Catching pike perch in winter on girders: equipment, bait, equipment and tactics of winter fishing

One of the surest ways to catch pike perch in winter is to catch it with a girder. If you compare fishing with a spoon, you can catch small predators, but using a live bait allows you to catch fish up to 10 kilograms, or even more. Knowing the behavior of this fish in winter, and properly equipping the bait, as well as mastering the fishing technique, you can ultimately catch an excellent trophy.

This and much more will be described in this article.

Specifics of catching walleye on zherlitsa in winter

Usually pike perch is caught at the moment when the ice has become strong and safe. Fishing during this period continues until the ice melts, and when a strong current appears, anglers try not to go out for fish.

Based on the behavior of pike perch, we can describe several aspects of its winter fishing with girders.

Catching pike-perch on girders depends on the weather and characteristics of the reservoir. If it is small, it will freeze quickly, unlike rivers, where there is a constant flow. And when the water has frozen, the time comes to install the girders.
The fish prefers to go hunting at night , so the garrisons set the bait at night. However, it was noticed that the bites occurred in vain, since there was no one to do the hooking.
It is worth preparing for the fact that during winter fishing for pike perch the fishing line will break and get caught, since a predator, swimming next to the bait, can only pull it and swim away. Therefore, professional baitfish do not use a leash, which in turn reduces the number of bites.
In the first winter month, fish swim widely across the pond , but this does not mean that you can throw a bait anywhere and there will be a bite right away. Since the summer, the fish have become accustomed to being in their favorite places and in winter they will also show their activity in their usual place.
During the zhora period, the predator is accustomed to attacking any live bait, although in winter this often does not happen.

What gear is used for fishing?

There are only three main winter gear for pike perch, but each of them has its own modifications depending on the local habits of anglers. The following fishing rods are in use:

spinner;
jig supply;
zherlitsa.

Read Mudskippers

Below we will describe in more detail each of them and the fishing method used.

Flashing is the main method

Ice fishing is the name given to catching a predator using artificial bait using various animations, something like spinning in a vertical plane. Not only vertical spinners are used as bait, but also other products:

balancers;
amphipods;
Ratlin wobblers.

In winter lures, two types of lures are used:

narrow-bodied vertical vibrators;
tube spoons with beveled cuts.

Balancers

The balancer, unlike the spinner, is a horizontal bait. It is a metal fish equipped with soldered single hooks at the front and back and a hanging tee at the bottom of the belly.

In addition, the balancer has plastic wings closer to the back of the body, thanks to which the artificial fish gets a kind of play. When retrieving, the bait describes a trajectory close to a figure eight horizontally, while oscillating in the vertical plane.

To the rattlins

The Rattlin is a bladeless wobbler with an attachment point at the top. The ring for this is located approximately in the center of gravity on the back. The nose of the artificial fish is narrowed, which gives it the opportunity to perform unique, attractive movements during animation.

What does a winter fishing rod look like for pike perch?

For trolling I use a special fishing rod up to one meter long. Modern models have a reel seat and guide rings.

The fishing rod can be supplied in either a plug-in or telescopic version. In the first option, it is possible to equip with replaceable tips similar to feeder ones. This allows you to use the rod to catch not only hard-mouthed pike perch, but also softer-mouthed perch or trout.

The reel used is a spinning or multiplier reel with a size of 1000 units according to Shimano-Daiwa. The use of modern mechanisms allows you to fish out a predator not only by the fishing line, but also, by loading the friction brake, reduces the risk of the gear breaking.

The reel is equipped with a monofilament line with such tensile strength that it is possible to pull out a trophy pike perch weighing up to five kilograms. Unfortunately, nowadays you rarely see a larger specimen. Nylons with a diameter of 0.25 millimeters or more can withstand this load. At the same time, you need to remember that on a thick fishing line, a light bait will sink more slowly and work worse.

On the jig

You can catch pike perch with a jig using both natural bait and artificial bait. The following baits are used on the hook:

bunch of bloodworms;
worms;
fish slices;
small frozen sprat;
live fry.

The most commonly used artificial additives are:

“edible” silicone;
foam rubber impregnated with attractants;
beads, rings, edges.

