Compiled by
B. A. Kazakov, N. Kh. Lomadze.Geographical coordinates
47°00′ N, 41°15′ EHeight
About 4 m above sea level (1-2 m at the mouth of the Western Manych river and 5-6 m at the Proletarskaya dam).Square
The total area of the land is 309 thousand hectares, including the water surface area of the Ust-Manych reservoir - 5 thousand hectares, the Veselovsky reservoir - 30 thousand hectares, the area of rice systems - 56 thousand hectares, the area of ponds - 1.2 thousand. ha. According to the Decree of the Administration of the Rostov Region No. 463 dated October 09, 2002, the total area of the Veselovskoye Reservoir wetland is 2,544 km2.a brief description of
Most of the land consists of reservoirs (Ust-Manychskoye and Veselovskoye reservoirs) along with islands and peninsulas, a labyrinth of estuaries and bays, small freshwater ponds and rice paddies. The banks of reservoirs and shallow waters are covered with hard emergent vegetation (reeds and cattails), meadow vegetation is developed on the gentle banks. The banks are in some places fortified with trees and shrubs (forest plantations, forest belts, plantings near human buildings).The lands adjacent to the reservoirs are represented by a steppe landscape modified by man. The area is partly used for grazing cattle and sheep. Place of nesting, molting, feeding and resting during migrations of Anseriformes, waders, herons, ibis and copepods. One of the most important concentration areas for migrating geese (white-fronted goose, red-breasted goose, greylag goose, lesser lesser white-fronted lesser white-fronted goose), dabbling and diving ducks; their wintering place.
Wetland type
Oh, 3, 1.Ramsar Criteria
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.Criterion 1: A large complex of artificial and natural reservoirs, unique for the steppe zone.
Criterion 2: During the nesting, migration and wintering periods, the site supports the existence of a number of rare and vulnerable bird species. The main nesting site of the gray goose is in southern Russia.
Criterion 3: The site supports the existence of bird populations (stilt, spoonbill, ibis, demoiselle crane, black-headed gull, etc.), which are of great importance for the biodiversity of the steppe zone.
Criterion 4: The site is a place of large concentrations of waterfowl and semi-aquatic birds under unfavorable conditions during migration and wintering.
Criterion 5: The site is a breeding and migration site for many waterfowl and shorebirds, with a total population exceeding 20,000 birds.
Criterion 6: For certain bird species, during migration and wintering, the site supports the existence of more than 1% of individuals of the Russian population (grey goose, mute swan, red-breasted goose, demoiselle crane, clint, etc.).
Location
Rostov region, river valley Western Manych. The Veselovskoye and Ust-Manychskoye reservoirs are located 65 km east and southeast of Rostov-on-Don in the western part of the river valley. Western Manych, on the territory of Salsky, Proletarsky, Yegorlyksky, Martynovsky, Veselovsky, Bagaevsky and Semi-Karakorsky districts. The boundaries of the wetland coincide with the boundary of the water protection zone of the Veselovsky Reservoir, approved by Decree of the Administration of the Rostov Region No. 463 of October 9, 2002 “On approval of the boundaries and Regulations on wetlands of the Rostov Region that are of international importance.” The northern and southern boundaries of the land should be considered conditional lines delimiting the land along gully-marsh and rice systems with a width of 1 to 25 km.Physiographic characteristics
The Veselovskoye Reservoir wetland includes the Ust-Manych and Veselovskoye reservoirs proper with the adjacent land and forms a single natural complex located in the Kuma-Manych depression on the site of the river. Western Manych between the Don rivers in the northwest and Bolshoi Yegorlyk in the southeast. The northwestern border of the site is the Don Valley.To the east of this border lies the Ust-Manych Reservoir. - three large estuaries (Shakhaevsky, Zapadnensky, Peschany), connected to each other by the river bed. Western Manych and channels. At the time of the creation of the Veselovsky Reservoir. its border in the east was the Novo-Manych dam, located above the mouth of the river. Bolshoy Yegorlyk, in the west - the Veselovskaya dam. Now this reservoir is limited in the east by the Proletarskaya dam, located below Novo-Manychskaya.
Origin of the site. The site is located in the western part of the Manych depression, which in the geological past was a sea strait that repeatedly connected the Black and Caspian seas. Modern geomorphology was apparently formed during the period of the Lower Khvalynsk transgression of the Caspian Sea (Popov, 1955; Nikolaev, 1956). The Manych Valley is a wide depression dissected by many small watercourses, lake-like depressions and estuaries fed by the local drainage basin. The abundance of soluble salts in the parent rocks and soils of the entire region served as a source of strong mineralization of reservoirs, which were initially characterized by high salinity.
In the 30s of the last century, a project was drawn up for the Manych waterway connecting the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. According to the project, in the valley of Western Manych in 1932 the Veselovskoye reservoir was founded, in 1936 - the Ust-Manych and Proletarskoye reservoirs. Desalination of reservoirs with Kuban water began in 1948, after the launch of the Nevynnomyssky Canal, which connected Bolshoi Yegorlyk with Kuban. In 1956, to the Veselovskoye Reservoir. Don water began to flow through the Don Main Canal. As a result of the construction of the Novo-Manych dam and the Proletarskaya dam, an inter-dam space (20 km) arose, separating the Veselovskoye and Proletarskoye reservoirs (Kruglova, 1962).
The Kozinka gully has become a natural part of the space between the dams, where the waters of Bolshoy Yegorlyk flow. Some of the water was previously sent to the Proletarskoye Reservoir. In 1952, a hydroelectric power station was built at the site of the Proletarskaya dam, with the launch of which the flow of Kuban water into the Veselovskoye Reservoir was built. began to be carried out through a hydroelectric power station, a bottom water inlet and a shipping lock. A small part of the water from the space between the dams flows through the ground spillway (mark 12.7 m) into the Proletarskoye Reservoir. Along the northern and eastern parts of the southern shore of the Veselovsky Reservoir. Rice systems have been created on an area of about 50 thousand hectares.
Relief, hydrography. The Ust-Manych reservoir is a rather narrow winding reservoir located in the lower reaches of the river. Western Manych, whose valley here is invariably flat. The northern bank in the east of the site is high, in the west it is low, and the southern bank is low. Three large estuaries (Shakhaevsky, Zapadnensky and Peschany) are connected by the river bed and channels. The length of the reservoir is 60.5 km, area is about 73 km2. The design water level is 2.8 m. The maximum depth is 3.5 m, the average is 1.2 m (Vitkovsky, 2000). The floodplain is extensive, with lakes in depressions. Pond fish farming is developed in the floodplain. The surrounding areas are completely plowed.
Water supply occurs due to the flow of water from the Veselovsky Reservoir, the flow of the river. Underground, as well as local runoff, formed by low-water rivers and streams in ravines, which, as a rule, dry up in the summer. The greatest level changes are observed in the spring when water is discharged through the Veselovskoye Reservoir. (Vitkovsky, 2000).
The bottom of the reservoir in the channel part is lined with silty-clayey soils, in the estuaries silty soils dominate, and sometimes there are sandy areas.
The average water temperature in summer is 24°C, but in certain periods it can rise to 30°C. Freeze-up is usually observed in December, and ice melting in the second half of March. Mortification phenomena are usually not observed due to the relatively high flow of the reservoir (Vitkovsky, 2000).
