Features of fishing for pike with a spinning rod in December from the shore

Choosing a fishing spot

The success of fishing as a whole largely depends on the right choice of place. Many experienced fishermen know the places where pike prefer to be in the first days, when the first ice has hardened. She loves to visit places that are familiar to her, where she swam before the freeze-up. For about the first 3 weeks she remains in her favorite places. As a result of this, it is better to wait for this predator in:

• In reservoirs with natural and artificial shelters.
• In places where rivers and streams flow into the main body of water.
• Edges with changes in relief.

These are common sites for pike.

Pike behavior in December

The behavior of the predator at this time largely depends on how the ice is established. Namely:

• Where the ice has just frozen, this predator is quite active. She strives to grab almost every bait, every fish she can reach. It is especially noticeable in water areas with strong currents, on the edges.
• Where ice has been established for a long time, the behavior of pike boils down to the fact that only juveniles continue to actively play and feed.
• If the ice does not rise, then the pike still remains active, feeding as before.

But at the same time, it can be noted that in December the pike becomes more passive than in the autumn season.

Conclusions about spinning fishing in December

December is a very problematic month for spinning players. It’s already winter everywhere, and even in the south it’s almost here.

What to do? Or wait until the frost weakens and jump out onto an ice-free body of water for a record-breaking pike? Or take a risk: take a spinning rod (and winter gear, just in case) and head to the lower reaches of the Volga?

Or maybe read a good book?

Selection and equipment of the girder

It must be said that girders are not sophisticated and sophisticated equipment for winter fishing. But at the same time, they are distinguished by a variety of species, so some features should be paid attention to. The vent must meet the following characteristics:

• Lightweight and small in size.
• Easy to assemble.
• Good bite alarm.

Each angler chooses which type of structure suits him best for fishing.

What should you pay attention to when choosing?

• First, you need to give proper attention to the coil. It should work perfectly, not jam, there should be no play, otherwise difficulties may arise when fishing.
• It would be great if there is a nut or screw on the fastening axis, with which you can control the stroke of the reel, which will allow you to avoid excessive line release when biting, and also prevent the line from getting tangled.
• The reel must be of the appropriate size; too small will not work, as it may begin to spontaneously shed the line when the pike jerks.
• The bite alarm cannot be ignored; it is preferable if the material is not so prone to freezing.
• The spring should not be weak, but not too strong either. Elasticity is optimal to the extent that it can hold the fish both in an inactive state and during jerks, etc. This characteristic is interconnected with the thickness, elasticity and amount of bend of the spring.
• The stand or base is preferably made of a material that does not freeze to ice. Typically this is wood or plastic.

Winter rig for pike

In fact, the circuit of the girder is really simple, it consists of:

• Main fishing line - a good monofilament, quite elastic, is suitable here. Braid is not suitable in this case, because it freezes in the cold, as a result of which you can injure your hands when fishing.
• Coil - as mentioned earlier, a larger one is preferable. So that 15-20 m of fishing line 0.3-0.4 mm thick can be wound on it. If you intend to catch a really large fish, then the thickness of the fishing line should be 0.5 mm.
• Sinker . In most cases, fishermen prefer to use an olive sinker, which has an oblong shape. Its weight is determined by fishing conditions: fishing depth, current strength, activity of live bait. But you need to remember that too heavy a sinker can negatively affect the sensitivity of the alarm. Therefore, you should select the optimal one for fishing. So, for shallow depths a sinker weighing 10 grams is quite suitable.
• Sinker stopper . This is not a mandatory element of the equipment, however, it is quite convenient, because with it you can accurately determine and control the degree of freedom of the baitfish on the hook.
• Hook . The size of the hook is largely related to the size of the actual baitfish and the intended predator that you want to catch. Hooks that are too small should not be used, nor should hooks that are too large. There must be moderation in everything.
• Steel leash . This is an important point in rigging. This is explained by the fact that many anglers believe that a steel leader significantly reduces the number of bites, because the predator sees him and avoids him. As a result of this, they prefer to make leashes from thicker fishing line or from double fishing line.

How to make a vent yourself?

