Fish in Siberian rivers. Siberian fish, inhabitants of taiga rivers

	Sturgeon fish
	Amur sturgeon
	Russian sturgeon
	Lena sturgeon

Description. Sturgeon is a valuable freshwater fish with about 20 species. The body of the sturgeon is elongated like a spindle, the skeleton consists of cartilage, no bones. The head is elongated, pointed near the mouth, there are no teeth, the lower lip is interrupted. On the lower jaw of the sturgeon, the main organ of touch of the fish grows - 4 whiskers, which help to find food. The fins on the back and at the anus grow close to the tail. Skin without scales, it is replaced by 5 parallel strips of bone plates (“bugs”) running from head to tail (1 on the back, 2 on the stomach, 2 on the sides). The color of the fish is very different, but usually the back is gray-black, the sides are gray-brown, and the belly is white.

Sturgeon in the natural environment is now less and less common and the reason for this is not predatory fish that are dangerous for sturgeon only at a young age, but people, or rather poachers, who exterminate fish for caviar. Therefore, sturgeon listed in the Red Book and its catch is allowed only in some rivers of Russia (with severe restrictions) and in the territories of paid cultural fisheries.

There are 3 types of sturgeon in Russian reservoirs: Russian, Amur and Siberian. Amur sturgeons are the smallest, growing up to 8-9 kg with a length of up to 1.5 meters. The Russian sturgeon gains weight faster, an adult gains 20-30 kg of weight. Siberian sturgeon can live for more than 50 years, during this time reaching a weight of 50 kg and a length of 1.5-2 meters, although there have been cases of catching specimens weighing 250 kg and 3.5 meters long. The Lena sturgeon (one of the Siberian sturgeons) is usually bred in the KRF as the most unpretentious and disease-resistant sturgeon. On the good nutrition it grows rapidly and at 4-5 years old reaches a length of up to 70 cm and a weight of up to 2 kg, like an 11-year-old individual in the Lena River.

Lifestyle. Sturgeon is a bottom fish, it lives at depths from 2 to 100 meters. Sturgeons are semi-anadromous, anadromous and freshwater. Anadromous sturgeons usually winter in the sea, in its fresh part, and in April-May they go to spawn in small schools in rivers, while keeping to a strong current and depth. After spawning, anadromous fish return to the sea, while semi-anadromous ones remain in the rivers. The movement of the sturgeon often coincides with the direction of the wind. Freshwater sturgeons do not migrate, they live in rivers and lakes. Lena sturgeon is freshwater.

Food. The nutrition of each species of sturgeon is different. There is, for example, a paddle sturgeon that feeds only on plankton, passing it through itself along with water. The Siberian sturgeon is not particularly whimsical, it feeds all year round, its main food is chironomid larvae, caddis flies, mayflies, stoneflies, mollusks, gammarids, amphipods (mormysh), worm and others. Individuals over 3 years old switch to carnivorous food (fry of herring, sprat, etc.). The Lena sturgeon in the KRF is usually grown on special sturgeon feed.

Spreading. Russian sturgeon is found in the basins of the Caspian, Black and Azov seas, keeping in the mouths of the rivers. There is a freshwater species of Russian sturgeon living in the Volga River basin. Amursky lives only in fresh waters the Amur basin. The Siberian sturgeon, respectively, is found in the rivers of Siberia from the Ob River basin to the Kolyma, feeding in the Ob, Taz and Yenisei bays.

In the Urals, sturgeon is found mainly in paid stocked reservoirs. In the Perm Territory, it occurs in the Kama River, getting into it from fish farms (Nytva, Dobryanka and others). AT Chelyabinsk region found and actively pecks at paid reservoirs: "", (near Lake Uvildy), in addition, sturgeon was launched in and in past years. In the Sverdlovsk region, sturgeon can be caught in, sometimes it comes across on the rivers, and, but its fishing is prohibited here.

Fishing for sturgeon. Sturgeon, especially Lena sturgeon, feeds all year round, but catching it from under the ice is not very popular. The nibble starts after 4 pm and ends at 10 am. The sturgeon keeps in pits or near the sandy bottom, looking for food. If within 30 minutes from the moment of casting the sturgeon does not bite, then you should change the bait or the place of fishing. By open water It is preferable to catch sturgeon on a solid rod 4-6 meters long with strong rings made of aluminum or ceramics and a reel with a large supply of fishing line for long-distance casting at 30-40 meters. You need to choose a strong 30-40 lb line, preferably braided, with a breaking load of more than 10 kg. Hook size 7-8. The sinker should be such that it is held in place during the current. A leash made of a smaller section of fishing line with a length of 50 to 90 cm with 1 or 2 swivels. In winter, sturgeon is caught on a strong winter fishing rod equipped with a nod or float. Sturgeon attachment: various mollusks, fry, worms, crustaceans, fish pieces, a bunch of worms is good in winter. The bait should be tied to the hook with threads so that it does not fly off when casting. The sturgeon is attracted mainly by the smell of the bait.

The sturgeon is a strong fish, its bite is usually fast and sharp, but fighting can be unpredictable. The sturgeon can jump out of the water, showing a “candle” or swim quickly to the fisherman, or it can go to the bottom and stop, creating the appearance of a hook. In any case, the adrenaline rush is guaranteed to the fisherman. When playing, patience is essential. It is impossible to weaken the fishing line too much, weak jerks of the fish must be extinguished with a rod, strong ones - with a properly adjusted friction brake of the reel.

In the waters of the reserve live permanently or come to spawn 1 species of lamprey (class cyclostomes) and 33 species of fish belonging to 11 families: lampreys - 1 species (river lamprey); salmon - 2 species (lenok, taimen); whitefish - 8 species (nelma, omul, vendace, muksun, whitefish, peled, broad whitefish, tugun); graylings - 1 species (Siberian grayling); pike - 1 species (common pike); cyprinids - 11 species (golden and silver crucians, roach, dace, common and lake minnows, gudgeon, ide, bream, tench); loaches - 2 species (loach, char); cod - 1 species (burbot); stickleback - 1 species (nine-spined stickleback); sculpins - 3 species (siberian and variegated sculpins, stone sculpin).

In the sandy deposits of the left bank of the Yenisei, sandworms live - the larvae of the Siberian lamprey, the only Yenisei representative of the class of cyclostomes. Their development lasts 4 years; adults spawn in spring in tributaries on shallow pebbles; after spawning they die.

Sturgeon, nelma, muksun, vendace are semi-anadromous fish, other species are residential, although some of them are able to make significant migrations within the water bodies of the Yenisei adnexal system. According to the type of spawning substrate, most species are lithopsammophiles and lithophiles, which is associated with the abundance of pebble and sandy-pebble soils in the basin of the middle Yenisei. The timing of spawning is different, but the most numerous group of spring spawning fish. Due to the low production of zooplankton in the Yenisei and especially in its tributaries, benthos plays the main role in the nutrition of peaceful and partly predatory fish species.

In the Yenisei, both types of sturgeon are widespread - the Siberian sturgeon and the sterlet. Until recently, despite intensive fishing, they retained a high number, but now they are literally dying as a result of extremely intensive and predatory poaching outside the reserve. For the sterlet, the Yenisei basin is the eastern edge of the range. To the south of the territory of the reserve there are the most important spawning grounds for sterlet - the channels of the Vorogovsky multi-island. Spawning occurs in late May - June. Males reach puberty in the sixth or seventh year of life, females in the seventh or ninth year. After an intensive summer-autumn fattening, the sterlet winters in pits located in the middle reaches of the Yenisei.

