Winter fishing with a balance beam has become widespread among ice spinners. This fishing method is gaining more and more fans. Some fishermen use only this bait on ice. Station wagons, among other pieces of hardware, are also armed with a box with these baits. Fishing in winter with balancers is also used separately, but it is more advisable to use these tackles in combination with spoons, vibrations and other baits. It is impossible to predict in advance what fish in a reservoir will respond best to at a particular time. In this article we will look at the general features and secrets of fishing with a balance beam in winter.
What does a balancer look like for ice fishing?
The balancer is a full-bodied, heavy bait for vertical fishing with a back attachment. The bait itself, when properly suspended, hangs strictly horizontally in the water (a slight rise of the nose is allowed). They are usually equipped with two single hooks (in the nose and tail) and a hanging treble under the belly. In the rear part there is an angled plastic blade, which makes it yaw to the sides when pulled. In addition to this type of play, depending on body shape and balancing, good ice fishing balancers also perform other movements in the water.
How to choose balancers for winter fishing? To successfully fish with a balance beam, one must master the technique of the game, properly equip the fishing rods and apply certain tactics (depending on the type of fish, the period of winter and the conditions of the reservoir). There is a wide variety of models on store shelves, varying in color, weight, and body shape. The choice of bait also depends on the depth of the reservoir where it is planned to be used. Deep-water lures will not perform correctly in shallow water, and vice versa. Recently, silicone balancers for winter fishing, plastic ones, and also combined ones have appeared. The body of a standard bait is often made of lead and painted.
How to equip a winter fishing rod with a balancer?
So, a set of fishing rods has been selected. Now let's touch on equipment issues. The equipment of a winter fishing rod for fishing with a balance beam depends on the size of the bait and the expected trophies. So, having three different-sized fishing rods, we equip them accordingly. Some fishermen use braid, but practical experience is clear - only monofilament. Fluorocarbon can also be used. The diameter of the fishing line used depends on the “caliber” of the tackle, from 0.12 to 0.3 mm.
The best fishing rods for balance fishing are not specific models of rods, lines and lures. This is the gear that the fisherman managed to perfectly balance and select for himself personally. This feeling will come with some experience of shining. Whether or not to use a nod is a matter of personal preference. We have already discussed above why we need a guard in the balancing equipment. Each angler must complete the final set of equipment independently after some acquired skills during fishing.
Tackle
For winter fishing with a balance beam, you need clearly tuned gear, depending on the weight of the bait and the depth of fishing. A fishing rod for fishing with balance beams needs to be elastic in order to feel the game. At the same time, a very soft fishing rod that falls through when swung is not suitable. The golden mean is chosen. To fish at depth with heavy bait, you will need a fairly powerful but sensitive fishing rod equipped with a reel. When fishing for small perch in the shallows, ultra-light tackle with a nod is suitable. In winter, perch often bites sluggishly; the tackle should register weak bites on the rise. Often anglers make their own rods from feeder or carbon rods.
The equipment when fishing with balance beams in winter also depends on the size and depth. So with any installation components:
- Correct selection of fishing rod flexibility.
- Choosing fishing line for winter fishing with balance beams.
- Correct tying of the bait and its position in the water.
- Equipping the rod with a nod (if necessary).
About what fishing line to use for winter fishing with balance beams.
Fishing rod handle size and material
It was not for nothing that he said at the beginning that over time he would have to become self-made. A winter fishing rod for a balancer (and for other baits) is a conductor’s baton in your hands. It will be a foreign body - fishing is lost. Therefore, you will have to touch more than one model in the store.
What should you pay attention to? I won’t even say exactly what to put at the top of the list. Every feature of the handle is important.
The plastic handle is usually cold. In cold weather, and in the wind, playing with bait with your bare hand is inconvenient. I prefer foam or cork. Lightness and comfort in the hand.
It so happened that I almost always carry mittens or mittens in my pocket. Even if it’s minus 30 on the river. Therefore, I select handles exclusively for the “bare” hand. If this option is not suitable, then the size of the fishing rod handle should be commensurate with the grip in the mitten.