Assembling the vent is not so difficult if you approach the assembly with all attention and do everything step by step:

• First, the required amount of fishing line is wound onto the reel.
• A stupor is installed at the end of the fishing line.
• Then we attach a sliding sinker.
• Let's put the lower stop on the bottom again.
• After we put the end loop, you can also make a winding ring or a carabiner. Some fishermen simply tie the leash to the fishing line.
• We install the leash itself.
• We tie a hook.

And that’s it, the zherlitsa is assembled.

Important: in most regions of the Russian Federation there are strict restrictions on the number of girders allowed for fishing. Therefore, before fishing, you should make sure whether fishing with girders is prohibited in a particular region, and if not, then how many girders can be caught by one fisherman.

Fishing tactics for zherlitsa in December

Depending on the weather conditions, they think through specific tactics for catching pike in December using a zherlitsa. Over the course of a month, the fish gradually goes deeper. In the first ice, the pike is active, and therefore it will be necessary to place the poles away from the coastal grass, taking the edge. As the bite decreases, it is necessary to move to increasingly deeper water areas, but it is recommended to always check the average depth.

An important factor is the time of day. The predator feeds during daylight hours, but may peck in the evening or early morning. Fishing for pike in December is also possible at night, but it is not known whether the bite occurs at night or at dusk.

Things to consider:

1. In early December, look for active pike. She constantly scours the pond in search of food and will quickly attack potential prey.
2. Taking into account changes in depth is the sure way to a catch. Underwater spits, various elevations, drops and edges are a good place to place a girder.
3. Pike prefers overgrown areas. This is especially noticeable towards the end of December. At this point, it is worth laying vents under deep cliffs, edges or slopes.

The fishing technique is hooking. When a toothy fish attacks a live bait, it tries to take it deeper to start eating it. You need to hook only when the bait is completely in the pike’s mouth. It is important to place the hook correctly - pike often eats the bait and leaves.

What should live bait be like?

Live bait for pike in winter should be of the type of fish that is found in a particular body of water and serves as the main source of food for the predator. Experienced fishermen begin to prepare live bait in advance; with the right approach, they keep it alive for quite a long time, putting it in the refrigerator or cellar. Among the most popular live baits:

• loach;
• gudgeon;
• ruff;
• perch;
• crucian carp;
• roach.

If you know the time when the pike goes out to hunt, you should take live bait that is lively; they will readily grab it. The rest of the time, dead baitfish are better suited. Periodically it will move and attract fish. The pike, gradually turning into a sluggish state, will try to save energy, and if the baitfish behaves too actively, it will not waste extra calories on what it considers a useless hunt.

There are three types of placing live bait on a girder:

1. Behind your back. When pike are active, it is easiest to hook live bait fish behind the back with a large treble hook. It is important not to touch the internal organs, otherwise the fish will simply die.
2. For the nostrils. A single hook is inserted through the right and left nostrils of the baitfish. Not all fish have a strong head to carry out this method. This option is suitable for calm bodies of water without current.
3. For the gills. A dangerous type of bait, there is a high chance of killing live bait. You need to release the leash from the hook and thread it through the gills, and then stick it out through the mouth. Good skill is important.

It is possible to combine options 1 and 3. Two treble hooks cling to the back and nostrils. This increases the chance of swallowing the hook and will not allow the pike to eat the bait with impunity.

Installation of vents

They place the girders in the following places:

• cliffs near the shore;
• boundaries of underwater vegetation;
• pits and hills.

The vents can be installed:

• in even rows;
• in a checkerboard pattern;
• chaotic.

In December, zherlitsy are installed in rows near the shore. If the bottom is relatively flat, place them in a checkerboard or chaotic pattern. The distance between the vents is 5–10 meters.

With light live bait you will need a heavy load, whereas if the bait itself is heavy, then it is better to take a lighter load. The coil is adjusted so that when spinning it makes another 5-7 revolutions. If the tightening is too weak, then the jerk of the pike will cause the formation of a beard, and if it is too strong, the predator will understand that the bait is not so simple.