The Siberian sturgeon forms two morphologically similar ecological forms on the Yenisei: residential and semi-anadromous. Residential sturgeon constantly lives in the middle reaches of the river, its feeding and growing areas are located mainly on the left bank, and juveniles keep in shallow water, in chickens and channels, and old individuals prefer deeper areas. Semi-anadromous sturgeons feed in the Yenisei Bay and the inner delta of the Yenisei, rise upstream to spawn and overwinter together with resident sturgeons in pits in the middle reaches. Spawning in both forms occurs in June-July, mainly in the region of the Vorogovsky multi-island. Sturgeons mature late: males singly by the age of 17, females - by 19, usually 2-3 years later. Sturgeon, like sterlet, is a typical benthophage, however, sterlet feeds mainly on sandy-pebble and pebble-stony soils of the central part of the river channel, and sturgeon - on the sands near the left bank, which puts them out of competition.

The coastal areas of the Yenisei, kuri and channels - places with a developed fauna of benthic invertebrates are characterized by the greatest abundance and species diversity of fish. Cyprinids constantly keep here: soruga or Siberian roach, ide, dace, gudgeon; occasionally there is a bream - a species acclimatized in the 1960s. in the Krasnoyarsk reservoir and over the past 30 years has spread throughout the Yenisei. Perch, ruff, burbot, and pike are also numerous. Cyprinids are characterized by a mixed diet: they have macrophytes, diatoms, and zoobenthos in their intestines; during the mass summer of insects, they are often present. In juvenile perch, burbot, and ruff, benthic invertebrates play the main role in feeding. In the food of adult perch and burbot, fish are of primary importance. For spawning, many species living in the coastal part of the Yenisei use the floodplain flooded in late May - early June. Substrate for spawning are submerged dead plants.

In autumn, spawning aggregations of tugun form in the coastal areas - a small short-cycle whitefish, forming local herds on the Yenisei, confined to tributaries. This species matures early: males most often in the third, females - in the third or fourth year of life. In late August - early September, tugun leaves the tributaries of the Yenisei and spawns in late September - October on sandy-pebble soils.

In the second half of September - October, on the Yenisei section of the reserve, semi-anadromous whitefish appear rising to spawn - nelma, vendace, omul, occasionally there is whitefish; the concentrated mowing run of the muksun is observed only in the lower reaches of the river.

Nelma, like sturgeon, forms two ecological forms: residential and semi-anadromous. The feeding grounds of the migratory nelma are the delta and slightly saline areas of the Yenisei Bay. Residential nelma feeds in the river, apparently forming a series of local herds. The spawning grounds of both forms are the same. Mass maturation occurs in the tenth or eleventh year of life, sometimes 2-3 years earlier. The main spawning grounds of nelma are the channels of the Vorogovsky multi-island. The sex ratio is shifted in favor of males, which is probably explained by the fact that males skip one spawning season between repeated spawnings, and females - at least two seasons.

Vendace rises along the Yenisei to the mouth of Podkamennaya Tunguska, spawns in October on sandy-pebble soils. Later than other whitefish species, omul appears on the Yenisei section of the reserve. The course of the omul is sparse here. A high proportion of omul older age groups in the lower reaches of the Yenisei and its inverse ratio in the Ob suggest that the feeding and growing areas of the omul spawning on the middle Yenisei are located in the Ob Bay and Gydan Bay, i.e. there is a single Ob-Yenisei herd of omul.

The tributaries of the Yenisei are also rich in fish. Grayling, lenok, taimen live here, more abundant in the right-bank tributaries, river whitefish. On stretches with aquatic vegetation, ide, perch, and pike are common. Almost everywhere in the tributaries common minnow, char, loach, all 3 types of sculpins are common. There is also burbot growing here much more slowly than in the Yenisei. Grayling, lenok and taimen use the tributaries of the Yenisei up to IV-V orders inclusive for spawning and feeding. In the Yenisei itself, they are not numerous and stay mainly in winter, while a significant part of the fish winters in tributaries. In the spring, immediately after the ice drift, and possibly even under the ice, spawners rise to the upper reaches of the tributaries, where in late May - early June they spawn on pebbles. The slope after spawning is gradual. The nutrition of juvenile taimen is quite diverse and includes juvenile fish, various benthic organisms. An adult taimen is an obligate predator; in addition to fish, small rodents, chicks of waterfowl, and occasionally even a muskrat are often present in its stomachs. In lenok and especially in grayling, seasonal changes in diet are strongly pronounced, including benthic invertebrates, adult flying insects, eggs and juvenile fish.

The river whitefish spawns in tributaries in autumn, at the end of September - October, and stays there for the winter. In spring, producers roll down to the Yenisei; part of the fish remains in the tributaries and is distributed along the calm sections of the rivers. Bottom invertebrates, mainly mollusks, are of primary importance in the diet of the whitefish.

In the upper reaches of the river In Birobchan, with an abundance of pike, grayling, lenok and taimen are practically absent - this is probably due to the chemical composition of the water and the lack of oxygen: one of the main sources of nutrition for the river in the upper reaches is the runoff of numerous upland bogs. The listed species in large numbers inhabit only the middle and lower reaches of the river, which here acquires a mountainous character, a strong slope of the channel, a high flow rate with an abundance of shivers, rapids and rifts.

Numerous floodplain lakes of the reserve are inhabited by golden and silver carp, lake minnow, nine-spined stickleback. Perch, pike, roach and ide are found both in floodplain and inland lakes. Tench is very rare in the lakes of the left bank of the Yenisei. In spring and autumn, during floods, a temporary connection is formed between some floodplain water bodies and the Yenisei, which opens up access for many fish species to places rich in food. Some of them remain here during the period of isolation from the Yenisei.

The middle course of the Yenisei River in the area of the reserve is of great importance as the area of the main spawning grounds for sturgeon and whitefish and the place where wintering pits of sturgeon and sterlet are concentrated.

