Autumn is the best time for pike fishing. The toothy fish bites very well at this time. Therefore, you shouldn’t skip this time; it’s better to take a suitable tackle with a set of baits and go to the pond. Spoons are a good choice. They were the first artificial spinning baits, and they remain relevant to this day. Most beginners start with them, and athletes also use them. What lures should you add to your collection to successfully catch pike in the fall?
What lures are used to catch pike?
Pike are trolled with spoons, spinners, and balancers.
Oscillators
This spoon has four basic components in its design:
- body,
- hook,
- fastening rings,
- swivel
The body of the spoon is an imitation of pike prey. It is made of metal alloys and can be painted in different colors, stripes, dots, and additional elements are applied to better attract a predator.
At both ends of the spoon there are rings for attaching a hook and a swivel, respectively.
Oscillating spoons are used in the following cases:
- casting;
- vertical fishing;
- trolling;
- stepped wiring;
- surface shine.
Top 5 best oscillating spinners:
- Blue Fox Esox – thanks to its flattened, wide shape, this spoon moves smoothly in the water, forgiving the spinner of all mistakes; bright color is ideal for summer and autumn.
- Mepps Syclops - excellent shape and perfect curve, providing a smooth ride, high-quality coverage.
- Dam Effzekt Twin is a rather interesting design; makes a characteristic sound when conducting, which additionally attracts the predator.
- Kuusamo Rasanen - can be made both as a vibrator and as a non-hooking one; Huge selection of colors and sizes.
- Kuusamo Professor - atypical geometry, additional noise during wiring.
Subspecies of the oscillator - non-hooking
They were developed into a separate type of bait, because... they are more convex and voluminous, equipped with soldered hooks (one or two), which have protective petals or antennae to protect the hook.
Top 10 best non-snaking oscillators:
- Lucius Weedless. Reliable, long-range, passable, wear-resistant; average price category.
- Atom-N. Wide range of sizes/weights to choose from; extraordinary game; nice price.
- XPS Stomper Weedless. The acoustics are creative, wear-resistant, reliable, and the price is high.
- Kuusamo Viiksi. Stable amplitude of oscillations at different speeds of postings; for shallow water.
- Gator Plain. For fast retrieves in deep and shallow waters; possibility of equipping the body and hook with additional elements.
- Johnson Silver Minnow. A budget option for shallow water, slow movements even on fast retrieves.
- KIRA Fishing. Non-hooking wobbler for fishing in toad beds.
- Marsh 012 Mystic. Average price, high cross-country ability, more effective in brindle color and green shades.
- Live Forage. Average price category, holographic coating, reinforced fender.
- Akara Aver. Affordable prices and own animation.
Subspecies of the jig - jig
This is a heavy, narrow-bodied spoon with a length-to-width ratio of 6:1. May have a round, hexagonal, rectangular or square cross-section.
Equipped with sharp ends with loops for fastening hooks and fishing lines. The bait is easily buried and kept in the fishing zone despite the strength of the current.
You can fish both plumb and cast. Wide range of animation techniques in any water horizon.
A subspecies of the vibrator - castmaster
This is a jig-type spinner - a heavy metal bait. It is made from a metal rod with cuts lengthwise at angles of 17 and 23 degrees. Equipped with winding rings on the front and back for attaching a treble hook and main line.
The original lure is engraved “Kastmaster Acme Tackle Co”, the winding rings are cut at an angle and inward. Spoons less than 7 grams are difficult to make and are found mainly in the original.
Turntables
This is the name given to a spinner with “petals” rotating around an axis. They have a concave symmetrical plate, mounted loosely at one end on a metal rod. At the top of the rod there is a ring for attaching to a leash, at the bottom there is a clasp for a hook.
When wiring, the turntables create an oscillatory circuit: vibrating bioelectric fields that coincide with what a wounded fish emits, which attracts the predator. The pike picks up these vibrations within a radius of 5 to 20 meters and actively attacks.
Shapes, types, materials of manufacture, methods of fastening, colors, presence of holes, scratches, etc. a huge number, we will not analyze them all in this article, we will focus on the main points.
The petals vary in shape:
- Wide, rounded and flatter - “Colorado”, “Aglia” (from Mepps).
- Oval - “Indiana”, “Comet” from Mepps.
