Peculiarities of behavior and biting of perch in February
In February, the dry winter period continues, which begins in December-January. Due to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the water and lower air and water temperatures, the minke whale becomes passive. At this time, he feeds little and reluctantly, and accordingly, it is not easy to catch him.
But, as a rule, in the last month of winter, the activity of minke whales increases slightly compared to January. This is due to rising temperatures. On the other hand, the amount of oxygen in the water becomes less, which does not contribute to the activation of the fish.
But in general, perch is well known for the fact that it continues to bite even in the harshest winter conditions, which helps fishermen out. Often, only roach can compete with it in this regard. It is these two fish that make up the lion's share of the catches of many winter fishermen in February.
The main conditions for success at this time are to be able to choose the time for fishing, find a minke whale in a pond and correctly present it with bait.
In February, it is preferable to choose small baits themselves, and the retrieves should be smooth and calm.
On the jig
This method of fishing in winter is quite common.
When fishing with bait using a jig, you need to lower the nozzle to the bottom, pausing at a distance of several centimeters and swaying. Having raised the bait from the ground by about fifty centimeters, it must be lowered again. The jig and bloodworm should move along the bottom, while making slight rises. In this case, all movements of the fisherman must be very smooth. Each ice fishing enthusiast adheres to his own individual tactics, which he acquires with certain skills and experience. With thoughtful tactics combined with a good choice of location, perch fishing in February will be quite productive. When fishing using this method, you need to use a thinner line and choose smaller baits. The best jig for perch is a “larva”, “drop” or “pellet”, and the nod should be very sensitive.
Selection of gear for perch fishing in February
Perch fishing in the last month of winter involves the use of jig rods and fishing rods for winter trolling.
The first are small, lightweight fishing rods, usually equipped with plastic inertia rods. Less commonly, reels and metal inertial reels are used to store fishing line.
Tackle for trolling is a fishing rod up to 50-60 cm long, equipped with a plastic or metal inertia. Sometimes small spinning reels are also used. It is preferable that the fishing rod be made of high-quality material - carbon fiber or fiberglass.
In February, the lightest, thinest and most sensitive gear for perch is especially important. The success of fishing largely depends on how well they show bites. Often the moment when a sluggish striper carefully takes the bait is not so easy to notice. This is where a sensitive fishing rod comes in handy.
A nod is very important, which shows bites well. It is best to use lavsan guards.
The optimal diameter of monofilament for catching striper whales in February is 0.08-0.15 mm. Such a thin thread will not interfere with the action of the bait, and it will also be as visible as possible to the fish, which is also important in the dead of winter, when the minke whale is passive.
This video talks about equipment for catching perch and pike at great depths in a quarry using a balance beam in winter:
fishing line
Typically, perch fishing in February is carried out using a fishing line whose thickness is 0.08-0.15 mm. At the same time, the thinner the vein, the more bites you can count on. Fishing in February on the Volga and Akhtuba pleases with bites not only from perch, pike, and pike perch. This month, as the angler’s calendar suggests, bream and more are starting to actively bite. For winter fishing, a ten-meter supply of vein on a reel or on a reel is enough.
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Choosing the time to fish for perch in February
You can count on the best bite for stripers during the thaw. When the air temperature rises, the water temperature also rises. The striper becomes more active and begins to more readily grab the offered bait.
The best weather for fishing for stripers in the last month of winter is cloudy, calm or with moderate wind. As usual, the fish are unsettled by sudden changes in weather conditions. Also, minke whale activity drops during bad weather.
In the second half of February, perch is caught better than in the first. This is due to an increase in temperature. But, since the amount of oxygen under water still continues to fall, it becomes especially important to choose areas of the water area for fishing where there is more of it.
Fishing in February
Perch.
Perch is not as sensitive to cold as other fish. Yes, of course, its bite also worsens in severe frosts and generally with the arrival of winter cold. But, nevertheless, perch does not stop being caught. In February, perch lives in areas of the reservoir where the water is saturated with oxygen. These can be areas with a current, near last year’s vegetation and, of course, in your favorite snags.
Roach.
Roach is another popular object of winter fishing; it is also caught in February. Roach is very sensitive to pressure changes, so the most successful days for catching it will be those during which the atmospheric pressure remains stable.
They mainly catch roach using a jig. Lead, copper and brass jigs, as well as green jigs and jigs of various dark colors are considered the most catchy.
Bream.
Fishing for bream in February is never easy. Usually it consists of an active search for fish and ends in success only if you are successful in this search. More
Anglers who already know the body of water have a better chance of success. If the reservoir is unfamiliar to you, you should quickly learn the habits of the bream in it.
