Pike fishing in summer (August) with spinning rod

Many fans of spinning fishing believe that August is the most unfavorable month for pike fishing. However, if you carefully study the habits of the predator, it becomes obvious that everything is far from true. Starting from the middle of the month, pike activity increases, of course, provided that the water temperature drops to +25 degrees.

Note that the most promising areas for fishing may be coastal zones and shallow bays, abundantly overgrown with vegetation. Of course, you can count on success only if you choose the right not only places for fishing, but also bait. It is important to know that in August, as well as throughout the fall, any type of artificial bait (wobblers, spinners) of large sizes is suitable as bait.

What are the best places to catch pike in August?

At the end of summer, provided that the water temperature drops, you should start looking for pike in calm creeks, backwaters, whirlpools, as well as in areas with snags, shrubs growing in the water and at the border of vegetation with clean water.

In the coastal zone and in any other areas with a depth of 1-2 meters, small pike are predominantly found; trophy specimens should be looked for at a depth of over three meters; the retrieve is carried out evenly at a minimum speed.

If you carefully observe the surface of the reservoir, you will notice how the fry jump out of the water. The reason is the presence of a predator in this area, so this should not be ignored. If you throw the bait several meters above the place where the fry jump out, then there is a high probability of catching a pike.

Spinning fishing

Fishing with a spinning rod is the most exciting way to fish for pike. Fishing with this method is quite productive, since the angler fishes a large area of ​​the reservoir in a day. In addition, a spinning rod allows you to get a lot of emotions from fighting a predator. When fishing for pike, it is important to properly equip the tackle so that it can withstand the jerks of strong fish.

Gear selection

It is more interesting to catch small grass pike with ultralight tackle, which allows you to cast small baits far. With the arrival of August, many small predators hunt in the aquatic thickets near the shore, responding well to all types of bait offered to them. Ultralight tackle for catching them consists of the following elements:

• an ultra-light medium-action spinning rod about 2 m long with a test range of 2–7 g;
• light coil size 2000;
• braided cord with a diameter of 0.08 mm;
• metal leash;
• artificial bait.

It is interesting to fish with such gear, as you can see a large number of bites in a day. Fishing for even a small pike with light tackle will give the angler great pleasure. To catch larger fish, you will need to choose more powerful gear, which includes:

• a fast-action spinning rod about 2.4 m long with a cast of 10–30;
• 2500 series spinning reels;
• braids with a thickness of 0.12;
• metal leash;
• artificial bait.

This kind of tackle allows you to fight with medium-sized specimens and is well suited for fishing with wobblers. To fish for trophy specimens, the fisherman will need powerful casting gear, consisting of several elements:

• casting rod about 2 m long and 30–120 g test;
• proportional multiplier coil;
• braided cord or fluorocarbon fishing line with a diameter of 0.4 mm;
• leash made of Kevlar string;
• artificial bait.

Spinning tackle has proven its high catchability many times.

This type of tackle is used when fishing with large lures such as jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and large wobblers. Using a powerful rod and power reel, you can forcefully fish for large fish that are trying to escape into the grass or snags.

Lures for small predators

The choice of bait plays a big role, since the August pike is very picky about this element. Often changing the bait leads to a sharp improvement in the bite. Small predators should be caught using the following types of bait:

• rotating spoons with petals of various geometries No. 0–2;
• floating minnow class wobblers about 5 cm long;
• oscillating spoons up to 5 cm long;
• small vibrotails and twisters.

In August, the predator responds well to the uniform movement of a rotating spoon. If a fisherman notices that a fish is accompanying the spinner, but still does not dare to bite, then you can provoke it by stopping the spinner for a second. “Spinners” with a copper petal work better on reservoirs with sandy soil. Silver petal is preferred in swampy types of reservoirs with dark water. The brass spoon is considered the most versatile and shows good results in sunny weather.

Pike really like bright colors of bait.

Fishing with wobblers is considered more difficult, since this bait requires constant animation, which is carried out by twitching the tip of the spinning rod. When the predator is passive, minnow wobblers can show good results on a slow, even retrieve.

Oscillating spoons are a classic version of pike bait that catches well in August. This type of spinner can be driven with either stepped or uniform wiring. Small vibrotails and twisters, loaded with a light jig head weighing from 1 to 3 grams, also work on all types of wiring and are very popular with small pike.

