DIY pike circle

Equipment for pike fishing circles

Equipping the circles should not cause difficulties for a person more or less familiar with fishing. As a rule, it is more practical and easier to equip purchased ones, although nothing prevents you from making them yourself.

Standard circle

A standard circle is made of polystyrene foam 20–30 mm thick, 15 cm in diameter, with a groove at the end and a 15 cm long mast.

To collect the gear you will need:

• a circle with a mast-pin;
• main cord or fishing line 0.25 - 0.45 mm, slightly longer than the depth of the reservoir at the fishing site;
• fishing line 1.8 - 2.5 mm, on a retractable leash, up to a meter long;
• steel leash 20 – 30 cm, with carabiner;
• sliding sinker;
• swivel

Equipping circles for pike fishing
We decide how we want to equip the circle, for mobile fishing (so that it floats freely) or stationary. In the second case, you can take any weight instead of a sliding load, and you will additionally need a pair of stoppers.

Free floating circle

We equip a free-floating circle as follows:

1. Using a regular loop, attach the main fishing line or cord to the foam circle and wind it into the groove at the end;
2. We put a sliding weight on the other end and tie a swivel;
3. We attach a thinner leash 0.5 - 1 m long to the swivel so that the baitfish feels freer;
4. We attach a steel leash with a hook to this leash;
5. The tackle is ready.

Important! When attacking live bait, the pike first grabs it across the body, and then turns its head into its mouth to swallow it, take this into account when baiting.

To place the mug permanently, we do it a little differently:

1. After winding the main cord, we put one eye of the swivel on it;
2. We knit a weight to the end of the cord;
3. We limit the sliding of the swivel along the cord on both sides with a pair of stoppers, determining at what depth the bait will be;
4. Next, as in the previous case, we knit leashes with a hook to the swivel.

With the first type of equipment, the circles can work both in motion and motionless, with the second only motionless.

Video: Equipping a mug for pike fishing

What does the tackle look like?

The stick, with a diameter of about 14 mm and a length equal to the diameter of the disk, is made of a suitable material. The shape of the stick resembles that of a pin, but has a much larger diameter. At the end of the stick there is a spherical head (like a pin), and the other end tends to become thinner, on which a corresponding slot is made.

A stick can be made:

• Made of plastic.
• Made of wood (linden, pine, spruce, etc.).

The stick should be painted accordingly: the thin part white, and the spherical head red. After the bite, the circle will begin to rotate and, in order to determine this, vertical lines of black or white are drawn on the head, along the entire circumference (dots with a diameter of about 5 mm are possible).

To perform this device, you just need to have the following tools with you::

• extruded foam sheet 3 cm thick;
• a smooth wooden stick with a diameter no thicker than 1.5 cm and a length of 15 cm for the mast;
• high-quality fishing line 0.3-0.5 mm;
• sinker;
• leash;
• tee or double.

Every hunter of trophy specimens needs to know in practice how to fish with mugs, because this technique can bring colossal results.

There are several available ways to catch pike using standard circles; the choice of one or another depends on the weather and current in the reservoir.

The driving technique involves examining the area for the presence of a toothy predator. The method works well in bodies of water where the current is relatively small, the water is standing, and there is a weak breeze. The disadvantage of this method is the need to move frequently and monitor the installed circles so that they do not disappear from sight.

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In places with strong currents and strong gusty winds, the stationary method is used. In this case, circles are placed in places where pike are expected to accumulate. Devices installed in this way do not require constant monitoring.

Before choosing a fishing spot, it is advisable for the angler to familiarize himself with it using a large-scale map indicating objects of interest for fishing - flooded snags, riverbeds, former buildings, roads. You can also learn from the experience of other comrades or use maps of fishing grounds.

The fisherman also needs to know that any predatory fish is well camouflaged behind the unevenness of the bottom, which serves as a kind of shelter for them. It is necessary to measure the depth, and adhered dirt and loose silt can become a kind of pointers in search of the optimal place for fishing. It is advisable for a beginner to watch a video of how fishing with circles is performed for beginners in order to have an idea of ​​the listed techniques.

A classic pike circle is a foam or wooden disk with a thickness of 25-30 mm and a diameter of 130-150 mm.

Installation on the current

The most common installation method is to place free-floating circles. It allows, in the presence of a current or wind, to fish a fairly large area of ​​the reservoir. When installing on a current, the angler must know its strength and direction, the depths and topography of the bottom in the place of fishing, and decide at what depth he will place the live bait. For this method of fishing, equipment of the first type is used.

Now let’s figure out how to correctly place the circles in this way:

1. We unwind the required amount of main fishing line.
2. We pass it through the cut at the end of the foam circle, wrap it around the mast several times, and then
3. We pin it into the slot at its top.
4. We bait with live bait.
5. We lower the live bait into the water, followed by a fishing line with a circle.
6. The gear is installed, let's move on to installing the next one.

