Catching pike with mugs: equipment, mug design, how to place mugs on pike

Pike fishing is always an exciting and exciting activity. But sometimes it happens that the pike stops biting at any bait and you have to come up with new effective methods. But why rack your brains if everything has already been thought out in advance! If the pike has stopped taking bait, then we catch it with live bait. And as live bait we choose mugs. We'll tell you what it is and how to catch it.

Fishing circle equipped with d=180mm Helios 123 for 1 piece. Fishing circle equipped with d=150mm Helios 120 for 1 piece. Fishing circle equipped with d=130mm Helios 120 for 1 piece. Fishing circle d=130mm Helios 72 for 1 piece. Fishing circle d=150mm Helios 82 for 1 piece. Fishing circle d=180mm Helios 98 for 1 piece.

Select a fishing circle in the catalog

Mugs are unpretentious equipment, quite simple to equip.

Equipment for pike fishing circles

If a person has already dealt with fishing and is able to equip the same girder, then there will definitely not be any difficulties with the mugs. But for a beginner, this method of fishing can be difficult. However, manufacturers have provided for everything and mugs can be purchased either without equipment or completely ready for use.

Triple hook (HS-ST-36-5) Helios 24 for 1 pc. Tee ST36BN-No. 5 FORMIX 20 for 1 pc. Triple hook 974 No. 1 EAGLE CLAW 14 for 1 pc. Triple hook ROUND (3R-BLN-01) METSUI 975 for 1 pack. Triple hooks “Sprut” Kawa ST-31 BC #2 (Treble Wide Gap Hook) 1pack*6pcs Sprut 380 for 1 pack. Triple hook OWNER ST-46BC, No. 1 OWNER 19 for 1 pc. Triple hooks “Sprut” Hara ST-36 BC #4 (Treble Round Bend Hook) 1pack*7pcs Sprut 340 for 1 pack. Triple hooks Round Treble art. KH11030-02/1 Rubicon 520 for 1 pack. Tee HF-36 Needle point, #5 Hitfish 185 for 1 pack. Tee HF-36 Needle point, #4 Hitfish 185 for 1 pack.

Select a tee for circles

Design of circles for pike fishing

The tackle is a foam circle with a diameter of 13 to 20 cm and a thickness of 20-30 mm, along its end there is a groove for fishing line, in the middle there is a mast about 15 cm in length with a serif at the top.

Profi Spector fishing line 100 meters transparent EXPERT 122 for 1 pc. Profi Spector fishing line 100 meters green EXPERT 122 for 1 pc. Line CULT CARP DEEP PURPLE 150 m Climax 310 for 1 pc. Floating line Kruiser Control Liner 0.33 mm, 150 m, 12lb KM12 Korda 680 for 1 pc.

Buy fishing line for rigging circles

To assemble a standard circle, you will need the following:

a circle with a mast-pin;
main cord or fishing line 0.25 - 0.45 mm, a length slightly greater than the depth of the reservoir in the chosen fishing location;
fishing line 1.8 - 2.5 mm, on a retractable leash, up to a meter long;
steel or fluorocarbon leash 20 – 30 cm, with a carabiner;
sliding weight;
swivel

Next, we think about what kind of mugs we want to see – stationary or free-floating. Their equipment differs quite a bit.

Leash equipped dl. 25cm. test 15kg. PIERCE 30 for 1 piece. Fluorocarbon leash 0.5mm 13.8kg 30cm (HS-0056) Helios 95 for 1 pack. Fluorocarbon leash 0.6mm 16.5kg 20cm (HS-0064) Helios 105 for 1 pack. Leash equipped dl. 25cm. test 9kg. PIERCE 20 for 1 piece. Fluorocarbon leash 0.4mm 8.5kg 30cm (HS-0046) Helios 95 for 1 pack. Fluorocarbon leash 0.4mm 8.5kg 20cm (HS-0044) Helios 95 for 1 pack. Leash AFW 7 threads 0.28mm 9kg 20cm (3pcs/pack) (HS-0096) Helios 105 for 1 pack. Leash String D-0.33 mm, dl - 30 cm (pack) Helios 127 for 1 pack. Fluorocarbon leashes (20cm/0.40mm/5kg) 1pack*3pcs Sprut 240 per 1pack. Leash AFW 7 threads 0.30mm 14kg 25cm (3pcs/pack) (HS-0101) Helios 105 for 1 pack.