Veselovskoye Reservoir - an anthropogenically transformed reservoir, the length of which is 93.2 km, width 1.5-3 km, surface area 300 km2 (9.7% of the area of the entire land). Veselovskoye Reservoir - one of the few reservoirs in the country that do not have significant fluctuations in water levels. Daily fluctuations in water level are noticeably influenced by winds directed along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir from southeast to northwest. They cause surge vibrations with an amplitude of up to 0.50.7 m (Vitkovsky, 2000).
The average depth of the reservoir is currently 2.5-3.0 m, the maximum does not exceed 7.5 m; the flow is extremely slow, which contributes to the accumulation of fine silt with detritus particles in the channel part. In the coastal zone, the soils are clayey, mixed with gray soft silt; in the eastern part there are sandy areas. In places where vegetation accumulates, black sludge with the smell of hydrogen sulfide is formed. The average transparency is 0.25 m (Vitkovsky, 2000).
Due to frequent mixing of the reservoir waters, almost no temperature stratification is observed in summer. In winter, the difference in heating of the upper and lower layers of water reaches 1.0-1.4°C. The average water temperature in summer is 22°C. Maximum temperatures of water masses in summer often exceed 30°C and are usually observed in July - the first ten days of August. When filled with water, the first terrace above the floodplain with many lakes is flooded. The coastline of the reservoir is extremely indented with numerous and highly branched bays. The length of the coastline is 508 km.
There are several small islands in the water area, located mainly at the entrances to the bays. The hydrographic network is poorly developed. From the north, the drainage basin is limited by the Salo-Manych ridge with tributaries and gully Cheprak, Elmuta, Bur-gusta, Surguchevka, Bolshaya and Malaya Sadkovka. From the south, the drainage basin is limited by the spurs of the Stavropol plateau and the Azov-Manych watershed. In the past, the main sources of nutrition for the reservoirs of the land were the tributaries Bolshoy Egorlyk (drainage area - 14,800 km2) and Sredny Egorlyk (drainage area - 2,270 km2), and it was carried out due to melt and groundwater, and rainfall. Currently, the bulk of water comes from the Kuban via the Nevinnomyssky Canal and Bolshoi Yegorlyk, and from the Don via the Don Main Canal.
In addition, the reservoir receives return water from the Proletarskaya and Manychskaya irrigation systems. Water is taken from the reservoir for the Azov and Manych irrigation systems, as well as for sluicing ships and watering the Ust-Manych Reservoir. The amount of water entering the reservoirs of the land, as well as being discharged into the river. The Don fluctuates significantly, determined by flood water forecasts and economic needs. The surrounding areas are almost completely plowed.
Hydrochemistry. The source of salt accumulation in Manych is the saline deposits of the second terrace and the floodplain of the river itself. Salts from solonchaks and saline soils are washed into the reservoir by rain and meltwater. Before desalination, salinity reached 20 g/l. Desalination of the reservoir with Kuban water began in 1948 after the launch of the Nevynomyssky Canal, which connected Bolshoi Yegorlyk with Kuban. Before the release of Kuban water, the water of B. Egorlyk had a high average annual mineralization: in high-water years - 2.5 g/l, in low-water years - 7.8 g/l, sometimes rising to 10-15 g/l. It was classified as sulfate-sodium, and in some years as chloride-sodium of the third type (Gorokhova, Shumkov, 1957).
After the release of low-mineralized carbonate-calcium water from the Kuban already in 1952, the mineralization at the mouth of Bolshoy Yegorlyk decreased to 0.32 g/l, and the composition of the water became sulfate-sodium-calcium. Its composition changed from carbonate-calcium to sulfate-sodium, which is associated with the uneven supply of Kuban water. The salt regime is also greatly influenced by groundwater, especially during low-water periods. Intensive desalination of the Veselovsky Reservoir. occurred within three years: at the Veselovskaya dam in 1951, salinity reached 1.95 g/l instead of 11 g/l in 1948. Subsequently, some constancy of mineralization was observed. There was a tendency for its gradual increase towards the lower reaches of the reservoir: at the Proletarskaya dam in 1952-1955. mineralization was 0.421.27 g/l, at the Veselovskaya dam - 1.10-1.96 g/l (Gorokhova, Shumkov, 1957; Kruglova, 1962).
As water moved westward, it became enriched mainly with sodium salts. In such shallow bays of the eastern part of the reservoir as Yula, Kugurda, Burgusta, etc., which have saline and saline soils, mineralization reached 6.22 g/l. Currently, the water of the Veselovsky Reservoir. belongs to the chloride class of the calcium group. In 1993-1999, as a result of a reduction in the flow of return water from irrigation systems, the mineralization of water in the Veselovsky Reservoir. remained stable and was in the range of 0.9-1.3 g/l (Vitkovsky, 2000). Water of the Ust-Manych Reservoir. also belongs to the chloride class of the calcium group. In recent years, mineralization has stabilized at the level of 0.9-1.1 g/l. In the spring of 1999, the level of mineralization was 0.92 g/l, by summer it increased to 1.0 g/l, and by autumn to 1.1 g/l.
In a salted reservoir, the water was highly oxidizable: up to 113-26 mg O/l. With the advent of Kuban water, the content of organic substances decreased sharply: oxidability was 1.5-2.0 mg O/l (Kruglova, 1962). Currently, the oxygen content in the surface layers of the Veselovsky Reservoir. during the growing season it is usually close to saturation, sometimes significantly exceeding it (up to 180% saturation). In bottom horizons this indicator can decrease (up to 2.83.0 mg/l), and in bays with heavy siltation and a large amount of organic matter and up to 10% saturation.
The winter oxygen regime is characterized by the same pattern: a high oxygen level in the upper layers of water and a significant decrease in the bottom layers, up to its absence. Low oxygen levels are especially typical for the Bolshaya and Malaya Sadkovok bays. In the summer of 1999, the oxygen concentration in water was lower than in previous years and amounted to 6.7 mg/l; by autumn it increased to 7.3 mg/l. Oxygen content in the Ust-Manych reservoir. in the spring of 1999 it was at the level of 7.4 mg/l (84% saturation), in the summer it dropped to 6.9 mg/l (82% saturation), in the fall it increased to 7.5 mg/l (85% saturation) (Vitkovsky , 2000).
The climate is temperate continental at the junction with the eastern arid zone. Significant overheating of the air, hot winds, droughts and temperature fluctuations from winter to summer of about 80°C are observed (Vyazovsky, 1940). The number of days with dry winds reaches 40. The entire Primanychye region is characterized by insufficient precipitation, its uneven distribution, high evaporation, and low absolute and relative air humidity. Annual precipitation ranges from 200 to 600 mm, maximum in June, minimum in January, precipitation decreases from west to east. Due to the dryness of the air, evaporation reaches 650 mm. Summer lasts 5 months.
The first autumn frosts occur in the second half of October, ice cover forms at the end of November, and is often disrupted by December thaws. Winter lasts three to four months. The snow cover is insignificant, the average snow height is 6-7 cm. Winter is characterized by significant drops in temperature and frequent thaws. From March 5 to March 14, the opening of reservoirs usually occurs, as well as the transition to positive temperatures. Winds are frequent, easterly in winter, southeasterly in summer (Vyazovsky, 1940).