The fishing rod for jig fishing is equipped with a bright nod, which is noticeable from a great distance. The diameter of the fishing line is chosen to be the same as on the lure – 0.25-0.30 millimeters.

What does a pike perch jig look like?

The pike jig differs from the model we are used to in its greater weight and size. Its main purpose is to quickly deliver the bait to great depths and keep the equipment in the river flow. Therefore, sometimes a large jig head plays its role.

Pike perch are caught with jig tackle in different ways. With the passive method, tackle is used, which also includes an additional hook, hung 30-50 centimeters above the end jig. In this case, you can equip the fishing rod with two different baits.

Usually a fry is baited onto the top hook, which attracts a predator with its movement, so there is no need to animate the tackle with your hands. This option is best used on a small current, when the water flow adds its contribution to the game of the rig.

Active fishing involves playing with bait. In this case the following is performed:

tapping on the bottom;
rise with varying intensity of vibrations;
pauses of varying lengths;
jerks and stops.

Zherlitsy

Zherlitsy are usually placed in a selected area around the main fishing spot: with lures or jigs. The following fish are used as live bait:

crucian carp;
roach;
Yeltsov;
minnows;
bleak;
top melter.

Equipment for fishing in still water and in currents differs. In the first case, the sliding sinker is attached above the leash. On the river, a paternoster-type installation is used, when the sinker lies on the bottom, and the live bait is raised a little higher on a branch leash.

Equipment for catching pike perch on girders in winter

There are many zherlits, and if we do not describe their devices, it is worth listing their types. When rigging a girder for pike perch in winter, the following live bait designs are used:

horizontal does not take up much space and does not require special assembly;
vertical is easily transported and installed in deep snow;
on a leg will require assembly, but will not cover the hole from the cold;
the changeling is considered a simple bait and does not require special investments during manufacture;
Ice fishing is used for long-term fishing, and they are not afraid of frost.

Worth knowing! Before catching pike-perch on girders, subglaciers are accustomed to lubricating part of the fishing line with a thin layer of goose fat. They believe that this procedure will prevent the fishing line from freezing even in severe frost.

Based on several options for winter girders for pike perch, the equipment is made as follows.

The classic version of winter girders is used in still water. The process of equipping such girders is simple, namely:

the fishing line is wound onto a reel;
put a weight on the cord. The weight of the weight should keep the bait fish at the desired horizon;
A silicone stopper is installed below the weight;
The hook is used to choose from - you can take one, a double or a tee. The first is used for a low-active predator, size No. 9 is selected. The second is suitable for attaching live bait to the gills of size No. 6.

By the way! The triple is used for live bait, for example, ruff or perch, and is attached under the fin, but it is not suitable for pike perch and is only suitable for pike.

The version of the flow is equipped as follows:

at the end of the fishing line you need to make a loop 1 m long;
then you need to cut it so that the ends are 30 and 70 cm;
attach a weight to the short end of the fishing line;
attach a hook to the long end;
string live bait by the mouth.

Since this predator is a cautious fish, they try not to use a metal leash so as not to scare it away.

Video: video of winter rigging for pike perch

How to choose live bait, what to use to catch pike perch on girders

One of the main products that pike perch prefers is bleak. Using this live bait in fishing, the fish will not resist the temptation. In addition, you can use such fish as predators as live bait, such as:

roach;
perch;
ruff;
gudgeon.

You can use small live bait. It is noticed that he is actively attacking him. The bait is placed by the upper fin , although it is no exception that anglers place it the other way around. Then they hook the hook to the gills and remove it from the fish’s mouth.

Note! Don’t forget that pike may be tempted by such live bait. Usually, after such a bite, the fisherman pulls out the torn tackle.

Anglers who use zherlits for pike perch in winter on rivers where there is a strong current, bait the bait by the lip . It is in this position that he will be active for a long time.

Where and when to catch zander in winter

Throughout the winter, the predator tries not to swim away from its home and familiar places. The habitats most surveyed by anglers for pike perch are:

whirlpools;
snag;
ravine necks;
flooded river beds;
areas with a scattering of stones.