	Title and drawing	Description	Status
Family Lampreys PETROMYZONTIDAE Bonaparte, 1832
	Lethenteron japonicum (Martens, 1868) - Japanese (Pacific) lamprey	NATIVE
		For a long time it was believed that only the small Siberian lamprey lives in the Yenisei basin (Berg, 1948; etc.). However, when analyzing materials from various parts of the lower reaches of the Yenisei and the Yenisei Bay (1948, collected and processed by V.A. Kravchuk), Podlesny (1958, p. 106) came to the conclusion that both lampreys live in the bay - Siberian and Pacific, although the latter was not included in the list of the ichthyofauna of the basin. Evidence for the presence of Lethenteron japonicum in the Yenisei is the large size (up to 32.2 cm and 40 g or more) of individuals caught in estuaries, as well as their morphobiological features (mouth structure, shape and number of teeth, fin arrangement). (Kuklin, 1999). Adult anadromous lampreys reach a length of 62 cm and a weight of 240 g, residential - up to 18-35 cm. Life expectancy is 7 years.
	Lethenteron kessleri (Anikin, 1905) – Siberian lamprey	NATIVE
		The Siberian lamprey is found along the Yenisei from the upper reaches to the delta, inclusive. Lives in Chulym and some tributaries of the Yenisei (Kan, Angara, etc.). Sandworms live in rivers up to 5-7 years, reaching 15-20 cm in length. Adult lampreys have a length of 16-26 cm and a weight of 7-11 g. The total life expectancy is probably no more than 7 years.
Sturgeon family ACIPENSERIDAE Bonaparte, 1832
	Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869 – Siberian sturgeon (East Siberian)	NATIVE	KKKK 3rd cat.
		Sturgeon in the Yenisei is a freshwater fish. It is represented by two forms - a few residential and semi-passage. In appearance, it is almost impossible to distinguish between these forms. Residential sturgeon in the Yenisei is distributed up to Sayanogorsk, the northern border of its range has not been established. In small quantities it is found in tributaries (Angara, Podkamennaya and Lower Tunguska) and Lake. Khantai, in which it forms small local herds. The entire life cycle of a residential sturgeon takes place in rivers. The range of the semi-anadromous sturgeon includes the Middle and Lower Yenisei, the delta, the bay and the southern part of the bay. It does not rise above the Angara. In the Ob basin and in Baikal in the past, it reached a length of 2 m and a mass of 200-210 kg, usually no more than 65 kg. in the rivers Eastern Siberia much smaller - usually no more than 16-20 kg. The maximum known age of the Siberian sturgeon is 60 years.
	Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758 – sterlet	NATIVE	KKKK 3rd cat.
		Prior to the regulation of the flow of the Yenisei, it was found almost everywhere - from the upper reaches to the delta and the bay with a throat, inclusive, and in numerous tributaries. At present, the sterlet's range has been significantly reduced. It retained its significance only in the section of the river below the mouth of the Angara. Known in large tributaries of the Yenisei (Sym, Angara), Krasnoyarsk and Sayano-Shushensk reservoirs, in which it forms local herds. The smallest member of the genus. The maximum dimensions are 1.25 m and weight 16 kg, but usually not more than 1 m and weight up to 6-6.5 kg. Maximum life expectancy - 26-27 years. The age composition of catches ranges from 4 to 10-11 years.
Salmon family SALMONIDAE Rafinesque, 1815
	Brachymystax lenok (Pallas, 1773) – lenok	NATIVE	KKKK 3rd cat.
		Lenok is a typical inhabitant of the foothill sections of rivers and mountain cold-water lakes, widely distributed throughout the Yenisei basin, from its upper reaches to the river. Hantayki and never goes out into salt water. It is also common in large, mainly right-bank tributaries of the Yenisei - the Tuba, Sisima, Man, Kana, Angara, Podkamennaya and Lower Tunguska, etc. Reaches a maximum length of 67 cm and a weight of 8 kg, the limiting age is 14 years.
	Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) – common taimen	NATIVE
		Taimen in the Yenisei is found along the entire length of the river - from the headwaters to the mouth. Exceptionally freshwater fish. Common in right-bank tributaries, differing fast current, presence of thresholds and cold water(Use, Tuba, Sisim, Mana, Kan, Angara, Podkamennaya and Lower Tunguska, Kurenka). It also lives in flowing cold-water lakes of the region. Length up to 1 m or more, weight 30-60 kg or more (in the Yenisei up to 80 kg). Life expectancy up to 60 years.
	Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum, 1792) – pink salmon	ACCLIMATIZANT
		Pink salmon was introduced into the Barents Sea area in the late 1950s. Already in 1960, hundreds of thousands of pink salmon went to spawn in the rivers of the Kola Peninsula. Individual fish were caught off the coast of England and Norway. Since the beginning of the 70s, it has been constantly observed in the lower reaches of the Yenisei. There are cases of capturing underyearlings and fry of pink salmon in the lower reaches of the Yenisei, which indicates its spawning in the river. Usually pink salmon lives for 1.5 years, however, there are cases of specimens aged 2+ returning to rivers. Maximum dimensions 76 cm, weight 5.5 kg.
	Parasalmo mykiss irideus (Walbaum, 1792) – rainbow trout	ACCLIMATIZANT
		In the region, it is grown in cage farms at the Krasnoyarsk, Sayano-Shushenskaya and Mainskaya hydroelectric power stations, in a number of lakes and in fish and water workshops of industrial enterprises. In the process of growing, the outflow of grown juveniles into the Yenisei and its tributaries occurred. As a result, trout spread widely along the Upper Yenisei. Known in tributaries (Kan, Abakan, Amyl, Oya, Kebezh), some parts of the Krasnoyarsk reservoir (Syda Bay). It occurs along the Yenisei from Krasnoyarsk at a distance of up to 250-300 km downstream. In natural reservoirs of the region, trout reaches 40-50 cm in length and 0.8-1.6 kg in weight. There are no documented facts of natural spawning!
	Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758) – arctic char	NATIVE
		In the Yenisei basin, it occurs only in the estuarine zone. In fresh water, char consumes any available food, including various groups of benthos and plankton, as well as juveniles and small freshwater fish species (gobies, cyprinids, sticklebacks, perches, etc.). In the sea, the char feeds on fish (capelin, polar cod, gerbil, gobies) and large forms of zooplankton. The most intensive growth in anadromous char occurs during the feeding period in the sea. The passage form reaches a length of 110 cm and a mass of 15 kg. Apparently, the maximum age of anadromous char is 32 years
	Salvelinus drjagini Logaschev, 1940 – Dryagin's char	NATIVE
		Dryagin's char is a living fish, it was first discovered in the lake. Makovsky, then in lakes Sovetskoye and Nalimiye, belonging to the left-bank tributary of the Lower Yenisei - Turukhan. A little later, the char was noted in the lake. Khantaysky and some others. It lives mainly in mountain-type lakes, but is also known in tundra rivers and lakes with a sandy bottom. Dryagin's char is a large fish. It can reach a length of 90 cm and a mass of 8 kg. It differs from charrs from the lakes of the Arctic coast of Eurasia by its exceptionally high (up to 30% of body length) body, high and short caudal peduncle, and truncated or weakly emarginated caudal fin. Endemic to water bodies of Central Siberia (Taimyr).
Family Whitefish COREGONIDAE Soret, 1872
	Coregonus autumnalis autumnalis (Pallas, 1776) – arctic omul	NATIVE
		Brackish-water semi-anadromous fish. The main habitat is the Yenisei Bay, and in the Yenisei it appears only during the breeding season, rising up the river to the mouth of the Angara. Known in small tundra rivers flowing into the Yenisei Bay. Lives up to 16-20 years (Lena), but more often individuals 10-11 years old predominate in catches. Usually the length of sexually mature fish is 26-40 cm and the weight is about 1 kg, there are individuals up to 64 cm long and weighing up to 2-3 kg.
	Coregonus autumnalis migratorius (Georgi, 1775) - Baikal omul	ACCLIMATIZANT
		Baikal omul has been successfully acclimatized in the Bratsk and Krasnoyarsk reservoirs. From these reservoirs, it entered the Yenisei and is currently found throughout the river. It differs from the arctic by a narrow forehead and large eyes. The Baikal omul in the reservoir reaches a length of 44 cm and a weight of 1.5 kg. Its usual dimensions are 36-38 cm, weight 0.6-0.8 kg. The maximum age of the Baikal omul in the Krasnoyarsk reservoir does not exceed 12 years.
