Asp on crankbaits: how to catch asp on spinning gear
The asp is a predatory cyprinid. It hunts in open water, at the surface, attacking shoals of bleak: the water “boils” and the small fish leap out.
On spinning gear you catch it with lures cast a long way and retrieved fast. Learn to read the signs of hunting and you'll catch asp on almost every trip.
Species: Asp
What you need
- Rod: a 2.7-3 m spinning rod, casting 10-40 g, for long casts.
- Reel: size 3000-4000, with a fast retrieve.
- Line: 0.10-0.14 mm braid.
- Leader: 0.25-0.30 mm fluorocarbon.
Baits
- Slim surface or shallow-running crankbaits, 7-12 cm.
- Heavy spoons and compact metal lures, for very long casts.
- Silver colours that imitate bleak.
When to fish
- Summer and autumn, when asp hunt at the surface.
- Early morning and evening; during the day, when you see attacks at the surface.
Where are you fishing
- The Danube (groynes, river mouths), the big rivers and reservoirs.
- Places where fast water meets slack water and where bleak gather.
- Note: in winter (1 January - 15 March and 1 November - 31 December), fishing is banned within 250 m upstream and downstream of bridges with piers in the riverbed, and within 250 m upstream of reservoir dams.
Step by step
- 1
Look for the signs. Watch the surface: splashes, leaping bleak, gulls dropping onto the water.
- 2
Cast beyond. Cast beyond the spot where the attack happened and bring the lure through it, not straight on top of the fish.
- 3
Retrieve fast. A fast, steady retrieve: asp attack a lure in a hurry, as they would a fleeing fish.
- 4
Don't slow down. If you see an asp following the lure, don't slow down: it usually strikes at speed.
- 5
Strike and play the fish. Strike firmly; asp are powerful in current, so let the drag do the work.
Common mistakes
- Retrieving too slowly.
- Lures that are too big or too brightly coloured for clear water.
- Line that's too thick, which shortens your cast.
- Fishing “at random”, without watching for the signs of hunting.
Rules on natural waters
Asp
Minimum size: 30 cm
Species closed season: none, only the general closed season
General closed season: 9 April - 7 June (the periods differ on border waters and in the Danube Delta)
Daily limit: At most 5 kg of fish per day, or a single fish if it's over 5 kg.
The rules above are for natural waters (rivers, lakes, the Danube), where you also need a permit. On a private lake the lake's rules apply: many are catch & release or have their own limits.
For information only, not guaranteed legal advice. There are many local exceptions (Danube Delta, border waters, catch-and-release sections) not covered here. Always check the official ANADSPA (formerly ANPA) source before fishing.
Frequently asked questions
When do asp attack at the surface?
Mostly in the morning and evening, in summer and autumn, when the shoals of bleak come up to the surface.
Why do asp come off after the strike?
Its mouth is hard at the front: keep your hooks well sharpened and the line tight throughout the fight.
What is the minimum size for asp, and when is the closed season?
In natural waters, the legal minimum size is 30 cm; smaller fish must be released. The general closed season also applies on natural waters: 9 April - 7 June.
Step-by-step guides
- Fishing knots: FG (braid to fluorocarbon)
Fishing for asp by county
Find where to fish in the RoFish app
The map of fishing lakes and public waters across the country, the species filter, the rules of every spot and “Am I allowed to fish?” for the day you pick are in the RoFish app, on your phone.