- Narrow, in the shape of a willow leaf - “Willow Leaf” or “Aglia Long”, respectively.
The first type (“Colorado”, “Aglia”) have a flatter shape, which is why they rotate quickly, have a sweeping game with deviations from the axis of movement. They are mainly used in reservoirs with standing water or weak currents.
They “start” confidently from the first revolutions of the coil and operate without failures throughout the entire wiring process. Stable operation allows you to experiment with wiring speed. Even at the slowest speed of the coil, as a rule, the rotation of the petal does not stop.
The angle of deviation of the petal from the axis of rotation is quite large, which “increases” the size of the bait and attracts trophy specimens.
The second type (“Indiana”, “Comet”) is more universal. Works both in still water and in currents. The rotation speed is average, the angle of deviation from the axis is narrower than in the first case. Mainly used with medium rotation speed of the reel handle.
The third form (“Willow Leaf” or “Aglia Long”) is used in strong currents. Due to its shape, the flow resistance is minimal and allows for comfortable wiring. The deflection angle is minimal and the rotation speed is also the smallest of all three types.
It should be noted that the work is extremely unstable, it is necessary to control the operation of the spinner all the time during the retrieve; if the tension of the cord changes, or the vibration of the blank changes, it is necessary to “restart” the spinner with a sharp movement of the rod.
So, let's recall the simplified rules:
Round petal – standing water. Fast blade rotation speed. Oval – universal. Still water, moderate current. Elongated - for strong currents. Susceptible to malfunctions, requires careful attention to wiring.
Top 10 spinners for pike:
- Blue Fox Vibrax Super Bou. Tandem pinwheel blades are combined with Marabou, Hackle and Flambou fibers. Create realistic wave-like movements in water in combination with sound. For large pike.
- Mepps H. Heavy, holographic hook feather, for large pike.
- Mepps BD3TS2-W Double Blade Aglia. Noisy, two-lobed, low grip, interesting game. The hook is covered with bright thread tails.
- Mepps Aglia. For standing water. Fast movement of the petal, stable operation, deviation from the axis at a large angle, which gives more volume to the bait.
- Blue Fox Super Vibra. For shallow reservoirs. The petal extends 45 degrees and creates sound vibrations in the core.
- Mepps Aglia Long. For strong currents. Slow rotation, possible malfunctions of the petal, which are “treated” with a sweeping movement of the rod (the spinner is launched).
- Mepps Comet. The tilt of the petal during wiring is 45 degrees. Good for still water or slow currents.
- Mepps Lusox. Shipping the front allows you to simulate jigging. It is distinguished by its unusual design.
- Lucky John Shelt Blade. Ensures stable rotation when the wiring speed changes. The core is assembled from brass and tungsten balls.
- Pontoon 21 Ball Concept. The center of gravity is shifted to the rear, thanks to this the spinner has an original game. Works well for long casts.
Subspecies of spinnerbait - spinnerbait
It is a metal wire that is bent at an angle of 90 degrees. One or two rotating petals, different or the same in size, are fixed on one arm of the bait, on the other – a weight and a hook with a silicone frame (skirt).
Attaching to the main line occurs at the bend of the wire. Various shipping options are used. Designed for fishing in difficult places - grass, snags. The upper arm of the bait serves as a “breaker”, preventing the hook from getting caught.
You can use various animation techniques, but the main ones are uniform wiring and jigging steps.
The best spinners for pike
When choosing a spinner for pike fishing, you should pay attention to the shape of the petal. The operation of the bait with or without current depends on this parameter. According to the Meps classification, the following classes of spinners are distinguished: Aglia, Aglia Long, Comet.
Mepps Aglia Decor
Mepps Aglia Long
Aglia Comet
Aglia spinners are equipped with a large and convex petal. This type of bait is most effective when catching predators in bodies of water with a slow current, or in reservoirs without any current at all.
Aglia Long is a long, narrow spoon, which is most often used when casting against the current. Good in strong currents, but also works in slow currents.
Comet is a spinner with a petal, average in structure between Aglia and Aglia Long, suitable for fishing for pike in the water column in currents and reservoirs without currents.
In the summer and spring months, it is better to give preference to spinners whose length is within 3-8 cm. In the cold season, it is worth using larger baits.
Fishing stores offer a wide range of spinners, which differ not only in cost, but also in color, length, and weight. Below you can find the most popular spinners that are suitable for pike fishing.