Choose a leash for equipping circles

How to make a circle with your own hands

It is convenient to purchase this simple fishing tackle in specialized stores. But many people prefer to make it with their own hands; a homemade product works no worse than a factory-made analogue and is completely free - it is usually possible to select the material without difficulty. You can make just such a circle for a pike that will meet all the requirements - in color, size and shape. The creation process is as simple as possible:

Cut a disk 2-3 cm thick and about 15-20 cm in diameter from foam plastic or cork.
Make a small hole in the center.
Prepare a piece of plastic or wooden cylinder of variable cross-section so that it fits the diameter of the hole. Make a small notch in the upper part, allowing you to fix the fishing line in it.
Cut a recess of about 1 cm along the side edge for winding the fishing line. You can process it with a file or fine sandpaper to avoid burrs and irregularities.
Paint one edge (top) white and the other (bottom) red.

To learn more:

Fanatic fishing gear review

Thanks to this coloring, you can always determine whether the circle has turned over, which means you will understand whether there was a bite.

Free floating circle

Using a simple loop, we attach the main fishing line or cord to a standard foam circle and wind it into the end groove;
We equip the other end of the fishing line with a sinker and tie a swivel;
We attach a long leash to the swivel so that the live bait can move more freely and not be restricted;
and to this leash we attach a steel leash with a hook, on which the bait will be held. That's it, the circle with free live bait is ready to be launched into the water.

Swivel (HS-ZPY-1024-12) Helios 37 for 1 pack.
Swivel (HS-ZPY-1024-8) Helios 37 for 1 pack. Swivel with Safety fastener No. 6, test 7 kg (8 pcs/pack) Nice Fish Season 60 for 1 pack. Kipper No-Knot Fast-Snap Black Large 63 for 1 piece. Swivel with sliding clasp INTERLOCK MATCH SNAP L 18 kg (10 pcs/pack) (HS-ZPY-1115-1-L) Helios Helios 54 for 1 pack. Swivel with bearing BALL BEARING SWIVEL No. 1 20 kg (10 pcs/pack) (HS-ZPY-1110-1) Helios Helios 159 for 1 pack. Clasp with swivel DOUBLE PLASTIC №L Fish Season 60 for 1 pack. Clasp with swivel DOUBLE PLASTIC №M Fish Season 60 for 1 pack. Choose a swivel for the mug

Fixed circle

The equipment of the stationary circle differs only in the location of the weight:

Having wound the main cord around the circle, we put a swivel on it;
We tie a weight to the end of the cord;
to limit the sliding of the swivel along the cord, we fix its position with two stoppers, thereby determining at what depth the live bait will swim;
after that, as with the floating circle, we tie a leash with a hook to the swivel.

The choice of installation depends on where you are fishing - on a river or on a lake, as well as on weather conditions.

What does a circle look like?

Externally, it is extremely simple - a round disk made of light, buoyant material. There is a small groove along the perimeter into which the wound fishing line is placed. A hole is made in the center of the disk into which a small pin is inserted - one end is thin, and the other is thicker and rounded. The two edges of the disk have different colors - this makes it easy to notice a bite even if fishing with a circle is carried out in low light conditions, for example, early in the morning or late in the evening. The rest of the equipment resembles a rig - a strong fishing line and a large hook, preferably an anchor, and in some cases also a weight. Experts divide them into two types - moored and drifting. The discs themselves are no different, but the equipment has slight differences.

Drifting

Better suited for fishing in the fall. Pike at this time is more passive - having gained enough fat, it calmly tolerates a drop in water temperature in anticipation of winter, leads a sedentary lifestyle and can stand in the depths for hours. Drifting mugs will be a good choice; they are not equipped with a load, and therefore live bait freely drags them from place to place. Consequently, the likelihood that he will be close to a pike or pike perch increases - predators will accurately react to the appearance of prey in their immediate vicinity. But it is not recommended to install several drifting gear on small ponds - they can get mixed up with each other.