Imitations for medium and large pike

Most spinning anglers rightly believe that the larger the bait, the larger the pike will be attracted to it. To fish for a medium-sized predator, you will need larger baits:

• rotating spoons No. 3–4;
• “oscillators” about 10 cm long;
• wobblers 10–14 cm long with a depth of 1–3 m;
• “silicone” on an offset press with a light jig head or in an unloaded version;
• poppers 5–8 cm long.

The technique for catching medium-sized predators with wobblers and spinners is no different from that used when fishing for small “grass”, only the animation of the wobbler should be more aggressive. A medium-sized silicone bait on an offset hook is excellent for fishing in aquatic thickets and snags, in places with depths of up to 2 m. If the pike is sluggish, it is better to serve the “silicone” without weight. An unloaded imitation has a smoother game, which can provoke inactive fish to bite. A loaded bait reaches the bottom faster and works well when the predator is active.

The large pike is a cannibal, so it gladly attacks imitations of its own brothers.

Poppers are one of the most catchy baits for August pike. Fishing with poppers is especially interesting, since fishing occurs from the surface of the water and the angler can visually observe all stages of the bite. The popper is moved along the surface in jerks, alternating with pauses. The duration of pauses depends on the activity of the fishing object and can range from 1 to 5 seconds.

To catch trophy specimens, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits, as well as large silicone baits, are used. Jerkbaits and spinnerbaits need to be jerked. The amplitude and frequency of jerks are determined experimentally. Large “silicone” works on both jerky and uniform wiring. It is better to fish with these baits at the end of August, when large pike become more active.

What determines pike activity in August?

The activity of pike, like any other fish, depends on water temperature, as well as weather conditions. If the water in the reservoir is warm, then the pike will not be comfortable; it not only becomes passive, but also begins to look for deeper areas. It will not be easy to catch even a small bee-eater in such conditions.

A decrease in water temperature has a beneficial effect on the activity of the predator, especially if the day is accompanied by light rain. However, if a north or east wind blows, then the activity of the pike, even despite the cold snap, will decrease.

If we compare the activity of pike in different months of summer, then August, despite everything, is the most favorable and productive. The best time to catch a predator is morning and evening, but if the weather is cloudy, then bites can occur during daylight hours.

For fishing, it is better to give preference to areas that are in the shade, since the water here is much cooler. Pike up to three kilograms can be found in the coastal zone among thickets of grass and reeds; as for large pike, it is most often found at depth, namely in holes among stones and snags.

Where to fish?

Successful pike fishing in August is not possible everywhere. The spinner needs to know promising places and place the bait in close proximity to the predator’s ambush. Depending on the type of reservoir, fish sites may differ. Each has its own fishing specifics. This should definitely be taken into account when going hunting for the spotted beast.

Rivers

In early August, the predator occupies mainly shallow water areas. It concentrates near aquatic vegetation, which serves as shelter from the scorching sun and as an ambush when hunting small fish. The best places where pike fishing is always promising are:

Where to look for pike in September

• Oxbow lakes, small branches and branches from the main river bed;
• Along the coastal strip of algae;
• Near local shelters in the form of single flooded tree trunks, large branches, stones or pits and hillocks.
• Bays, whirlpools, backwaters and other areas where the current slightly twists.

By the end of the month, the pike gradually moves to medium and greater depths. Now it’s worth looking for it in the area of ​​slopes, edges, and sudden changes in depth. Good places are the confluence of the main channel with tributaries, branches, channels and oxbow lakes. During this period, it is advisable to start using jigs, this is especially true on large deep rivers - the Volga, Oka, Sula, Don and others.

Lakes

In closed reservoirs, pike also concentrate near aquatic vegetation in August. She prefers to hunt near water lilies, reeds, and pondweed. The predator stands in the coastal zone, on distant hills, among shallow waters, abundantly covered with algae. The bite of the toothy beast in August on the lakes is unstable. To seduce her, you have to work hard. Since it is impossible to reach all promising points from the shore, it is better to use a boat. It will allow you to catch all pike sites from different angles, tempting it to attack.

Oscillating spoon - pike classic

On lakes it is necessary to use wide-bodied light baits that work steadily in a given horizon. Twitching, poppers and walkers bring good results. Along a strip of aquatic vegetation, a rotating and oscillating spoon cast at mid-water consistently catches fish.