We also decide on the shape of the handle ourselves.
Can be summarized in one sentence. The fishing rod should lie in your hand without straining. I repeat - consider it a conductor's baton.
How to play as a balancer
The technique of fishing with a balance beam is tosses and pauses. During the toss, the bait moves to the side and returns back during a pause. A good balancer, when moving to the side at the extreme point, turns 180 degrees and returns to its initial position with its nose forward. He does this not in a straight line, but along a loop-shaped trajectory. Thus, in two tosses the bait makes a figure eight. The balancer is played with different intensities, the working amplitude of these swings and the pause time are selected.
Sometimes you need to swing the rod sharply, at other times – smoothly. One bait works with a brisk game, the other with a smooth and sweeping game. Despite its apparent simplicity, the technique of fishing with a balance beam in winter has a lot of nuances that can be learned experimentally directly on the pond. For example, for perch it works well if you finely twitch the tackle after each rise and fall. At this time, the striped one usually attacks the hanging tee with decorations.
When fishing with a balance beam in winter on the current, baits are selected whose play is not disrupted by the flow of water. In shallow waters, light, fast-acting baits work better. Fishing with a balance beam is a creative and experimental process. In your arsenal you need a certain amount of gear customized for different conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages
The use of equipment for fishing in winter on a balancer is preferable due to:
- High efficiency, allowing you to count on a catch even when the activity of predatory fish is low;
- Ease of use;
- Saving time on searching for fish, the ability to quickly find a promising hole and depth for fishing;
- Versatility, the bait even works on fish from the carp family, which do not have pronounced predatory tendencies.
However, when planning fishing with a balance beam, it is worth considering the disadvantages of the method. The bait is equipped with hooks that can cling to snags, vegetation or the edges of the hole. At best, it will end in deformation of the hook. At worst, you have to wait for the line to break.
Wear of the bait is expressed in the failure of the stabilizer that holds the fish horizontally, as well as cracking and peeling of the paint. Cheap options sometimes only last one fishing trip.
How to fish with a balance beam in winter
Fishing tactics depend on the fish the spinner is hunting for. It is also influenced by the depth of the reservoir, the strength of the current and the time of fishing. Fishing with a balance beam in winter is not just about lowering the first bait in the box into the hole. Before each trip, you need to imagine who to follow and in what conditions to fish.
How to fish correctly with a balance beam in winter:
- Tune in to a specific type of fish;
- Preliminarily study the conditions of the reservoir (depth, current);
- Use the right gear (from ultra-light for small perch to strong for large pike or pike perch);
- Apply fish search tactics in the pond, depending on the desired trophy.
The general approach to tactics, as when fishing with a spoon, is active search. The pattern of this search depends on the body of water. On small rivers we navigate along the coastline. Fishing with a balance beam on lakes and large reservoirs takes place over a large water area, without external reference points. Here we look for promising places using a depth gauge, an under-ice camera or an echo sounder.
Ice fishing tactics with a balance beam also depend on timing. At the beginning of winter, especially on the first ice, fish can walk anywhere. The predator moves across a large water area, actively hunting for fry. In the dead of winter, the search zone narrows around permanent winter camps, and holes are drilled frequently in promising areas. During periods of passivity, the fish will attack the bait only if it is delivered literally under the nose of the predator.
Tactics largely depend on the type of fish. You shouldn’t go fishing just “whoever you come across.” It is necessary to purposefully search for specific fish. The behavior of the predator depends on the species, each of them requires special equipment and bait.
Leash for balancer
Many novice fishermen are concerned about the question: is a leash needed for this type of fishing?
On the one hand, heavy metal leashes are clearly visible in the water. Also, an excessively rigid element of the equipment often interferes with the execution of wiring. As a result, the unnatural-looking movement of the bait and the protruding metal element scares off most cautious predators, which reduces the bite.
A leash is needed in order not to lose the balance when biting active predators
However, when fishing for large active carnivores (such as pike), the absence of a leader significantly increases the risk of losing the balancer. A predator can simply bite the line and leave with the bait in its mouth.
