Catching pike perch with a jig head: video, fishing from a boat and from the shore, in summer, in July, on the Kama and Volga

Jig fishing offers a wide range of opportunities for all anglers. Jig fishing for pike perch is done at the very bottom of the reservoir; in this way, in a successful situation, a fisherman can catch a deep-sea predatory fish, which is pike perch.

Equipment played a major role in the popularization of this method, as it greatly facilitated the process of catching a predator. The bottom lifestyle of the predator is not an obstacle to jigging, and even beginners can go fishing for pike perch.

Jig fishing for pike perch

Hunting for a predator begins with understanding the characteristics of the fish. Pike perch is a deep-sea fish, calm and calculating. You can spot pike perch in bodies of water with strong bottom changes and in areas with a fast, clean counter current.

The following techniques are best for jigging walleye:

Wiring. This technique offers a stepwise approach to extraction. At first, the bait is lowered to the bottom and the pike perch is allowed to notice its prey; later, when the fish is already interested, the equipment is raised with sharp jerks, luring the fish closer to the surface. When the fisherman completes two turns of the reel, it is necessary to pause so that the bait sinks to the bottom again.
Wiring for demolition. Since pike perch is a fish that prefers strong currents, the bait should be in the habitat of the predator. Wiring for demolition is carried out by the current. It is important to lower the bait to the bottom and wait for the current to pick it up, thereby achieving constant movement of the equipment.
Moving the bait closer to the bottom of the reservoir. From time to time it is necessary to throw it with the tip of a spinning rod. During such wiring, it is important not to forget about pauses, since constant chaotic movement will not attract the fish, but will scare it away. The bait should simulate the behavior of the fry as accurately as possible.
Slow wiring. This technique involves carefully moving the bait along the bottom of the reservoir. For this technique, it will be more effective to choose a medium bait, since the heavy one will always fall to the bottom and cling to the recesses.

As you can see, all fishing techniques are deep-sea. For deep sea fishing, it is extremely important to choose the right tackle, bait and reel. The further success of fishing depends on the choice of these components.

A bait that is too heavy and large can be the main reason for unsuccessful fishing, since its large size will not allow the fisherman to maneuver and will constantly cling to the bottom of the reservoir.

The following characteristics are desirable for equipping a fishing rod if you want to catch pike perch with a jig:

Tackle. For tackle, it is better to select a rod measuring at least two meters. The maximum length should not exceed three and a half meters.
Coil. The quality of the reel also changes the responsiveness of the fishing rod. For night fishing, it is extremely important to choose a very sensitive reel, which will already begin to rise with one movement. The most relevant sizes are 2500-3000 for jig fishing for pike perch. It would be appropriate to purchase a multiplier along with a reel for night fishing.
Fishing line. Of all types of fishing lines, it is worth choosing a braided one, since it does not twist during the fishing process and does not wrap itself in knots. With such a fishing line, hooking is extremely effective, because it allows you to completely control the fishing process due to the lack of stretch on the cord. This line is also very strong, which is suitable for fish such as pike perch. The predator has a hard mouth and when caught, it is important to lead it jerkily towards the shore.
Equipment. Of the jig rigs, the best ones are those that quickly cut through the mouth of a predator. These are rigs with a hook soldered inside.

Features of catching pike perch in summer: June, July, August

Pike perch can be caught all year round; in summer, fishing for it is not as active as in winter.

How to catch pike perch with a jig? What jigs does he like? How to catch pike perch in the summer from the shore in a vertical line? Which spinning rod should I use? Is it possible to fish with live bait (sprat)? Which rattlins to choose? The answers to these and other questions are in the article.

Behavior of pike perch in summer ↓
Where to look for pike perch in summer water bodies ↓
Catching summer pike perch using a spinning rod ↓
Choosing a jig bait ↓
What mistakes do fishermen make when catching pike perch with a jig ↓
Catching rattlins for pike perch ↓
Fishing technique from the shore ↓
Float fishing using live bait (sprat) ↓
Plumb fishing from a boat ↓

Catching pike perch with a jig: bait

The main parameters by which baits are selected:

Shape and size;
Color;
Material;
Smell.

Each of these parameters is important for the fisherman and the characteristics of the chosen technique. For example, for step retrieving, a light and bright bait is suitable, since the technique is based on sharp jerks of the bait. It is not only the color that attracts attention, but also the smell.

However, the bait will always be at the bottom of the reservoir, and thus the smell, on the contrary, will throw the predator off the scent, as it will spread throughout the entire reservoir, which is undesirable for the fisherman.