	Coregonus lavaretus pidschian (Gmelin, 1788) whitefish	NATIVE
		Distributed throughout the Yenisei from the upper reaches to the bay inclusive. Within the distribution area, the existence of a semi-anadromous and river pizhyan is noted. The main habitat of the semi-anadromous whitefish is the Yenisei delta. For reproduction, it rises along the Yenisei to the river. Lower Tunguska. Known in the rivers Tanama, Turukhan Kurenka, Nizhnyaya Tunguska. River whitefish lives in the Yenisei from the upper reaches to Kureika inclusive. Inhabits all right-bank tributaries (Mana, Kan, Angara, Podkamennaya and Lower Tunguska, Kureika), in some forms local forms. In the section from Nizhnyaya Tunguska to Kureika, the ranges of semi-anadromous and river whitefish coincide. The maximum dimensions of a semi-through whitefish are 46 cm long and 1.5 kg in weight; usually it is much smaller - up to 34 cm long and weighing up to 650 g. The river whitefish is much larger. Individual specimens reach a length of 60-70 cm and a mass of 2.0-2.5 kg. There have been cases of catching whitefish weighing up to 7 kg. The life expectancy of a pyzhyan in the water bodies of the Yenisei basin does not exceed 18 years.
	Coregonus muksun (Pallas, 1814) – muksun	NATIVE
		Muksun in the Yenisei basin is a semi-anadromous fish. The northern border of its range runs approximately at the latitude of the river. Pine on the western coast of the Yenisei Bay, and in the south - at the latitude of Vorogovo. Known in the rivers Tanams, Yar, Khantayka. In 1971, for the first time, the entry of a sexually mature muksun into the river was noted. Turukhan. The length of the muksun rarely exceeds 60 cm, and the weight is 3 kg. The largest muksun lives in the water bodies of the Gydan Bay basin - up to 1.2 m long and weighing 9.8-13.4 kg. In the Yenisei, the maximum mass of muksun over a 100-year observation period did not exceed 8 kg. However, such large specimens have not been found for a long time. Its length usually does not exceed 40-47 cm and its weight is not more than 2.3 kg. Life expectancy is 23 years.
	Coregonus nasus (Pallas, 1776) – white broad whitefish	NATIVE
		Chir is one of the common fish species in the Yenisei system. It lives mainly beyond the Arctic Circle, in the rivers and lakes of the Igarsky, Dudinsky and Ust-Yenisei regions. It is found singly up to the Angara. Common in the right and left tributaries to the north of the river. Elogui. Known in the floodplain and tundra lakes of the lower reaches of the Yenisei. In some tributaries and lakes, it forms local herds (the Podkamennaya Tunguska river, lakes Makovskoye, Sovetskoye, Nalimiye, Biruchi). Recorded in the mouths of small rivers flowing into the bay, with a salinity of 5-8% o. Age limit 13-16 years. Usually these are large fish, reaching a length of 36-60 cm and a weight of 5-6 kg, maximum sizes up to 75 cm and a weight of 10-12 kg
	Coregonus peled (Gmelin, 1789) – peled	NATIVE
		Peled is an inhabitant of rivers and lakes. In the Yenisei, it is found from the mouth to the confluence of the river. Sym (1632 km from the mouth). Inhabits rivers, floodplain and continental lakes of the basin of the Middle and Lower Yenisei. Along with the Baikal omul, it has been successfully acclimatized in the Krasnoyarsk reservoir. Introduced in the lakes of the south of the region (Bolshoy, Bely, etc.). Peled are grown in pond farms. The maximum age of the peled is 13 years, but in most populations, fish older than 10 years are rare. The peled reaches a length of 40-58 cm and a mass of 2690 g, individuals up to 5-6 kg were sometimes noted. The dwarf peled has a length of no more than 30 cm and a weight of 300-400 g.
	Coregonus sardinella Valenciennes, 1848 – Siberian vendace	NATIVE
		Vendace is distributed from the northern border of the Yenisei Bay to the mouth of the Podkamennaya Tunguska. Known in many rivers of the Yenisei basin and its delta. In some, it lives permanently, forming local herds, in others it enters with a spring stream and leaves them with a decline in water. The age limit is up to 13 years. The average size of the Siberian vendace is 25 cm and weighs 160 g, although migratory forms reach 42-49 cm in length and weigh 800-1300 g.
	Coregonus tugun (Pallas, 1814) – tugun	NATIVE
		Tugun is distributed throughout the Yenisei, from the village. Shushenskoye to the mouth. It lives in many large tributaries of the Middle and Lower Yenisei (Kan, Angara, Bolshoy Pit, Podkamennaya and Lower Tunguska) and some lakes of the Igarsky region, in which it is represented by a lacustrine-river form. In the Podkamennaya and Nizhnyaya Tunguska rivers, it forms local herds. The highest concentrations of tugun are observed in the Lower Yenisei, in the area from the Angara to the Lower Tunguska. In Podkamennaya Tunguska - the most numerous species. In the recent past, it was widely distributed in the Angara. In most tributaries, it inhabits mainly their lower course. Maximum age 7+. Length up to 20 cm, weight up to 80 g, but usually in catches there are fish weighing 20-30 g.
	Prosopium cylindraceum (Pallas, 1784) – common valek	NATIVE	KKKK 3rd cat.
		Valek in the Yenisei is distributed from the upper reaches to the mouth. Occurs in right-bank tributaries: Tuba, Abakan, Angara, Podkamennaya and Nizhnyaya Tunguska, Kurenka, Khantayka, etc. Known in rivers flowing into the delta, throat and bay. Inhabits high-flowing channel and mountain lakes in the south of the region. Common in the lake Khanty. Age limit - 10-15 years. Individual individuals reach a length of 52 cm and a mass of 2.2 kg. The usual length of the roll is 20-40 cm.
	Stenodus leucichthys nelma (Pallas, 1773) – nelma	NATIVE
		Nelma is a typical semi-anadromous fish. Its main habitat is the lower reaches of the Yenisei - the delta, the lip with a throat and the southern desalinated part of the Yenisei Bay. It occurs singly in the coastal zone of the middle part of the bay, mainly in those areas where tundra rivers flow. It rises along the Yenisei to the Podkamennaya Tunguska and above. Known in a number of large tributaries of the Yenisei - Podkamennaya Tunguska, Nizhnyaya Tunguska, Kureika, Khantaika, etc. Juveniles are found in the rivers Yara and Taname, floodplain lakes of the left-bank delta of the Yenisei, adult nelma does not live in them. In the Yenisei, along with the semi-anadromous form, in some water bodies, apparently, inhabited nelma lives, however, there are no specific data indicating the presence of this form of nelma. Nelma reaches a length of 150 cm and a mass of 28 (occasionally up to 40) kg. The maximum age is up to 22 years.
Family Grayling THYMALLIDAE Gill, 1884
	Thymallus arcticus (Pallas, 1776) - Siberian grayling	NATIVE
		Siberian grayling is found almost throughout the Yenisei. Most characteristic of the numerous right-bank tributaries and lakes of the Upper and Middle Yenisei. In the Lower Yenisei (north of the river Kureika) is not numerous. Inhabits lakes and reservoirs of the tundra, forest-tundra, very rare in the estuarine zone. It is hardly noticeable in water, since the color of the back is similar to the color of the soil or stone. Reaches a mass of 1 kg, an average of 300-400 g, length - 0.5 m.
	Thymallus arcticus. pallasi Vallencienes, 1848 – East Siberian grayling	NATIVE
		East Siberian grayling is found in the rivers of the Taimyr Peninsula: Pyasine, Khatanga, Taimyr. Along with the Siberian grayling, it is found in the lower reaches of the Yenisei, in small rivers flowing into the bay, throat and delta of the Yenisei. Inhabits the tributaries of the lake. Khantaysky, Kulyumba lakes, having a connection with it, lake. Dyupkun and Koksichan (basin of the Kureika river). Unlike the Siberian grayling, the East Siberian grayling has small black, red and purple spots on its back, sides and dorsal fin. A red stripe runs along the edge of the dorsal fin. The scales are somewhat smaller than those of the Siberian grayling. The dorsal fin is very high, in the folded state in males it reaches the caudal.
Family Smelts OSMERIDAE Regan, 1913
	Osmerus mordax (Mitchill, 1815) – Asian toothed smelt	NATIVE
		Asian smelt is a small semi-anadromous fish with a brownish-green back and silvery sides and belly, it spends most of its life in the saline waters of the southern part of the Yenisei Bay and the bay. Distributed in the Yenisei from the mouth of the Lower Tunguska to the bay inclusive. It is found in some small rivers flowing into the throat and the bay. Maximum size 34 cm (White Sea), weight 342 g and age limit 10-11 years.
