Spinning for pike - how to choose, top 5 best spinning rods

Pike is a worthy fishing trophy, especially if its weight reaches or exceeds 10 kilograms. Coping with such a giant is not an easy task. And a small individual can cause a lot of trouble, and if the spinning rod is chosen incorrectly, then the chance of hatching is reduced several times. Experience and skill alone cannot do this; it is important to choose the right rod. First of all, we are interested in three main factors:

1. Rod build;
2. Test;
3. Assembled length.

The structure of a spinning rod is its bending under load. The most durable rods are Extra Fast rods, in which only ¼ of the upper part bends. The Slow type, or parabolic system, on the contrary, is the most flexible. When fishing for pike, the ideal options are the middle options, called fast and medium. It is important not just to hook the fish, but to pierce its lip so that the trophy is securely attached to the tackle, and spinning rods of classes B and C are ideal.

The rod test is selected individually and is based on the weight of the bait used. It all depends on what kind of trophy you are counting on. The main thing is to always have a small supply. If your bait weighs 30 grams, then the top bar of the test should be 40. The length is also individual. Long spinning rods over three meters are perfect for fishing from the shore. They have a good casting range and high strength. It is inconvenient to use them from a boat, so we select a shorter option up to two meters. As for the manufacturer and brand, we have selected for you the best options available on the modern market. They can easily handle even a trophy predator and will serve you for many years.

Pike trolling kit

When purchasing tackle for catching pike with spinners, you should give preference to universal tackle, the length of which is in the range of 2.1 - 2.4 meters. The rod test should be medium or medium-fast. The most popular models of forms that are of good quality include:

• Croix Avid Series AVS70MF2 – gear length is 2.13 m, and the test is 5.25-17.5 g;
• Major Craft Dodger DGS-702MH – length 2.13 m, test reaches 10-35 g;
• Graphiteleader Zanna Limited Edition - length 2.13, and test is 7-28 g.

Most often, fishermen prefer reels of size 2000-3000. However, when planning to use large baits, it is better to purchase a reel with a spool size of up to 4000 Shimano. The most popular models of good quality are Penn Battle, Okuma Avenger ABF, KastKing Sharky, and, of course, models from Shimano, Spro, Daiwa.

When choosing a braid, you should give preference to:

• Power Pro Moss Green;
• Duel PE Super X-Wire;
• Spiderwire Ultra Cast;
• Salmo Diamond Braid Green.

The most catchy spinners are: Mepps AGLIA LONG, Mepps BLACK FURY, Blue Fox Super Vibrax, Daiwa Silver Creek Spinner, atoms, Williams Wobbler, Spinners and many others.

Mepps AGLIA LONG

Tests to help you make the right choice

With a modern spinning rod you can cast even ultra-light baits over long distances. True, provided that the tackle is suitable for such baits. Test data helps determine the compatibility of a fishing rod with baits. They are applied on the spinning form.

For example, the numbers 5 - 20 on the form mean that the weight of the bait should be in the range from 5 to 20 grams. With an attachment of a different weight, the rod will be ineffective.

To catch pike with a spinning rod, both light and heavy artificial baits are used.

Trolling involves holding the bait along a certain horizontal line.

For this type of wiring, a wobbler weighing 10 - 200 grams is suitable (10 - 60 grams - light trolling; 50 - 200 grams - heavy trolling). Trophy pike can also be caught with very heavy sea wobblers for fresh water bodies with a weight of 150-600 grams.

Pike are caught with a jig at depth, often on large rivers where the current is very fast. The spinning rod for a light version of the jig is 14 - 56 grams, for a heavy one - 28 - 84 grams. The traditional unit of measurement for a jig is an ounce, which is equal to 28 grams.

Jerk spinning rods are also divided into 2 types based on the weight of the bait:

• light - with dough 15 - 60 grams;
• heavy - with dough 50 - 150 grams.

Light spinners and spoons are designed for rods with a test weight of 15 - 60 grams, heavy spinners (60 grams) - for rods with a test weight of 50 - 150 grams.

As an example of choosing a spinning rod based on a test, let’s consider a specific situation. The intended prey is a large pike. There are wobblers 7 - 32 grams. We buy a rod with 10 - 30 grams of dough. The weight of the bait should not exceed the weight range specified in the test.

Heavy spinning

Below you can see the rating of heavy spinning rods that are suitable for catching large predators in large water areas.

Daiwa crossfire spin 210cm 10-40g

The DAIWA CROSSFIRE SPIN 210 heavy tackle test reaches 10-40 grams. The build is fast, the length of the stick is 2.1 meters. The rod is powerful, durable and quite sensitive.

Shimano scimitar bx spinning

The Shimano scimitar bx spinning action is fast, the test reaches 21-56 grams. This model is actively used for fishing predatory fish, the weight of which is in the range of 10-12 kg. The length of SHIMANO SCIMITAR BX SPINNING is 2.7 meters.

Salmo Sniper SPIN 56

The Salmo Sniper SPIN 56 tackle test is in the range of 15-56 grams. The plug design is quick to build and the length is 2.5 meters. The model is designed for fishing large fish.

Ultralight spinning rods are also used in pike fishing - extreme!

When choosing ultralights for pike fishing, you should pay attention to the spinning rod models that are included in the rating of the best ultralight gear.

Salmo Diamond MICROJIG 8 210

Salmo Diamond MICROJIG 8 210 is an ultralight with a super sensitive tip made of graphite. The rod test is 2-8 grams, the action is fast. The plug form is equipped with reinforced guide rings.

