Choosing a spinner for pike perch in winter and the technique of catching fanged fish

Advantages of catching pike perch in winter using lures

To successfully catch pike perch in winter using a spoon, you need to know how the behavior of the fanged predator has changed during this period of the year. This also applies to the time he goes out to feed and his food preferences. For promising trolling of pike perch in winter, it is worth using a light-colored bait with a narrow body. It works great on a predator, attracting its attention and provoking an instant capture. It is narrow baits that fit the narrow mouth of a fanged fish.

You can often catch the nocturnal inhabitant of reservoirs at the surface of the water. Pike perch, grouping in small schools, actively moves from one place to another. This behavior provides a dynamic approach to winter walleye fishing. Here you will need to drill holes a lot and fish them intensively.

Winter trolling of pike perch allows you to search in all places on the water surface. In open water, the fisherman does not have such an opportunity.

To make the hunt both exciting and effective, it is enough to choose a reliable fishing rod for pike perch and a dozen pike perch spinners.

What kind of tackle is used for trolling pike perch?

Considering that the average size of prey is in the range of 3–5 kg, you need to choose gear following the following recommendations.

Rod and reel

To cast pike perch vertically in winter, you need a fishing rod with a strong and hard whip 40–50 cm long. The fanged predator has a strong palate, and you can “put” it on a hook only if you have a powerful fishing rod.

It is better to choose a reel model that is durable and comfortable, so that you can easily reel in and release line. It doesn’t matter which type of reel is preferred; both inertial and non-inertial versions have proven themselves to be excellent. But it is more effective to use a multiplier reel to catch pike perch. It is suitable for catching serious predators.

In terms of performance characteristics, such models greatly outperform simple meat grinders; their use affects the hunting process. Multipliers are distinguished by their versatility and power. Thick veins, oversized baits, and heavy-duty fishing rods are used here. The fisherman feels confident when fishing for trophy specimens; all his actions are clear and professional.

Nod and fishing line

When catching a fanged predator, a nod is not always given. They use a nod made of lavsan, a metal plate, its length is 4–6 cm. As a rule, it is used in winter together with light baits for pike perch, when the depth at the fishing point is shallow. The game of the spinner will be both as believable as possible and of high quality.

The choice of vein is often focused on the size of the trophy; its thickness is from 0.20 to 0.40 mm. It is better to select a thin thread, since the predator is more careful in winter, and an excessively thick cord can easily scare it away. It is more effective to choose a monofilament for pike perch, which is capable of absorbing its jerks during bites with its stretch. A leash is necessary if there is a pike in the pond.

For winter fishing for fanged fish, you can use a short telescope 50 cm long. The instrument is distinguished by sufficient strength, low weight, and ease of use.

Winter fishing for pike perch with a spinner and the best fishing

Identifying the location of a predator in winter is not easy. Here you will need to examine many promising points and know the exit times.

When you arrive at the pond, find a working square and drill 10 holes. If one hole turns out to be productive, then drill more holes at intervals of 1–2 m; pike perch is a schooling fish. It is worth examining the points by hitting the bottom surface with bait to raise a cloud of turbidity and attract the attention of the fanged one. In addition, this is an excellent way to monitor differences and changes in the bottom topography. In addition to spinners, rattlins work even more effectively in winter for pike perch and it is better to have them in your kit too.

Spinner bait technique

The technique of catching pike perch using a spoon from ice involves using one of the following methods of playing with bait:

1. For an active predator. First, immerse the bait in the water, hit it on the ground, wait a short pause, and raise it to a height of 30-40 cm. Then you need to smoothly raise the fishing rod up 35-40 cm and lower it sharply down. Pause for 5–15 seconds. It’s not worth staying on one hole for a long time; if no bites have occurred after 5–10 such cycles, then it makes sense to move on to the next hole.
2. For passive fish. The second method is relevant during the dry winter period, when pike perch leads a sedentary lifestyle. All actions are similar to the previous method, the only difference is working with bait at a height of up to 5 cm.

It is extremely important to pause while trolling, since the moment the predator grabs the bait occurs precisely at this moment. To correctly calculate the amount of stoppage, you need to add a couple of seconds to the time the lure game completely stops. You can practice at home, in open water. The same technique is used when catching pike perch using a balance beam in winter.

The predator rarely lives at the very bottom; here it is better to fish at a height of two meters. But try at the bottom first. The bait is lifted up in steps, with a short pause after each throw. It is worth holding the spoon for a longer time only at the top point.

To be sure to catch pike perch in winter, determine which underwater inhabitants are most attractive to it. The first catch needs to be opened and the stomach checked. If there is a goby, or a gudgeon, or a ruff in it, then work the spoon more actively, hit the ground and raise a cloud of turbidity.

If the pike perch only has bleak in its stomach, then hitting the bottom with the bait is enough only at the initial stage of the game. In early spring, bleak is located in the upper horizons, therefore, it is worth looking for a predator there. During this period of the year you need to play with a spinner almost at the very edge of the ice.

