Oseledets (Don herring): types of settlers, features, fishing

Many who were able to try the common fish soup on the Don River remember this unique taste. The unique taste of fish soup depends on the composition of the ingredients, including the species composition of the fish. As a rule, fish such as carp, fish and “sedentary”, which is also called the Don herring, enter the ear. It is this fish that has the greatest influence on the taste of fish soup. What kind of fish it is, as well as what features it has and will be discussed in this article.

Oseledets: what kind of fish?

Local fishermen call this fish only “oseledets”. By the way, this name was worn by the forelocks of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks. The Don herring has the same name.

There are several types of Don herring, but only 2 species are of interest:

• Puzanok.
• Grumbler

Appearance

Don herring is not much different from the same representatives of the underwater world. This fish has a silvery color, fins of a rather inexpressive gray hue, which stand out during spawning periods, acquiring a reddish tint.

Don herring, being in the water, is distinguished by a peculiar greenish-purple tint. It is able to grow up to 40 centimeters in length, although there are mostly individuals that have reached a length of no more than 20 centimeters. The life expectancy of the Don herring is about 6 years.

Habitat

It can be found in the Black Sea basin, the Caucasus, Romania and Bulgaria. With the advent of spring, she goes to spawn in the Danube, Don, Dniester, Dnieper, Bug and other smaller rivers.

Spawning

After 4 or 5 years of life, large species of Don herring begin to spawn. Smaller representatives – after 2 or 3 years of life. The sedentary spawns every year. Females spawn, after which it is carried away by the current to the mouths of the rivers. Already at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, Don herring fry, along with adults, go through the Kerch Strait to the Black Sea.

The Don herring enters the Sea of ​​Azov through the Kerch Strait, after which it enters the waterway of the Don. More recently, it was caught here on an industrial scale.

Types of settlers

You can meet several species of this delicious fish, but local fishermen mainly catch the following species.

Grumbling herring

Burkun is one of the largest representatives of this species. Therefore, this sedentary fish is of particular interest to anglers. Burkun begins to be actively caught already at the end of April. Each of the fishermen dreams of catching this fish. During this period, the Don herring moves in small flocks.

Oseledets belongs to the predatory species of fish, so many fishermen catch it on sprat. In addition, the burkun also bites on artificial baits, such as flies, if you catch it with fly fishing. When fishing with spinning, you can use spinners and other artificial lures.

Belly herring

Puzanok is a smaller representative of the Don herring, but the most numerous. Moreover, this type of Don herring has a more interesting taste. The shad is caught on various gear, such as a fishing rod, elastic band, feeder, etc. This fish has its favorite places where the current is more rapid. These are places where natural or artificial barriers are observed that affect the intensity of the current. These include bridges, river diversions, and other places where the current increases, although not significantly.

What tackle is used for fishing

Basically, the following types of tackle are used to catch the sedentary:

• Rubber of special design.
• Spinning and also fly fishing.
• Both artificial baits and live organisms are used. Local fishermen prefer to catch the sedentary on streamers.

Dishes from the settler

Don herring can be cooked by all currently known methods. It can be fried, boiled, pickled, salted, baked, smoked, etc. The most delicious fish soup is obtained if you add sedentary to carp and fish, which gives the ear an unsurpassed taste.

Dishes prepared by skillful hands of housewives are so tasty from sedentary that they are in no way inferior to dishes prepared from more famous types of herring. On the Don, Don herring is cooked in a marinade according to a special recipe.

Marinated herring

To prepare such a delicious dish you will need:

• One kilogram of Don herring shad.
• Two tablespoons of tomato paste.
• One teaspoon of salt.
• Two tea spoons of sugar.
• Four tablespoons of vinegar.
• Two onions.
• The fourth part of a glass of sunflower oil.
• Allspice peas.
• A couple of cloves.

How to cook

1. The fish is washed and gutted, after which the head and tail are removed.
2. The fish is cut into small pieces.
3. The onion is cut into rings.
4. The marinade is prepared by mixing vegetable oil, tomato paste diluted in water and spices. After that, the mixture is stewed over low heat for 7 minutes, with the addition of salt, sugar and vinegar.
5. Dishes are taken (only not made of metal) and onions are laid on the bottom, after which a layer of fish is laid out on top and poured with marinade. After that – again onions, fish and marinade. So layer by layer until the fish run out. The last layer of fish is also poured with marinade. In conclusion, the container is tightly closed with a lid and sent to a cool place.
6. In a cool place, the fish should be about two days.
7. The fish is served on the table with herbs and boiled potatoes.

Donskaya herring or oseledets is a rather tasty and peculiar fish in taste. But if you cook it right, you get very tasty dishes. It is caught simply on the most primitive fishing tackle. There are enough stocks of this fish, so there are no prohibitions on catching it.