To catch even a small perch in winter, certain knowledge and skills are required, since you need to choose the right place for fishing, decide on a catchable bait, and also have sensitive gear.
Winter lures and the subtleties of jig fishing
It is possible to catch perch in winter using various baits. These include:
- Mormyshka , which is a small-sized artificial bait. The material for making such a bait can be lead, tungsten or tin. The jig can have any shape, with a hook soldered into it. Today we know about several of the most common models of jigs.
- Spinner for vertical trolling. This is an artificial bait made of copper, brass or other metal. It is distinguished by a narrow, purlin-shaped body, equipped with a single, double or triple hook.
- Balancer . This is also an artificial bait, cast from lead or tin, shaped like a small fish, with a corresponding coloring. The balancer is equipped with a triple hook attached to the bottom of the bait and one single hook located in front and behind the balancer.
- "Baldu" . This is an artificial bait of a special shape in the form of a cone, in the upper part of which there is a hole through which the bait is attached to the main fishing line. In the same place there are 2 hooks that look in different directions. For greater attractiveness, multi-colored cambrics or beads are placed on the hooks.
- Silicone baits . Typically, twisters and vibrotails measuring 3-5 centimeters with jig heads weighing from 4 to 8 grams are used.
Winter fishing. Perch on a jig.
One of the most common is the jig, as perch is caught with it all winter. The technique of fishing with a jig is not particularly complicated, but it has its own characteristics. As a rule, everyone, even a novice angler, knows the technique of catching perch with a jig.
Unfortunately, without basic skills in using a jig, you shouldn’t count on a significant catch. Therefore, before counting on a catch, you will have to master the technique of guiding the jig.
The game of the jig is associated with the correct and measured actions of the fisherman. For example:
- Firstly, you need to find a place and drill a hole or several holes, and only after that they begin to fish them. Start with the hole that was drilled first. After this, they take out the fishing rod and unwind it, and then lower the jig into the hole and wait for it to fall to the bottom.
- Before the start of the game, the bait is raised from the bottom by 5-7 centimeters and lowered so that it seems to hit the bottom. They do this several times. As a result of such actions, a cloud of turbidity will appear on the bottom, which will definitely attract perch.
- After “knocking” on the bottom, they begin to move the bait. To do this, they lift it from the bottom in steps of 20-25 centimeters, pausing each time. Raise the jig to a height of 1 to 1.5 meters. During the lifting process, the jig is revived by various movements of the fishing rod. These can be either short, high-frequency twitches or low-frequency sweeping movements.
- Having raised the jig in steps to the desired height, it can be lowered in any way: it can itself, under its own weight, sink to the bottom, making certain movements, or it can be slowly lowered to the bottom, with some degree of animation.
How to get bloodworms for fishing
The easiest option is to purchase two or three boxes of bloodworms for fishing in fishing stores or from other fishermen. But bloodworms can’t always be seen for sale in stores, and many fishermen are very reluctant to part with their stocks of bloodworms, saving them for their own fishing.
You should get bloodworms yourself using a bloodworm, which is used to scoop up bottom silt. An ordinary bucket is taken as a moth, holes are made in it at the bottom and a rope is tied. The silt collected from the bottom is placed in a sieve, and the silt should be scooped away from the coastline, where there is much less foliage.
You can take a bag with holes or gauze in the shape of the bag, be sure to put a piece of fish or meat in it, put a weight in the bag and lower it to the bottom. After some time, the bag is pulled out and the bloodworm larvae that have crawled into the bag are collected.
Searching for perch in winter
As a rule, small perch prefer to stay in schools, with the exception of large individuals that prefer a solitary lifestyle. At the same time, schools of perch actively migrate through the reservoir in search of food. Therefore, their location in winter depends on many factors, such as the presence of currents, weather conditions, etc. Due to this:
- With the appearance of the first ice, the perch is still in its “home” places, located within the sandy beaches not far from the shore. It feeds at depths of no more than 2 meters in areas where aquatic vegetation is still preserved. Larger bass choose deeper areas where trees are submerged and provide excellent hiding places.
- In the depths of winter, it is difficult to find perch close to the shore. Unless during periods of prolonged warming it rises from the depths to visit shallow waters. And so, here, mainly, there are grass perch, which do not need special wintering conditions. Medium-sized and large perch go to depth, where they will remain there until spring.
- With the arrival of spring, when melted streams begin to bring food and oxygen into reservoirs, the perch comes to life and begins to actively feed. He leaves his former winter shelters and heads to places where streams and streams flow in to find food for himself.
