To catch pike in February, the features of natural phenomena that directly affect the behavior of underwater inhabitants are taken into account. Fishing conditions are not comfortable – it’s deep winter. But in the middle to end of the month the situation begins to change. Outwardly it is not yet noticeable - frost, wind and thick ice. However, the fish senses the approach of spring. In preparation for spawning, it leaves its winter mooring sites.
Pike activity in February
Pike behave differently in different regions in February. In the North, this whole month is a harsh time, you need to focus on a passive predator, and catch according to the rules of pike in the wilderness. In the middle zone sometimes (if there is a warm winter and early spring), and in the south always, already from the middle of the month the February pike becomes more active. At this time, frequent thaws force the predator to leave its habitat and go out into shallow waters in search of food. The pike bite in February is unstable and depends on many factors:
- Time (beginning of the month or end), depending on the region.
- Migrations of forage fish.
- Oxygen saturation of water.
- Moon phases and weather.
- Internal specific feeding rhythms in this particular body of water.
There may be many reasons why pike do not bite in February. No catch today - tomorrow it could be different. Favorable days for pike fishing in February are determined only theoretically - these are thaws and periods of smooth weather without sudden changes. In practice, you can get to the exit of a predator even in terrible bad weather, blizzards and frost. In some reservoirs, the toothy fish is inactive, in others, pre-spawning migrations and even feeding begin at the end of the month.
Fishing for pike in December using a spinning rod
In December, anglers who are fanatically in love with their hobby, if the water bodies in their area are covered with ice, take a spinning rod with them and travel to other areas where there are ice-free sections of rivers and lakes in order to catch pike. There are rumors circulating among anglers that there is a short period in December when the “Big Winter Glut” sets in, when she greedily rushes to almost any bait in open water. Experienced fishermen confirm that hunting for pike with a spinning rod in December can be successful.
- In December, spinners successfully navigate deep sections of lakes and rivers with boats and motorboats.
- Catching pike on a jig from the shore in December also brings success, when the angler anchors his boat and starts jigging.
Pulsating retrieval is effective: the fisherman casts the bait, gives it time to sink to the bottom, makes five or six turns of the reel, pauses again and rewinds again by five or six turns.
When and where to catch pike in December
The best time for pike fishing in December starts from 12 o'clock and ends after three hours. Often pike bite better from nine to one in the afternoon.
In the first winter month, spinning fishing can be successful from the shore. It has been established that pike leave their deep anchorages in winter and come to feed in shallow water (this fact is well known to fishermen who catch pike from the ice; they install girders along the reeds).
In new places on a river or lake where pike live, the fisherman will have to walk a lot along the shore before finding a place where the toothy predator is caught. The December search for pike differs from how it is searched for in the warm season - winter fish are still much less active than summer fish, so you should spend more time fishing in places that seem interesting.
Read also: Hunting for a toothy one with a balancer
By the way, we should not forget that wandering along the snowy bank of a river or lake in December is not the same as in September, so the fisherman must be dressed accordingly - warmly, but the clothes should be light. Shoes should be waterproof, warm and, of course, light. Boots made of porous rubber have all these properties.
What do pike bite on in December?
You can catch pike in December using the same spinning lures as in the warm months of the year, but many anglers prefer their good old friends - oscillating spoons, proven over decades. Experienced fishermen argue that it is better to use smaller baits, since at this time the pike’s belly is already filled with caviar, so the predator, when getting food for itself, prefers small fish.
In December, as in any other month of the year, pike bite best on a spinning rod when the weather is stable and there are no large jumps in atmospheric pressure. Some say that his pike bite better on clear days, others argue that cloudy days are more productive, but everyone agrees that in unstable weather there is no bite at all.