Soils. The parent rock of the steppe landscape from Salsk to the Don is composed of loess-like loams and thick alluvial deposits of the Don. The soils are thin, characterized by significant diversity and high salt content (Gavrilyuk, 1952). The predominant soils are southern and Azov chernozems. In the southeastern region, parts of the third and second terraces are now directly adjacent to the waters of the reservoir. The soils here are dark chestnut, weakly, moderately and strongly solonetzic, with developed solonetz soils. In the depressions of the valleys of the bays there are meadow-marsh soils, which are part of the complex of chernozem-meadow medium-alkaline light clay soils (60-70%), medium and heavily washed-out soils (20-30%), meadow-marsh soils (5-10%) .
Veins of easily soluble salts run here at a depth of 20 to 60 cm. These soils are subject to excessive surface waterlogging due to the overflow of melt water and the close surface occurrence of the groundwater level (Kruglova, 1962). The reservoir bed and adjacent areas are composed of marine and continental tertiary and quaternary sediments of varying thickness, often reaching the surface (Chebotarev, 1936).
Environmental parameters
Vegetation. The species composition of aquatic plants after desalination of the reservoir tripled due to the penetration of freshwater forms. The aquatic vegetation includes about 30 species: reed, narrow-leaved and broad-leaved cattails, lake and coastal reeds, curly, combed and small pondweeds, petiolate zannihelia, urut, hornwort, rezuha, saltmarsh aster, amphibian buckwheat, duckweed, enteromorpha, cladophora and etc.In the process of desalination of the reservoir, its depths increased more than 2 times, and huge areas of saline and meadow-saline soils were covered with water. With changes in water salinity, depth and bottom soils, in the first years of desalination, the Khara, Urut, and pondweeds completely disappeared. Later, these plants appeared in shallow gullies with a higher level of mineralization than in the reservoir. 123 species were found among the phytoplankton before salinization in the reservoir. With the arrival of Kuban water, this number decreased to 42, and after the level stabilized, it increased to 87. With the establishment of a freshwater regime, the number of protococcal algae increased and the number of diatoms and blue-green algae decreased by almost 2 times (Kruglova, 1962).
The swamps of the Manych terraces above the floodplain are of the grass type and occupy small areas. They are dominated by tall thickets of reeds with greater or lesser participation of cattails and lake reeds. In halophilic swamp-type communities on saline soils, tuber bulrush predominates, and the forbs (often) include saline aster. Halophilic communities predominate on the terrace above the floodplain. The usual herbage of meadows with excessive moisture (canary grass and beckmaniaceae) is mixed here with saltmarsh aster, and annual halophytes are found: sweda, saltwort, etc. (Gorbachev, 1974).
There are two artificial forests on the site: “Dubrava” (600 hectares) on the southern bank of the Veselovsky Reservoir. against the village Dalny (Proletarsky district) and “Dubki” (800 hectares) on the right bank in the middle part of the Bolshaya Sadkovka gully (Semikarakorsky district). Forest-forming species - oak, birch bark, black locust; shrubs - caragana, svidina and others.
Coasts and islands. The islands can be divided into three groups based on height. Several high islands (more than two meters above the water level and an area of up to 100 hectares or more) are covered with grassy forbs and were previously used for grazing or growing crops (currently only for growing the latter). On the reed-covered islands there are nests of gray geese, colonies of herons and herring gulls, and wild boars are permanent residents. The islands, covered with crops of barley, wheat, alfalfa, cereal herbs or meadow-steppe vegetation, are regularly visited by broods of geese, and during the migration period they serve as a place for mass resting and feeding of geese, ducks and roosting birds.
The modern banks of the reservoir were formed after its flooding. They are blurred to varying degrees, and this process continues. The northwestern shore is steep, its height in the area near the dam sometimes exceeds 10 m, decreasing to the east to 1-5 m. Along the high banks, reeds are found mainly in ravines from the mouth to their top, sometimes on coastal shoals. The southern shore of the reservoir is generally lower, with heights not exceeding 1-3 m, and is steep in places.
Valuable flora
The site contains such rare plants as floating salvinia, Koktebel katran, spiral vallisneria, filamentous althenia, small hazel grouse, Bibirstein tulip, Schrenk tulip, asparagus, Zalessky feather grass.Valuable fauna
Fish. Currently in the Ust-Manych Reservoir. There are 35 species of fish: Caspian sprat, pike, ram, carp, rudd, bleak, silver bream, bream, white-eye, bluegill, sabrefish, verkhovka, tench, common mustard, golden crucian carp, silver carp, carp, vimbe, shemaya, silver carp, bighead carp, common catfish, burbot, spined lance, common pike perch, bersh, river perch, common ruff, Don ruffe, Knipovich goby, round goby, sandpiper goby, tsutsik goby, starfish, plump-cheeked needlefish. The most common species are perch, silver bream, bream, and ram.In the Veselovsky Reservoir. At the initial stage of development (1933-1938), 24 species of fish lived. In 1979-1985 the number of species increased to 46. There appeared both species that independently penetrated into the reservoir (Caspian sprat, carp, chub, bitterling, shemaya, Volga podust) and artificially introduced ones (fish, bester, largemouth buffalo, grass carp, silver and bighead carp) . However, by the mid-1990s. The species composition of the ichthyofauna has decreased significantly. In 1993-2000 Only 33 species of fish were discovered, including sterlet.
No burbot, podust, Azov belly, ide, asp, stickleback, tsutsik goby, or messenger were found. The introduced species, the large-mouthed buffalo, is not found; only one invader, the pelingas, has appeared. Nine species have been constant components of the reservoir’s biota throughout its history: ram, rudd, bleak, bream, verkhovka, golden crucian carp, carp, pike perch, and river perch. The main commercial fish species at present are bream, silver carp, silver carp, silver bream, ram, and pike perch (Vitkovsky, 2000).
Amphibians and reptiles. The site is home to 3 species of amphibians (lake frog, green toad and red-bellied firebird) and 8 species of reptiles (marsh turtle, sand lizard, common and water snakes, yellow-bellied, patterned and four-striped snakes, steppe viper).
Birds. Birds are the most numerous and diverse group of terrestrial vertebrates on the site. Among them, limnophilic species predominate, more or less gravitating towards water and hard emergent vegetation. These are grebes, rails, herons, gulls, waders, Anseriformes, and a number of passerine species. The second very significant group is dendrophiles (30 species) - birds associated with woody vegetation. In total, more than 50 species of birds nest in the site, about 60 species remain for the winter.
The role of the site as a place of bird migration.. The Western Manych Valley is a large migration route connecting the European part of Russia and Western Siberia with the Azov region, the Black Sea region, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North and East Africa. The site is a long-term stopover site for migrating Anseriformes and waterbirds.
In the spring, some waterfowl and semi-aquatic birds fly in transit, while others stop at the site for a while. The flight is undulating in nature, and the duration is significantly extended.
Ducks. Numerous species include mallard, red-headed duck, and tufted duck. Less common are teal, wigeon and pintail. There are a few mergansers, goldeneye, red-nose pochard, shoveler, shelduck, and gorse. Spring migration begins at the end of February - the first ten days of March and continues until the end of April. The timing of migration and its intensity are different for individual species.
Geese. The white-fronted goose is a mass migrant. The bulk of these birds move in the second half of March - the first half of April. In the 1980s In the spring, up to 240 thousand wasps were counted here. (Kazakov et al., 1990). In the 1990s. 30-60 thousand of these geese flew over, in the fall - 60-200 thousand.