Pike family ESOCIDAE Cuvier, 1816
	Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758 – common pike	NATIVE
		Pike is one of the most widespread predatory animals in the Yenisei basin. Lives almost everywhere; in rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, swamps and peat quarries. It occurs in the delta, bay, and also in the mouths of rivers flowing into the Yenisei Bay. The maximum age of the Yenisei pike does not exceed 13-15 years, reaches a length of 130 cm and a weight of 10.5 kg (R. Podkamennaya Tunguska), more often 0.5-2 kg.
Family Cyprinidae CYPRINIDAE Bonaparte, 1832
	Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758) – bream	ACCLIMATIZANT
		Bream in 1962-1970 was successfully acclimatized in the Krasnoyarsk reservoir, but only after 20 years took one of the leading places in the fishery. Subsequently, it penetrated the Yenisei and is now very widespread. The southern border of its range is confined to the Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir, and the northern border approaches the Arctic Circle. Lives up to 20 years, usually up to 12-14 years. It can reach a length of 75-80 cm and a mass of 6-9 kg. The usual dimensions are 25-45 cm and weight 0.5-1.5 kg. In the Krasnoyarsk reservoir, the bream reaches a length of 0.5 m and a weight of 3-4 kg, but usually it is much smaller - up to 1 kg.
	Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch, 1782) – goldfish	INVADER
		Silver carp, brought from the Amur basin, was released into the steppe and forest-steppe lakes of the south of the region in 1960-1964. In these lakes, there was a gradual replacement of the local common carp (golden) with imported goldfish, up to the complete disappearance of the last of the commercial catches. Nevertheless, both species are often found in the same reservoir (Turukhan, Sym, Kas, Krasnoyarsk reservoir). Currently, silver carp is widely distributed in the waters of the Yenisei basin. Silver carp is smaller than gold carp, more agile. It differs from gold in larger scales, a large number of gill rakers and a more silvery color of the sides and abdomen. Lives up to 14-15 years, usually 7-10 years. Reaches a maximum length of 45 cm and a mass of more than 1 kg, usually no higher than 20 cm and 350 g.
	Carassius carassius (Linnaeus, 1758) golden or common crucian	NATIVE
		Gold carp, or common, is widespread in the Yenisei basin. In the south, it lives in shallow, heavily overgrown and silty lakes with stagnant water, ponds, oxbow lakes, peat quarries. Especially numerous in the basins of small, quiet left-bank tributaries of the Yenisei (Kae, Sym, Dubches, Turukhan, etc.). Rarely found in Arctic waters. There have been single cases of capturing crucian carp in the lakes of the islands of the Yenisei delta. Medium sized fish. Lives up to 10-12 years. It reaches a length of 50 cm and a weight of 5 kg (Upper Volga), but the usual sizes in catches are 9-24 cm and a weight of up to 600 g.
	Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 – carp, common carp	ACCLIMATIZANT
		Carp in the Krasnoyarsk Territory is one of the main objects of pond and industrial fish farming. In 1962-1970. carp, together with bream, was successfully acclimatized in the Krasnoyarsk reservoir and from there penetrated into the Yenisei and some of its tributaries (Abakan, Kan). However, it is extremely rare in the natural reservoirs of the Yenisei basin. Known mainly in floodplain lakes in the south of the region. Carp is a large fish, reaching a mass of over 7 kg and a length of 70-80 cm.
	Gobio gobio cynocephalus Dybowski, 1869 - Siberian gudgeon	NATIVE
		The Siberian gudgeon belongs to the fish common in the Yenisei system. Inhabits large and small rivers, streams, lakes, mostly flowing, ponds and reservoirs. In the Yenisei, it is found up to the Arctic Circle. Known in its large tributaries (Zhan, Angara, Sym, Podkamennaya Tunguska, Lower Tunguska, Turukhan). Reaches the age of 8-10 years, length 20 cm and weight 226 g, but the usual size is not more than 12-15 cm. Females are larger than males.
	Leucaspius delineatus (Heckel, 1843) – topwort	INVADER
		Verkhovka had never been seen in the Yenisei before. According to the chief laboratory of fishing NIIERVNB Yu.V. Mikhalev, verkhovka was first brought to the Uzhur pond farm in 1963, together with carp larvae and fry from Kursk. From the fish ponds, she independently settled in the natural reservoirs of the region. At present, it is distributed everywhere in the southern regions, especially numerous in the Upper Yenisei river basins, where it inhabits rivers, small lakes, ponds, and is unknown in the north of the region. Lives up to 5 years. Reaches a length of 8-9 cm, more often 6 cm
	Leuciscus idus (Linnaeus, 1758) – ide	NATIVE
		The ide is the most common fish in the Yenisei basin. It lives from the upper reaches to the delta inclusive. Recorded in the bay and estuarine zones of the rivers flowing into the Yenisei Bay. It prefers relatively small left-bank tributaries - the Sym, Kasu, Dubches, Yeloguy, Turukhan and others with a well-developed floodplain system. In the right-bank tributaries - the Lower and Podkamennaya Tunguska, Kureika - large watercourses with a fast current, a rocky bottom and a poor forage base, ide is not numerous. Inhabits large continental lakes, reservoirs, but in them it is usually rare. Lives up to 15-20 years. It can reach a length of up to 1 m and a mass of 6-8 kg, but the usual dimensions are 30-50 cm and a weight of about 1 kg.
	Leuciscus leuciscus baikalensis (Dybowskii, 1874) - Siberian dace	NATIVE
		Distributed throughout the Yenisei, including its deltaic tributaries (R. Tanama). Known in all rivers, floodplain reservoirs, flowing lakes and reservoirs. Especially numerous in the reservoirs of the Upper and Middle Yenisei. Below the mouth of the Podkamennaya Tunguska, its numbers are noticeably reduced. It rarely reaches a length of 20-25 cm and a weight of 200-400 g, usually its size is about 15 cm and a weight of 50-80 g. Life expectancy is no more than 8-10 (13) years.
	Phoxinus czekanowskii Dybowski, 1869 – Czekanowski's minnow	NATIVE
		Chekanovsky minnow lives in the Yenisei in the area from Dudinka to Minusinsk. According to the survey, it is found together with the lake minnow in floodplain and continental lakes, but is scarce everywhere. Known in the tributaries of the Yenisei, mainly in areas of the upper reaches and lakes associated with them. Very close to lake minnow. It differs from it in a more elongated body, coloration and some morphological differences. Small fish, reaches a length of 10 cm. Age was not determined.
	Phoxinus perenurus (Pallas, 1814) – lake minnow	NATIVE
		Unlike the common minnow, the lake minnow inhabits stagnant, silted and overgrown water bodies with a significant oxygen deficiency. It can be found in swampy lakes, in which, apart from it and crucian carp, no other fish can live. It keeps mainly in the coastal strip, among the vegetation, where it finds good places for feeding and breeding. Reaches a length of 18 cm, usually 8-15 cm and a weight of 100 g. Lives up to 5-6 years.
	Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758) – common minnow	NATIVE
		One of the most common fish in the Yenisei system. Found from headwaters to mouth. Some researchers note in the rivers flowing into the Yenisei delta (Tanama River), but it is especially numerous in the right-bank tributaries. Populates mainly the upper and middle sections of many rivers. Known in lakes with clear cool water. It reaches a length of 12.5 cm (usually 8-9 cm), a weight of 9-10 g and an age of 5 years.
	Rutilus rutilus (lacustris) (Linnaeus, 1758) – roach (Siberian)	NATIVE
		Distributed in the Yenisei along the entire course and in its tributaries. Especially numerous in the area of the river. Sym - r. Turukhan. In more northern reservoirs it is not numerous. Single comes across in the river. Taname (left-bank tributary of the delta). It lives in rivers (except for mountainous areas), rivers, channels, lakes, reservoirs and non-overgrowing ponds. In the water bodies of the Yenisei basin, roach reaches a length of 32 cm and a weight of 760 g (R. Turukhan). However, such large fish are not often found. Usually roach has a length of 17-22 cm and a weight of 120-240 g. Life expectancy is up to 16-17 years.
	Tinca tinca (Linnaeus, 1758) – tench	NATIVE
