, lakes, gravel pits, slow-moving rivers and their old riverbeds. The rope is most comfortable and dense in ageing, muddy lakes. And only where aquatic vegetation is abundant. In large dams and rivers, they are best found in shallow bays, overgrown coastal banks, where there is virtually no current.

The rope is valued not only for its culinary qualities, which are no longer a concern for many fishermen, but also for its strength and size. The rope can grow up to 70 cm long and weigh 7,5 kg, although most are caught at around 40 cm long and around 1 kg.

They live in small groups of a few individuals, and in very promising areas, if fed well and correctly, it is possible to attract a really large number of them and catch ten or more in a fishing trip, but this will not always be possible. In most cases, 3-5 individuals are caught in a targeted longline fishery. The most successful time to catch ropes is from early spring to October. The first rope rush is in early April, when they become very active for a short period of time, and then their activity decreases. During the spawning season at the end of June, the ropes become active again and then their bite improves and peaks in August.

The rope is an omnivorous fish and feeds on a wide variety of molluscs, insect larvae, fish eggs, certain plant species and algae. There are two main methods of catching ropes. Firstly, there is float fishing, but currently method fishing is becoming very popular.

Float fishing for rope

The most common way to catch tench in Lithuania is with a simple float line. Most fishermen fish from the shore, but they can also be fished from a boat with great success, if not better. Like most seed-eating fish, rope is best caught early in the morning, late in the evening or in the dark. A float is the most common choice when fishing from the shore, as a float has a relatively short casting system (distance between the float and the hook) and a short system is easier to hit when casting close to the grass. When fishing with a fixed float, say at a depth of 1,5 metres, the system will be 1,5 metres long and it is unlikely to be possible to cast so that the float falls close to the grass line. In particular, the closer the float can be placed to the grass, the better the chances of catching it. For bait, when fishing with a float rod, it is best to use a simple Lithuanian night earthworm or several smaller earthworms. The main line should be a monofilament line about 0.22mm thick and be sure to sink, so that the wind does not blow the line lying on the surface and drag your whole system out of the fishing area. The leash should be quite strong ( 0.16mm-0.2mm), depending on the angler's experience and equipment. Hooks for the line shall be used according to the bait of choice. For nightcrawlers, long-pointed hooks of size 4-8 should be chosen, with barbs to hold the bait in place. Rope is also often fished with corn or fly larvae or a combination of both. In this case, thicker wire short-eyed hooks in sizes 6-10 should be chosen. You will have more success if you take the time to spook your future longline fishing site. For this purpose, it is sufficient to feed 1 kg of shuttled grain per day for a few days and to do this for at least 2-3 days.

The rod can be telescopic or double-barreled, but if you are fishing from a boat, it is best to use a long bolon rod or a rod without rings, so that you can lower the float very accurately, as far away from the boat as possible, into the eye of clear water between the grasses. The reel is of little importance when fishing with a float rod at close range, so it is best to choose one that is as light as possible to make fishing more fun.

The line bite is quite cautious, so don't be in a hurry to cross as soon as the float starts to move or spawn a little. It is best to wait until the float is clearly starting to move in a certain direction. Then all you have to do is to cut the float and prevent it from escaping into the thicket of grasses, where it is bound to turn when it senses a trick. This requires a strong line and a leash, because there is not too much time and space to bother the fish, and it is necessary to bring it into the grab quickly, which should be chosen with as long a rod as possible, at least 2.5 to 3 metres long, as this will help to reel the fish in faster.

Age and size of rope.

- 1year old - 7,8 cm long.

- 2years - 13.9 cm.

- 3years - 19.4 cm.

- 4years - 22,4 cm.

- 5years - 25.1 cm.

- 6years - 27.7 cm.

- 7years - 29.0 cm.

- 8years - 31.4 cm.

- 9years - 33.4 cm.

- 10 years - 35,7 cm.

- 11 years - 37,8 cm.