Catching pike with wobblers in December video
Fishing for pike in December using a microjig on a small river
Beginning of the month
Pike fishing in early February is almost everywhere no different from January fishing. This is mainly jig fishing with thin rigs or lures using small baits and sluggish play. The habits of pike in February can change at any time - depending on the vagaries of seasonality and weather. In some bodies of water, activity can gradually increase, while in others the zhor turns on abruptly, as if someone pressed a magic button. It all depends on the conditions of the reservoir and external atmospheric influences. Where to find pike in February, when it is passive? In the places where it was caught last month - deep edges, holes, thickets of underwater vegetation, flooded snags, entrances and exits from holes, boundaries of channel ditches. On some reservoirs, the toothy fish comes to nearby shallows. Article about winter fishing for pike:
general information
Depending on regional conditions, in February most fish species stay in deep water and do not show themselves. If there is severe frost outside and the reservoirs are covered with thick ice, underwater inhabitants remain in winter moorings until the first warming.
Many anglers consider winter to be a “dead season” and refuse to fish until the spring season arrives. In places where oxygen levels drop to minimum values, fishing becomes almost hopeless. However, if there is a current and fresh vegetation in the reservoir, the chances of success increase significantly.
Often in February, pike are searched for near deep holes and edges, in snags or at points where there is a difference in depth. In rivers and lakes, similar places are scattered throughout the water area. The main thing is to find them in time.
Read: Fishing in winter. Let's go for the bream
Even when looking for a fishing spot in February, it is important to take into account the fact that the migration of the toothy predator before spawning occurs at a depth of 0.5-2 meters. Only large representatives of the species continue to remain in deeper water areas, in whirlpools or bends of the river.
The remaining individuals stay in the coastal zone. The most promising spots for fishing are coastal ledges, “windows” among dense vegetation, channels and areas open to ice.
End of February
The increase in day length, average daily temperatures and light levels at the beginning and end of the month vary significantly. It's heading towards spring. Therefore, in most reservoirs, although outwardly the weather does not yet smell like spring, the predator becomes active along with the rest of the fish. Developing eggs and milt require the supply of nutrients consumed over the winter. The pike, following the small fish, leaves the depths and begins to feed intensively. The winter Eldorado is coming for spinners and giraffes, which will gain maximum strength in March.
The behavior of pike in large reservoirs in February is different - it begins to wake up earlier. This is due to the fact that in large reservoirs, pike migrate in the spring to spawn in tributaries, covering long distances. And now, even though the reservoir is still covered with a meter-long layer of ice, she is beginning to prepare for this journey. Usually pike do not come in a continuous mass. At first, only a few individuals leave the pits for a short time. But every day these phenomena are intensifying. With the beginning of the melting of snow and ice, almost all the pike will already be in shallow waters in the coastal strip, near river mouths. On small rivers and closed ponds (lakes), you need to look for resident pike in the same place as always. Large reservoirs are distinguished by their specifics.
Where to look for pike at the end of February? More often these are coastal waters with shallow depths of up to 3 meters (usually 1-2 m) with thickets of last year’s dry reeds, reeds and cattails, estuary bays, areas near dams, dams, locks and other hydraulic structures. Depending on the region, travel times vary greatly. The fisherman needs to make inquiries specifically about his own body of water. Therefore, studying pike biting calendars in February or tables is useless. It is better to thoroughly study the features of the reservoir, check the information with local fishermen or on forums. On large bodies of water, you need to strategically determine in which area of the water area the pike is now. And this information will not be relevant for long - soon the predator will move on. However, some of the stock does not go far, spawning not far from their places, in the coastal strip. Therefore, you can always find a random resident individual, even if the main body of fish has disappeared.
Fishing methods
Let's look at how and what to catch pike in February. Fishing tactics, technique and equipment of gear are determined by the level of activity of the toothy fish. Winter fishing for pike in February can be very different, depending on whether it has a deep-winter hunting mode, or whether the toothy one has already woken up and started actively feeding. For a passive predator, you need the same gear and fishing methods that were used in the dead of winter - this is more delicate equipment, small baits and thin transparent leashes. The lure fishing technique needs to be sluggish and slow - for passive pike. For active fish, the usual rough tackle with metal leashes, the usual game and the whole range of baits for vertical trolling are used.
