Summer fishing for rotan sometimes replaces crucian carp or perch fishing, as the rotan fish is a real piranha of our waters. Impudent, greedy, aggressive, in some reservoirs and at certain times – black as resin. It is also called a firebrand. It is capable of driving away any other fish from a hook with bait. Nevertheless, catching medium and large rotan can be quite exciting. And often the fisherman does not regret that instead of crucian carp or other fish, hefty rotans are caught on the hook. Sometimes it happens that a fishing trip would have been completely empty, since the fish did not bite at all, but the same rotan came to the rescue.
The most common gear for catching rotan are float rods of various modifications, but a swing rod or telescopic rod with rings is used more often due to its simplicity and also because the rotan often takes almost underfoot. A long cast may not be required.
Despite its omnivorous nature, rotan prefers animal baits, or more precisely, bait: worms, pieces of meat and fat, cut fish, and does not disdain its fellows. Large rotan takes fry and live bait.
Habitats are large and small ponds, lakes, rivers, in a word – any body of water, even if dirty. It happens that these fish live almost in garbage dumps, which are made from ponds and rivers by Russian citizens, proud of their mentality, but shitting on reservoirs, as if it were a foreign hostile land and water … Those arriving by car, it is difficult for them to take bags with their garbage with them on the way back. It is good that not everyone is like that. Many, upon arrival on the river bank, first clean up someone else’s garbage, and take their own with them.
Rotan takes artificial baits no worse than perch. It is often caught on small oscillating and rotating lures, often aimed at perch or other predatory fish. But the best way to catch the chub is on silicone baits, also when fishing for perch, although there are fishermen who specifically hunt for rotan, which can weigh up to a kilogram. So it is quite a large predator. And the convenience of catching rotan is that you often do not have to go far for it. Rotan is sure to be found in any city pond or other body of water. Therefore, you just need to take the gear and get to the pond.