It is almost impossible to determine promising places for catching bream. Bream moves around the reservoir throughout February, and only observing its behavior will help you find out where it might be now. For example, in the morning it can be caught in deep holes, and in the afternoon on the edge. Or vice versa. In each body of water, the behavior of bream is different, so before you find out what bream prefers here and now, you should spend time studying its behavior.
The following are excellent baits for catching bream in February: bloodworms, worms, maggots, bark beetles, dough, bread, mastyrka, cake. The use of bait is also very important. If you have not guessed the location of the bream, then it will not help much, but if you have drilled holes in the immediate vicinity of its camp, then it can very well activate its bite and concentrate the school at your bait.
Burbot.
Burbot is a unique fish. Unlike other fish, which lose activity with cold weather, burbot becomes more active the more severe the weather and frosts. February not only will not affect the activity of burbot, but, on the contrary, will increase its activity.
Burbot becomes active in the evening, comes out of its hiding places and heads to the shore in search of food. Everything he finds on his way is successfully eaten. The most common method of catching burbot in February is. In this case, a bunch of worms, live bait or pieces of fish are suitable as bait.
Catching burbot with jigs and spoons is also quite successful, you just need something more durable. Naturally, both the jig and the spinner for catching burbot will need to be larger than for perch, because burbot reaches a respectable size and can weigh up to 15 kg.
Where to look for perch in February
In the last month of winter, perch bites in all reservoirs where it is found , but some water areas are more favorable for fishing, while others are less so. In addition, there are nuances in choosing places for fishing on different types of reservoirs.
The common thing is that at this time the minke whale prefers to stay at greater depths; less often it goes to medium depths. This is explained by the fact that at depth the water is warmer. Also, in any body of water in February, fish are attracted to areas where there is more oxygen - places where tributaries flow, points where underwater springs emerge from the bottom, as well as areas of water areas near rifts that are not covered with ice, and polynyas.
Perch fishing in ponds in February
In ponds, perch fishing is the worst in the last month of winter. The amount of oxygen in such reservoirs is minimal. Accordingly, this also affects the activity of the minke whale.
You need to look for fish near bottom anomalies - depth changes, snags and algae. If they are not there, the minke whale can be distributed evenly throughout the entire water area.
This video explains the strategy for catching perch and roach on a pond in winter:
Perch fishing in February on lakes and reservoirs
Medium and large lakes, as well as reservoirs, are more favorable for fishing in February than ponds. The larger the body of water, the more oxygen there is in the water. But it is important to be able to find fish in a large area of water, and this can be difficult. The larger the body of water, the more difficult it is to find fish in it.
In February, perch can be found on the lake and reservoir in various parts of the water area, depending on conditions. When fishing in such reservoirs, it is very advisable to have an echo sounder, which will both allow you to identify points of interest and can also show the fish itself.
Perch fishing in February on small rivers
There is more oxygen in running water, which is why perch activity in rivers is higher than in stagnant bodies of water. In addition, the fish here are generally more active, they move more and are more willing to grab bait. You need to look for it first of all in the deepest areas.
Fishing for perch in February on medium and large rivers
On medium and large rivers, perch is caught best in February. In large flowing reservoirs, fish activity in the dead of winter is maximum.
But, as with vast rivers and lakes, it is very important to find it. The larger the body of water, the more difficult it is to do this. In addition to changes in depth, snags and boundaries of aquatic vegetation, areas with reverse currents and areas under high steep banks will be interesting points.
Flashing
There can be a variety of fishing rods for this type of fishing, but they must have a reel. You also need to choose a long whip to make it more convenient to play the lure. Fishing for perch in February involves fishing line with a diameter ranging from 0.15 to 0.2 millimeters, preferably in two colors: brown for large specimens and green for smaller ones. It is better to use a 70-130 mm nod, made of a polymer plate, to ensure smooth play.
Tackle for perch in winter - a spinner or a balancer - you can take a variety of different ones. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of this reservoir. Bright lures work well in one, and dark lures in the other. With the right choice and the right game, even the most passive predator will not resist the temptation to swallow the bait.
What do perch bite on in February?
Most often, jigs, spoons and balancers are used for fishing in the last month of winter, as well as baits made from natural baits. If used correctly, this basic set should be enough for successful fishing.
Catching perch in February with jigs
At the end of winter, preference should be given to fishing with jigs with bait. They attract passive fish better. All standard perch bait forms are suitable. It is preferable to use models with a body size of no more than 4 mm.