Ice fishing equator
By the middle of winter, everything changes dramatically; moving away from the shore, the perch gathers in large schools and begins to move almost throughout the entire reservoir in search of food and favorable conditions. At this time, you shouldn’t hope for luck at one hole, but you have to look for it, honing your drilling skills.
With the establishment of the first ice, the perch is not yet shy and practically does not leave its usual stopping places. Only with increasing ice thickness do schools of perch gradually move to deeper places. By mid-winter, the situation changes and you need to spend a lot of time searching for perch. Minke whales gather in schools and move over a large area in search of food.
First ice: searching for catchable places
Fishing in winter is an active search for fish and perch is no exception. Therefore, fishing comes down to drilling as many holes as possible in a promising place. With the appearance of the first ice, the striped predator is still on the shallows, therefore:
- The distance between the holes should be about 3 meters when fishing with a jig.
- It is advisable, after drilling the next hole, to measure the depth in order to determine the bottom topography.
- It is advisable to find a fall into a hole or just a difference in depth. After this, they begin to play holes further, parallel to the first row, heading in the opposite direction. If the first holes were drilled in the direction from the shore and to depth, then the second row is drilled in the opposite direction, etc.
- They start fishing from the first drilled hole, located in shallow water. If the weather is sunny, then you don’t need to remove the crumbs from the hole, you just need to make a small hole so that the jig can fit through it.
- You should not stop for a long time on one hole; it is enough to make 5-7 lifts of the jig.
- If during this time there are no bites, then you can safely move on to the next hole.
- If a perch bites in any hole, then this place is fished from all sides and, if necessary, additional holes are drilled around this hole.
- The holes where active biting was observed are remembered. There is a high probability that a school of perch will approach here again.
Bait for catching perch in winter
When fishing for perch, bait is rarely used. While this is very important for catching roach, it is not important for catching perch. And yet there are cases when the use of bait gives good results, especially in conditions when the perch, for a number of reasons, refuses to attack the bait. According to experienced fishermen, nowadays even perch cannot be caught without bait.
Preparing bait for perch is a responsible and painstaking task. The main thing is to choose the right proportions of all ingredients, although their quantity is always limited. To prepare bait for perch use:
- An ordinary earthworm, which will have to be prepared in the fall. To preserve the worms, they are kept in a cool place in a container with moist soil. Before use, the worms are finely chopped and mixed with breadcrumbs.
- Small bloodworms, which are not used for fishing, are also mixed with breadcrumbs. Before mixing, rub it with your fingers to release its aroma.
Reaction of perch to bait in winter (bloodworms). Bites on a jig
- Fresh pork blood is also used. It is combined with the bread crumb and kneaded to a thick dough-like state. For ease of use, the mixture is wrapped in cellophane, forming small sausages from it. The bait quickly hardens in the cold, and pieces of sausages easily break off and are thrown into the holes.
How should bloodworms be stored properly?
The bloodworm is a very fragile creature that can be easily crushed. To properly preserve it, many experienced fishermen use moss or fabric, and woolen fabric, to store it. Such fabric or moss should be moistened, then placed on the bottom of a jar or box.
The bloodworm itself is laid out on top, a layer of bloodworm about ten millimeters thick, no more. Next, apply damp paper or cloth on top. Place all this in a cool place, and the top layer of fabric or paper should be constantly moistened. Sometimes fishermen use another method for storing bloodworms. Already used tea leaves are taken, they should be covered with starch or sugar, so that later it is easy to separate the bloodworms from the leaves. Bloodworms are placed in such leaves.
You can easily store bloodworms in regular potatoes; the inside of half a potato should be removed and the bloodworm larvae should be placed there and covered with the remaining half of the potato, and both parts of the potato should be fastened together, for example, tied with thread or a toothpick.
Winter lures for perch
To catch perch in winter, anglers use a wide range of artificial baits. The most commonly used baits are:
- Jigs, both attached and unattached. The advantage of jigs is that they can be used all winter. More versatile products include small and medium baitless baits that require appropriate play to interest the predator.
- Ice fishing spinners work well for catching both medium and large perch throughout the winter.
- Balancers, which should be classified as a certain type of artificial bait. All balancers resemble a small fish in shape and appearance. The bait is quite catchy, thanks to the peculiarities of the game. The coloring of the balancer can be very diverse.
- The artificial bait “balda” is distinguished by its simplicity. Despite this, it is also distinguished by its enviable catchability. Due to the specifics of fishing on the bulldozer, this bait attracts the striped robber no worse than other, more “advanced” models.
Two ways to make BALDA bait. Winter fishing. Perch.
