Nikolai Radchenko, a sport fisherman from Kara-Balta, shared his impressions: “The journey to the reservoir takes about 4-5 hours, after which we immediately head out onto the ice. It is quite thick, and the Kazakh rangers help with the fishing permit, which costs approximately 300 soms. We drill holes, set up tents, and cast our lines, waiting for a bite. Usually, after half an hour, the fishing begins — the first catch is often the bream. The most active bites occur twice a day: from 5 to 7 in the morning and from 5 to 7 in the evening. Then the biting abruptly stops,” he said.
According to Nikolai, nighttime temperatures at Tasutkol can drop to -15…-25 degrees, so it is important to have quality gear — without a winter tent and a gas heater, there is nothing to do there.
“We regularly go to Kazakhstan throughout the winter until the ice starts to melt. The bream actively bites on maggots, earthworms, and bloodworms. Professionals recommend adding bait to the holes so that a 'fog' of particles forms in the water, which significantly attracts fish. If everything is done correctly, it is possible to catch up to 30 kilograms of fish in a day with three winter rods. Usually, we dry the caught bream — it turns out very tasty,” he added.
Radchenko also noted that in Kyrgyzstan, the price for 1 kilogram of fresh bream from Kazakhstan is 150-200 soms, while dried bream costs from 300 to 500 soms. Dried bream is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, chromium, iron, and vitamin PP, which positively affects health, improving blood formation and slowing down aging processes, as well as reducing the risk of stroke.