As a bait when fishing in the last month of winter with a jig, you can use:
- bloodworms, maggots, Chernobyl and other insect larvae;
- worm;
- perch eye;
- cutting fish (pieces of meat);
- fish offal;
- meat cutting
It’s also useful to read: Catching perch with a reelless reel in winter
This video talks about the features of catching perch in winter with a jig:
Catching perch in February with spoons and balancers
For catching perch in February, spinners and balancers 3-4 cm long are well suited. Larger baits, as a rule, are not needed. You can also find on sale or make your own very small spoons and balancers, 1.5-3 cm long. They turn out to be very appropriate for February fishing.
Reference! Replanting natural baits on the hooks of spinners and balancers is usually not used. But they are quite relevant when fishing for perch in the middle of nowhere, as they can significantly increase catches.
Bait for catching perch in February
It is best to use bloodworms as bait for catching perch in February . Maggot is used less frequently. As a rule, using other baits does not make much sense - these two options do a good job of attracting fish.
Fishing methods
In February, a spoon and a balancer, a jig, and a float rod are traditionally used to catch perch. Fishing with artificial bait is popular as it is more sporty and dynamic, allowing you to fully enjoy the fishing process and achieve good results on any body of water.
Spoon
Catching perch in February with a spoon is not an easy task. The striped robber rarely greedily pounces on the offered bait. Poking, butting, and idle bites are more common. In order to force the predator to firmly grab the proposed object, you have to tinker with the choice of a specific model and the technique of its presentation.
Small spoons are used to catch perch in February. As a rule, these are wide-bodied models that crumble slowly when falling and have a short range of action. However, there is a positive experience of fishing with baits with a more vertical component in the game. In any case, you need to look for a suitable piece of hardware and its wiring option.
You can catch large perch with a small spoon
What kind of winter lures are there for perch?
Winter bait for fishing in February has a size of 2 to 5 cm. It is better to take a bait of a matte color - black, copper, silver, gold. The hook may have a pendant, which will act as an additional provoking factor and point of attack.
The method of feeding the spoon is important during this period. The banal “toss - short pause” rarely works. You have to get sophisticated and introduce various additional elements into the wiring:
- tapping on the bottom;
- sweeping pull with acceleration;
- sudden drop to the bottom;
- “dribbling”, similar to wiring a jig.
The duration of stops in the wilderness can reach 10 seconds or more. It happens that you have to wait until the spinner freezes and only then does the perch attack. Beginner fishermen lack patience, but they must learn to pause and wait for a bite.
How to catch perch in February: fishing techniques and tactics
To catch perch in February, you can use the tactics of circular fishing of holes . In this case, you need to drill 5-20 holes in the ice, and then go around them in a circle. It is necessary to catch them all from the first to the last, and then return to the first again. This circular fishing is repeated throughout the fishing if there are bites. If they run out or there are few of them, it makes sense to change the water area.
Another option is to drill several holes in the ice, fish them, and then move on. At the same time, you should not return to points that have already been worked out.
Advice! If there are no bites, you should not stay at one point for more than 5 minutes. It is better to move on in search of a perch that will be interested in the bait offered to it. An active search for fish is the key to success when fishing for striper whales in the last month of winter.
When fishing for perch in February, all standard techniques for placing jigs, spinners and balancers are used. But, as mentioned above, the supply of bait should be smoother and calmer than in other periods (at the beginning and end of winter).
Nods
Nods for fishing perch in February should be moderately rigid, cone-shaped, with a length of about 10 cm. It is best to purchase nod designs that are made of lavsan, a polycarbonate plate, a metal plate supplemented with a stiffening rib, or copralon. Secrets of catching perch in February using a spinning rod.
River. Such nods will react less to side winds. The rigidity and shape of the nods should allow the jig to perform high-speed play.
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Bloodworm.
Also, in the middle of nowhere, when fishing with a jig, feeding the holes with bloodworms often helps. You know that there is a perch in this place, you found it, it reacted somehow. Throw in the bloodworms and let the holes “settle.” Make the holes at a small distance from each other. The fish is not active and moves very reluctantly. Can be done literally at a distance of one meter. After you have fed the hole, you can fish not only with a jig with bloodworms, but also with a naked jig without bait.
And the most interesting thing that sometimes happens in the middle of nowhere is when a large perch does not react to anything, but at the same time bites on a micro jig with a bloodworm, on a “stand”! This is such incomprehensible nonsense! But in fact, I myself have repeatedly encountered this situation. You run around like crazy all day, tried everything, while your grandfather sits next to you and catches you. He put the fishing rod down, then nodded twice, put it down again... A few minutes later he had a smooth bend and a one-kilogram perch. Of course, this is not a pattern, but catching perch in winter is not a predictable activity, often bringing unexpected surprises.