Mepps Aglia 7 numbers for catching autumn pike
Blue Fox Vibrax Super Bou
Blue Fox Vibrax Super Bou is a high-quality and catchable spinner with feathers, weighing 23 grams. The petal of this model is round. The spinner emits a strong vibration, which attracts the attention of a predator.
Daiwa Silver Creek Spinner
The length of the spinner is 2.7 cm, weight is 7 grams. The spoon can be used both on reservoirs with and without current. The bend of the petal is complex. It is combined with a core made of 2 types of metal. It flies very well, starts instantly and is stable in the current.
Savage Gear Caviar Spinner
The surface of the bait is shiny on one side and matte on the other. The cambric, which is put on the shank of the hook, is a bright feature of the spinner. It additionally attracts the attention of the fish and provokes it to attack. The length of the bait reaches 4.3 cm, and the weight is 18 grams.
Mepps Black Fury
Mepps Black Fury is a spinning spoon that is considered one of the most catchy baits. The spinner is painted black, which makes it noticeable not only in clear, but also in muddy water. 2-4 numbers according to the Meps classification.
Mepps Aglia long
The petal is deflected from its axis and has drag, which can vary depending on the speed of the animation. The weight of the largest spinner in the model range reaches 29 grams, and the length is 7.3 cm.
Mepps Comet
The universal rotating spoon can be used not only in currents, but also in still water. The pinwheels are painted in silver/golden colors. Peas of a red/blue/gray hue are applied to the surface of the petal. Calmer colors are the only thing that distinguishes Comets from the poisonous colors of Black Fury.
Kuusamo Kuf
The spoon is of good quality and has a special animation that can attract the attention of even well-fed fish. The design is equipped with a sharp tee and an attractive red front sight. Length – 4 cm, weight 7 grams.
Lucky John Shelt Blade
The long petal of the spinner from Lucky John is painted on both sides in bronze/copper tones. The background contains ovals and colored dots. The manufacturer produces the Lucky John Shelt Blade series in 5 sizes.
Pontoon 21 Ball Concept
Thanks to the shifted center of gravity, the bait will have good flight qualities. The spoon is most catchy in reservoirs with fast and medium currents.
Smith Niakis
The universal turntable is of good quality. The manufacturer produces bait in several colors, which allows each angler to choose the most suitable option depending on the fishing conditions. The lineup includes several spinners weighing 3–12 grams.
Top 10 best rotating spinners for catching predatory fish (pike, perch, pike perch, chub):
Balancers
A revolutionary bait for winter fishing, attracting an increasing number of fishermen. It has the shape of a fish with fixed hooks in the front and back.
There are rings on the back and belly of the bait: the upper one is for attaching to the fishing line, the lower one is for attaching the tee. The material used can be plastic, lead or rubber. Can be equipped with additional parts.
Recently, it has been increasingly used all-season for vertical trolling of pike.
The shape and design of the lures distinguishes each balancer with its unique game.
Types of balancers
An enlarged head part, which, plunging into the water with its head, subsequently changes its position to the tail.
With a narrow bow suitable for standing water. Slows down the speed at the top and bottom points of horizontal wiring.
With the tail being in a horizontal position when diving and lifting.
The fur tail is used in shallow waters.
Silicone – for sluggish or absent bite.
Top 10 balancers:
- Lucky John
- Rapala Jigging Rap
- Nils Master – Jigger
- Karismax
- Strike Pro
- Nils Master – Baby Shad
- Scorana ICE Crystal
- Nils Master Nisa
- Nils Master Jigging Shad
- AQUA Trapper
Choosing a spinner depending on the time of year
Taking into account the peculiarities of fish behavior depending on the time of year, choosing a catchable spoon is not difficult.
In the spring, pike gain strength after winter, actively feed and prepare for spawning, then spawn and rest. Then the pike begins to eat after spawning. From this moment until late autumn, pike can be very successfully caught in open water using various lures.
The size of the spoon, if it is an imitation of the food supply of pike, should be taken according to the size of the fry at the fishing site. If you are catching a trophy specimen, the baits are large.
Noise spinners work better during periods of active fish feeding. During periods of no biting - various imitations of a wounded and severely weakened victim. In winter conditions and in muddy water, noise lures work better than color lures.