Main types of jig baits:

Vibrotail and twister are the most popular baits among fishermen. These silicone products are in demand due to their simplicity and durability. However, for hunting predatory fish, it is important to purchase several vibrating tails, since the sharp mouths of pike perch quickly tear apart soft bait. As for the smell and color, this is at the discretion of the fisherman himself. Yes, you can add a scent to the bait, but the success of fishing depends more on technique than on the bait itself.
Foam fish. Such bait will allow the fisherman to avoid biting small fish and focus more on large prey, since large and predatory fish primarily react to foam bait.
Edible silicone. Silicone has appeared on the fishing market quite recently. Such bait will not arouse suspicion among the fish, as it imitates real prey for pike perch. The attractant will add flavor to the bait, and thereby increase the likelihood of a catch.

The choice of jig head should be approached thoroughly, since a wide variety of baits have a huge number of parameters, each of which affects the fishing result:

Bait shape. When fishing for pike perch, anglers most often choose a ball , since such heads are universal and suitable for all fish.
“Fish head” is an imitation of the shape of a fish, the hook is located above and below the sinker. The aerodynamics of such baits are impressive. They cling less to the bottom during wiring.

Jig head weight. The weight will differ depending on the depth to which the fisherman goes to hunt.

For depths of 2 meters

Depths from 2 to 4 meters require the use of a sinker from 6 to 12 grams.

Up to six meters, 14 gram weights are ideal.

At a depth of six to eight meters, it will be most effective to use sinkers weighing from 14 to 20 grams.

When going to a depth of more than 10 meters , the fisherman should purchase sinkers of 30 grams.

Based on the expected depth of the lake, it is better to take several types of bait for more successful maneuvering at the bottom of the reservoir.

Jig fishing uses more than just sinkers and jig heads. An important addition to walleye fishing is the equipment.

Stores can offer the following types of equipment:

Double hook. Or as it is also called - “Cheburashka” - a head with loops. The bait is mobile thanks to the hinged ring and strong, which allows you to successfully catch predators with it. The peculiarity of the bait is that it is not applicable for fishing with live bait, only with artificial products.
Retractable leashes. They are more applicable in difficult places and require a certain skill from the fisherman. The length of the leash should be up to 120 centimeters, and it should not be freely floating above the bait. The idea of this rig is to control the sinker on the main line. In this case, the jig touches the bottom, and the twister or vibrotail is in the water above the jig itself. The free movement of the bait allows you to lure a predator, but at the same time, the leash gives the fisherman more control over the bait.

The following features of pike perch should be taken into account when choosing a fishing spot:

Pike perch loves clean and fast currents.
The depth of the reservoir should be approximately two to three meters, but there should also be peaks 5 meters deep in the reservoir, since pike perch prefers a heterogeneous bottom for habitat.
The bottom must be hard , preferably earth or clay. Muddy and overgrown banks are not suitable for fishing.

More likely walleye habitats include:

Great depth near the shore, places near washed out and concave banks with fast currents.
Places with large depth differences. Holes at the bottom of a reservoir can be identified both with the help of an echolocator and by the breakers on the water.
River islands , shaped like a spit, which go under the water into a deep hole. The current near such islands is strong, and the shallows continue into a hole.

Catching pike perch from a boat greatly expands the fisherman’s capabilities, as it allows him to move around the lake and look for a spawning site for predatory fish.

If a fisherman decides to fish from a boat, then the following points should be observed:

Echo sounder. This device will allow fishermen to accurately and quickly find out the bottom of the reservoir without any interference in the life of the reservoir. Therefore, fishermen will not spook the fish even before they start catching it. An echo sounder is needed primarily in order to find out a place with a large difference in bottom level. These are the places that pike perch choose to live.
For fishing from a boat, a rod shorter than three meters is suitable , but it should not be less than two and a half. Such a rod will help to carry out high-quality wiring with high amplitude jumps. Also, if the bait gets stuck among the stones, a long rod will help to quickly release the stuck hook.
The line should always be taut . This will increase the sensitivity of the wiring. Immediately after the bait hits the water, you must close the bow. In this way, you can achieve an arched fishing line, which will immediately show if the pike perch bites the bait. This will be visible at the tip of the spinning rod.
When fishing with a jig, it is important to make sure that the bait touches the bottom . This will increase the likelihood of a predator biting you. Pike perch feeds mainly on the bottom and you should not raise the jig higher than 10-15 centimeters from the ground.

Speaking about the river, it is worth noting that when fishing for pike perch, it is better to move upstream and look for promising places for catching. This technique involves the fisherman constantly walking along the shore.

For summer fishing from the shore, it is best to use stepped fishing and determine the best place for fishing. This also helps the angler get a rough idea of the bottom of the pond.

Summer fishing during the daytime will be unsuccessful for the fisherman. This happens because in hot weather the predator becomes lethargic, or even hides in holes and does not go out hunting until dusk.

In the summer, it is better to catch pike perch:

During twilight , when the sun has already disappeared below the horizon.
During hours of special predator activity - approximately 2-4 am. At this time in the summer, the pike perch begins to hunt.
During dawn , when the sun has not yet fully risen and there is no heat.
In cloudy or cloudy weather.