To learn more:

Advantages of a Kevlar leash for pike

Moored

In summer or on a small lake it is better to fish with stationary mugs. They differ from those described above only in the heavy load. It is installed on an additional leash so that it is 20-40 cm above the hook. In early and mid-summer, pike are very active; at dusk they swim around the pond, attacking any suitable prey. A large load prevents bait fish from dragging the tackle from place to place, therefore reducing the risk of entanglement - several circles can be installed on a small body of water, which will increase the likelihood of successful fishing. An additional plus is that even if the bait falls asleep, it will not float up with its belly, but will be kept at the required depth. Predators often happily peck at dead bait. Which option to choose for a particular fishing trip is up to you to decide, taking into account the time of year and the characteristics of a particular body of water.

Underwater video: Pike grabs the bait

Installation of circles

Fixed circles are needed if you plan to fish a specific place or if its movement will be hampered by snags and algae. Then we equip the circles according to the second type, where a load tied from below will play the role of an anchor.

Installation:

We unwind the main line to the full depth to the bottom;
Using stoppers we set the depth at which the live bait will swim;
baiting with live bait;
put the tackle on the water and unwind the fishing line until the load touches the bottom;
We leave about half a meter of fishing line for more freedom and clip the fishing line on the mast.

But this installation method has its drawbacks. For example, after a bite, the load will drag along the bottom and can scare away the predator, and in strong waves and wind the circle may spontaneously turn over.

How to catch pike with mugs

Now that you know about the design and manufacture of simple gear, let's move on. Let's talk about how fishing with a circle occurs in the fall. As mentioned above, at this time of year it is better to give preference to moving or drifting gear. Having arrived at the reservoir and stood on a suitable place on the boat (it is impossible to fish with such equipment without a watercraft), attach the bait to the hook. It is better to do this by carefully piercing the back under the fin, but not too deep, so as not to damage the spine, otherwise the baitfish will be paralyzed.

To learn more:

Advantages of silicone predator baits

Some masters prefer different tactics. Removing the hook from the fishing line, thread it through the gills of the roach or bleak, moving from the back to the mouth. Having pulled out the fishing line, return the hook to it and throw the fish into the water. She will live longer without injury. The main thing is not to injure the delicate gills. Having baited the fish on a hook, it is lowered into the water in the chosen place. Then the required depth is measured and the fishing line is unwound. It is better that the live bait is 30-50 centimeters from the bottom. But if he moves from place to place, dragging the circle behind him, this rule is difficult to follow.

When the line is measured, it is fixed in the notch of the cylinder, which is inserted into the hole in the center of the circle. Make sure that the white side is on top, then when you bite, the line will stretch and turn the red circle up - it’s time to pull out the prey.

Permanent installation without anchor

If you need a stationary circle, but do not want to use traditional anchor equipment, then you can anchor the circles with a floating anchor. To do this, we attach the mugs to a log or board, having previously anchored the latter with a heavy load. We tie the circle by tying a cord around the lower underwater part of the mast. In this case, the fastening will not interfere with the free flow of the fishing line when biting and turning over the circle. You can also tie it to stationary natural “anchors” - snags protruding from the water, tree branches, reeds.

We place the mugs in the same way as in the current, but before launching into the water we tie them to the selected objects.

Fishing technique with mugs

The principle of operation of the circles is simple - live bait swims in the layer of water that the weight sets for it. The pike, having grabbed the bait, begins to pull the line, as a result of which the circle turns over. For the fisherman, this is a signal of a bite. The line pulled out from the mast latch is freely released, preventing the pike from feeling the tackle. The fisherman, swimming up to the inverted circle, makes a hook and fishes out his prey.

We must remember. that, according to the law, when fishing with circles, a certain number of hooks is allowed. Fishing on the territory of the Russian Federation using recreational fishing gear is permitted with a total number of hooks from 6 to 10 per fisherman. It varies depending on the region. But, to be honest, it’s difficult to keep track of a large number of circles with a normal bite.

For autumn pike with mugs

Photo by the author

To successfully catch pike with mugs in the fall, you need not only to make the right tackle, but also to be able to choose the right fishing location and appropriate fishing tactics. In autumn, with a significant cooling of the water, schools of small forage fish move away from the shore to depths of 4-6 m, where the water temperature is higher at the bottom, and therefore the fish feel more comfortable there. At the same time, juvenile fish try to choose a bottom topography where they will be unnoticeable to a predator. In addition, small roach, perch, silver bream and other fish - objects of pike feeding - often stick to some kind of shelter. This could be deep snags or algae growing at depth. Often schools of small fish wander around the borders of these shelters in search of food. Naturally, pike always become ambushed where there are most young fish. At the same time, it may not eat for some time, digesting what it ate earlier; usually, due to the characteristics of the pike’s body, it takes a lot of time to digest - the toothy one may not feel hungry for several days.