At anchor

A fixed circle setup is used when it is necessary to fish either a specific place, or its movement will be hampered by the bottom topography, abundant vegetation or snags. In this case, we use circles with equipment of the second type, where a load tied from below will act as an anchor.

Installation in still water

They are placed like this:

1. We rewind the main line to the depth of the bait.
2. Using stoppers, we set on the main line the depth from the bottom at which the bait will be.
3. We hook on live bait.
4. We send the tackle overboard and release the main line before the load touches the bottom.
5. leaving an additional half meter of the main cord for some freedom, we pass the cord into the groove at the end and pin it at the top of the mast, after which we lower the circle into the water.

This installation method has a number of disadvantages. A weight dragging along the bottom after a bite can scare away the pike. In strong winds or waves, the circle will turn over on itself.

Stationary without anchor

Installation by attaching the mug itself to surface objects using a piece of cord or fishing line helps to avoid the disadvantages described above. These can be coastal bushes, tree branches, reeds, snags protruding from the water. For fastening, you can use a floating anchor; to do this, light a board, a piece of foam plastic or another float afloat, and then tie a circle to it. We secure it by tying a cord around the lower, wide part of the mast, protruding from the back side. In this case, after turning the mug over, it will not interfere with the free flow of the fishing line.

Mugs on the water

We place the mugs themselves in the same way as they do when placed freely in the current, but before they are released, they are tied to the above-mentioned objects.

How to catch pike with mugs

The fishing process itself is quite simple. Live bait swims in the water column at a depth set by a sliding weight suspended under a circle. The pike, having grabbed the bait, pulls the line and thereby turns the circle over, which signals a bite. The fishing line pulled out from the snap is unwound from the reel, which allows the predator not to feel the tackle and swallow the bait. The fisherman, swimming up to the overturned tackle, performs a hook with sharp movements and begins to fish. You can fish with mugs in different ways.

Important! According to the law, when fishing, no more than five circles are allowed per fisherman. In practice, with a normal bite, it is impossible to keep track of a large number.

Rafting downstream

Having chosen a promising section of the river, the fisherman places himself upstream, prepares and baits all the circles, and then places them in a line, perpendicular to the flow, with an interval of about 5 meters. Then it is located at some distance behind this line, and floats along with them, observing the bites and catching the pecked fish. The advantage of this method is that the fisherman and the mugs float at almost the same speed, not far from each other, and he does not have to move much. At the same time, he fishes a fairly large area of ​​water.

Downwind rafting

Certain areas of the reservoir can be fished using circles driven by the constantly blowing wind. In this case, fishing begins on the windward side and moves under the influence of the wind along with the circles. This is more difficult to do, since the sail of the boat is much larger and you have to constantly row it, equalizing the speed. A floating anchor buoy helps solve this problem. This method is well used on large lakes where there is no pronounced current, but there are constant daily and seasonal winds.

Fishing with free live bait

It is used in small bodies of water without a current, ponds, small lakes or creeks. The mugs are equipped with lighter weights, allowing live bait to move more freely and pull it along with them. They are placed in an area of ​​the reservoir free from underwater obstacles, and they gradually “scatter”, guided by live bait. In addition to bites, the fisherman must ensure that individual gear does not swim far enough and does not approach areas of the reservoir where they can get stuck.

Fishing with stationary mugs

The fisherman places the mugs in promising places by anchoring or tying them to something, and then periodically checks the installation sites in case of a bite. The fact is that stationary fastening of the gear can lead to self-cutting of the predator, which ensures the catchability of this method.

Advantages of fishing with mugs

Why fishermen are attracted to circle fishing in summer:

1. The fisherman relieves himself of the tedious duty of fishing the entire body of water from the shore in search of predator hunting areas.
2. The mugs glide smoothly across the water surface, as if combing the water column with a comb. It is simply impossible to avoid encounters with pike.
3. Having sent the mugs sailing, the fisherman then simply controls what is happening from afar, reacting only in cases where the gear may be washed ashore or in thickets of plants, or when one of the mugs signals a bite.
4. The method works in any weather.
5. The predator sits on the hook until the fisherman removes the tackle from the water.

One more point: after reading the simplest instructions on how to make mugs for fishing with your own hands, even a beginner can make and use this tackle. You just need to have an inflatable boat.

Seasonal fishing

Depending on the season, fishing with mugs will differ. This is primarily due to external factors, changes in fishing locations and depths, weather conditions, etc.

In summer

In summer, pike, being moderately active, hunt in the upper layers of water, especially after the formation of a thermocline. It hides in thickets of algae, coastal areas with reeds and various shelters such as snags, pits, overhanging trees and bushes, etc.