The migrations of the gray goose are significantly extended. Local geese arrive in the second half of February - first half of March and immediately begin nesting. Migrants meet in March and April. In spring, up to 10 thousand gray geese fly by. In May and early June, flocks of immature geese are recorded in rice paddies, the number of which reaches 7-10 thousand. They regularly move east.
In the autumn, in some years, the bulk of the Anseriformes began to fly in transit, without stopping at the Veselovsky Reservoir, in others they stopped and stayed until freeze-up. The flight can take place over a long period of time or in a short period of time. The number of Anseriformes approximately reaches 1.5-3.0 million wasps. The number of individual species varies from year to year. For example, gray goose - from 15 to 135 thousand, mallard - from 10 to 22 thousand.
Swans. The migration of the whooper and mute bird occurs at the end of February - the first half of March. The number of whoopers is 2-3 thousand. The migration of the mute mute is extended until the end of May. In the third ten days of this month, up to 11.5 thousand wasps, mostly immature birds, were counted.
Toadstools. Black-necked and Little Grebes occur in large numbers on spring migration in April.
Coot. Mass migrant. Migration begins at the end of February - the first ten days of March, mass migration - in mid-March.
Waders. Mass migrants include the common sandpiper, dunlin, redshank, tule, sandpiper, and lapwing. The flight of the first three species extends from mid-March to mid-May.
Seagulls. Mass migrants include herring, black-headed, little gulls, common and marsh terns. Common gulls, sea pigeons, black-headed gulls and little terns on migration are common.
Rare species are migrants. In spring and autumn, the black-throated loon, black stork, lesser lesser white-fronted goose, red-breasted goose, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, golden eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, gray crane, demoiselle crane, bustard, little bustard, oystercatcher, curlew, stilt, and avocet, clintukh.
In the spring, the lesser white-fronted goose and the red-breasted goose migrate together with the white-fronted goose, stopping periodically to rest and feed. The largest number of red-breasted goose (12-25 thousand) was recorded in the fall of 1975 and 1976. Currently, the number of red-breasted geese on spring migration is small: in 1995, about 800 were registered, in 1996 - about 500, in 1997 - about 200, in 1998 - also about 200, in 1999 - 340-350 os., in 2000 and 2001. were not recorded, in 2002 130 were recorded, and in 2003 - 90.
Lesser Lesser Lesser Lesser Lesser Geese were recorded occasionally in migrating flocks of geese. Most often, their presence in flocks of white-fronted geese was noted by their voice.
In autumn, most red-breasted geese probably fly through the Western Manych valley non-stop and at night. In recent years, the bulk was registered in the second half of October and in the third ten days of November. In 1995, about 1,000 were counted, in 1996 - about 200, in 1997 - about 600, in 1998 - about 500, in 1999 - about 200, in 2000 - 800. 900, in 2002 - 370, in 2003 - only 20.
Piskulek was usually celebrated from mid-October to the end of the second ten days of December. Their number, according to expert estimates, was 1-3% of the total number of white-fronted goose. In 1997, the lesser white-fronted geese were recorded in a large flock of white-fronted geese (about 2000 birds) feeding in a winter wheat field.
The gray crane has become a common migrant. The migration begins in the second half of February and continues until the end of the second ten days of April. The number of birds in migratory flocks ranges from ten to several hundred. Thus, in the area of the Tavrichesky and Krasny Manych farms, during the second ten days of March 1995, a constant accumulation of 300-400 wasps was recorded. In the spring of 2002, 240 wasps were counted, in 2003 - 260.
Demoiselle crane. In 1995-2000 There was an increase in numbers in the autumn months. In 1998, a concentration of these cranes was noted on the northern bank of the river. Western Manych along the Veselovsky Reservoir. The flocks met here until the end of the first ten days of October (Kazakov et al., 1999). In 1999 and 2000 Demoiselle crane was regularly found on the rice paddies of the northern and on the winter stubble of the southern banks of the Veselovsky Reservoir. in September. In 2002, about 600 belladonnas stayed here in July and August.
Bustard. Spring migration in the area of the Veselovsky Reservoir begins in early March and continues until the end of the second decade, sometimes until the end of the month. The number of birds in migratory flocks ranges from 3 to 18, the total number does not exceed 44 individuals.
The little bustard appears in the third ten days of April in spring. In autumn (individuals and pairs, small groups of up to 7 individuals) found in different parts of the Veselovsky Reservoir.
Greater curlews are irregularly recorded in the reservoir during migrations in numbers of 2-48.
Klintukh is a rare late migrant of the Veselovskoye Reservoir. There are up to 200 wasps in a flock. The migration was recorded throughout October and November, mass accumulations were recorded in the first ten days of November.
The role of the site as a nesting site for birds. More than 50 species of nesting birds associated with reservoirs and their banks have been recorded in the site.
Copepods. In recent years, a great cormorant has appeared at the nesting site. Information about the first colony appeared.
Ankle-footed. Spoonbills, ibis, gray, red, yellow, great white and little egrets, great and little bitterns, and night herons nest in the reed thickets. Most of them are concentrated in colonies. The number of colonies fluctuates, their species composition is not constant. The total number of birds also fluctuates significantly (Kazakov et al., 1972; Kazakov, Lomadze, 1991, 1992, etc.). In 1990 and 1991 During aerial surveys at the Veselovskoye Reservoir, 1,000 pairs of gray herons, 150-200 pairs of red herons, 400-500 pairs of great white herons, 250-300 pairs of night herons, about 200 pairs of spoonbills and 300 pairs of ibis were counted.
Anseriformes. Mute swan (25-30 pairs), gray goose (800-900 pairs), mallard (1,52,000 pairs), teal gadfish (150-300 pairs), red-headed pochard (about 300 pairs). White-eyed pochard, gadwall and ruffed duck are rare. The number of shelducks is limited by places suitable for nesting. Long-term studies of mallard nesting on the Veselovsky Reservoir. served as the basis for monitoring populations of this species.
It has been established that in the last decade there has been a significant decrease in the number of mallard ducks in the reservoirs of the area.
Among the above-water vegetation of the land, gray-cheeked and great grebes, rails, warblers nest in significant numbers, regularly - marsh harrier, hooded crow, and on the banks of reservoirs - lapwing, herbal, meadow and steppe tirkushki (nests of tirkushki were noted in the recent past), stilt, occasionally avocet. The last three species are rare. In 1995-2002 The steppe tirkushka was not found at the nesting site. The stilt is a common species of salt licks along the shores of reservoirs; it is also found in rice paddies. In 2000-2003, 20-25 pairs nested on small islands in the lake at the entrance to the village. Bolotovo (Martynovsky district) and 15-20 pairs in the coastal part of Bolshaya Sadkovka near the Dubki cordon (Semikarakorsky district). In the past, the Avocet nested in a salty pond near the village. Tavrichesky (Veselovsky district). Currently recorded sporadically in the area.
The role of the site as a molting site. At the Veselovskoe Reservoir, a small number of mallard and greylag goose drakes gather to molt. The pond as a place for molting birds is of secondary importance.