Taking into account all these nuances, pike circles are arranged. In the fall, unanchored circles are released along the edges of deep algae, holes, and channel edges. Sometimes, taking into account the drift of circles by the wind, they are caught in bays. Usually they launch mugs from the shallows towards the deeper part of the bay.

Types of circles

A standard pike circle consists of a special pin and a flat disk with a groove along the edge, on which a fishing line is wound, equipped with a sinker and a corresponding hook (single, double or triple). A metal leash is required in many cases. However, if fishing occurs at not too great depths, and the water is very clear, then the pike can ignore the rig with a leash. A pin (plastic or wooden) is vertically fixed in a hole made in the middle of the disk. The disc is made of wood, dense foam or other lightweight materials that do not sink in water. When installing the circle in the working position, the fishing line is inserted behind the oblique recess on the edge of the disk, thrown through the slot of the pin and from the other edge of the disk, together with the equipment and live bait, is lowered into the water to the required depth.

Dimensions of a standard mug: diameter 150 mm, thickness 30, hole diameter 10 mm, groove 10x10 mm. The length of the insert pin is 150-160 mm, at its lower end there is a spherical thickening. The pin itself is made in the shape of a cone (the diameter of the end with the slot is 8-9, and near the spherical thickening - 11-12 mm). The ball acts as a keel, which makes the circle more stable on the water. The entire structure is covered with waterproof paint; for greater wear resistance, the foam is sometimes coated with epoxy glue and then painted.

The outer side of the disc is painted red, and the side that faces the water in the working position is white. The edge of the thin end with a slot on the pin is marked in black, and the lower sector of the spherical thickening is marked in red. The disks and the pins matched to them are numbered in pairs. For a circle, you should take a soft fishing line with a diameter of 0.3-0.5 mm. Its thickness depends on the type and size of the fish you are going to catch. The length of the fishing line on a circle is usually 25-30 m, sometimes much less if the fish are caught in small bodies of water. To catch pike, you need a “steel silk” or “tungsten” leash 20-25 cm long. It is attached with a carabiner to the end of the fishing line immediately behind the “olive”. The weight of the sinker is from 10 to 20 g, however, it depends on the size of the baitfish and can reach up to 40 g. The hook should be selected in accordance with the size of the baitfish and the predator’s mouth.

Before loading the circle, you need to lower the bait to the bottom, then raise it 25-50 cm and, having wound the free part of the fishing line, insert it into the slot on the rim so that the fishing line remains in a taut position under the weight of the load. When biting, the disk turns over and the lower, white side is at the top, and the red sector of the spherical thickening of the pin signals a bite; Meanwhile, the fishing line unwinds from the rotating disk.

There are also more complex designs of circles, for example, with an electric alarm - it allows you to monitor the gear at night. Often the pin and disk are painted with special luminescent paints or a special disposable firefly is inserted, which emits a constant light signal due to a chemical reaction.

When traveling, it is easy to make a circle from a tin can (for example, from condensed milk). Holes are punched in both sides along one line, into which a round stick is driven tightly. At one of the ends going out, a split is made for the fishing line and next to it, on the edge of the can, a dent is made so that the fishing line does not move out in the working position. After the fish takes the bait, the bank becomes vertical and the line comes out of the split.

Using the same principle, you can make a circle from a plastic bottle. To do this, wrap a side with tape in the middle of the body of the bottle to ensure a stable position of the fishing line when winding it around the bottle. A hole is drilled in the cork of a bottle with a volume of 0.5 or 1 liter (depending on the strength of the wind) and a short thick stick with a split at the end is inserted into it. After this, the end of the finished equipment is tied to the neck of the bottle, and the entire fishing line is wound around the bottle next to the side. Then, having pulled the fishing line, insert it into the split of the stick so that the necessary free piece of fishing line remains, commensurate with the fishing depth. That's it, having hooked the tee of the equipment, the circle can be sent to the water.