Mugs are hidden in clearings among algae

Mugs are used either by floating along such areas, or by placing them in promising places, clearings among algae and water lilies, next to snags, exits from pits and bridge piles. The disadvantages of this period are the small number of areas where you can catch pike by long-term rafting.

in autumn

In autumn, the pike bite becomes more active; it goes to depths of more than 3 meters. As the water gets colder, more and more algae-free areas appear. This allows, by floating circles, to fish many channels, move with the current along the banks with promising areas, fish holes, and other promising deep areas.

With the onset of autumn, the winds become stronger, which makes it possible to carry out long downwind rafting trips on the lakes. The increased transparency of the water helps to attract predators from a larger area.

The disadvantages of autumn are worsening weather conditions, rain, fog, strong winds generating high waves. All this interferes with the normal fishing process.

Fishing in different bodies of water

Fishing with mugs in various types of reservoirs has its own characteristics, determined by the current, relief, water area and a number of other factors. All this must be taken into account when choosing a fishing technique and equipping tackle.

On the river

The peculiarities of fishing on the river include the constant speed of the current, and the pronounced constancy of the bottom topography. It manifests itself in greater depth in the middle of the channel, decreasing near the banks, with a steeper right bank and a flatter left one. All this allows you to systematically fish large sections of the riverbed, rafting downstream.

The disadvantages of such conditions include the need to overcome the current when returning to their original positions. In addition, in case of unforeseen situations, the river can carry away your gear. It is not very convenient to use stationary mugs in the current.

On the lake

On lakes, currents are usually weak, so the main factor influencing the movement of circles is the wind. But its impact is not as predictable as the flow of a river. In addition, the bottom topography in lakes can also be quite unexpected, so when fishing in such reservoirs, the depth must be clarified in advance.

Lakes, especially small ones, allow fishing with free circles. In addition, it is more convenient to place them permanently here. The disadvantages of large lakes include high waves, which can interfere with fishing.

Live bait for pike

The main bait for fishing with mugs is live bait . A small fish up to 10 cm in size is used as live bait, depending on the size of the planned prey. Often fish species such as roach, rudd, crucian carp, rotan and other small, broad-backed fish are used as live bait. One of the conditions for successful pike hunting is the presence of live bait in the reservoir.

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The ideal option is if fish caught near the pike hunting area is used as bait. If live bait is not available, then a small fish with cuts on the sides for a smell that attracts predators will do.

The question may arise: maybe a heap installation of moored circles in proven places would be useful? After all, then it’s actually possible to install the gear tightly, and they won’t float away anywhere. We tried to anchor several times - it was a much worse option, and I don’t know why. Perhaps this is due to the different interest of pikes in stationary schools of whitefish and active, migrating schools. Dense circles swimming freely remind the pike of a migrating school, and it is more willing to be attacked by a predator.

Catching pike with mugs. The features of tactics and techniques of fishing using the “flock” method are described. Pike "zhmak". Goose as a circle.

In some fishing methods, the so-called “school effect” works well - several artificial baits are attached to one rig, simulating a small school of fish. What about a natural school of live bait that can be used when fishing for pike with circles? My friend and I fish this way.

At first glance, it may seem that such observations are far-fetched, when the desired is presented as reality, but this is far from the case. There are always and everywhere significantly fewer pike bites when the circles are widely scattered, but when they are tightly grouped, there are always more bites, especially in the center of a cluster of circles, or on tackle that is slightly behind the rest of the company.

The question may arise: maybe a heap installation of moored circles in proven places would be useful? After all, then it’s actually possible to install the gear tightly, and they won’t float away anywhere. We tried to anchor several times - it was a much worse option, and I don’t know why. Perhaps this is due to the different interest of pikes in stationary schools of whitefish and active, migrating schools. Dense circles swimming freely remind the pike of a migrating school, and it is more willing to be attacked by a predator.

When I talk about the purity of the genre, I don’t mean any kind of fixation on the “correct”, classical circle. Quite the opposite - mugs can be very different, and that’s great.

In the underwater part of the reservoir there are hills, ravines, old river beds, stumps from felled forest, and in some places quite tall bushes. As you know, circles are not stationary. Driven by the wind, they are constantly in motion. In the absence of wind, they disperse in different directions from the movements of live bait.

4.3 out of 5

Fishing with circles in the summer and autumn became widespread, which was facilitated by the presence of a large number of pikes, the absence of a current and simple fishing techniques. There have not been any noticeable changes in pike fishing techniques recently, but the conditions for fishing in reservoirs are somewhat different from fishing in lakes.

You need to know the bite time, you need to be able to choose places, determine the depths at which fishing should be done, be able to select live bait and camouflage gear. In order to successfully fish with mugs in summer and autumn in reservoir conditions, you must first of all know the bottom topography.