We recommend reading

Catching pike in the dead of winter with zherlitsa and searching for predators. The most effective and simplest way to catch pike in the winter in the dead of winter is fishing with zherlitsa. Such prey is toothy...

Other fishing methods

Pike fishing is truly diverse. In addition to jigs, many fishermen also prefer to use both a spoon and a balancer. At this time of year, in the majority of cases it remains active, as a result, if you do not notice bites for 5-10 minutes, then you should change the place of fishing. And you can return to this place later, when you go around the other holes, because... It should be remembered that pike also moves around the reservoir.

Fishing with live bait

What kind of live bait should I choose for fishing? Popular species for catching this predator are gudgeon, perch or roach. The fact is that, unlike perch or roach, it does not particularly like to hide, preferring open places. Also a common choice for fishing is small carp.

It is characterized by active play, which attracts predators. It is important to remember that pike are quite wary of prickly fish, for example, perch or ruffe, as well as unfamiliar fish species that do not live in this body of water. However, if perch is found in predominant numbers in reservoirs, then pike bite well on it. Many anglers prefer to cut off the spines of perch for fishing.

You need to hook the live bait by the back not far from the dorsal fin, as in the picture.

How to choose the best silicone lures for pike fishing:

Lure fishing

The predominant number of winter spinners have an oval shape. Fishing is done with a spoon, which has a tee, on which there is plumage with red hairs. Practice shows that this design provides good bite and hooking. It is not recommended to use a spinner with a tee that is too large, because this may scare off a predator. Do not forget that the spoon also requires a strong leash, otherwise the pike will simply bite it. Whether steel or fishing line - depends on your preferences.

To the balancer

The balance beam is also a common bait for predators. It is a small fish that plays quite actively when caught, which attracts the attention of the pike. In the first winter month, fish are caught quite well with it. The most suitable baits are sizes from 2 to 9. The balancer can also be improved with various beads and flies of bright colors, which can attract predators.

Spinning fishing in December in southern Russia

Lower Volga

However, in the Lower Volga the situation is very controversial. December here is a month of prolonged freeze-up. Somewhere in the middle of the month, flood lakes begin to rise, then backwaters, eriks and channels, and finally, by the New Year, the Volga and Akhtuba usually rise. True, it doesn’t change from year to year, but in general the December weather is not conducive to a comfortable holiday on the water.

Of course, in principle, you can fish here with a spinning rod until the freeze-up. Some local fans do just that. But it’s hardly worth going specially to the south from distant lands.

Firstly, even if there is no ice, the weather leaves much to be desired - there is frequent rain and strong winds. That’s why the fish takes “in two days on the third.” And secondly, even if the weather is relatively favorable, now, in December, it can change to the opposite – extremely unfavorable – in one day.

Well, if you really can’t stand it, pay attention to the Volga delta and the actual rumblings - it’s further south and warmer there.

It is generally believed (and it is true) that there are more fish in the lower reaches, but they are generally smaller. Exceptions are pike and perch. It is for “green” predators that the conditions on the Volga ripples can be considered optimal. That is why they reach impressive sizes here. So, the average weight of a “toothy” one is 2-3 kg, but you constantly come across pike weighing 5-6 kg. “Striped” bite on average from 500 g, and the catch always includes “humpbacks” per kilogram! Therefore, it is better to tune in to “green” predators in December.

There are two main methods of fishing - in channels along the reeds or in creeks and kultuks (closed creeks) on ruts. There is a lot of pike, but it usually stands in the thick of algae and reeds. Therefore, she needs to throw the bait right under her nose. Unlike November, the December “toothy” is in no hurry to go out for surface baits, but reacts better to “oscillators” - naturally, in a non-snacking design. Proven models: RAPALA Minnow Spoon and KUUSAMO Professor - all large sizes. Any color.

Fortunately, the mud and thin filamentous algae, which previously greatly interfered with fishing in the grass, have now died down - so fishing has become much easier. True, you need quite powerful gear, because immediately after hooking a three-kilogram “torpedo” flies into the reeds or into the thick of algae - and there, you know... You literally have to tear it out...