Ways to catch pike in August

This month the pike bite is unpredictable. This is due to the difficulty of choosing bait. In the morning, a predator can be perfectly caught using live bait, while completely ignoring any options for artificial bait, but by the evening everything can change dramatically. In addition, we note that pike swallow bait reluctantly, so if you feel a blow, you should pause the retrieve and take your time with hooking. Let's look at the main baits that pike are most often caught with in August:

• Live bait (white fish fry). It is easiest to catch pike with live bait, since this bait has the advantage of being natural. For fishing they use roach, bleak, and less often minnows and perch. The bait is placed on a hook under the dorsal fin or behind the upper lip. It is more convenient to catch pike with live bait from a boat using a float rod, with which the bait can be accurately thrown to any promising place. The hook is attached to the main line through a tungsten or metal leash.
• Artificial baits. Starting from mid-August, you can start trying to catch pike using artificial bait (spinners, wobblers). Wiring is carried out in close proximity to underwater vegetation and other obstacles that can serve as cover for a predator hunting for fry. At the end of summer, poppers and surface wobblers work best for pike. The use of floating baits allows you to lure even a not hungry predator out of hiding and provoke an attack. If fishing is done in areas with abundant vegetation or near snags, then an excellent choice would be to use silicone baits on an offset hook.

Pike lures

Often, in August, pike is caught well with spinning rods or mugs. At the same time, mackerel or herring work best among natural baits. It has been noticed that in the middle of the month pike bite well on jig bait. And if fishing for pike in August takes place on a large body of water, then here I would recommend using large models of spoons or wobblers. If the reservoir is heavily overgrown with underwater vegetation, you can use a popper or a non-hooking spinner for catching pike.

It should be noted that pike is not poorly caught in the morning and evening, in places with cool water downstream of the river.

Of course, pike take best on live bait, which is often a gudgeon or small roach. At this time, spinning is practically the main gear when catching predators. And in this regard, I would recommend choosing live bait for fishing from the same reservoir where the pike lives. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the pike bite in August can be either weak and practically imperceptible, in case of a weak bite, or sharp with a strong jerk - in case of a good bite. It must be said that a weak pike bite often happens when the pike has already hunted well. In this case, I usually give the pike time to swallow the bait deeply, and then I hook it.

In general, pike in August, like at any other time of the year, like to be in areas: deep pools, bridge supports, whirlpools, on the borders of underwater vegetation and in potholes near the coastline. Often, its sites are places with a quiet current or no current at all.

If we look at artificial baits in more detail, then in a pool or in a quiet current, pike go well with a large “vibrating tail” or a sinking wobbler.

Fishing from a boat

As for fishing for pike from a boat in August, the pike catch here will also be successful if you follow a certain bait casting technique. First of all, you need to anchor the boat against the current, and then slowly release the rope and move with the current, casting the bait either towards the fairway or towards the shore. It happens that after grabbing the bait, the pike puts the line under the boat, in this case I would recommend starting to release the line so that the fish swallows the bait deeper, and then sharply hooking it.

Features of catching pike in August using a spinning rod

The choice of gear and equipment elements depends on the conditions in which you will be fishing, as well as the size of the intended trophy. If you catch mostly medium-sized pike in a pond, then a spinning rod with medium power is suitable. A fishing line with a cross section of 0.28-0.3 mm is wound onto the reel spool.

When fishing for pike in August, you need to start fishing a promising place as close to the bottom as possible. It is enough to make 3-5 casts; if there are no bites, then we make the next cast in a different place. Note that searching for pike can take up to several hours, but if all actions are correct, then you can safely count on catching a trophy.

The pike bite is expressed as a blind hook; hooking when fishing with artificial baits should follow immediately. Immediately after hooking, we begin fishing; if a large specimen is caught on the hook, then we should not rush, keep the line in tension and make sure that the fish does not manage to swim into the reeds, under snags or into other shelter, where it will have the opportunity to free itself from hook.

What to fish with

Since at the beginning of this article I already gave away the secret, there is no point in lying. Pike fishing in August - early September is effective with all types of spinning baits:

• Wobbler.
• Spinner and spinner.
• Silicone decoys.
• Spinnerbait.

The fact that you don’t have to go small with your size during this period is known to many. Therefore, the size of the baits used is selected based on the spinning test and the personal preference of the angler. Some enjoy catching pike on a jerky, while others enjoy competing with a strong opponent on an ultralight.

I prefer the middle one - the ounce Balthazar. Take my word for it, I’m still happy with my old purchase. It allows you to use almost the entire “folk” range of baits with ease.

By depth - depends on the specific location of the wiring. There is absolutely no need to be shy about using surface bait at depths of up to 5 meters. Pike responds well to topwaters.

Moreover, during daylight hours small fish swim close to the surface of the water. And it’s convenient for pike to attack from deep. By the way, this should be taken into account when searching for fishing spots. A hunting pike makes its presence known.