Catching pike perch with a jig on a reservoir

To fish on the reservoir, a fisherman will need:

Echolocator for determining the bottom level. Without an echolocator, it would be better to choose a place near the edge, since this is where predators are most often observed.
A boat for constant movement , since hooking will occur during stepwise wiring. In addition, fishing near the shore in the reservoir is difficult, since most artificial reservoirs are shallow.

It is better to catch pike perch at night during summer and early autumn, since it is at this time that the predator becomes active after sunset.

For night fishing you should stock up on the following:

Wobbler , this bait is most effective at night, namely during the hunt of pike perch. This time begins at 12, and the main activity lasts from two to four in the morning.
The jig will be most useful after sunset and before dawn.
Spinning with high sensitivity. The fishing rod must have braided line.
Repellents in large quantities, since mosquitoes at this time of day over water bodies will not allow you to quietly wait for prey.
Flashlight , with which you can highlight the bottom and not let the bait out of sight. The light will attract the predator faster.

The Kama River is distinguished by its diverse bottom.

The following are worth considering when fishing for pike perch in the Kama:

At great river depths of 12-13 meters, you should not look for prey.
Pike perch is found at a depth of 7-8 meters , which may seem unusual. However, this is a feature of this place and all fishermen who want to fish on the Kama are recommended to look for a promising fishing spot before starting fishing by dragging a fishing rod along the bottom.

Where to look for pike perch on the Kama River

Of course, before you start fishing for pike perch on the Kama River, you should know the most promising locations for pike perch on it. In this case, the preferences of the pike perch themselves should be taken into account, for example, the fact that the pike perch most of all prefers sections of the river that are more warmed up by the sun's rays, with clean water.

In addition, pike perch is caught well in those parts of the river where the bottom surfaces are the most difficult. In extreme heat, you should look for pike perch in the areas where streams and riffles are located on the river.

In cold weather, it prefers to hunt at depth, in the area of dumps and holes, and at the exits from them. Pike perch can be located near strong currents, but not on the current itself, but slightly to the side of it, watching the passing prey and attacking it if necessary. Closer to night time, pike perch begins to approach the coastline, to shallow depths of the river, thickets of reeds, reeds, and vegetation.

Among the promising places for catching pike perch on the Kama River are the following:

– the mouth of the Kama River;
– Nizhnekamsk region;
– Old Maina;
– village of Krasny Luch;
– in the Chistopol area;
- in the Laishevsky district.

But there are many other excellent places on the Kama for catching pike perch, because the river is quite long.

Catching pike perch with a jig: Volga

The Volga is famous for its fast current, so it is extremely important to consider the following before fishing:

A fishing rod must be selected with a test weight from 20 to 150 grams.
The length of the fishing rod should be three and a half meters with an error of 200-300 meters.
The cord must be purchased up to 150 meters. The extra space on the spool is taken up by backing.
The power of the handle should not be less than 2.5 kilograms , and it is advisable to take an even more powerful handle.
Braided lines have less float and are an ideal choice for fast and powerful currents.

Catching pike perch with a jig: Oka

The relief on the Oka is diverse and the fanged predator often changes its habitat. The most successful fishing spots are the edges 10-20 meters from the shore. The pike perch here reaches a weight of one and a half kilograms, but nothing more.

During the rainy season, pike perch does not respond to bait, and it is better to wait for clear weather for fishing on the Oka.

The main secret to catching pike perch with a jig is properly selected gear.

The following characteristics are important for large catches:

High sensitivity of the gear , which can be achieved with a tight line and a properly selected fishing rod.
Tough and confident hooking of a predator while biting the bait.
The rod should not be heavy , despite its length, it should be light. To do this, it is important to choose a fishing rod made of high-quality and lightweight material. In this case, the rod must have a solid base.
Using an echo sounder to track a predator . This is applicable for large fish that still do not want to show themselves. In order to be sure of its location, you can use an echo sounder.

Catching large pike perch with a jig

If a fisherman has found a deep-sea place with a varied bottom, but there is still no catch, this does not mean that big fish cannot be found here. Small fish do not want to be next to a large specimen and therefore large fish are usually found alone.

Catching large fish is extremely difficult, and it is worth visiting the same place several times over and over again until the fish come out to hunt. Large fish hunt extremely rarely, usually once a week. Consequently, the hunt will be rather wait-and-see; attack tactics will not work here.

Most often, large pike perch are found in holes with flooded snags. The best time for fishing is lunch, as during this period the pike perch rises to the exit of the hole and is easier to attract with bait.