- Silicone baits, especially recently, have begun to actively replace traditional ones, such as jigs, spinners, etc. These baits serve as an excellent alternative to baits already known and used by fishermen for a long time. Both twisters and vibrating tails can replace both balancers and spinners. In addition, they are not expensive and are affordable for any category of fishermen. In addition, they play more naturally in the water column.
What and how to catch perch in winter?
As mentioned above, perch fishing in winter is carried out using jigs, spoons, balancers, “balda” and silicone baits. For example:
- Jigs are baits that require active play. Therefore, the angler must try to keep the bait moving accordingly, rising step by step. There should be a pause after each step.
- Spoons and balancers are distinguished by a different, very peculiar game, carried out by short lifting them with the tip of the rod. Being in free fall, they are able to interest the perch with their play.
- “Balda” is a simple but effective bait, which is shaped like a cone, in the upper part of which the bait is attached to the fishing line. The principle of fishing is to constantly tap on the bottom, followed by raising the turbidity.
Winter baits for catching perch
Perch, as you know, is a predatory fish, so to catch it you should use bait of animal origin. To catch perch in winter you can use:
- Bloodworm, which is one of the most versatile baits for perch at this time. It can be used at any time.
- Burdock fly larva. Perch will also be actively caught with this bait.
- Dung worm. The only problem is that this type of bait is difficult to get in winter, but you can count on frequent and effective bites. Many fishermen prepare dung worms in the fall, providing suitable conditions for their storage.
- Live bait, but first you need to catch a small fish. A fairly large perch can bite on live bait.
How to prepare bloodworms
In winter, the use of high-tech modern gear is very difficult, and that is why fishermen prefer to use bait in the form of various live baits. These are, as a rule, mosquito larvae and other small things that can attract the attention of redfin fish with a rather moderate appetite at this time of year due to the lack of desire to leave the relatively warm regions of reservoirs near the bottom.
One of the most beloved by both fish and those who catch them is the bait in the form of dragoon mosquito larvae, which are attractive and appetizing for any type of underwater ichthyofauna (except perhaps for its largest representatives like large pike and other super-predators ), so inconvenient for mounting. Their skinny, flimsy bodies are not at all designed for these purposes, and anglers often have problems getting a hook through them.
Beginning ice fishing enthusiasts have questions about how to prepare bloodworms in the evening. The answer to this is simple: first of all, you will need a container made of foam material for storing various types of materials, visually reminiscent of foam plastic.
This container needs to be treated with iodine. You can take a simple iodized pencil, which costs mere pennies in almost any pharmacy, and draw a grid on the inside surface of the box. Next, lay out the larvae exactly in the quantity that you will need the next day.
The point is that the jig will already be attractive to the eyes of the river striped robber, but overnight it will infuse and become saturated with iodized smell, which will make its “popularity” among the perch increase several times!
Jigs for perch
When choosing jigs for catching perch, you should be guided by certain factors. For example:
- The presence of current and fishing depth. If the fishing depth is not large, then it is better to take baits no larger than 2 mm in size, and in areas with depths of up to 4 meters, as well as in the presence of a strong current, heavier and larger jigs, up to 4 in size, are suitable mm.
Catching perch in winter with a jig
- Light level. If the ice is thin and it is clear outside, then the light level allows you to use small jigs of dark shades, which are clearly visible to perch in such conditions. When the ice is thick and it’s cloudy outside, it is better to give preference to baits that have bright colors.
- In conditions of the first and last ice, perch actively bites both small and larger jigs. In the depths of winter, small, no-attachment jigs are better suited.
Fishing rod rig
For an interesting game with a jig from the ice to a perch, you will need high-quality and balanced tackle.
Fishing rod
A light fishing rod 20–25 cm long is perfect for perch in winter. For example, a balalaika. The main thing in choosing a tool is ease of use. It should fit comfortably in the hand, have a handle made of materials suitable for cold conditions, and be equipped with a reliable reel that does not stick during operation.
Nod
For perch, a nod 4–5 cm long and 2–3 mm wide is selected. The degree of rigidity directly depends on the weight of the bait used. It is optimal to have several fishing rods with nods of different rigidity.
When the guard and the jig correspond to each other, its angle of inclination is 45 degrees. For better visualization, the bite alarm is painted in bright colors, usually red. Regular nail polish and a waterproof marker work well here.
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Fishing line for perch in winter using a jig
When using jigs on a predator, it is good to use monofilament with a thickness of 0.08-0.1 m. To catch individuals weighing 300–400 g, you will need a monofilament line with a cross-section of 0.12 mm. Thick threads are not relevant here, the bait goes down much slower, its action turns out to be “rough”, and the fish gets scared of it and moves away.