Important! When deciding on the choice of fishing location, you need to remember that the predator tries not to stay on muddy areas of the reservoir.

It is worth noting that clear sunny weather is a bad day for the predator, and it is practically not caught . To catch it, you will have to choose a day with snowfall or other bad weather . The peak activity of pike perch occurs at sunset and first dawn. Those who fish in the morning most often set up the girders at night.

The depth level at which the fish feels good is approximately 4 m. How to catch pike perch in winter using girders and find a catchable place will be described below.

The simplest option is an echo sounder. Thanks to its work, you can find out the relief surface of a reservoir and the presence of fish in it.
You can try moving a fishing rod with a depth gauge weight to determine the depth level. Then you need to drill several holes at intervals of 7-10 m.
Live bait should be placed in areas of the slope : one fishing rod is placed on top, the other in the middle, and the third at the foot of the slope. This way you can fish at different depths.
The holes are usually made in a checkerboard pattern or in the form of curved lines . The second method allows you to quickly determine the topography of a reservoir and find the place where the fish live.

If there are no bites, then you should look for another fishing spot. After all, winter fishing is based on finding a fishing spot and tracking bites.

Fishing in an unfamiliar body of water will be more difficult, especially if fishermen do not share proven places. Therefore, you will have to spend a lot of time to choose the right fishing point. Usually they try to look for predators both in holes and in other depressions.

Features of girders for pike perch

Catching pike perch in winter on girders begins from the moment a solid ice cover is established on which you can safely move. There are no breaks in fishing - this tackle works until the last ice, while the fishermen are still going out on the ice. Depending on the freeze-up period, promising places are selected, fishing tactics are selected, and adjustments are made to the equipment.

In general, a pike perch bait is a simple tackle. Any beginning angler can master it. Moreover, for this it is not necessary to independently make supplies for pike perch. Acceptable modifications are sold at any fishing store at low prices.

The design of the zherlitsa for pike perch can be any. Live baits are most often used on a horizontal or vertical basis. They are suitable for fishing both on snow cover and on clear ice. Simple, convenient, take up little space when transporting to a pond and storing at home.

For night fishing, it is customary to use ice traps. This type of gear for catching pike perch in winter is similar to summer flyers. Place it under water in a hole and leave it until the morning. Then the angler needs to return to the fishing spot at dawn and check the live bait.

Where to use?

Where and how to catch pike perch on a zherlitsa in winter? Beginners often ask this question because they don’t understand where to use this equipment. Winter live baits are universal. They work on any body of water, regardless of the depth at the fishing point and the presence of current.

At the beginning of the season, fangs should be looked for at the exits of pits and on rifts. Often the predator approaches the coastal edges. In reservoirs, fish like to settle on vast plateaus with medium depths. Here the predator stands near local shelters and anomalies in the relief.

Snags are a good place to catch pike perch during any period of freeze-up. Here you can always count on a fanged bite. The difficulty lies in choosing the timely moment to hook, so as not to allow the fish to hide in the support, tangling the tackle.

On large rivers, starting in mid-winter, you should move to riverbed areas. Pike perch takes well on dumps, deep rifts, and long ditches. If you manage to find a single flooded tree or trunk in the middle of the river, then the probability of finding a predator there is maximum.

Advantages

When approached intelligently, girdle fishing for pike perch shows impressive results, especially in areas where trophy fish are found. The advantages of this direction are:

Easy to assemble and use the gear;
Variability of rigs for different fishing conditions;
Possibility of targeted hunting for large predators;
Cheapness of gear components, their availability.

For fishermen who do not like to actively move around a body of water and fish with artificial baits, a girder is the best tackle. It allows you to catch a fanged one on rivers, huge reservoirs and deep lakes.

One of the disadvantages is the low fishing dynamics. The tackle can be called unsporting in relation to fishing with vertical spoons and balancers. For “penguins” who prefer to constantly search for a predator and explore many promising locations, this method will not work, as it will make them bored, despite the impressive catches.

How to fish with girders: tactics and techniques for catching pike perch with girders in winter

Each angler has his own method of fishing for a certain type of girder. A specific technique is suitable for each type of bait.