Fishing time and weather

Pike can be caught with circles almost throughout the year (in winter in ice-free areas of reservoirs), but in late autumn, when pike are inactive and may not respond to artificial spinning baits, fishing with circles can be most effective. Calm or low wind weather is preferable. If the predator’s bite is very active, 3-4 circles are enough, but if not, then up to 10 circles may be required.

On some reservoirs, for example, on the Meshchersky lakes, pike may show interest in live bait closer to dusk, going to shallower areas, to algae, but this usually happens when there is a series of warm days in the middle of the cold season.

Fishing tactics

In windy weather, the mugs move quickly across the pond, so they need to be placed with an anchor. It is best to place the mugs in a checkerboard pattern along the channel edge, to which the pike moves when the water gets colder. Here she watches for small fish walking through the irrigation near the dump. Taking this into account, you need to set the fishing depth. Live bait should move, located at a distance of 40-60 cm from the ground. The interval between circles can be about 10 m.

After the mugs are installed, you need to swim at least 25-40 m away from them or go ashore. In any case, prompt action is important. It is also advisable not to make sudden or noisy movements. They approach the “reversal” sideways, and the oars are dried taking into account the speed of the boat moving by inertia. The hook is made immediately, as soon as the circle is in the hands, and they immediately begin to land the fish. When fighting large prey, the stability and maneuverability of the boat are of great importance. When approaching the circle, the oars should not creak in the oarlocks - this scares the fish. Until you drag your catch into the boat, the circle should remain in the water.

When there is a big wave on large bodies of water, some anglers use designs of more stable circles. To do this, place a hollow pin, weighted with shot. The shot at the bottom of the pin prevents the mug from turning over on the wave.

When the current is very strong or the bottom has pronounced differences in depth, they fish with anchored circles. When bitten, the fish will not drag such a circle far, and it is easy to find, even if left unattended. This method can be used to fish near snags and in windows among aquatic vegetation. The role of the anchor here is played by a heavy sinker tied to the end of the fishing line. Its weight can be up to 300 g or more. The leash is attached using a sliding method. In order for the leash to move freely, sufficient for a predator to deeply capture the baitfish, the upper stopper for the leash is installed at a distance of 2-3 m from the lower one.

For fishing in snags, special equipment is used. To prevent the pike from quickly dragging the circle away and tangling the equipment in snags, use a heavy sliding sinker, up to 200 g. It is fixed to the fishing line using a pellet located above the leash.

Bite

A hungry pike grabs live bait sharply and quickly, but a well-fed pike can drag out this process for several minutes. When the circle turns over, you should wait a while, especially if the bait was large, and only then hook it. If you are using a large tee, the hook needs to be done earlier. Usually, a pike, having grabbed the bait, begins to unwind the fishing line and stops after some time. This is the time to cut.

Outfit and equipment

The equipment of a circle fisherman includes a cage, a landing net or hook, a yawner, an extractor, and a canal for live bait. When fishing, you will also need a detacher, a depth gauge and some tools - pliers, pliers, a file, a knife...

For autumn fishing you need to be careful when selecting a boat. Under no circumstances should you go out on the water while intoxicated, as this can lead to unforeseen consequences, and the water is already too cold in the fall. In addition, the boat must have life-saving equipment (at least a lifebuoy), but it is still better to go fishing, especially in strong winds and on large open bodies of water, wearing a life jacket. The boat should also have an anchor with a long rope. Using it, you can adjust the position of the bow and stern when fishing in very windy weather.

Alexey Khludov November 20, 2013 at 00:00

Seasonality of fishing with mugs

Depending on the season, the equipment of the circles will vary slightly. It depends mainly on the activity of the pike. In summer, it is less active, hunts mainly in the upper layers of water, and, accordingly, attaches live bait within its visibility. Pike hide in thickets of algae and coastal reeds. Therefore, the method of rafting downstream along such places should bring good results. During this period, there are very few places where you can catch pike on a long rafting trip.

In the fall, the predator becomes more active and goes to a depth of three meters. And as the weather gets colder, more and more places free from algae appear, which makes fishing for pike with mugs more and more interesting and varied. By rafting you can fish different channels, walk along the shore, fish holes and other promising places. Autumn is a time of winds; using the wind, you can carry out long rafting trips on the lakes. The increased transparency of the water also contributes to a successful bite, attracting predators from a larger water area.

The disadvantages of this season include worsening weather, strong winds, rain and fog.