On the first ice, the fanged predator bites sharply and noticeably. This is a strong blow, which can cause the fisherman’s fishing rod to fly out of his hands. Once the prey is hooked, it can hang on the lure like a stone. In the middle of winter, the predator hits the bait with its head, often with the gill cover, without opening its mouth. It feels like a “butting”, as if the fish is pushing the bait away.

The success of fishing directly depends on the speed of identifying promising points, which dictates serious requirements for lures, their design, and shape. It is not rational to use gliding baits against the background of an active search for a predator. It is more effective to use falling vertical spinners.

Balancers for zander

You will need quite large balancers: the average length is 8-9 cm, and the weight is 15-30 g. If the depth is large, and in addition there is also a strong current, the dimensions of the baits can significantly exceed the limits indicated above.

The tail of the bait should be narrow, its thickness should also be minimal. For pike perch, as a rule, balancers with not too intense play and a small amplitude of oscillations are selected. And the wiring technique itself is usually quite restrained: sharp swings of the fishing rod of 20-30 cm, between which there is a long pause of 25-30 seconds.

How to choose a winter lure for pike perch

There are many options for catching a predator from the ice, but not all show results. To choose the right winter lures for pike perch, familiarize yourself with the basic parameters of such baits.

Spinner and hook size

The optimal size of a pike perch spoon, if fishing is aimed at large specimens, is about 10 cm. To catch medium-sized specimens, baits 5 cm long are sufficient. If hunting is planned at a depth of over 5 meters, then the size of the bait should be within 8 cm. Such versions able to quickly reach the desired horizon.

To catch winter pike perch, the weight of the spoon should not exceed 25 g. If there is a strong current in the fishing area, then you should choose appropriate, heavier baits.

For confident hooking and successful fishing, use triple hooks. When fishing with a single hook, predator attacks are often observed. The size of the hook should correspond to the size of the spoon. The forend must be sharp, and the hook itself must be reliable. It’s better to make sure of the quality in the store; there are many hooks on the market made of fragile material.

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Spoon shape and material

For fanged predators, it is preferable to use narrow-bodied baits, long and fast. Wide spoons are more suitable for hunting pike. Sometimes an ordinary shiny rectangular metal plate equipped with a hook works. Here you should not be afraid to experiment.

Lures for pike perch are made from:

• copper;
• brass;
• cupronickel

There are artificial baits on sale, made from one or two metal plates securely joined together. The free space is often filled with lead to weigh it down. This technique is more effective than soldering from the outside. Due to the softness of lead, after several tests with the teeth of a predator, the spoon loses its attractiveness.

Spoon color

In order for pike perch to notice the bait in the water column, you need to choose the right color. You can use any options, but colors such as:

• silver;
• white;
• golden;
• yellow.

For night hunting, it is worth choosing baits of bright or acidic colors; in the daytime, pike perch are better off using a duller version.

Other artificial winter baits for pike perch

Artificial baits include those baits that are used from inedible materials, with the exception of rubber, which can be eaten.

These include:

1. Balancers;
2. Amphipods;
3. Jigs;
4. Wobblers.

Balancers

• One of the most popular baits with which you can catch pike perch.
• Balancers are large baits in the middle, to which a fishing hook is attached.
• Colors can be either calm or bright acidic.

Wobblers

Wobblers are large baits that are made of plastic or wood. The shape and size can be varied.

Amphipods

The amphipod spinner has a different type of attachment; it is not an ordinary bait, but a combination of a balancer in a vertical position.

Edible rubber and silicone

Edible baits are used for:

1. Increased appetite;
2. The smell attracts fish.

Let's celebrate! If there is no bite or minimal catch, you can use edible bait. The fragrant bait is stored for a long time and does not lose its properties.

Jigs

A jig is an artificial bait that creates a positive result in roach fishing. The difference from regular fishing is the presence of gambling and active fishing.

There are several types of artificial bait, which differ from each other not only in the material of manufacture, but also:

1. Color:
   Acid-bright color;
2. Shiny;
3. Combination of several colors;
4. Plain, simple colors.
5. Shape:
   Devil;
6. Nymph;
7. Ant;
8. Goat;
9. Uralochka.
10. Weight:
    Light - relevant only at shallow depths.

Let's celebrate! To attach the hook to the jig, you can use a soldering iron with light solder so as not to add weight. You can use the bait as a small spoon, often it has to be painted in a bright color so that the fish pays attention.

• Average

Unlike others, they have a light structure, even in some cases fishermen make them themselves. Popular among winter fishing enthusiasts. Tin is quite plastic, which allows you to slowly erase the line using rounded edges.

• Heavy. The positive aspects are a long service life, as well as use at depth. From the name it is clear that the jig is heavy, which allows it not to react to the current and wind. It will be most appropriate for morning fishing in winter.
• Super heavy - created from an alloy that is even heavier in weight than tin, namely tungsten.

Manufacturing materials:

• Lead is a gray metal with a plastic shape;
• Tin is one of the components of the group of light metals, a white metal;
• A variety of alloys are materials that consist of several chemical elements;
• Tungsten is a hard material with a silver tint.