A serious drawback of December is strong winds, especially from the sea (moryan). On such days, the bite gets worse, and you have to look for a place where it won’t blow away. And the best bite now noticeably shifts to daytime, and on other cold days it begins only after lunch.

Large perch is one of the main advantages of the Volga rivers. It bites wherever there is clean water next to grass or reeds. A little better or a little worse - but it bites on everything. Resists - oooh! Delicious - oh-oh-oh!

Where else can you get into a school and pull out five kilogram “humpback whales” in a row? Only on the rolls! After this, catching even perches of 500 g becomes uninteresting (what am I saying, my God?). And in general, rowing a fish that bites “like a machine gun” gets boring pretty quickly. Until I landed on the shore. Until next time.

Pike fishing in December

As noted earlier, today there are really many ways to catch pike. Popular are jigs and lures. Let's pay more detailed attention to an active and interesting method of fishing - trolling.

What gear will be required?

Pike is a strong fish, so you should prepare accordingly for fishing. The fishing line is no less than 0.2, preferably even 0.3-0.4, the leash should also be long enough. The choice of spinners should be varied. This is explained by several reasons: it is unknown what color the pike will bite on, hooks are possible, etc.

At what depth is it preferable to fish with lures?

Catching pike with this bait involves taking into account not only the location and selection of gear, but also accurately determining the depth. And this largely depends on the thickness of the ice itself:

• With the first ice, the thickness of which is more than 10 cm, trolling will be most successful at a depth of 5-6 m.
• About 20 cm, the most effective fishing will be at a depth of 3-5 meters.
• Above 20 cm, pike fishing starts from 50 cm and deeper. Fish are caught at different depths.

Watch a video on catching pike with wobblers in December:

Such numbers and calculations are not random and not taken out of thin air. This is explained by the fact that the pike perfectly hears and notices the fisherman if the first ice is thin.

Flashing tactics

The actual tactic is to properly prepare for catching a predator. It is important to first work out the fishing route, and then fish exactly in those places that you think will be more suitable, taking into account the preferences of the pike (we noted them above). You need to fish all the prepared holes, but at different times. If the predator does not show itself for 5-10 minutes, you need to waste time. This way you can find exactly the place that will bring a successful catch.

First, the spoon gradually, without jerking, sinks to the bottom. Then we also slowly raise the spoon up to one and a half meters above the bottom. Then we sharply drop it below. So you need to do 7-8 lifts. Then we switch to regular glitter, i.e. flashing above the depth at a distance of 10-15 cm with breaks of about 5 seconds. If you note that there are no bites and the pike is not showing itself in any way, then there is no need to waste time on this hole, but move on to another, repeating this procedure.

Lures and Lures

Artificial

Until relatively recently, it was believed that if you could catch a pike in winter, it was only with a jig, and specifically with a classic jig.
Apparently, at the instigation of Konstantin Kuzmin, pike began to be caught using wobblers, and no less successfully. Of course, you should take into account the specifics of the reservoir and catching pike in deep holes in a large river with wobblers is absolutely futile, but in a small river real competition can arise between these baits.

Pike are characterized by stable habitats and therefore can be found in the same places in both winter and summer. Oddly enough, it’s easier to do this on a big river.

Most winter spinners do not want to become “penguins”, i.e. anglers who prefer ice fishing and therefore have some experience in summer fishing, including from a boat. Based on their own experience, they are well aware of all the edges, navels, pits and dumps, and finding them in winter is not difficult for such anglers, however, if they are within casting distance. But there are also plenty of promising places closer to the shore.

Next, the jig maker should decide on the weight of jig heads or “Cheburashkas” that may be needed. The spread can be quite large.

After this, they move on to compiling a collection of silicone baits. You should not open your mouth and listen to the angler who “flogged” the pike with the Sawamura vibrator tail and only with it. With a low probability this may turn out to be true, with a greater probability it may be advertising, and, most likely, the lucky one, having found himself in the “distribution” of pike, did not even have time to catch anything else.

By the way, it has been noticed that in winter not only pike, but also such lovers of edible “rubber” as pike perch and perch, treat it rather coolly. The game of the bait and its color are more important.

