During holidays and weekends in the first half of January, specialists conducted a census of recreational fishermen at three reservoirs of the Volga-Don Shipping Canal (Varvarovskoye, Bereslavskoye, and Karpovskoye).
The reservoirs are most actively used by recreational fishermen during winter ice fishing. The Varvarovskoye Reservoir is particularly popular; 537 fishermen were recorded there on one of the census days. This large number of visitors is due to the reservoir's close proximity to Volgograd. Furthermore, the numerous summer cottage communities and villages located along the reservoir's shores contribute significantly to the overall number of fishermen.
Roach and perch were the most abundant species caught during the survey period, accounting for over 57% of the total catch, followed by crucian carp and pike (13.3% and 10.2%, respectively). The remaining species ranked as follows: bream (9.6%), white bream (6.3%), and pike perch (3.6%).
For winter fishing, recreational anglers most often use ice fishing rods and tip-ups (ice fishing rods). Balance lures, jigs without bait, live bait, bloodworms, pearl barley, maggots, and worms are used as bait.
It is worth noting that in recent years, recreational pike catches in Volgograd Region reservoirs, including the VDSK reservoirs, have increased significantly. This anthropogenic pressure, which involves the mass removal of females carrying eggs, negatively impacts the population status of this predator. To ensure the conservation and sustainable use of pike in water bodies in the Volgograd Region, the branch has prepared proposals to regulate recreational fishing for this species.
VNIRO Press Service