Zherlitsy
February fishing for predators using baits of various kinds is more common. Despite the increased activity, in most reservoirs the toothy fish prefers small baitfish (the cavity of the internal organs is occupied by eggs and swallowing large prey is problematic). And this is also a factor of increasing activity, because small fish need to be swallowed more in order to cover the need for nutrients. Catching pike with live bait in February is interesting and productive - the main thing is to find an active predator. About where to catch pike in February, what equipment to use on the girders - in a separate article:
https://podlednik.ru/lovlya_zimoj/zherlicy/shhuka-v-fevrale-flazhki
Spoons
We try to seduce passive fish, as in the middle of winter, with small spoons, using slow play and thin equipment. An active predator will attack a wider range of baits. The severity of the wilderness no longer weighs us down - we use the tactics, techniques and gear of classic winter fishing. Catching pike in February with lures is a popular travel fishing activity. For active fish, the more kilometers you walk and check promising places, the richer the catch. It is better to use small baits. You need to use and check different ones - you never know what will attract the toothy fish in this particular body of water. An article about winter lures for pike.
Crab spoon with bait
Ratlins
Rattlins (bladeless wobblers) are becoming more and more popular among winter roads, settling in the bait bags of an increasing number of spinners. For February pike, these baits are also worth using. Sometimes these decoys work when the spinners are silent. This type of bait requires the angler to master the playing technique. Each ratlin requires an approach, an individual game. Read more about winter pike fishing with ratlins.
Balancers
Of course, good old balancers also work. Catching pike in February with a balance beam also depends on the level of activity of the predator. At the beginning of the month it is better to use small baits, maybe even bladeless ones with a tassel or twister on the back hook. For active pike we use the entire range of baits and standard game. The technique of play and the choice of bait color depend on the conditions of the reservoir and the preferences of the predator. These features are revealed already on the ice during fishing. Read more about winter fishing for pike with balance beams.
Ice jig
Fishing with silicone or edible rubber from ice is becoming increasingly popular. The gear is used as for trolling - a durable flexible fishing rod, a reel, a leash of at least 20 centimeters. Game - tapping on the bottom or various options for vertical play. The weight of the sinker is selected depending on the conditions. An absolute advantage is the ability to fish in strong currents (using a heavy jig head) vertically or by pulling under the ice. This is useful if you manage to find active fish, for example, at the entrance to tributaries or going upstream on small rivers.
February habitats
The location of the pike changes as the weather, temperature and length of daylight hours change. Accordingly, most often the habitat of the spotted predator at the beginning of February and at the end of February will be strikingly different. The first days of February the pike will be found in deep bottom holes and pools, but by the last days of winter it can be found as close to the shore as possible, in reed thickets and sunken snags.
The optimal and promising areas for good pike fishing throughout the month are spring backwaters and river mouths. Towards the end, as was written earlier, you can check the coastal areas for the presence of fish. Be sure to check the ice before you go off the shore! Its thickness should exceed 20 cm.
In closed reservoirs, by the end of winter the situation becomes completely crisis - a dense ice crust without gaps does not allow oxygen to pass through at all, which creates extremely difficult conditions for the survival of the local fauna; it is often impossible to avoid the disastrous consequences of fish death. Since it is initially difficult to accurately assess the situation on a particular pond, fishing in such reservoirs is undesirable.
At the very beginning of warming, the predator can be found in thickets of reeds and reeds, under flooded trunks of coastal trees, among snags and underwater bushes, in general, in places suitable for hunting by a cunning and hungry river predator.
On reservoirs, the best areas for fishing are the shores and coastal water areas, thickets of reeds, reeds and sedges, and places near technical structures located in the water.
Equipment Features
The main nuances of the equipment depend on what kind of fish the angler is catching - passive or active. An inactive predator should be tried to be seduced with small baits on thin equipment, without a leash or with one made of transparent fluor. Active pike can also be caught with standard gear with metal, titanium or string leashes. Today, a passive, toothy hunter can sluggishly peck only on thin rigs, and tomorrow the greedy mouth of the predator will mercilessly cut off the fishing line when it grabs it. Article about winter pike gear.