Among the models of silicone baits, the catchability of which has been tested by time, we can recommend the following:

1. Mann's Predator.
2. Relax Copyto.
3. Pontoon21 Awaruna.
4. Lunker City Shaker.
5. Bass Assassin.

The length of these baits varies between 8-12.5 cm, which is quite enough for winter pike.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Having carefully examined these models, you will notice that some of them have a thicker and shorter tail, others have transverse ribs, and the body shape of all these vibrotails is different. Therefore, the bait should be selected based on the fishing conditions, for example, casting distance or strength of the current.

It is also not necessary to carry the entire color palette with you. Based on many years of experience, you should always have baits of the following colors with you:

1. “Acid” - baits of bright yellow, red, orange colors, sometimes with contrasting black stripes.
2. “Naturals” are baits that look like real fish. Light belly - dark back. A perfect 3D simulation can please the eye when lying next to an aquarium with tropical fish.
3. "Machine oil" preferably with glitter. Sequins, by the way, are welcome on all models.

Sometimes some unimaginable color pops up and fans start buying it in stores. But it’s better to have something unusual, unlike what the majority of anglers have, in a fishing box, maybe it will be an “ace in the hole.”

With wobblers everything is simpler and at the same time more complicated, because in addition to size, color and game, you need to take into account the depth of penetration . But if fishing takes place in a familiar body of water, then the task becomes easier.

Wobblers for winter spinning should be:

• Not large. 6-9 cm.
• Sinking or neutrally buoyant.
• Requiring inactive or, as they say, “Estonian” twitching, which involves long pauses. Although you need to be careful with drowning people so that they do not sink into underwater snags or algae.

In order not to lose expensive baits in rivers, you should carry a simple hook with you - a stick with a wire loop. With its help you can almost always release the wobbler.

Regarding the colors of wobblers, we can advise the same as for “rubber”.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

There is a category of fishermen who claim that in winter they catch pike well with oscillating spoons. These are lightweight vibrators made of thin metal with a planning action. By analogy with wobblers, such baits should work, as evidenced by photographs of trophies.

We invite you to watch an educational video about choosing a vibrating tail bait for catching pike with a spinning rod in December:

Animals

In winter spinning fishing, fish fry are used, mounted on rigs. They are used in jig fishing and can be more catchy than artificial baits.

Fishing tips

There can really be a lot of recommendations on how to catch pike, but the most relevant are the following:

• The key to success in catching pike with live bait is its cheerfulness and energy. It is logical that, as soon as the opportunity arises, baitfish will want to hide in thickets or snags, which will only bring the fisherman a tangled line. To prevent this from happening, you should install a sinker of appropriate weight and limit the movement of the live bait. At the same time, it should be located at a distance from the live bait so as not to spook the pike.
• It is important to note that the pike is repelled by a beam of light passing through the hole. Therefore, if you come to fish on a clear sunny day, then sprinkle the hole with snow or ice chips. This can create some shadow without interfering with either the balancer or the spinner. But it won’t scare away the fish.
• For winter fishing, in addition to an ice auger and other equipment, you will also need a hook. For what? It’s simple, if you catch a really big specimen, you simply won’t be able to pull the fish out of the hole without it.
• A common mistake made by beginners is that they try to grab a caught predator by the gills. This should not be done, because... This is where the thorns are located, which can leave cuts. And this is quite unpleasant, plus they take a long time to heal.
• Also, if you catch a large pike, it may not physically fit into the hole. Therefore, it is better to take a pick with you, with which it will be very easy to widen the hole.
• However, pulling out a pike is not the last difficulty. After all, now you need to pull out the swallowed spoon or balancer, so as not to injure your hands, because it is unlikely that the predator will calmly lie and wait until the bait is pulled out of it. To do this, you will need to use a gapper and an extractor. Thanks to them, you can easily pull the spoon and balance out of the pike's mouth without injuring your hands.
• Today, non-snagging spoons are popular among anglers. It differs from the usual ones in that the tee itself is rigidly attached to the spoon itself. To prevent the hooks from getting caught on anything, they are protected in the form of special wire antennae. This is an excellent purchase for fishing in places where a standard spoon is not suitable, for example, in snags.