		Tench is found in small quantities in the Yenisei and floodplain water bodies in the area between Minusinsk and the river. Sym, in Chulym and Angara. It lives mainly in deep non-marginal lakes. Despite the great fecundity, the tench in the reservoirs of the Krasnoyarsk Territory is not numerous and has no significant commercial value. It reaches a length of 63 cm and a mass of 7.5 kg, but usually the dimensions do not exceed 30 cm, and the weight is 1.5 kg. Lives up to 10 years or more.
Family Balitoriaceae BALITORIDAE Swainson, 1839
	Barbatula toni (Dybowski, 1869) – Siberian barbel char	NATIVE
		Siberian char is found throughout the Yenisei from the headwaters to the mouth. Known in its tributaries. Not found in the delta. This is a small fish 13-15 cm long and weighing 20-25 g with an almost naked (hence the name), somewhat laterally compressed body, of the same height along the entire length. There are three antennae on the upper jaw. The body is covered with very small, invisible scales to the naked eye. Reaches a length of 22 cm, weight 70 g and lives up to 6 years, but the usual size is 7-10 cm. In the Altai Mountains in the lake. Dzhulyu-Kol found the largest Siberian charrs 27 cm long, weighing 103 g, aged 17+ (Gundrieser et al., 1984.
Family Loaches COBITIDAE Swainson, 1838
	Cobitis melanoleuca Nichols, 1925 – Siberian loach	NATIVE
		Siberian spinach is found in the reservoirs of the Upper Yenisei in almost all rivers and many lakes. In the Yenisei, the exact boundaries of the distribution of spikes have not been established. Its presence is noted in the Yenisei from Minusinsk to Kureika. In Russia, it reaches a length of 13 cm and a mass of 10 g (Nikolsky, 1956), on the Korea Peninsula - up to 20 cm (Choi et al., 1990).
Family Catfish SILURIDAE Cuvier, 1816
	Parasilurus asotus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Amur catfish	ACCLIMATIZANT
		Amur catfish is widely distributed in the waters of China, Korea and Japan. In our country it is known in the Amur basin. Relatively recently it was introduced into the Bratsk reservoir and Lake. Baikal. Recently appeared in the Yenisei. Isolated cases of his capture in the area of the confluence of the Angara and downstream were noted. It is assumed that from Baikal the catfish initially penetrated into the Bratsk reservoir, later into the Angara and already through it into the Yenisei. The distribution and features of its way of life in the Yenisei have not been studied. In the catches there are individuals up to 1 m long and weighing 6-8 kg under the age of 18 years. However, in most reservoirs, its populations consist of individuals of 8-10 age groups, they are based on individuals 4-6 years old, up to 60 cm long and weighing 1.5-2.0 kg
Family Tereskovye Gadidea
	Boreogadus saida – polar cod, polar cod
		It is not a permanent inhabitant of fresh waters, but is regularly observed in the northern part of the Yenisei Bay and in the coastal area of the bay. Length up to 30 cm. Lives up to 6-7 years.
Family Limes LOTIDAE Jordan et Evermann, 1898
	Lota lota (Linnaeus, 1758) – burbot	NATIVE
		Burbot is widely distributed throughout the Yenisei. Especially numerous in the lower reaches of the Yenisei. Inhabits almost all reservoirs of the subordinate system: rivers, floodplain and continental lakes, reservoirs. Occasionally found in the bay, mainly at the mouths of the rivers flowing into it. It reaches a length of 120 cm and a mass of 24 kg, the age limit is 24 years. Usually in commercial catches up to 60-80 cm and 3-6 kg.
Family GASTEROSTEIDAE Bonaparte, 1832
	Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus, 1758) – nine-spined stickleback	NATIVE
		The nine-spined stickleback is widespread in the lower reaches of the Yenisei. Occurs from Kureika to delta channels inclusive. Inhabits the basins of all tributaries of the delta, bay and bay. Known in lakes of the tundra and forest-tundra. Able to change color depending on the season. Body length up to 9 cm. Life expectancy is 5 years, but in most populations 2-3 years (Zyuganov, 1991).
Perch family PERCIDAE Cuvier, 1816
	Gymnocephalus cernuus (Linnaeus, 1758) - common ruff	NATIVE
		Common ruff is widely distributed in the reservoirs of the region, especially numerous in the adnexal system. It lives in large and small rivers, floodplain and continental lakes, reservoirs and ponds. Known in tundra rivers flowing into the bay. In most reservoirs, small ruff predominates in catches. The maximum length of the ruff is 18.5 cm, weight is 208 g. There are indications that in some cases it can reach a mass of 500 g and a length of 27 cm at a maximum age of 15 years (Popova et al., 1998).
	Regca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 – perch	NATIVE
		Perch is distributed everywhere in rivers, floodplain and mainland lakes, reservoirs of the region. It is found in small numbers in the Yenisei Delta. Maximum age 17 years, length - 51 cm and weight - 4.8 kg. Usually, commercial catches are dominated by individuals up to 30 cm long, 15-20 cm on average and weighing 200-300 g at the age of 4-6 years.
Family Kerchakovye COTTIDAE Bonaparte, 1832
	Cottocomephorus grewingkii (Dybowski, 1874) - yellow-winged sculpin	INVADER
		Occurs in the Bratsk Reservoir Range boundaries not established. The biology of this species in the Yenisei has not been studied. Distributed throughout Baikal and in the area of the source of the river. Angara, to the village of Nikola. The species is most confined to the southern part of the lake. Age limit 5+ years. Reaches a length of 19 cm, usually less. Females are smaller than males.
	Cottus poecilopus Heckel, 1836 – pied sculpin	NATIVE
		The variegated sculpin is known in some tributaries of the Yenisei (Abakan, Podkamennaya Tunguska, Angara, etc.). The boundary of its distribution has not been established. This is a small fish. Individual specimens reach 14 cm (Abakan River), usually much smaller. The body is fusiform. The maximum length is 145 mm. Life expectancy is 6-7 years (Berg, 19496). The maximum length from the reservoirs of Eastern Siberia is 116 mm and the weight is 16.5 g.
	Cottus sibiricus Kessler, 1899 – Siberian sculpin	NATIVE
		The Siberian sculpin is widely distributed in the reservoirs of the region. It occurs throughout the Yenisei and its tributaries (Abakan, Tuba, Sisim, Kan, Angara, Podkamennaya and Lower Tunguska, Turukhan Tanama, etc.). The northern limit of its distribution is unknown. The age limit is 10 years (Lake Teletskoye, Lena), in the Angara - 9. The maximum length of fish was noted for individuals from the river. Lenas are 158 mm and weigh 61.8 g. Usually, fish under the age of 5 years, 7 cm long and 8 g in weight, are caught in catches (Gundrieser et al., 1981; Bogdanov, 2000).
	Leocottus kesslerii (Dybowski, 1874) – sand sculpin	INVADER
		Indigenous inhabitant of the lake. Baikal, subsequently penetrated into the Bratsk reservoir, and from there to the Angara. It occurs in the lower reaches of the Angara and adjacent areas of the Middle and Lower Yenisei. Range boundaries have not been established. The biology of this species in the Yenisei has not been studied.
	Paracottus knerii (Dybowski, 1874) – rock sculpin	INVADER
		Found in the coastal zone of the lake. Baikal to a depth of 150 m, enters all its tributaries, except for the river. Selenga. Recorded in the Angara and Yenisei rivers and their tributaries, as well as in the lakes of Tuva and in the lake. Upper Agatha (Yenisei basin, Putorana plateau). Available in the lakes Gramninsky, Kulinda and Upper Kicherskoye (Baikal basin). The maximum length is 14.5 cm, usually 7-9 cm. Males are larger than females. Lives up to 7 years.
	Triglopsis quadricornis (Linnaeus, 1758) – four-horned goby, slingshot	NATIVE
		The slingshot lives mainly in the coastal zone of the Kara Sea. It is common in the Yenisei Bay, the throat and the northern part of the bay. Sometimes appears in the delta. Occurs in the estuarine zones of rivers flowing into the Yenisei Bay. The body of the slingshot is spindle-shaped. The head is large with two pairs of well-defined tubercles. The maximum length of marine forms is 40 cm, weight is 500 g, of lake forms - up to 20-28 cm. Lives for more than 11 years (Berg, 19496).
Family Pleuronectidea
	Liopsetta glacialis – polar flounder	NATIVE
		Lives in the estuarine zone of the Yenisei basin. It also lives in the White, Barents (southeastern part), East Siberian, Kara, Bering and Okhotsk seas. Keeps in the coastal area on a muddy bottom. It enters the rivers and rises quite high along them. It feeds on mollusks, worms, crustaceans, and small fish. Reaches a length of 35 cm.