Fishing technique and tactics
Beginners often ask if pike can be caught in February. And the experienced ones know that it can be caught, and how. You just need to understand the characteristics of the reservoir and the behavior of the pike in it, take into account regional and weather nuances, apply the right tactics, equipment and gear, depending on the passivity or activity of the toothy fish.
Search
On small reservoirs, rivers and ponds, pike spots do not change for years. However, finding the toothy pirate in reservoirs can be problematic. The predator's stopping places here depend on migrations for spawning and the location of schools of forage fish. Where is the best place to catch pike in reservoirs in February? It is impossible to say exactly where pike live in February in reservoirs with constantly changing water levels. Every year the situation can change dramatically. But it is advisable to know the general trends:
- At the beginning of the month, the predator most likely stands in the usual “dead-winter” places - channel edges, slopes into pits, deep-sea snags and under underwater cliffs.
- In the middle of the month (earlier in some places, later in other places), the toothy can be found in a larger area of water; the predator begins to visit shallower water areas.
- On reservoirs with flat terrain or with a trough-shaped bottom along the entire length, the predator can be anywhere. Where there are forage fish. This may be a certain level of increasing depths from the shore or specific places - a bay, the mouth of a river, closer to a dam, etc. Each body of water has its own specifics.
- Closer to spring, the robber hunts closer to the shore, in shallow waters near the thickets. Following roach and other fish, it can accumulate in estuary bays or even enter tributaries. The estuary area is always a promising place. Shallow overgrown bays, spills when the water level rises.
- Sometimes, more likely this is already in the realm of March fishing, the pike stands at a minimum depth, literally twenty centimeters between the ice and the bottom. Such places also need to be checked.
Where to look for pike in February on lakes? Depends on the characteristics of this reservoir. But the principle is the same - by spring we look near the shore, in the reeds. Trophy specimens most likely will not leave their deep snags, but may be rushed to spawn in nearby inflowing rivers.
Where to look for pike in February on the river? On small rivers in the same place as always. Searching on large ones is difficult, as well as on reservoirs. The main thing is to feel the spring trend and build on it.
Where to look for pike in February on a pond? Most likely, the predator was not caught in closed reservoirs all winter. With the beginning of melting and general warming, the fish in such reservoirs become more active and begin to feed intensively. You need to look for it in any promising places. Again, these are snags, bushes, any shelter suitable for ambush and hunting.
Fishing Features
The nuances of pike fishing in February are precisely determined by these swings - whether the predator is already active or not, whether it has run aground or is still standing in the holes, whether the toothy one has gone closer to spawning somewhere in the mouth bay or upstream. How to catch a pike in February if it has disappeared and its location has not yet been found? Search and try to catch. You can find a toothy one in an unobvious place.
The small grass usually wakes up first. You can find it in the coastal reeds the earliest. Large individuals sway for a long time and wake up slowly. When small fish are already actively responding to the lure in the coastal zone, the pike patriarchs are just beginning to crawl out of their possessions.
Disputes about fishing tactics, whether to hatch a predator or constantly look for a new place, will never subside. There is always intrigue in February toothfishing, and tomorrow’s fishing may be completely different from today.
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Tackle
In February, the most effective time for pike fishing is with a girder. Flashing can also show good results. Pike will be more attracted to live bait than to its imitation. At this time, the pike is very careful and will even attack a spoon or balancer with extreme caution. Zherlitsa is the simplest type of tackle for pike. It consists of a base, a coil and a bite alarm. The fishing line is taken from 0.3 - 0.6 mm. A leash is a must. Single hook. You definitely need a sinker, preferably in the form of buckshot. The mass of the sinker should not provide resistance to the pike when biting, but it should not allow the baitfish to swim away into cover. How to catch pike in February? You need to use the right bait. Live bait is best for bait.
For live bait, you can use fish caught in the same reservoir. They use crucian carp, ruffe, roach, perch or rotan. A better choice of live bait would be a minnow.
