Buffalo fishing: tackle, bait and where to catch

The largemouth buffalo (ictiobus cyprineluss) is the largest and fastest growing member of the Chukuchan family. The slightly elongated, valky body of the fish has scales of a brown tint on the back and a light gray tint on the sides. The dark and long dorsal fin is combined with a head skull resembling the head of a silver carp. An adult specimen reaches a size of 30 to 80 cm, with a weight of 4 to 15 kg. The average life expectancy of a buffalo is about 10 years.

Buffalo prefers fresh water bodies of water. These can be rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. It lives mainly in North America, as well as in the Mississippi River basin and in the Hudson Strait. In the first half of the 70s, the buffalo was brought to the territory of the former USSR, where the fish took root in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Ukraine, Moldova, as well as the reservoirs of the Volga region and the Krasnodar Territory. This fact indicates that the buffalo is a thermophilic fish.

There are three types of buffalo:

• bigmouth;
• smallmouth;
• black

In our area, the large-mouthed buffalo has taken root, and two other species live in the waters of the United States and Canada.

When to Catch a Buffalo

Catching a buffalo very quickly captivates both amateur anglers and professional anglers, as it is no less interesting and exciting than catching crucian or carp. It actively pecks in the summer, although it is no less actively caught in the spring. Somewhere in the month of April, numerous flocks of buffalo can be noted, which are characterized by increased activity. This fish searches for bugs and crustaceans in the near-bottom area, in places where silt accumulates, as well as near-bottom vegetation and leaves. Therefore, it is preferable to catch this fish from the bottom. The most suitable periods for fishing are early morning and late evening, when the fish show their maximum activity.

If you managed to get into a flock, then there is a chance of catching rather large individuals, weighing several kilograms. Buffalo meat is characterized by a high content of fat and nutrients, and surpasses crucian meat in taste characteristics. With the onset of heat, the fish moves to the upper layers, where it hides in thickets of aquatic vegetation. It is in such places that you should look for it. To catch this fish, you should seriously prepare and choose the right equipment.

With the advent of winter, the buffalo moves to the pits, where it is in a state of suspended animation until the very spring. It is most active during hot periods. If buffalo and burbot are found in the reservoir, then this reservoir can be called universal, since in the warm period it will peck at the buffalo, and in the cold burbot.

buffalo tackle

You can catch this fish with various gear, such as:

• donka;
• feeder;
• float rod.

According to local fishermen, the most suitable tackle is an ordinary float rod, 5-6 meters long, equipped with a 0,1-0,2 mm line and hooks No. 12 … 14. The thickness of the leash is chosen slightly less than the thickness of the main fishing line and can be in the range of 0,1-0,12 mm. Equally important is the color of the fishing line, which corresponds to green when fishing in still water and brown when fishing in the current. If the fish is active enough, then any color of fishing line will do. The float should not be large and create minimal water resistance so that its fluctuations are not noticeable on the waves. The fact is that the buffalo will not take the bait if it suspects something suspicious.

Buffalo bites are mostly vigorous and immediately cause the float to move to the side. In this case, the float can lay out on the surface of the water and go to the side. At this point, the most important thing is to cut. Although, he does not always take the bait right away and can circle around it for a long time and only then decide to bite. The buffalo has soft lips, so the undercuts must be neat. Sharp cuts can break the buffalo’s lip, after which it will leave. If he is hooked, especially if it is a weighty specimen, then maximum care should be taken when fighting him. This process should be quite delicate.

When fishing on a feeder (bottom tackle), a spinning rod is suitable, up to 2,7 m long and with a test of up to 60 g. The weight of the feeder can be within 20 g. If fishing is carried out in the current, then the weight of the feeder can be increased to 60 ti grams or more. Then you need to pick up the rest of the gear so that they can withstand the casting of a heavy feeder.