In the underwater part of the reservoir there are hills, ravines, old river beds, stumps from felled forest, and in some places quite tall bushes. As you know, circles are not stationary. Driven by the wind, they are constantly in motion. In the absence of wind, they disperse in different directions from the movements of live bait.

Before placing the mugs, you need to measure the depth, since it is very important to set the correct descent for each mug. This rule is well known to experienced fishermen; however, when driving past the circles in a boat, you can often see them standing motionless on the hooks.

This is due to the fact that the circle fisherman did not measure the depths and launched the circles with the wrong descent of the line, so some circles got caught on the underwater grass, while others, although they float, the live bait is not at the depth at which the bite can occur. It is most difficult to determine the length of the line descent on quiet summer days in the presence of a temperature jump in the water.

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The amount of dissolved oxygen in water is also related to the temperature stratification of water. Its distribution in a reservoir is uneven. Water is saturated with oxygen from the air and from algae, which release oxygen in the light during their life processes.

These two sources saturate the upper layers of water, which are located above the temperature jump, with oxygen. Many anglers who are not familiar with this phenomenon, when fishing in the summer, lower live bait to a depth below the temperature jump, and after 10-20 minutes the live bait dies from lack of oxygen.

The location of the fish largely depends on the distribution of oxygen in the water column. Therefore, in the summer, for catching pike, you should choose places in the reservoir no deeper than 6 m. When fishing in deeper places, live bait should be lowered by 4, 5, 6 m and its condition checked every 15-20 minutes.

Based on the degree of liveliness of the live bait, you can determine the required depth. If there is no difference in the behavior of the live bait, then all the circles should be installed at the depth at which the first bite was.

Successful fishing at this time occurs on stretches with underwater elevations at a depth of up to 4 m. On cool and windy summer days, pike can also bite in the deeper reaches of the reservoir. If in spring and summer pike should be caught in shallow areas of the reservoir, then with the onset of autumn, rainy, cold weather, pike begins to be caught in deeper areas of the reservoir. The best results occur when fishing on a snag or near holes. In autumn, live bait is released approximately 30-50 cm from the bottom.

Fishing rules allow fishing for no more than ten circles. In windy weather, fewer circles should be placed, depending on the experience of the fisherman and his ability to control the boat. You should approach an overturned circle against the wave to avoid the boat hitting the circle; in addition, with this approach it is more convenient to hook fish.

If the circles are equipped with tees, you should not hesitate to approach the circle for hooking when equipping the circle with a single or double hook; on the contrary, you should not rush to hook, but you need to give the pike some time to swallow the bait.

Sometimes false overturns occur, caused by the efforts of large live bait. To avoid this, you should not pass the fishing line through the upper slot of the stick, but make two or three turns of the fishing line around the base of the stick at the top of the circle disk.

Fishing is especially effective on wide reaches with approximately the same depth everywhere.

Tips for beginners

• When preparing to fish with mugs, find out in advance the depths, bottom topography and promising places.
• As live bait, you need to use fish that are typical for a given reservoir; it is better to choose tenacious species like gudgeon or crucian carp.
• When rafting behind the circles, it is better to place them in a line or arc, being behind them, in the middle, in order to see and reach everyone in time.
• The distance between the circles depends on many factors, the speed of their movement, the depth of fishing, etc., so that the gear does not get tangled, you can keep track and be in time for all of them.
• In strong currents they fish either with stationary circles, or when rafting they fish with one or two.
• When biting, you don’t need to hook immediately; let the pike thoroughly grab the bait.

Tackle device with a circle

The structure of the circle is very similar to the structure of the zherlitsa. In both cases, the bait is placed on a hook and, floating freely in the reservoir, attracts a predator. Their difference is that the circle needs to be pulled out, hooking the prey, already at the first bite.

Pike fishing mug rig

The device of the circle tackle consists of the following elements:

When fishing in a reservoir with a weak current, live bait is placed under the gills or under the dorsal fin; with a strong one - for both lips.

• Made of plastic.
• Made of wood (linden, pine, spruce, etc.).

Common mistakes

• The number of circles should not be excessive; their excess leads to tangling, empty bites and loss of gear.
• The length of the fishing line on the circle should be slightly greater than the maximum depth of the reservoir at the fishing site, so a large predator will not pull it under water.
• You need to approach the circle so that the fishing line with the fish does not fall under the boat.
• When fishing, especially for large pike, do not put the circle in the boat, leave it in the water, and choose the line yourself, in the event of a sharp jerk of the predator, this helps to avoid getting lost.
• When fishing, the fishing line must always be taut, otherwise the predator may get away.
• Do not make the hook while standing; you may lose your balance and fall out of the boat.