Among sports fishermen, monofilament with a thickness of 0.05-0.06 mm is extremely popular. The breaking load of such lines is only a few hundred grams. For novice fishermen, using such equipment is often very difficult; experience is required.
When choosing winter fishing line for perch, you need to focus on trusted manufacturers. There is monofilament fishing line on sale, where the stated diameter does not correspond to reality, for example, a 0.08 mm thread can be 0.1 mm or more. A quality product cannot be cheap.
To catch a striped robber with one tackle you will need 15–25 m of monofilament. To equip 2-3 fishing rods, one unwinding in 50 is enough. If there are 4-5 tackles, then the 100th reel will be used.
Tactics for catching perch in winter with a jig
Effective fishing at any time of the year, including winter, depends on several factors, such as:
- Searching for a promising location, which boils down to drilling a large number of holes, determining the depths, which will give a complete picture of the bottom topography.
- If the reservoir is known, then the task can be significantly simplified, but if it is unfamiliar, then finding a fish site can take a lot of precious time.
- After this, the fishing of the drilled holes begins with various baits and various wiring techniques.
- Fishing can be more productive if you feed each hole. Moreover, you don’t need to use a lot of feed. It is enough to pour a pinch of bait into each hole. After the bite begins, the amount of bait can be increased.
Spoons for perch
There are a huge variety of artificial baits such as spinners for catching perch, but among them there are some that are quite catchy. At the same time, they differ in both shape and size.
- Size. For catching perch in winter, spoons with a length of 2 to 7 cm are mainly used. As a rule, smaller baits are used for catching small perch, and larger baits are used for catching larger specimens. Naturally, larger baits are suitable for fishing in the current or at depth.
- Color. Lighter lures work well in conditions where there is no sun or in turbid water conditions. Darker baits should be used on clear sunny days in clear water conditions.
- Form. Spoons with a wide blade are more catchy in conditions when the perch is active, especially on the first and last ice. Spoons with a narrow blade are designed to activate passive bass in the dead of winter.
Among the huge variety of winter spinners for catching perch, the following models should be noted:
- "Carnation."
- "Triple-sided".
- "Tetrahedron".
- "Dovetail".
What is a bloodworm?
The bloodworm itself is the larva of an ordinary mosquito, it is actively added to bait for any fish, used as a bait for fishing with jigs and other artificial baits, among other things, fishermen actively use bloodworms as independent bait or in combination with maggots when fishing for winter perch with donks, girders, float rods.
In winter, bloodworms are especially in demand among fishermen throughout our country. A bloodworm is a worm-shaped larva, and the color of such a bloodworm larva is bright red or burgundy. The length of the bloodworm can reach up to thirty centimeters, while the head of the larva is dark, the larva also has a tail that is forked.
Balancers for perch
When and how the weight and size of balancers are used:
- For catching small-sized perch, narrow balancers weighing from 3 to 5 grams and up to 4 centimeters in length are suitable.
- For catching large perch, models weighing up to 7 grams and up to 6 centimeters in length are used.
- When fishing in the current, baits are used that weigh at least 10 grams and are up to 9 centimeters long.
Balancers for perch. Search balancers video
Coloring
Balancers for perch differ in two main colors:
- Natural ones that match the colors of small fish such as bleak, redfish, roach or perch. Such colors are considered very catchy throughout the winter.
- Unnatural, bright colors that also actively catch perch at depths of up to 10 meters, or even more.
Tackle for catching winter perch using bloodworms
In most cases, winter fishing for perch is carried out using jigs, to which bloodworms are attached. Rods are predominantly of the light type, with balalaikas becoming very popular. The nod can be of different lengths from 4 to 15 centimeters. The fishing line is taken approximately in the region of 0.08-0.12 millimeters.
In addition, fishermen also catch winter perch using bloodworms using winter float rods; bloodworms are used as bait when fishing for winter perch using girders or any other bottom gear.
The most productive periods for perch fishing in winter
Fishing for perch in winter is characterized by the inconstancy of its bite throughout the winter period. For example:
- First Ice . Characterized by strong perch biting activity. This period lasts for two weeks after the reservoirs are covered with a stable layer of ice, 8 to 10 centimeters thick. If the winter is not cold, then this period can last all of 3 weeks, and if it is too cold, then this period is naturally shortened.
- Glukhozimye . During this period, the ice is quite thick, and algae begin to rot in the water column, which leads to a lack of oxygen. During this period, the perch does not behave as actively as on the first ice. In the wilderness, small jigs without attachments work well. It should be remembered that the perch is mainly found at depth.