Muksun has not only an unforgettable taste, but also a unique smell, unusual for fish. All this thanks to the unique chemical composition meat. It is a unique source of energy for athletes, it is allowed to be consumed even by people with diseased kidneys.

Muksun has not only an unforgettable taste, but also a unique smell, unusual for fish

The rich salmon family contains many valuable fish species. One of them is muksun, which belongs to the whitefish genus and is valued the most among its relatives.

The fish has a spindle-shaped appearance: the body is elongated, with flat sides. The color of the body is heterogeneous: the back is darker, the sides have silvery overflows, and the belly is the lightest part.

The tail and head are somewhat raised; in adults, a hump is clearly visible. The head has a blunt shape, the mouth is located below, equipped with a protruding lower jaw. The average weight of a valuable representative of whitefish ranges from 1 to 2 kg. Individuals of 3-4 kg are considered large, and some specimens can grow up to 12 kg. The average body length is 75 cm. The life span ranges from 16 to 25 years.

Muksun's diet is varied, but seasonal. In warm seasons, valuable waterfowl feed on mollusks, underwater midges, fry, larvae, caviar and crustaceans, which are abundant on the coastal bottom. A specific mouth apparatus helps the fish to lift food from the bottom. In winter, with a shortage of large crustaceans, small but nutritious zooplankton are eaten. Fish filter such microscopic food with their gills.

The ichthyofauna of the northern waters is proud of such representatives as the whitefish, nelma and muksun. All these unique and valuable breeds are distinguished by tender, fatty meat and amazing taste. They belong to the same families and genera, so they are outwardly similar. Muksun and nelma differ in size: nelma is the largest relative of whitefish, reaching a length of up to 1.5 m. In muksun, the body rises sharply above the head, and in nelma, the head more smoothly passes into the carcass.

Like many northern inhabitants, muksun has a lot of fat. But this fat is very healthy and easy to digest. The meat of the whitefish includes many useful amino acids, unsaturated fats and trace elements. The delicacy contains bromine, copper, zinc, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, fluorine, vitamin PP and arachidonic acid. Surprisingly, this fish has a delicate aroma of fresh cucumber. Such an unusual smell is due to the presence of specific proteins.

The meat of the whitefish includes many useful amino acids, unsaturated fats and trace elements

Gallery: muksun fish (25 photos)

Muksun banned (video)

Whitefish habitats

Muksun is a freshwater fish of the north. Although she lives in the ocean, she does not swim far from the coast. Love for unsalted water determines those places where tasty fish are found. It lives in the Arctic Ocean, adhering to desalinated areas, near the confluence of rivers. Selects the largest Siberian rivers: Lena, Yenisei, Ob, Irtysh, Kolyma, Kara. It can also live in fresh northern lakes. The lake variety has a golden hue.

Like many northern inhabitants, muksun has a lot of fat

In the ocean, muksun accumulates fat and strength, and swims in rivers to spawn. Semi-anadromous fish migrates far upstream of those rivers in whose deltas it lives. A valuable representative of whitefish begins to move to spawn in the spring, when the ice completely disappears from the rivers. But it reaches the spawning grounds only in autumn. Spawning begins in September, when the first ice appears on the northern rivers. Spawning ends in November, when the water temperature drops sharply. After spawning, the fish return to their usual habitats for fattening and accumulation of strength.

The fish lays eggs in the places of river rifts, the bottom is selected from pebbles. For one spawning, the female lays from 40 to 60 thousand caviar eggs. The number of eggs depends on the size of the animal. Muksun does not spawn every year, but does it every 4-5 years. Caviar laid to the bottom ripens for almost six months. The fry hatch in mid-spring and migrate down the river.

What is useful muksun (video)

How to catch a northern delicacy

The main fishing begins in winter, when the fish finishes spawning. In those parts of Siberia where the population of valuable waterfowl is limited or rapidly declining, catching whitefish is prohibited. Where permitted, it is caught on an industrial scale using nets. Such fishing requires a special permit and license. Sometimes catches reach several thousand tons.

Therefore, muksun is considered one of the main and valuable commercial fish of the northern reservoirs of Siberia.

In winter, sport fishing is permitted by law. For solo fishing, it is better to use rods with fly bait. The fish feeds on small crustaceans and aquatic insects, so the bait must imitate natural food. It's okay if the bait turns out to be more colorful and bright than the original - the fish like it. It is recommended that the colors of the bait be warm colors: red, yellow, orange.

It is better to use several baits at once, differing from each other in appearance. This is due to the fact that at different times of the year the waterfowl has different food preferences. Also, in different geographical places, fish can also have its own gastronomic preferences. For maximum effect, experienced fishermen recommend soaking the bait with anise oil.

Northern fish prefer to eat early in the morning and late in the evening. Therefore, it is preferable to go fishing at dusk. In summer, the northern whitefish can be attracted by the accumulation of midges. To do this, at night, you need to turn on a bright lantern above the water, into the light of which insects will fly. When fishing with a fishing rod, it is better not to use a float - the fish does not like it and can break the line.

For many representatives of the strong half of humanity, fishing is a hobby, but not a means of profit. Although, quite recently, some 100 years ago, fishing was of no importance to many, as an occupation solely for pastime. For many, fishing was a means of survival.

Nowadays, most anglers come to a certain, interesting place to catch a rare but valuable specimen that can leave a memory for a lifetime. Siberia and the Far East are also visited by many lovers of fishing and catching tasty and valuable fish, especially since there are many types of fish and in sufficient quantities. In addition, the places attract anglers also by the fact that fishing here is mostly free.

Here, some sections differ in that it is really only possible to get here in winter. Unfortunately, there is nothing to do here alone, since the places are distinguished by harsh conditions, and you need to know the places. Therefore, it is better to buy some kind of voucher and go fishing with a whole team along with an escort.

Winter fishing competitions are regularly held on Lake Baikal. There are plenty of similar, interesting places in Siberia and the Far East, you just need to choose the right place.

Many anglers dream of fishing on Baikal, because grayling and omul are found here, as well as pike, ide, catfish, perch and other fish, both predatory and non-predatory. In addition, there are very picturesque and interesting places with wildlife.

The reservoirs of Western Siberia are considered one of the richest in terms of the number of fish that live in them. The Ob River is also considered one of the richest in fish resources. It also includes its tributaries. In such rivers as the Yenisei, Tom, Amur, Yaya, Lena, Kia, Mris Su, Ters, Uryuk and others, there is a huge amount various kinds fish.

The reservoirs of the Far East provide the largest variety of fish, which corresponds to more than 60% of all fish caught in Russia. The seas of the Far East replenish the commercial catch with cod and salmon, which are highly valued due to delicious meat. As a rule, they are caught in the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Japan and the Bering Sea, which belong to the Pacific expanses.

The following types of fish are caught in the Far East:

40% herring.
100% crabs.
99% salmon.
90% flounder.
60% shellfish.