This suggests several logical conclusions. When catching cautious perch or pike perch, it is not advisable to use a leash. The only exception is an inconspicuous fluorocarbon leader. According to reviews from many experienced fishermen, its use sometimes even increases the number of bites. Fluorocarbon can also be used for catching small pike (weighing up to 5-6 kg) during periods of low activity.
However, in early winter and spring, for fishing for large active predators, it is advisable to have leashes made of stronger material. During these periods, pike are especially voracious and often do not even notice metal equipment. In this case, it will not be difficult for a large individual to bite through the base or fluorocarbon leash.
Before using each new leash, you should test the tackle at shallow depths or in a bathtub. The main thing is that the robust design does not interfere too much with the main game. Otherwise, even the hungriest predator will not bite the bait.
Perch
The striped robber is probably the most popular object of interest for anglers due to its prevalence and aggressiveness. This fish is caught all winter. When hunting large humpback whales in winter, tackle is used, just like for pike perch. But such trophies are rare. The main object of fishing is small and medium perch. To catch perch, special search tactics and thinner, more sensitive gear are used. The smallest and medium-sized decoys are used - from 2.5 to 7 centimeters. A special feature when fishing for striped fish is the presence of bead or fiber decorations on the tee. e and ti are provocateurs and serve as a point of attack for the striped one. This predator rarely swallows the bait whole, attacking point-wise, behind the tee. Special article.
Set of fishing rods
A set of gear for fishing with a balance beam in winter consists of three (at least) fishing rods:
- For heavy baits and deep fishing.
- Light tackle for small and medium lures. Small and medium depths.
- Ultra-light fishing rod for low-active perch.
Accordingly, the first type is used for deep hunting for pike perch or pike. Light tackle - basic, universal. This fishing rod is suitable for initial exploration in water bodies with medium or shallow depths. The third option is for small and medium-sized perch, especially in the dead of winter. In the Middle Zone this is the main trophy, so the use of such a fishing rod is especially important. Some people use special sports fishing rods for small winter balances. It’s very easy to make one from a standard winter balalaika and a carbon fiber whip from a summer rod. There are no such fishing rods for sale. The manufacturer is trying to adapt to the interests of fishermen, but this is partially successful - after purchase the gear often has to be altered or improved.
This set of three fishing rods covers the necessary arsenal for winter trolling. Naturally, in addition to balancers, spinners, ratlins, cicadas and others are used. Even large jigs are used for catching perch on ultra-light fishing rods. The box for balancers should have several baits in its arsenal, different in weight and game (with a wide tail or a narrow one). Of the colors, we pay attention to two basic colors - bright green striped “perch” and silvery-bluish, like a white fish. Read more in the article about balancers for winter perch fishing.
For large fish and heavy baits
At first glance it seems that we are talking about “heavy artillery”, but in fact you need a flexible and elegant balance rod. Such fishing rods that meet the requirements are available in ready-made form in stores. This is a real winter mini-spinning rod. Cork handle, graphite or carbon fiber whip with rings. This fishing rod is needed for winter fishing with a balancer for pike perch or pike. There are many models on the market, but not all of them are suitable. When choosing a fishing rod, take into account:
- The stiffness of the whip (under the weight of the bait). For pike perch and large pike, it is better to choose rigid fishing rods that will allow you to fish in the American way (not with a fishing line, but with a reel from the hole). For perch, you need soft whips, then the neat bites of this fish will be transmitted to your hand.
- The reel mounts are movable. This is necessary for correct installation of the coil. By moving the handle back and forth, we achieve such a balance of the tackle so that the angler’s hand does not get tired when trolling.
The average price category of such rods ranges from 1000-1500 rubles + reel. If the fisherman is not ready for such expenses, then the tackle is made independently with his own hands. You can buy cheaper Chinese analogues, but you need to be careful with them - under heavy load, a whip made of low-quality materials will not bend, but break. The simplest homemade version is a feeder tip (quivertip) glued into a wooden or cork handle. The top of a broken spinning rod will also work.
