A little bit about fish and fishing in Uzbekistan.

As you know, the Republic of Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia, between the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers. Almost two thirds of the country are steppes and deserts, the remaining third are mountains, valleys and oases.

The main waterways are the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers and their numerous tributaries.

The most familiar and closest to me oasis is the Tashkent oasis, which emerged on the key part of the Great Silk Road from Europe to the far eastern countries – Mongolia, China, etc.

The city of Tashkent is located in the valley of the Chirchik River, a tributary of the Syrdarya River.

In old and ancient times, lands being intensively developed required constant irrigation, which predetermined the development of irrigation system for irrigation of cotton, wheat, numerous orchards, vegetable gardens and melon crops.

The canals of Boz-su (chilled water), Burdjar (wolf tract), Salar etc. were dug and equipped.

They took their water from the foothills, from the upper flow of the Chirchik River, which in turn was formed by the confluence of the mountain rivers Kok-su (blue water), Charvak, Pskem and Ugam.

So this is a short introduction, a preface to where, what and for what numerous fans used to do fishing in the city and its surroundings, one of whom I consider myself to be for many, many years …

So what were we catching within the city limits and the water bodies near it?

First of all it was an omnipresent and failsafe gudgeon and goleman (a species of Central Asian ray fish of the balitorial family).

In the formation of human hobbies there is very important role of a mentor, the first teacher. I was lucky in that. I was born in a family of fisherman and imbued with this mystery since the youngest years, sometimes it seems that I started walking and holding a fishing rod at the same time, much earlier than talking. The very first conscious memory of a fish caught by myself (how many years I did not know, 2-3 years, no more, in my opinion) – a fishing rod, a float and suddenly … there is a gurgle, rapidly stretched line, breakthrough and in my hands I have the first fish – catfish!

With this catch, I run to my mom and dad and shout: I caught a fish, catfish! And I proudly stretch out my palm closed in a cam, in which fit my first conscious trophy, my head is barely visible and a tiny piece of tail looks out from under my fingers. That was awesome! Even somewhere in our family photo archives was this document, but unfortunately I haven’t found it yet.

Then my memories take me eight or ten years forward along the river of time – we go with my dad and his coworkers from the factory, fishing, carp.

The merger of the Syrdarya River and its tributary Chirchik River…

Just behind the bridge over the Syrdarya River, just below the confluence into its Chirchik River, there were overflow lakes, small in area and along the banks overgrown with reeds, with an abundance of algae and rich fish population, mainly carp.

The road started early in the morning, one might say even at night, at three o’clock. Gathering fishermen, ramming rubber boats, backpacks, fishing rods and other fishing good, and finally, the road itself. Drive only seventy km and all on good asphalt and on «concrete road -betonka» (as everyone called the section of the highway M-5, laid with concrete slabs), but UAZ (brick bread shaped Soviet crossover) is not designed to move in cruising speed, the total of 2-3 hours drive with the interesting stories of adults, memories of past feats and catches, and we’re on the spot.

Unloading, preparation of boats, disassembly of gear and laying the trail through the reeds to clean water.

At last all preparations are finished, and my father and I are twice on a small rubber boat swim to a favorite place, throwing small anchors, so as not to be blown down by the wind, the fishing rods are thrown away and waiting for the mysteries of nibbling.

Perhaps you know how the crucian carp bites. It’s something fabulous! Fountain (goose) float proudly and vertically ready to fix the nibble, here and there pop bubbles from digging in the silt at the bottom of the fish and here is …

The tip of the fountain float jerks lightly, and suddenly it all rises upright from under the water, and then, after a little thought, more and more quickly leans to the horizontal position and floats to the side, being further and further submerged under water. The main thing here is not to yawn! Undercutting and such a long-awaited and so short-lived struggle with the handsome carp and here he is in the boat! Fire burns and pours gold, it spins, can not accept the loss of freedom, but wait a second and we’ll let you go back into the water, however, to nursery, to wait for the company, which, I know, will not be forced to wait.

Time flies unnoticed, one by one our trailblazer are being added by its fellows, someone larger, someone smaller, the process goes gradually, but there are surprises sometimes.

Another throw, a silent float, for a long time hypnotizing by its immobility, even gurgle on the water stopped, but then suddenly, without warning, the float as announced dives under the water, the line is stretched, the tip of the rod is bent in an arch, the boat even turns from anchors to the running tackle …

Who’s there? The fight is not a joke, but the victory will be ours – it’s a carp! Small one, of course, up to a kilo, but its power… No crusian carp can beat him!

The joy of catching, and what is more, from fighting with a strong opponent, is unforgettable!

But everything good is fleeting and tends to end…

And this one, many of other to come later, fishing goes to end. Night is coming, it’s time to get ready to go back…