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This fish is considered one of the most interesting and amazing. If you take a trophy fishing tour on the Yenisei River, you can experience the immense pleasure and unforgettable experience of catching this carp. You can also hunt for enormous "river alligators."
What are the characteristics of crucian carp?
It's no secret that crucian carp are considered one of the most resilient fish species. They can survive both in water and out of it for long periods. Fishermen know that crucian carp come in a variety of colors, from black to golden or silver. Some individuals are hybrids, but unfortunately, only the females survive. However, their eggs can be fertilized by other relatives, such as tench, red carp, or crucian carp itself.
1. Special survivability.
In winter, it burrows into the bottom of a body of water, like many of its relatives—carp, common carp, and tench—and remains dormant until warmer weather arrives. Moreover, when a river, lake, or pond suddenly dries up, it can burrow into the silt or sand and survive there, virtually without oxygen, water, or food.
Once caught, crucian carp can live peacefully in a bathtub or pool, and even when they're being prepared, gutted and cleaned, they remain reluctant to leave this world for a long time. I remember as children, my brother and I, having returned from fishing and caught several crucian carp, would watch them in the bathtub, which we'd specially filled with water.
The fish, seemingly dead for a long time—the fishing trip lasted about an hour and a half—began to revive, and then began swimming as if nothing had happened. But the most astonishing thing came when we cleaned and gutted the fish.
The fish continued to breathe and move, even without internal organs. Moreover, they bounced around in the hot pan for several more minutes, until they were almost completely fried on one side.
2. Lives in captivity.
Another interesting fact is that the goldfish, familiar to many aquarium breeders, is a full-fledged sister of the crucian carp. This beloved fiery beauty was once bred by a Japanese breeder, just as mirror images of the species were once bred from carp.
It's also worth noting that the crucian carp is the ancestor of all veiltail species of aquarium fish. These specimens have enchanted and delighted all lovers and breeders of captive fish for many years, surviving well in captivity.
3. Fussy and capricious.
Crucian carp are considered capricious, especially when it comes to food. This is reflected in the following:
- For example, if today crucian carp were attacking one type of bait well, be it a worm or a maggot, tomorrow they might ignore them altogether and instead attack pearl barley, corn, or peas. Therefore, to achieve trophy fishing, you'll need a whole arsenal and a wide variety of baits.
- Anyone who's ever caught these fish knows how they initiate their bites. They're unmistakable. The fish takes a long time to examine the bait, sucking on it, as if testing the waters, without swallowing. Only after testing the waters does it attempt to grab the bait and run into the nearest weeds or bushes.
However, when crucian carp aren't biting, experienced, seasoned anglers begin to deliberately stir up the water using a regular fishing rod. This causes the fish to begin hunting for bait and become more active.
4. Crucian carp has a strong sense of smell.
This species is capable of recognizing many different odors. Crucian carp are particularly attracted to pungent, sometimes even repulsive, odors. For example, many fishermen try to lure them to bait using sunflower oil. Garlic, which has a distinctive, pungent odor, is often used.
5. A cunning liar and deceiver.
As crucian carp grow, they become exceptionally intelligent and cunning. When they spot something suspicious, such as fishermen casting a seine or dragnet toward them, they simply lie on the bottom and wait for the net to pass over them. Then, they quickly rise and run into the nearest thicket, outsmarting the hunters, and then try to get as far away from the fishing spot as possible.
Conclusion
It's worth noting that these aren't all the unique characteristics these species possess. When you visit the Turukhansk region and visit one of the many fishing routes, you'll learn much more, and not just about crucian carp. You'll also be able to sample various Siberian delicacies, such as sugudai, stroganina, or shashlik made from these noble salmon species.
And the predators and peaceful fish caught in the reserve's rivers and lakes will surely delight you with their size, weight, and unique fighting style. This significantly increases the excitement and interest of the fishing experience. It's a thrilling experience, one that makes your heart skip a beat or, conversely, starts pounding. Such emotions are unforgettable, even when you hook a small crucian carp, what experienced anglers call a "frying pan fish."
