Open-water mormyshing: an unusual way to catch perch and roach

Open-water mormyshing: an unusual way to catch perch and roach. Open-water mormyshing is a relatively new, yet very exciting and effective fishing method, gaining popularity each year among advanced spinning anglers and light tackle enthusiasts. Essentially, it's a summer-fall version of winter jig fishing, using a spinning rod and horizontal retrieve instead of a nod and vertical action.

This method works especially well for perch and roach, and in some cases for ide, chub and even small predators.

What is open water mormyshing?

Mormyshing is fishing with an artificial jig (usually with a silicone or foam "droplet") and an active action. Unlike classic microjigging, the emphasis here is on very small lures (0.2–1.5 g) and a very delicate, "live" retrieve, imitating an amphipod or other small aquatic creatures.

Advantages of mormyshing

• Great for enticing passive fish.
• Allows you to fish in hard-to-reach places (under overhanging bushes, in grassy areas, near snags)
• Works when conventional lures are silent
• Gives a huge number of bites even when the bite is weak

Tackle for mormyshing

• Spinning rod: 1.8–2.2 m long, casting weight 0.3–3 g or 0.5–5 g, fast or medium-fast action (tip sensitivity is very important)
• Coil: 1000–2000, lightweight, with precise laying
• Cord: braided line 0.06–0.10 mm
• Leash: fluorocarbon 0.12–0.16 mm length 30–70 cm
• Jigs: tungsten 0.3–1.5 g (drop, Uralka, ant, nymph)

The best jigs and baits

Artificial jigs:

• Classic "Kapelka", "Drobinka", "Uralka"
• Jigs with a hole for cambric (to change the color of the ball)
• Jigs with a hanging hook

Colors of jigs:

• Black, dark green, brown, red, orange
• Combinations: black + red dot, green + black head

Jig attachments:

• Classic: bloodworm (bunch), maggot, worm
• Edible silicone 0.5–1 inch (Keitech, Fanatik, Lucky John)
• Silicone "nymphs" and "crayfish"

Wiring technique

Mormyshing requires “live” and varied animation:

1. The classic jig game is short, frequent twitches of the rod tip with a slow lift.
2. Dotted wiring - a series of small jerks + a pause of 1-3 seconds.
3. Dragging along the bottom with a slight twitching.
4. Floating wiring - the jig slowly rises in the water column.
5. Stop & Go– a few swings and a long pause.

The most effective wiring often occurs when the bait barely touches the bottom or goes 5-15 cm from it.

Where and when is the best time to fish?

Best places:

• Windows in the grass and an edge of reeds
• Coastal snags and submerged bushes
• Eyebrows and small dumps
• Mouths of streams and small tributaries
• The area under the overhanging trees

Season:

• The best period is from mid-May to October
• Particularly effective in cloudy weather and when the bite is weak on conventional baits

On the Putorana Plateau, open-water jig fishing yields excellent results in summer on lakes and in the middle reaches of rivers (e.g., the Yerachimo, Lama, and Keta). In cold, clear water, perch and roach respond very well to small jigs with bloodworms or edible silicone bait. Dark and natural-colored jigs are especially effective here.

Helpful tips

• Use the thinnest and most sensitive tip of your rod.
• Always have several types of jigs of different weights and colors with you.
• Fish as quietly as possible - perch and roach are very shy.
• When fishing in the grass, use jigs with a hanging hook - there are fewer snags.
• Experiment with the height of the retrieve - sometimes the fish are in mid-water.

Conclusion

Open-water mormyshing is an unusual, subtle, and very interesting fishing method that allows you to catch fish when other lures fail. Mastering this technique will significantly expand your arsenal and allow you to catch more fish with greater enjoyment.

Try mormyshing on your next fishing trip—and chances are, it will quickly become one of your favorite ways to catch perch and roach.

Good luck on the water and may you get frequent, loud bites!