- The last ice . This period is characterized by the fact that oxygen begins to enter the water through gullies that form in areas of great depth, where the ice thickness was less. During this period, a hungry perch begins to peck at any bait.
Features of fishing during these periods
For each period, it is important to select equipment and decide on fishing tactics. For example:
- In conditions of first ice, when the perch has not yet left the coastal zone, spoons and balancers are used to catch it.
- In the dead of winter, the perch has already moved to depth and from there it can be reached with baitless jigs, as well as spinners for vertical trolling.
- In conditions of the last ice, perch begins to return to the coastline, and is also found at the mouths of rivers and small rivers. During this period, it is caught using any type of bait, including jigs.
Search Locations
Perch bites better in winter from the moment the ice begins to form; this period lasts 2–4 weeks. The predator has not yet changed its usual habitats; it shows a high interest in the offered baits and actively feeds. As soon as the thickness of the ice cover begins to increase, it moves away from the coastal zone and descends into the pits. A good catch can be obtained until the beginning of January.
At the beginning of winter, perch prowls near the shores; during the deep winter, it is at depth, almost at the very bottom. As spring approaches, minke whales begin to gradually reach shallow depths; with the last ice, they can be safely caught in shallow water. Here they actively swallow oxygen.
Knowing the intricacies of catching perch with a jig in winter, including the selection of promising points, you can catch both medium and large individuals. A modern and multifunctional gadget such as an echo sounder will help the fisherman. It will reduce both the time and effort needed to find jobs. If the frosts are not severe, then perch can be found in winter at the outlet and depth. It is also worth fishing in flooded ravines, hills, and places near old riverbeds. Only severe frosts, from -15 °C, force the predator to descend into the pits.
The search for catchable places depends on the winter period
First ice. It’s best to go perch fishing in winter in calm weather. It is better in the morning or in the middle of the day, results are possible in the evening. Fishing at this time becomes unpredictable, there is a high probability of catching a trophy. Promising places include:
- depth changes;
- snowy terrain;
- heaps of stones at the bottom;
- eyebrows;
- areas near coastal vegetation;
- places where you can set up ambushes.
Midwinter. Perch migrates throughout the reservoir, gathering in schools of 7–9 individuals. Against the background of severe frosts, the fish experiences a lot of inconvenience; it seeks more comfortable conditions with a water temperature within 4 °C. It reacts weakly to baits, even the most catchy ones. Considering that during this period the oxygen concentration is low, you should look for fish on:
- deep-sea areas;
- underwater channels that flow into rivers and streams with moderate currents.
End of winter. On the eve of warming, underwater inhabitants begin to become more active and feed intensively. Stripers begin to hunt for fry; they are most often found near areas where meltwater and streams flow into.
Catching perch in the middle of nowhere
Catching perch in the middle of nowhere, when there are severe frosts outside, piercing winds and heavy snowfalls, is the lot of real avid fans of winter fishing. Not only is it freezing outside, you still need to find fish, and to find them you need to drill dozens of holes. It’s good if you have an echo sounder and with its help you can quickly find a deep place. The task is also simplified if fishing is carried out in a familiar body of water, where all depths are known. Since the fish are not active during this period, the movements of the bait should be smooth.
Video course: Catching perch in winter. A view from under the ice. Very useful for amateur fishermen
If the bite is sluggish and inactive, then you can resort to feeding the holes, and several bloodworms are attached to the hook of the jig.
How to properly mount bloodworms for winter perch fishing
In order for an angler to return home with a catch of winter perch, he should know how to properly place bloodworms on a hook. To do this, fishermen use a wide variety of baiting methods. The most popular and widespread are the following:
- – the classic standard method of planting bloodworms involves its end-to-end stringing approximately in the center of the bloodworm itself;
- – the method by the head involves inserting a bloodworm through the center of its body, while the sting is directed towards the head, but does not pierce the larva and does not come out;
- – you can put a bloodworm in your belt, pierce the bloodworm in the center of the body with a hook, with the sting coming out;
- – method of baiting with a stocking, the sting is stuck in the area of the head of the bloodworm, the hook is drawn through the entire body;
- – the ring method involves stringing it near the head, then the hook is passed through the tail, so that the bloodworm is twisted and a ring is obtained;
- - a method of threading athletes, when the bloodworm is pierced in the middle of the body with a hook, then the hook is led in any direction, to the head or tail, but the body of the bloodworm is not pierced.
There are such days when fishing that the perch refuses to peck at the bloodworm, then you should use other baits, for example ratlina - read the article on how to catch perch in winter with ratlinas at the link