In other words, no less than 80% of all fish caught on an industrial scale throughout Russia is caught here. In addition to fish, there is fishing for algae, which is almost 90% of the mark, in general, in Russia.

Species of fish living in Siberia and the Far East

Grayling

Grayling belongs to the salmon species of fish and is the most common species inhabiting water bodies located closer to the northern latitudes. The largest number of this fish is observed in the rivers of Siberia. He prefers rivers and lakes with clean water, while the water should be cold.

The most common individuals reach a weight of about 1 kilogram, although specimens weighing up to 3 kilograms come across. Despite this, a grayling weighing 6.8 kilograms was caught.

This fish is considered omnivorous, since the diet includes midges, grasshoppers, flies, algae, molluscs, and insect larvae. If he comes across caviar of other types of fish on his way, then he eats it.

Prefers to stay close to rifts, near huge stones, on thresholds, etc., where anglers with gear are waiting for him. Grayling is caught both on a regular float rod, and on spinning or fly fishing. In the case of using various spinners, small specimens should be preferred. If you take a larger bait, you can catch more big fish, although bites in this case will have to wait much longer.

Belongs to the whitefish family, and is also a valuable industrial fish. This fish is found in any major river in Siberia. Fish is valued due to the presence of a sufficient amount of nutrients in the meat.

Muksun grows up to 75 cm in length and can gain weight up to 12 kilograms, although, mostly individuals come across, weighing no more than 2 kilograms. Despite this, fishermen catch specimens that are more catchy, weighing up to 7 kilograms. If a fisherman caught a fish weighing about 3 kilograms, then this is a great success for him. They catch this fish with nets if there is no ban, since in some regions there is still a ban.

This fish does not have to be caught with nets, as the muksun responds well to artificial baits such as flies.

Another fish that represents whitefish. The largest populations of this fish are observed in the Ob and Yenisei rivers. Fish prefer fresh waters, although they can live and develop in semi-fresh waters. Chir is also found in Kamchatka. As a rule, individuals come across, no more than half a meter long and weighing no more than 3 kilograms. Despite this, a fish was caught, weighing about 11 kilograms, which grew in length to 84 centimeters.

Basically, this fish is caught with nets, but it bites perfectly on a fishing rod or spinning. As baits, you can take both living objects in the form of mollusks, insects and larvae, as well as artificial baits that imitate the movements of living objects in water. Edible rubber lures are very popular.

This fish is a prominent representative of the carp family, and has a huge distribution, both in Europe and in Siberia. The ide is considered an omnivorous fish, but prefers rivers or lakes with warmer water. Therefore, the main places where you can find an ide are ponds, lakes and rivers, but not in the mountains, where the water is cold and clear.

The ide grows in length up to half a meter, with a weight of about 3 kilograms, although individuals weighing up to 9 kilograms were found in some rivers of Siberia. The ide is caught on ordinary float gear or spinning rods equipped with artificial catch baits.

The most favorable time for catching it is the onset of darkness. It is also caught on ordinary worms.

This fish is also a representative of whitefish, but the largest of them. It prefers rivers and river basins located closer to the Arctic Ocean, as well as water bodies of Siberia.

On average, individuals come across weighing about 10 kilograms, and nelma grows up to 50 kilograms. Differs in unsurpassed taste characteristics. Thanks to such taste data, this species is caught very intensively, therefore, in some regions of Siberia it is forbidden to catch it.

It is almost impossible to catch this fish on a spinning rod, so it is caught industrially.

Another representative of whitefish, the largest populations of which are registered in Lake Baikal.

Omul grows to small sizes and can weigh no more than 8 kilograms. Omul is caught year-round, both from the shore and from the boat. He takes baits of small size, which are distinguished by bright colors. Quite often, he is caught on an ordinary fish, on meat or just on foam rubber. In winter, this fish can be found at a depth of up to 200 meters, which requires special gear. Therefore, winter omul fishing is fraught with serious difficulties.

Pyzhyan is found in various reservoirs of Siberia. It grows in length up to 0.8 meters and can reach a weight of about 5 kilograms. This fish is caught on cast nets or seines. Recreational anglers use conventional tackle and lures. The diet of this fish includes insects and their larvae, as well as mollusks.

This fish prefers rivers that are located closer to the North. Most of all this fish is in such large rivers as the Lena, Yenisei, Ob, etc. Occasionally, but you can find specimens more than a meter long and weighing almost 100 kilograms. This fish is best caught in spring and summer with a net.

This is a fish that belongs to the salmon species of fish, and which prefers freshwater reservoirs. Lenok is widespread in Siberia and the Far East. Prefers to stay on the rifts, as well as in mountain rivers. Lenok is considered an exclusively predatory fish that feeds on living organisms such as flies, molluscs, insects, worms, etc. Lenok is caught exclusively on spinning, using various spinners, wobblers or flies for effective fishing.

This representative of salmon is listed in the Red Book. It is forbidden to catch taimen in almost all reservoirs. Likes to be in the fresh, but cold water. He does not go to sea. It can grow up to 2 meters in length and weigh about 80 kilograms.

Pike is a predatory fish that inhabits almost all water bodies of Russia and Siberia, as well as the Far East is no exception. Here, individual specimens are not at all uncommon, weighing up to 35 kilograms and more than 1 meter long. Spring and autumn are considered the most productive periods for pike hunting. Pike is caught mainly on spinning, using various artificial lures.

Yelets prefers reservoirs with flowing and crystal clear water. It is caught on ordinary float fishing rods. As a nozzle on the hook, you can take a worm, maggot, bloodworm, ordinary bread or cereal.

Burbot is the only cod-like species that prefers fresh water. It is most widespread in places that come close to the Arctic Ocean. In addition, it is found in almost all taiga zones. Mostly individuals weighing no more than 1 kg come across on the hook, although there are individual specimens weighing up to 25 kilograms.

Burbot is more active in cold periods, and it spawns exclusively in winter, in severe frosts. Since burbot also belongs to predatory fish species, it is better to catch it on animal nozzles.

This is the only representative of the Chukuchanov family, which can be found in the reservoirs of Siberia and the Far East. Chukuchan is also a predatory fish and prefers baits of animal origin. Therefore, it is better to catch it on mollusks, worms, insects and their larvae.

Chebak

This is a member of the carp family. Distributed throughout Siberia and the Urals. Although the fish is not large, there are mostly individuals weighing about 3 kilograms. Chebak does not refuse either animal or plant food, therefore, it can be caught with any type of bait, but it is caught with an ordinary float fishing rod.

Peculiarities

The most important feature of fishing in these places is the dispersal of reservoirs over a large area, which is not so easy to get to without special transport. An equally important feature is the current bans on catching certain fish species that are listed in the Red Book. Therefore, fishing in Siberia and the Far East is fraught with some difficulties. In this regard, there is nothing to do here alone, especially without special permission.

The advantage of fishing in these places is that there is just a huge number of fish species. Free fishing is allowed on most waters. Despite this, there are already sites where the territory is either privatized or leased. To get to such a territory for the sake of fishing, you will have to pay a large amount of money.

Fishing in the Far East is especially relevant in the autumn, when grayling is caught. During this period, a huge number of anglers come here.

The most interesting place is the Ob River, as well as a pond in the immediate vicinity of the village of Razdolnoye. Here you can fish under a license with a limit on the number of fish caught. An equally interesting place is Lake Tennis.

No less interesting places await fishermen in the reservoirs of the Tomsk and Omsk regions. In the Far East, anglers choose the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as the Gulf of Peter the Great, the tributaries of the Kolyma and the Indigirka. These places are considered one of the most interesting for fishing. Pollock, lenok, taimen, char, grayling and other types of fish are caught here.

In other words, Siberia and the Far East are a real paradise for anglers.