The following actions will lead the fisherman to a large pike perch:

Find a hole with snags and an uneven bottom.
Determine the entrance and exit from the hole, since from here it will be easiest to catch pike perch during its hunt.
Find submerged roots. This is where you will need to throw bait to attract a predator.
Visit this place for a week. First, watch the exit from the pit and periodically move the bait at the entrance. Small snags near the hole can also become habitat for large pike perch.

Catching pike perch with a jig in summer

Despite the fact that in summer pike perch are generally less active on bait, they behave differently in each month:

June. The pike perch are just beginning to fatten up and thus there is a chance of catching a good catch, but the fish will not be as heavy in size as if caught in July or August. At this time, it is better to look for fish in the shallows at the beginning of the month, and move on to deeper sea fishing towards the end of June.
July. It’s not a good month for fishing for pike perch, since the fish have already fattened up and are not actively hunting, therefore, they no longer respond to bait.
In August, the fattening period begins again for the winter. With the right technique, the catch will be successful in August. Both in terms of size and the number of fish in reservoirs, this is the best month for catching pike perch on jigs.

Autumn fishing

Starting in August, the fish are actively fattening up for the winter, and therefore it is extremely important to fish in the fall. For autumn fishing, it is better to choose fishing from a boat and use jig fishing.

It is better to choose a deep-sea location; in the fall, the pike perch will gradually move to its wintering place.

Winter fishing for pike perch using lures

I think I won’t be wrong if I say that most hunters for winter pike perch started by catching pike perch with a spoon. It is best to shine from the ice until it reaches a thickness of 40–50 cm. In the middle of winter, after the Christmas and Epiphany frosts, drilling holes is already difficult. In this situation, experienced anglers usually catch pike perch in well-known places where there are various bottom irregularities that pike perch use as ambushes.

I caught my first winter pike perch many years ago and completely by accident. It happened at the Mozhaisk Reservoir. When dawn had just broken, my friend and I followed our old tracks to the place where the previous evening we had left several girders for the night, putting live bait on the bottom in hopes of catching burbot. But none of them worked, and we raised the live baits about half a meter above the bottom. Yuri went closer to the shore to look for perch, and I drilled a hole next to one of the girders and decided to attract pikes by playing with a spinner.

My calculation was extremely simple. If an intrigued predator ignores my “piece of iron”, she will probably grab a pot-bellied caviar brush on the tee of the girder. After I diligently demonstrated about a dozen techniques for playing with bait, I decided to go to a friend’s place to catch perch. But what is it? While lifting the spoon from the bottom, I felt a couple of light knocks through the fishing rod, and then a hanging heaviness. Bite! I hook quite sharply and start fishing.

Out of surprise, I drag the fish right through. And then the narrow-nosed head of a pike perch with “glassy” eyes appears in the hole, and a moment later it sluggishly tosses and turns on the ice. Offhand, it weighs about two kilograms. There is no limit to joy. I'll flash further. But, alas. My spiny-feather turned out to be the one and only. Or perhaps he was one of a fast-moving pack.

Winter lures for pike perch. For pike perch, with its narrow throat, the most suitable spinners are narrow and elongated (6–12 cm) with a width of 10–15 mm. Coloring is often silver. I mainly use homemade spoons (photo 1). Some of them are shown in photos 2–4.

Spinner for winter fishing for pike perch 1 (photo 2), intended for fishing in moderate and strong currents, is made of two plates: the outer one is made of phosphor bronze or silver plated, the inner one is made of yellow brass or red copper. The thickness of the plates is 0.8 mm. There is lead solder between them. Length – 5–7 cm. Weight – 30–50 g.

Spinner for winter fishing for pike perch 2 (photo 3) is made from one plate (brass, copper, cupronickel) 0.7 mm thick, onto which lead solder is applied. Weight 15 g. After shaking, it slowly moves away to the side. Good for fishing at depths of less than five meters and in weak or absent currents.

Spinner for winter fishing for pike perch 3 (photo 4). The outer side is a brass or cupronickel plate 1 mm thick, the inner side is lead solder with a center of gravity shifted downward and painted red. Size – 5–7 cm, weight – 15–20 g. Designed for high-speed fishing when a school of pike perch is detected.

Good results are obtained when winter fishing for pike perch using bimetallic spinners, consisting of two plates (copper, brass, stainless steel, cupronickel), glued or connected with rivets. These baits are made mainly by handicraft methods.

The weight of the spinner for winter fishing for pike perch, as well as other baits, is selected depending on the depth at the fishing site and the strength of the current. When fishing in reservoirs, I use baits weighing from 8 to 20 g. On rivers such as the Oka and Volga, where the current is quite strong, the weight of the bait should be increased to 40–50 g, sometimes up to 60 g. On the Lower Volga, for example, with With a lighter bait you simply won’t feel the bottom. The exception is calm reaches and bays. In reservoirs without a current, bait play should be slower and more delicate than in a current.