The role of the site as a wintering site for birds. The species composition and number of birds wintering in the areas depends on the winter temperature regime, the presence of snow cover and the availability of food (Kazakov et al., 1990). In winter, mute swans, gray and white-fronted geese, mallards, red-headed pochards, tufted ducks, luts, and occasionally red-breasted goose, teal, wigeon, goldeneye, black-necked and little grebes, coots and moorhens are regularly seen here.
With the onset of cold weather, waterfowl fly away to the reservoirs of the Azov region and Stavropol region, and return with warming. The total number of waterfowl wintering here can reach 50 thousand wasps. (mallard - 30.0 thousand, gray goose - up to 9.0 thousand, white-fronted goose - 6.0-8.0 thousand). Bitterns and great egrets spend the winter in open areas of water near bottom spillways.
In winter, up to ten white-tailed eagles live on the reservoir. Bustards, rough-legged buzzards, harriers, clints (on February 3, 1995, about 2,000 roosting clints were found in one of the forest plantations), larks, reed buntings, tits, and others spend the winter on the rice paddies and banks of the land.
Mammals. About 50 species of mammals are found within the site and in adjacent territories.
Of the insectivores, the most typical is the white-breasted hedgehog. The long-eared hedgehog is found in the eastern part of the site. Among the shrews that live here are the common and small shrews, the small shrew and the white-bellied shrew.
Among the bats that breed on the site, the Mediterranean pipistrelle, two-colored pipistrelle, late pipistrelle, and dwarf pipistrelle reproduce. During seasonal migrations, the rufous noctule, a mass migrant, regularly flies here. Occasionally there are giant and lesser noctules and forest pipistrelles. The territory of the site belongs to the migration area of the water bat, long-eared bat and European broad-eared bat. All species of bats gravitate towards populated areas, where they use human buildings as daytime shelters.
Lagomorphs are represented by the brown hare. The most diverse species in the area are rodents. The open spaces of virgin lands and fallow lands are inhabited by the large jerboa and the common mole rat. Colonies of the common mole vole are occasionally found. Water voles and gray rats live along low banks and in reed thickets. Open field spaces and the outskirts of forest plantations are inhabited by common and social voles. The common hamster settles in virgin lands, fallow lands, and along the edges of fields. The latter, together with the gray hamster, willingly colonizes the shafts of irrigation systems. All water spaces covered with hard emergent vegetation are readily occupied by muskrats.
The house mouse lives in human buildings, and its steppe form - the Kurganchik mouse - settles in forest belts. Field spaces are widely inhabited by the field mouse. Relatively recently, the wood mouse entered the forest plantations. Wet meadows and canal sides are inhabited by tiny mice. The steppe mouse is occasionally found.
Carnivorous mammals are represented by 11 species. The wolf is found in open spaces and forested areas. A fox also lives here. Relatively recently, a jackal entered the forest lands. Now this species is also found in reed coastal areas. The raccoon dog widely inhabits the area. Among the mustelids, the stone marten is widely represented. It is found in populated areas, forest plantations and reed beds. In the open spaces of virgin lands and fallow lands, the steppe polecat is occasionally found. It also penetrates reed beds. The American mink is closely related to the latter. Weasels live in open spaces and populated areas. The badger is common in forest plantations. Among the rare species that are occasionally found in the site is the bandage.
Artiodactyls are represented by 4 species. Roe deer, elk and sika deer inhabit forest areas. Elk and roe deer entered the area in the 1960s. The spotted deer was acclimatized in the Manych forestry enterprise. His herd is constantly hunted. Wild boar are numerous in forest areas and coastal reed lands. Of the ungulates, this is the main hunting object. To increase the number of this species, three enclosures have been created, from which young animals are released into the area.
The role of the site as a habitat for rare and vulnerable animals. 30 rare and endangered species of birds, as well as 1 species of mammals, which are listed in the Red Books of the IUCN and the Russian Federation, are registered in the site. Among birds, a number of species nest in the area, others are found only during migration or wintering (see above). Nesting species include spoonbill and ibis. The number of the first of them was previously 150-200 pairs, the second - up to 300 pairs. In 2000-2002 These species were regularly encountered during the nesting season, but their colonies were not found. In May 2003, a colony of spoonbills consisting of 26-30 wasps. recorded in a mixed colony of herons near the village. Russian (Proletarsky district).
White-tailed eagle (1-2 pairs nest, up to 30-40 pairs are recorded in autumn, up to 10 in winter), stilt (50-150 pairs), avocet (in the past up to 30 pairs nested, currently observed sporadically) during nesting season), steppe tirkushka (nested back in the 1980s), eagle owl.
Presumably breeding species include the white-headed duck, the steppe kestrel, the European tuvik, and the little bustard (occurs sporadically during the nesting season). Savka in the late 1940s. nested on the Ust-Manych Reservoir. Currently, single individuals are encountered irregularly during migrations.
Of the mammals in the site, there is only one species, the bandage, which occurs sporadically.
The species that require regular attention to their condition in the natural environment (Appendix 3 to the Red Book of Russia) include 3 species of reptiles (steppe viper, yellow-bellied snake and four-striped snake) and 8 species of birds, 7 of which (gray goose, white stork , yellow heron, quail, falcon, North Caucasian pheasant and corncrake) nest in the site, one species - godwit - is found during migrations. The site also deserves attention as the main breeding site in the south of Russia for the gray goose, its resting place during migration and wintering.
| Years | Grey goose | Mallard | Teal | Other ducks | Coot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 500 | 6 000 | 250 | 600 | 1 800 |
| 7 500 | 24 000 | 1 500 | 2 000 | 8 000 | |
| 1991 | 2 000 | 15 000 | 300 | 1 500 | 2 500 |
| 12 600 | 25 000 | 1 500 | 2 300 | 11 000 | |
| 1992 | 1 200 | 5 000 | 250 | 450 | 1 200 |
| 12 859 | 23 700 | 1 800 | 2 000 | 8 000 | |
| 1993 | 1 250 | 5 000 | 200 | 500 | 1 300 |
| 16 100 | 30 000 | 1 800 | 3 000 | 13 000 | |
| 1994 | 1 450 | 5 300 | 200 | 650 | 1 200 |
| 7 500 | 24 000 | 1 500 | 2 000 | 8 000 | |
| 1995 | 1 200 | 4 000 | 300 | 1 500 | 1 200 |
| 19 100 | 22 100 | 400 | 3 000 | 11 000 | |
| 1996 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 500 | 10 000 | 2 000 | 3 500 | 5 000 | |
| 1997 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 500 | 9 000 | 500 | 3 500 | 6 000 | |
| 1998 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 500 | 7 300 | 600 | 700 | 3 600 | |
| 1999 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 100 | 4 200 | 900 | 700 | 5 500 | |
| 2000 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 100 | 6 200 | 800 | 400 | 2 200 | |
| 2002 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 600 | 4 200 | 500 | 900 | 7 400 | |
| 2003 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 700 | 2 900 | 500 | 700 | 5 300 |
Social and cultural significance of the site
The land is used for recreational fishing and crayfish fishing, and recreation for the population. Reservoirs and the adjacent steppe are hunting grounds.Forms of land ownership
Federal property.Land use
Legally, land users of coastal spaces are joint-stock companies, collective farms, state farms, fish farms, forestry enterprises, farms (peasant farms) and management of waterworks in seven districts of the Rostov region (77 land users in total). The water spaces are under the jurisdiction of the Volga-Don Basin Administration, and the islands are under the control of the Don Shipping Company.Agricultural use of water is now very limited. Functioning rice systems receive water through the Proletarskaya branch of the Don Main Canal. Water is taken from the reservoir into the Azov distribution canal. Due to the economic downturn in the country, navigation at the reservoirs has almost completely ceased. Ust-Manych Reservoir. - the largest spawning ground on the Lower Don, annually provided with water. However, in March-April, when a low-pressure dam is installed, the path of fish producers migrating from the Don to spawn is blocked (Vitkovsky, 2000).