When selecting spinners, color solutions are taken into account depending on the light intensity:
- in cloudy weather it is better to take brighter colors;
- in sunny conditions they are duller and more natural.
We present the main characteristics of the choice of baits and animation depending on the seasons.
How to catch pike with spoons
Arriving at a pond, the first thing you need to do is pay attention to the habitats of the toothy fish.
You can find pike not only in holes, but also in reeds, thickets along the coastline and near trees fallen into the water. Depending on the fishing method and the depth of the river/reservoir/lake, the fisherman must choose the appropriate casting technique:
- When fishing a river with a fast current, it is worth casting along the current, across the stream or upstream;
- From the shoreline, casts are made diagonally;
- We fish the pits with non-hooking, front-loaded rotators;
- in snagged areas of the reservoir, cast to a place that is more or less free from underwater vegetation/snags and cast the lure along a promising place.
Advice! When performing a retrieve, it is important to achieve the effect so that the pike perceives the spinner as a small fish, or, conversely, to provoke an attack, imitating the behavior of an unknown creature.
The animation is carried out immediately after casting, or after a pause for deepening, choosing one of the techniques listed below:
- wave-like game, in which the lure must be periodically raised or lowered;
- twitching - evenly moving the bait and lightly twitching in the manner of wobbler animation;
- uniform slow wiring;
- stepwise retrieving, in which the lure is placed on the bottom and, having been sharply raised, continues to be driven, is lowered again and raised again.
Catching pike with front-loaded spinners
Using a spinner, an angler can perform animations with pauses.
The pause is carried out at every 2-3 turns of the coil. It is important to keep the movement even.
As soon as the predator sits down, you should strike sharply. You should not allow the fish to go into the thickets so that it cannot break the line.
Fishing stores offer a wide range of spinners for pike fishing. It is sometimes difficult for beginners to make the right choice. In order for your purchase to live up to your expectations, you should listen to the advice listed in the article and familiarize yourself with the rating of the most catchy models. And then making a choice will not be so difficult. Happy shopping and good catch!
General characteristics for spring
Slow retrieve, bait size 4-8 cm.
Take into account that before spawning the space in the belly of the pike is occupied by caviar, and after spawning there is no strength to chase large fish.
The spinner for pike in the spring is a spoon. Small and light, complete with slow wiring.
In second place is the pinwheel.
The color of the spinner for pike in the spring is copper and silver:
- copper – sunny days;
- silver – cloudy.
For more experienced fishermen, experiment with bright colors, contrasting spots and stripes.
What kind of spoons are used when fishing for pike?
Spoons for pike are distinguished by their versatility and special structure. The following types of artificial baits are used to catch predators:
- Oscillators – metal plates equipped with hooks. Medium and large sized spinners are suitable for pike fishing. Spinner baits are universal baits that can be used in any body of water to catch pike throughout the open water season. But oscillating spoons are especially effective when fishing for pike in the fall. When a high-quality spoon enters the water, it sways from side to side, which literally hypnotizes the predator and provokes it to bite.
Large spoons are the best option for fishing for autumn pike - Turntables - a spinner with a rod - an axis around which a metal petal rotates during animation. At the bottom of the petal there is a core (weight) and a treble hook. The sound waves created by the rotation attract the attention of predatory fish. When fishing a pond with muddy water, it is better to give preference to bright spinners. In clear water, you can use spinners painted in dark tones, matte and shiny silver, brass, copper, painted in calm matte tones.
Rotating spoons in sizes 2-4 are good lures for pike fishing - Non-snacking hooks , equipped with a single or double hook, the prying of which is protected by a magnet/metal tendrils from snagging. The hook tip opens only at the moment of attack. Non-clinging spoons are most often used to hunt for predators in bodies of water with an abundance of algae/branches/snag.
Unhooked Rapala
No less catchy lures for pike are cicadas, jigs, spinnerbaits and palebaits.
Spinnerbait
General characteristics for autumn
The size of the spoon is 8 cm and above.
Colors: a field for experimentation.
Wiring: field for experimentation - fast, slow, combinations, pauses.
For pike, autumn is the time when it fattens (gains a sufficient layer of fat to successfully overwinter) and is more interested in large prey, so we choose larger baits.
This is the best period for spinning fishing. The fish are moving deeper and deeper, which makes it possible to choose larger and heavier baits.
The best spinners are spoons.