Options
Homemade tackle is made according to the principles of Shcherbakov’s winter fishing rod. The details are different - the main point is the essence. The rod should clearly transmit the sound of the balancer into the hand when lowering after a swing and the bite. If it is not possible to buy or make a fishing rod, we equip it with a nod that is available. A nod that is too elastic disrupts the action of the bait. Weak for heavy bait does not make sense. We need a golden mean. Fishermen use special balancing nods from the store or a silicone tube.
It is important to understand that the main thing in a balance fishing rod is to feel the bait. Therefore, “stiff wood” is not suitable. And if a fisherman cannot afford a high-quality fishing rod, then it is better to make it yourself than to take a cheap analogue that does not work. This is the main working fishing rod. Therefore, the fisherman should have either a universal one for medium and heavy weights, or two separately - a “club” for 20-30 grams, and a flexible one for 10-20 g.
Salmo Pro Perch is an excellent all-round rod for medium to heavy weight lures. There are a lot of positive reviews on this rod on the Internet. There are also many good sticks from other manufacturers. But this one is the most popular and cheapest of the good ones.
Salmo Pro Perch fishing rod
Salmo Ise – soft, for medium weight. It bends a lot under heavy balancers. An excellent main tool for catching perch with medium balance beams.
Soft Salmo Ise Pro Telerod MH
Homemade pike perch fishing rod by Shcherbakov.
Shcherbakov's pike-perch fishing rod
Homemade from a feeder tip - the work of the fishing rod depends on the flexibility of the whip.
Homemade fishing rod from feeder tips (quivertips)
Pike
For winter fishing for toothy fish, you need strong gear and large baits. Pike loves to stand in snags and bushes, so fishing often takes place in such places. In such places, due to the specifics of the game, the balance beam often clings to bushes and underwater grass. Therefore, the fisherman needs a special cut. Some fishermen equip the bait with a metal leash, for fear of losing it in the pike's teeth. Experienced fishermen recommend not using a metal leash, justifying this by a clear improvement in the bite when using transparent materials. It is better to use thin tungsten or fluorocarbon (twisted from 2-3 threads) as a leash.
Lures
A winter fishing rod on a balancer can be used not only with these baits. The box should also contain other baits - spinners, winter wobblers, amphipods. When fishing, it’s worth experimenting and using different options. The variety of baits is great, there are hundreds of manufacturers. This information is presented in separate articles about the types of balancers. Accordingly, large baits are used for fishing with a balancer on a heavy winter fishing rod, and small ones on a light one.
Zander
Pike perch, of course, is a desired trophy for every angler. There is even a special detachment of fishermen that stands out from the general mass, specializing in catching this fish in winter. The tactics of balance fishing for pike perch is to survey a fairly large area and promising places. If during the day you catch holes where the predator rests, then at night you should look for the prickly pirate at the exits from these places, edges, tables and nearby shallows. This is where the pike perch comes out to feed in the dark. In winter, pike perch loves sluggish, calm play. The pause after the toss is maintained as long as possible. You need a rigid rod, capable of cutting through the tough mouth of this predator. Observance of the same nuances requires winter fishing for bersh. These fish are similar both in lifestyle and in appearance.
Winter fishing technique using balance beams
Fishing with balance beams for both beginners and experienced fishermen begins with collecting gear and choosing bait, but to achieve success in fishing, you need to use catchy fishing.
A small fish in cold water (which, as we remember, is imitated by a balance beam) does not stand still, but constantly moves, sometimes accelerating, sometimes slowing down. The bait behaves the same way if the fishing rod is in the hands of a skilled fisherman.
It is not difficult to learn effective wiring, and there is not so much choice. The movement of the bait in the water is controlled by the nod of the fishing rod and changes with hand movements. It has been noticed that in different bodies of water, the preferences of fish in terms of the weight and shape of the balancers and their behavior differ, so you will have to adapt and the result will not be long in coming. But what is common is that most often the predator’s bite occurs during a pause, when the artificial fish slows down and it is more convenient for the pike perch or perch to grab it.