Bait and bait for catching buffalo

The buffalo is an omnivorous fish, although its main diet is zooplankton. Therefore, the same bait that is used for catching carp can serve as bait. You can add a worm, maggot or bloodworm to the bait. As a nozzle suitable:

• muckworm;
• tall;
• corn, including canned;
• dough;
• pearl barley;
• Hercules;
• semolina.

Buffalo prefers baits in the form of balls with a moderate density. As a rule, the correct consistency is achieved through trial and error.

The process of fishing requires some caution so as not to frighten away a flock of fish for a long time. With the help of bait, the fish should be regularly kept in one place, which is not entirely easy. At the same time, you should not toss bait too often, as this can scare away the fish. The basis of effective fishing is the correctly selected density of bait. It should keep its shape for a long time and not sink to the bottom. As a rule, in addition to this fish, other, smaller fish are found in reservoirs. Therefore, in order for the bait not to collect “little things”, larger fractions should be introduced into it. The same applies to bait in the form of balls. They can be increased so that small fish cannot interfere with biting.

Buffalo is not indifferent to various flavors in the same way as crucian carp. In this regard, the effectiveness of fishing can always be increased if components with a peculiar aroma are introduced into the bait. At the same time, it does not make any sense to add artificial flavors, since the buffalo responds perfectly to the flavors of natural origin. The main requirement is the observance of a sense of proportion. For beginner fishermen, there is such a rule as it is better to sleep less than to oversleep. The bait should have a brightly expressive smell, but not overly sharp, otherwise the fish will reject it.

As a flavoring additive, you can use the following components:

• coriander;
• roasted sunflower seeds in crushed form;
• vanilla;
• dill;
• paprika;
• garlic;
• fennel;
• honey;
• cocoa;
• caraway.

Many experienced anglers claim that flavoring additives are introduced into bait depending on weather conditions. In the spring, you should rely more on spicy aromas. In the summer, when it’s hot outside, you can pamper the buffalo with sweet aromas. It is perfectly caught on baits with the addition of carp attractants. When bait balls are formed, a certain amount of water should be added to them to swell. If ready-made dry mixes are used, then they are stirred according to a special technology indicated on the package.

Where is buffalo caught?

Buffalo is a heat-loving fish, so it is unlikely to be found in cold waters. This fish spawns in conditions when the water temperature reaches +15ºС. Buffalo prefers to be in flocks, where it quickly gains its weight and is considered a productive fish. The buffalo is found in large bodies of fresh water such as rivers, reservoirs, ponds, and lakes. He does not like deep water, therefore, he can easily be found in ponds with muddy water, which have a shallow depth. It grows well in the southern regions of Russia, as well as in reservoirs of artificial origin, where there is a constant supply of warm water. The large-mouthed buffalo has partially adapted to the waters of the post-Soviet space, so scientists have solved this problem using the technology of factory reproduction of carp fish species. To this end, numerous broodstocks have been formed in some countries.

Each fishing begins with the search for a promising place. This search is absolutely similar to the search for a catchy place when catching crucian carp. He does not like fast currents and prefers to be in waters with a muddy bottom. It can be backwaters or even swampy areas. At the same time, it can hardly be found in the mouths of rivers with a cold current and a rocky bottom. Therefore, we can safely assume that where crucian carp is found, buffalo can also be found there.

He does not like places such as rifts, whirlpools or sections of rivers with a fast current. But the calm and quiet parts of the reservoir are his favorite places where he spends all his time.

In the presence of a good food base, a buffalo gains one kilogram for each year of its life. After reaching puberty, it spawns vigorously and actively. Buffalo caviar is peculiar in size and other characteristics, therefore it is not used by other types of fish. This factor allows the buffalo to recover its population very quickly. Buffalo fishing is not limited anywhere and is available for all categories of anglers and all fishing conditions. It can be fished both from the shore and from a boat.

Video “Buffalo in ilmens on a float”

Video “Catching a buffalo in erica”