Average fish catch in the Ust-Manych Reservoir. in 1960-1969 was 112 tons per year in 1980-1989. - 50 tons. In the 1990s, due to a significant decrease in the number of main fish species, the commercial catch in the Ust-Manych Reservoir. was banned (Vitkovsky, 2000). Before desalination (before 1941) Veselovskoye Reservoir. was distinguished by exceptionally high commercial fish productivity. Of commercial importance were carp, bream, ram, silver carp, and pike perch. The annual catch reached 150 thousand centners (Kruglova, 1962). After the desalination of the reservoir and the introduction of rice systems, fish productivity decreased significantly. To maintain it since the early 1960s. The introduction of pond fish species has begun: grass carp, white and bighead carp. Annual stocking made it possible to obtain catches of up to 213 tons per year. Contamination of sludge with pesticides led to almost universal death of carp.
At the end of the 1980s. carp began to reappear in catches. Currently, fish catch is at its lowest level for the entire existence of the reservoir. It does not exceed 290 tons (Vitkovsky, 2000).
On islands, peninsulas and low shores, livestock grazing and vegetation mowing are traditionally carried out. In recent years, there has been a decline in livestock numbers. In this regard, part of the hayfields is not used, and conditions for game bird species have improved. The area under rice cultivation has decreased significantly, and therefore pesticide and mineral pollution of the Veselovsky Reservoir has decreased, which has a beneficial effect on the number of certain species of fish and crustaceans.
Factors negatively affecting the condition of the land
In some places, arable land approaches the water's edge. Amount of pesticides entering the Veselovskoye Reservoir. in places where rice is cultivated it is still high. Cases of mass death of greylag geese have become regular due to the uncontrolled use of various domestic and foreign means of protecting winter cereal crops. The area of agricultural crops, the crop residues of which feed migrating birds, has decreased. Ust-Manych Reservoir. is considered to be descendable, which is a threatening factor for the aquatic and terrestrial fauna of the reservoir.The release of water is carried out by the Nizhne-Don hydraulic structures service without coordination with the interests of hunting and fishing organizations. There is no optimal system for using water reserves. The natural capabilities and needs of the animal world of this reservoir are not taken into account. Small vessels are intensively used, creating a disturbance factor for migrating birds.
The decline in economic activity, which has led to a decrease in the use of fresh water for irrigation, will obviously cause a reduction in the amount of fresh water coming from the Kuban and Don. This will lead to an increase in the salinity of reservoirs and to a depletion of the species biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems.
Environmental measures taken
The Veselovskoye Reservoir wetland is included in the Ramsar Convention's List of Wetlands of International Importance. General issues of conservation and restoration of natural resources are discussed in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 13, 1994 No. 1050 “On measures to ensure the fulfillment of the obligations of the Russian Party arising from the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitats , dated February 2, 1971.”Specific measures for the protection of the Veselovskoe Reservoir wetland are provided for by the Resolution of the Head of the Administration of the Rostov Region dated October 9, 2002 No. 463 “On approval of the boundaries and Regulations on wetlands of the Rostov Region that are of international importance.” The entire territory of the site is part of the key ornithological territory of Russia “Veselovskoye Reservoir” (Sviridova, 2000).
Proposed environmental measures
It is necessary to develop a comprehensive environmental program for the reservoirs of the entire cascade of Manych reservoirs. It is necessary to regularly assess the state of ecosystems and the changes occurring in them. Federal and provincial development plans should include a biomonitoring program for these wetlands in the near future. These reservoirs should be used as fishing grounds, as natural spawning grounds for semi-anadromous and migratory fish, as breeding grounds and migration grounds for waterfowl and semi-aquatic birds.Scientific research
The team of the Rostov GOOH, together with scientists from the Rostov State University, monitors the state of the avifauna, studies the migration and wintering of birds (Kazakov et al., 1990), and deals with issues of reproduction of mass species (Kazakov et al., 2001). Here they carry out work on the use of artificial nesting boxes for wild ducks, and constantly study the breeding characteristics of the gray goose. The use of artificial nesting sites makes it possible to maintain the population of mallards, red-crested ducks and red-headed ducks under existing conditions.The results of work on monitoring the state of the bird fauna and the reproduction of Anseriformes have been published (Kazakov et al., 1980, 1984, 2000, 2001; Kazakov et al., 1987; Kazakov et al., 1988a,b, 1990, etc.). Thanks to these studies, the hunting farm has an accurate idea of the course of reproduction of Anseriformes and rails in nature, fluctuations in their numbers, territorial distribution, the number, species composition and population dynamics of colonial birds (Kazakov et al., 1981), and the wintering grounds of birds. Long-term studies at the Veselovsky Reservoir, carried out by the Biological Institute of Rostov University, are summarized in the monograph by V.M. Kruglova (1962) “Veselovskoye Reservoir”.
It shows the real state of the biota of the reservoir and contains enormous comparative material. Since these studies, there has been no comprehensive assessment of the situation in the reservoir. Various human economic activities have a constant impact on the biota.
Environmental education
A number of popular science books about the nature of the Rostov region and, in particular, the Veselovsky Reservoir have been published.Recreation and tourism
The area is used for active recreation by about 40 thousand hunters and fishermen. Autumn waterfowl hunting is held from the first Saturday in September until the end of November. In order to preserve local game in the lands of the Rostov GOOH, hunting dates are usually shifted by one to two weeks. Hunting is regulated. In autumn, hunting is held here three days a week. The number of game bird species hunted per day in all hunting grounds is limited only in the first week of hunting. Spring hunting in the Manychsky area of the Rostov GOOH was prohibited until 2003; in other hunting areas it has existed for more than ten years. In addition to hunting waterfowl, there is hunting for wild boar, sika deer, hare, fox, and muskrat. The area is also popular with foreign hunters.Site management body
There is no single authority for managing the land. Control over the use and protection of resources is carried out by the Administration of the Rostov Region (344006, Rostov-on-Don, Bolshaya Sadovaya St., 112), the Office of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources in the Rostov Region (344066 Russia, Rostov-on-Don). Don, Zelenaya St., 1-a), Don Basin Department for Regulation, Use and Protection of Water (344022, Rostov-on-Don, M. Gorky St., 239) and Azovrybvod (344066, Rostov-on -Don, Zelenaya St., 1a).On which the Veselovskoe reservoir is located. It was built in 1941. The reservoir occupies a fairly vast area - 283 square kilometers. The average depth of the reservoir is from four to five meters. In some places there are depressions where the depth reaches 9 m and hills where the depth is no more than one meter. From Rostov-on-Don the reservoir is located 65 kilometers towards the southeast. It stretches from the village of Vesely to Manychstroy, covering part of the Rostov region - from the Salsky steppes to Kalmykia. Parallel to each other are the Proletarskoye and Ust-Manychskoye reservoirs, between which the Veselovskoye reservoir passes. And today we will talk about exciting fishing on the Veselovsky reservoir in 2017.