The following describes the basic techniques and tactics for catching pike perch using winter fishing rods:

if the pike perch offers resistance, it is worth taking a short pause without loosening the fishing line;
when playing with a predator, you should not slow down the pace of fishing;
the girders should be located near the edges or near the pits;
Before fishing, you should examine the bottom of the reservoir, and also be patient - after all, finding a fishing spot is not so easy, but after all the effort, success awaits the patient fisherman;
the distance from the holes should not exceed 15 m from each other, nor should it be less than 5 m;
It has been noted by garrison fishermen that bites occur from 5 to 10 a.m., and in the evening from 4 to 8 p.m., and those who do not want to miss the most active fishing time should be on the lake at this time;
in the middle of winter, the fisherman should stay near the girders so as not to miss the bite;
hooking is performed after the fishing line has been unwound.

Video: catching pike perch with winter baits

Where to catch pike perch?

In the majority of cases, this predator can be found in clean water, where there is no silt, and it prefers holes, riffles, and depth changes.
Sometimes it is found near snags. It is important to remember that pike perch is a nocturnal predator, so at night it can be caught in shallow water. If you are going to fish in an unfamiliar place, it is better to take an echo sounder with you to find the most suitable place. Or ask the locals. This fish also prefers places with fast currents.

In addition to pike perch, in 70% of cases you will come across bersh as by-catch, especially when fishing on the Volga and other large rivers.

Typical mistakes in catching pike-perch on girders in winter

Regardless of fishing and the ability to equip the bait, the angler is prone to making mistakes. By carefully working through them, you can later avoid an unpleasant situation when fishing for predators on girders.

So, among the most popular mistakes when winter fishing for pike perch using girders are:

it is necessary to carefully monitor the bites - after all, they can happen so quickly that the fisherman will not have time to reach the bait, especially if it is located at a considerable distance;
The girders should be placed no further than 10 m from each other along a curved curve;
hooks are made only when the fishing line unwinds, but not before;
delay in hooking when biting can lead to loss of bait;
You also can’t delay hooking, otherwise the pike perch will tangle the tackle;
fishing at a single hole will not give results - it is better to make about 10 pieces and fish part of the reservoir;
In snags, installing girders will not bring results if the fisherman lets the entire school of fish through there.

In winter, fishing is considered the same sporting activity as in summer. Guided by knowledge of the area and the presence of fish in the reservoir, as well as following the fishing rules, you can always catch something. This process of biting and fishing seems to raise the level of adrenaline in the blood, and the caught trophy pleases you for a long time. In addition, many people take a camera with them to photograph themselves with the fish they catch, and then tell friends and relatives about fishing.

Selection of live bait

So we come to the topic of the biological characteristics of pike perch, where not every live bait is suitable. The fact is that this predator has a rather narrow throat! He will not be able to swallow the same crucian carp. In principle, a double/triple hook will prevent this. Yes, the food of pike perch, if we talk about fish, these are narrow-bodied species. Which fish are suitable for us:

gudgeon is the first delicacy of pike perch! The predator simply cannot resist him;
bleak is the second delicacy of pike perch; bleak can be caught at the same time;
pike perch also goes for sprat - they catch it in the Volga River basin;
our representative of perch also likes the verkhovka, this is for the Baltic and Northern zones;
small roaches are also suitable;
little perch! Yes, it has already been noted more than once that cannibalism is quite widespread within this family. Sometimes even within the same species (perch itself).

Now there are two more important points: how to store live bait (it’s best when it’s fresh) and how to bait it on a hook. Experienced fishermen use a special can for storage, but they can be rigged in three ways:

The hook clings to the back of the fish, but it is important not to damage it too much, otherwise the baitfish will soon stop swimming.
The hook is passed through the operculum of the fish so that the point comes out of the mouth.
Directly behind the lip - this method is for places with strong currents.

As you can see, we haven’t even gotten to the sections on fishing tactics, but there are already so many features that are different from pike fishing! By the way, there are also attachments for winter fishing for pike perch using a zherlitsa. These are frozen sprat and sprat, but they are mainly suitable for the current, so that there is a game reminiscent of the movement of a live fish.