Due to the large size of the reservoir, waves are formed in strong winds. They crash on the banks, grinding them down. Over the years, the shoreline of the reservoir has become very intermittent. Its edges often collapse and therefore pose a danger to tourists. In order to prevent a massive collapse of the earth, the edges of the bank were planted with bushes in order to strengthen the soil.
What kind of fish can you catch?
Objects of interest for a fisherman in this reservoir may be silver crucian carp (locals call it a hybrid) - it lives throughout the entire territory of the reservoir and, moreover, in large numbers. Roach, rudd, ram, which are excellently caught at any time of the year. Also bream with small fish, bream. White bream, fisherman - not very common, but not too rare either.
There are a lot of small fish in the pond. It helps increase the population of large predatory species: catfish, pike perch, and perch.
In recent years there have been changes in the pike population. It has decreased significantly. This is all due to the herds of silver carp and grass carp that eat up the vegetation, at the same time devastating the pike spawning grounds. Fans of lure fishing also contributed to this. Schools of other fish eat the laid pike eggs, and fishermen catch them, so it is not surprising that there are so few pike in the Veselovsky Reservoir.
Well, everything else is the same as everywhere else. Fishing catch, industrial catch by trawls, and systematic fishing using kilometer-long nets, regardless of seasonal restrictions - all this affects the total number of fish in the reservoir.
Choosing a fishing spot
The best places to fish are in channels, creeks, creeks and reeds. You can fish on the shore or on a boat; there are no restrictions at any time. Many fish in the shallows only with a different bait. They are caught with poppers, wobblers, and silicone fish with a double hook. If you decide to go out on a boat, then a motor boat is not suitable, because algae will often get wrapped around the propeller. The best option would be a rowing boat. 
The deepest places with the most fish are located in the area of the dam, but fishing near it is prohibited. In the northern part of the coast there are many depth differences, where predatory pike perch and schools of white fish are found. To detect such depressions, you can use an echo sounder. Pike perch is caught with a jig using weights up to 16g. For a medium-sized predator, non-clinging offset hooks No. 4 are used. The baits for these hooks are three-inch silicone ribbed baits from the manufacturers YUM and RELAX. For catching big fish with a jig, a tackle with a multiplier reel is best suited. It will be easier for her to play with the bait and it will be possible to install a thicker fishing line. To fish from a boat, you need a rod at least 2 meters long. The pike perch actively responds to fast retrieval during a double toss of the rod from the bottom of the sinker with a nozzle. The weight of an average pike perch in a catch is 1 kg.
Features of pike fishing
Pike in the reservoir must be caught in the shallows. Pike fishes best in the spring - after March 17 and in late autumn. When fishing with jigs at great depths, you often find only large fish (7-8 kilograms). This is due to the fact that pike sticks to schools of white fish, which are abundant at depth.
Features of perch fishing
The perch in the Veselovsky Reservoir is of considerable size; it is caught with perch gear with a meter-sized lead tied like for pike with a load of 25 grams. A twister is perfect for the role of tackle. It is worth fishing with a slow retrieve with a sharp toss of the sinker. Trophy-sized perch usually hides in dense grass and in order to lure it out of there you need to put pressure on its weak point - the craving for fleshy silicone worms.
Catching white fish
In addition to jigging, the following lead to a good catch: spinning rods, fishing rods with floats, feeders, pickers and donks with baited worms, dough, corn and pearl barley. These tackles are very effective at luring: crucian carp (no more than 1 kg), perch, silver bream, rudd, bream and roach. You can feed: corn cake, eggs, breadcrumbs, peas, vegetable oil. You can even have bread and jam. You should not expect an immediate bite after feeding; it will begin only after an hour. Wobblers and spinners have a good reputation. At night, they lure catfish with a white earthworm. Ram is caught with maggots and bloodworms. About the villages: Vesyoly and Stepnoy Kurgan are described by fishermen as the most catchy ones. There are a lot of ticks in the vicinity of the reservoir and therefore everyone: both fishermen and tourists should protect themselves with sprays and creams to repel ticks.
Winter fishing
In winter, fishing on the Veselovsky Reservoir is still tempting. At this time of year, the main catch of fishermen is ram and perch. It is also not uncommon to catch bream and crucian carp. The latter most often swims in places where the water is warmer. Such places can be found in areas where streams flow into a body of water. In the first days after ice formation, you can catch silver bream with a regular float rod.
It is important not to forget that in winter the weather at the Veselovsky Reservoir is not the most pleasant. Strong cold winds often blow. So it’s better to fish at this time from special tents.
Anglers' reports
Report 1
It was Sunday, the area was hillocks, we were fishing on the right side of the main mass. They fed them with millet and top grain. I was biting at the fish all day, but really, very lazily. We caught about 20 tails. We were pleased with the fishing.
Report 2
Fished today in Vesele. It only bitten in the morning for one hour on one unfortunate hole. Afterwards the fish seemed to evaporate. The holes, baited in compliance with all fishing rules, also failed. I tried to find fish all day and the result was zero. Well, at least I got some fresh air.
Report 3
We went to Sadkovka on Saturday, set up fishing rods and caught rams. Nothing came across the girders. What about ramming, it was caught well, but very small in size.
Report 4
Recently I visited Vesel with my father. Before starting fishing, we drilled, fed and then started making the first casts. Success on the first try, I got a hybrid.
We continued fishing. And again the catch, again and again. There was no shortage of fish; this was the first time I’ve seen something bite like that in winter. When we caught a whole bag, we decided to call it a day. In general, our catch was as follows: 73 hybrids, 12 underbreams and 5 rams.
Fishing on the Veselovskoye Reservoir 2017 video
Weather: Windy, sunny, but cool in the morning.
Tackle: Light and ultralight class spinning rods.
Good day to all readers, this time I decided to spend my fishing with my friend at the Veselovsky Reservoir, the purpose of our fishing was perch, possibly pike and pike perch. The exact place of our trip turned out to be one of the small fishing and hunting bases, on the Veselovsky reservoir, the name of the base is Zakurganaya, it is located on the shore of the reservoir, near the village of Stepnoy Kurgan, Salsky district of the Rostov region. From the city of Rostov-on-Don the road takes about two hours, since the distance is approximately 150 km. The base is very simple, the room in which we lived for 4 people, but we were the only ones there, the local watchman charged us a price of 500 rubles per person for accommodation and 100 rubles for parking a car, we have our own boat. We left Rostov at 14:30 and already at 17:45 we were in place with a pumped-up boat, an installed motor and collected gear, ready for fishing.
Day one, or rather evening. My friend and I were at this place for the first time, the basis of our fishing was as follows, I was given information about this place, approximate coordinates of where to sail and where to fish. The water area is not small, just like a reservoir, and from the base we had to swim to the opposite shore, where there is an island, if we take the approximate distance, it will be 2.5 km, we found the place right away, but we didn’t find any fish, a couple of hours before We spent the sunsets that we had in an active search for the presence of at least some kind of predator. We didn’t have an echo sounder with us and everything was based on a rough understanding of where the fish should be. Even at the base, a local guard told us that the situation with the predator had not been very good for a couple of days, there were guys before us, four days ago they caught pike perch, not a big one, but still plenty of perch. In such cases they usually say “it was cool yesterday and tomorrow.” But we didn’t lose heart and started searching, after casting a jig in a couple of places, we moved on to a slightly different fishing option, started fishing the edge of the grass, hoping for a perch that walks under the wall of algae, as well as a possible bite from a pike. My partner in the boat, his name was Evgeniy, tried to drag rubber on a lead leash through the seaweed with access to more or less clean areas of the bottom. I, in turn, attached a small-sized minu-class wobbler, cast after cast, using twitching wiring along the grass, in the hope of a bite. Evgeny soon got a bite, but the perch was not large, maximum 100 grams. 5 minutes later a fish bit me, at first I thought it was a small pike, but soon a good perch appeared on the surface, as the scales later showed, it pulled 520 gr. That evening we also caught a couple of perch, not a lot, but it was already getting dark. The positive thing we had about evening fishing was that we had identified a couple of places that we decided to go to at dawn; they seemed very promising to us. Our fishing was over for today, we returned to the base, had dinner and fell asleep over a friendly conversation.
Day two, morning. Waking up at dawn, having a quick breakfast, we go to the places we noticed yesterday at dusk. We are on the spot, trying to catch, 20 minutes and neither I nor Evgeniy got a single bite, it’s a shame, we move 50 meters to the side, we catch, a couple of perches are not large, there are still bites, but nothing large. as it turned out later, these small fish turned out to be white fish, rudd, roach and bleak. I was the first to catch a rudd with my tackle, and soon Evgeniy caught a rudd, both with rubber. Deciding to have fun catching white fish on a UL spinner, I set up a micro-oscillator and started catching small roaches almost one by one. Evgeniy also joined me and also on a micro-oscillator, so we caught about 40 minutes of mostly palm-sized roaches, rarely rudd and bleak. All this is boring, because that’s not what we’re here for. And again we try to find the perch, moving from one place to another.
Probably two hours passed, we had more than one perch, it was sad and annoying. Soon we noticed a boat with fishermen, also spinning fishermen and standing exactly in the place where we started fishing yesterday, we came closer, stood 70 meters from their boat and began to fish the place with a jig. I was immediately pleased with the bottom, there was practically no algae and it was hard with small ledges. The first bites and the first fish, perch, began in the litter. The perch began to bite, we found it, the bite turned into such that every cast, bite, if not hooked, then the next bite is 100% a fish on the hook. The perch caught the rubber very well when it was lying motionless. From the beginning, fish sizes were from 100 grams. and up to 200 grams, but soon they began to come across larger and larger ones, 300 grams, 400 grams, and more. For three hours, we had a blast, our kukan was overcrowded, even very crowded. We had to let go of most of it, which we don’t regret at all. Having caught plenty and when the voles became less and less, we decided to finish fishing; it was 13:20 on the clock. We reached the base, picked up the boat, set it out to dry, disassembled the spinning rods and put them in tubes, had a little snack, collected the completely dry boat, deflated it, packed it, and put everything in the car. At the end of the collection there was a photo with fish on a kukan, and on the kukan there was no less than almost 12 kg. and if you translate it into quantity, it turned out to be exactly 30 perches.
The result of our fishing is this: We drove a total of about 350 km, spent one night, spent the evening and morning on the water. The first day gave us practically nothing, in terms of catch, except for my perch on a wobbler weighing a little more than half a kilo. The second day was much more productive, more emotional and more enjoyable in terms of fishing. Despite the fact that the wind was blowing all the time, we did not lose heart and found our fish. By approximate standards, we caught about 25 kg. perch, most of it was released back, the average size of the fish is 300 grams. although my friend Zhenya caught a perch at 600 grams. The perch bit on all kinds of rubber, even fairly large ones. Another plus was that we caught white fish with rubber and spoons, not large ones, but still.
The fishing was a great success, the return trip was discussed about fishing and it was also decided to visit this place again, but with the hope that the catch would include pike perch and possibly pike.
The Veselovskoye Reservoir, built on the Manych River, a tributary of the Don, is a very popular fishing spot not only among residents of Rostov, but also other regions of southern Russia.
In addition, this body of water is of increased interest to fishermen from Ukraine. Moreover, in terms of accessibility for Ukrainian fishermen from the eastern regions, it can compete with fishing on the lower Volga and Akhtuba.
What is being caught?
If we consider catching predatory fish, then pike perch will come first. It is the opportunity to catch pike perch that attracts jig fans to fishing at the Veselovsky Reservoir. The second most popular fish is perch. Moreover, in terms of dynamism, perch fishing can easily take first place. And if we take into account that the perch in this reservoir is quite large, then interest in catching it is growing from year to year.
Naturally, there are pike in the reservoir. But one gets the impression that pike are losing to pike perch and pike perch in the competition for hunting places and food supply. Pike is most often caught as bycatch. Moreover, quite large fish may come across.
Of the peaceful fish, the most attractive is the local ram, which is a type of roach. Moreover, this fish is quite large, striking in its strength and tenacity. It can be caught both in open water and from ice.
Local bream is also a coveted trophy for many. Moreover, the bream here is quite large, which is, in principle, typical for large bodies of water. Large crucian carp can also be caught together with bream. Moreover, both bream and crucian carp are caught both in open water and from ice. Although crucian carp is not always actively caught.
Fishing methods on the Veselovsky Reservoir
In open water, this is mainly fishing from boats. The coastline of the reservoir is heavily indented with various branches and bays. You need to look for pike perch and pike perch while moving around the pond. The main method of catching a predator is spinning. Moreover, this is not the case when microjig will be relevant. Of course, if you want to practice catching small perch, then very small baits and heads with minimal weight are also suitable. But if there is normal fish, then why do this?
Perch often stays on underwater plateaus with colonies of shells on the bottom. Depths in these places can reach 3-5 meters. In addition to jig fishing, perch responds well to rotating spoons and wobblers.
As for pike perch, jig fishing on this reservoir is unrivaled. But first of all, you need to find the fish. For such large bodies of water, an echo sounder and navigator will be very useful. Pike perch quite often stays in the same places. Although many anglers who fish on the Veselovsky Reservoir believe that local pike perch are not tied to a specific place and migrate behind schools of forage white fish.
White fish (roach, bream, silver bream) and crucian carp on the Veselovsky Reservoir are also caught from boats. And they use different methods. Peaceful fish are caught both on float tackle and on side fishing rods. Everything happens in the traditional way. One point is fed from the boat, a buoy is set.
Bream sticks to deeper places. It must be said that in this reservoir the bed of the river on which the reservoir is built is not very pronounced. But there are quite enough underwater holes and flooded ravines, where bream mainly hang out. Roach (ram) stays on flat plateaus, and is somewhat easier to find.
In winter, ram and perch are excellently caught on the reservoir. Things are somewhat worse with bream, pike perch and crucian carp. Finding a ram is much easier than finding and feeding a school of bream or bream. Occasionally a large crucian carp is caught. White fish are caught stationary, often using tents. Without a tent, fishing in the reservoir can be completely uncomfortable due to the wind and drifting snow.
Fishing for pike perch is more of a walking fishery, using spinners and balancers. And here the more important thing is to find fish. In winter, pike perch migrates long distances and its accumulation can be observed in a variety of places. Quite large pike perch are caught not only on artificial baits, but also on girders.