Shimano catana ex telespin 165 ul

Shimano catana ex telespin 165 ulL is a telescopic ultralight tackle that is designed to work with baits weighing 5-11 grams. The model will appeal to beginners who are just mastering the wisdom of fishing.

Salmo ELITE MICRO JIG 10

The tackle is made of carbon fiber. Despite this, the Salmo ELITE MICRO JIG 10 rod is characterized by increased strength. The construction of this model is fast. Using the Salmo ELITE MICRO JIG 10, the fisherman can easily make long casts.

Shimano catana ex telespin 180l

SHIMANO CATANA EX TELESPIN 180 L is a spinning rod made of carbon. Rigid tackle pleases with increased sensitivity. The rod is durable.

What is a good spinning rod made of?

The rod should be comfortable. If you swing a fiberglass “club” for several hours, your hands will get tired and numb. It is very difficult to make a hook on time under such conditions. To catch pike by casting, we choose a carbon fiber spinning rod: it is light but durable. For trolling, experienced fishermen recommend powerful fiberglass gear. Trolling involves operating the spinning rod in a static mode; the heavy weight of the gear does not make fishing tiring. There are now a lot of advertisements for fishing rods containing Kevlar: the Av in their name refers to the use of Kevlar for making tackle (Aramid Veil, a material used in body armor). They are also only suitable for trolling, since Kevlar rods are quite heavy and their sensitivity is not high.

Trolling rods

Penn Squadron Travel Boat 215

Compact (folded length 46 cm) five-section spinning rod with a length of 215 cm and weighing 493 grams of ultra-fast action with a maximum test load of up to 30 lb. The blank is made from a durable, high-quality 24T composition with a low resin concentration and a high graphite content. The aluminum oxide guide rings are reinforced with additional supports. The handle is made of microporous black neoprene. This rod has proven itself well when using trolling heavy and medium lures. The price of such a “stick” ranges from 8,000 to 10,000 rubles.

Black Hole INTERCEPTOR 210

A high-quality and inexpensive plug-in trolling rod, 210 cm long, weighing 288 grams with a cast of up to 100 grams. The blank is made of high modulus carbon. Fixation of the reel is achieved by means of two screws of the NS reel seat made of aluminum. To prevent contact and damage to parts of the form during transportation, the spinning rod kit includes neoprene fasteners with Velcro. The knees of the form are joined by means of a spigot connection; the comfortable, spaced-apart handle is made of EVA polymer. The average price of such a rod is 9,000-10,000 rubles.

Shimano EXAGE AX STC TROLLING 30

This four-section rod with a length of 210 cm and a test weight of up to 100 grams and a fast action of grams is one of the most powerful trolling “sticks” in the class. Total weight is 594 grams. The blank is made of high-modulus graphite brand XT30, the knees are joined together using spigot joints, the handle is made, as in the previous rod, from EVA polymer; 8 throughput rings of different diameters that the blank is equipped with have wear-resistant SiH inserts. Transport length is only 61 cm. This model includes a convenient and reliable tube. The price of such a “stick” is 10,000-11,000 rubles.

Express Tips

For those who prefer the “dry” residue and want to immediately find out which spinning rod to catch pike with and what to follow when choosing a fishing rod, follow the following tips:

• It is better to buy a carbon fiber spinning rod;
• rod length - 2.4 meters;
• choose a spinning rod with 5 - 25 grams of dough;
• The best option for pike fishing is a rod with a fast action;
• the reel should be sensitive and hold the line well with the bail. If you shake the reel sharply, holding it by the foot, several times, and the bail does not slam shut, you can buy it: it will not break the line during casting.

If you are thinking about how to choose a spinning rod for pike, don’t forget that in order to choose the right spinning rod for pike fishing, you need to remember about fishing tactics and types of bait. A novice spinning rodist is recommended to buy a universal spinning rod for catching pike, test it, feel the blow of the toothy one, pull it out, and only then purchase another rod for specific tactics of catching a “river wolf” (trolling, jerking, jigging, etc.).

Twitching kit

When jerking, wobblers provide resistance. At this moment, the angler loosens the line. To avoid the tackle falling through during jerks, you should give preference to spinning rods with fast and medium-fast action (an excellent option for spinners too). If you plan to use minnow wobblers for hard twitching, you should purchase a fast or extra fast action form. The length of the tackle is selected depending on the fishing characteristics.

When fishing from the shore, you should give preference to models with a length of 2.4-3 meters. When fishing a reservoir from a boat, it is advisable to use shorter forms.

The best spinning rods for twitching wobblers are:

1. Goss Caiman . The length of the tackle is 2.13 meters, the test reaches 5-15 grams. Spinning has increased sensitivity and strength.
2. Favorite Laguna 16 LGS662M 3-12 grams - a model with excellent balancing, an ergonomic handle and an acceptable cost for most anglers. The test is underestimated. Works calmly with wobblers up to 15 grams.

3. Major Craft Basspara BPS-662M L is a model characterized by increased strength and high-quality balancing. The light test allows you to use medium-sized wobblers to catch predators.
4. Favorite Neo Breeze 762M is a high-quality spinning rod with a reliable reel seat and a cork handle. The length of the gear is 2.3 meters. The model is ideal for fishing a reservoir from the shore or from a boat.

For catching pike with light wobblers up to 10-15 grams, reels of size 2000-3000 are suitable. If you plan to use large wobblers, it is better to equip the spinning reel with a spool size of 3000-5000.

Today, good quality reels include:

• Shimano Sustain;
• Shimano Vanquish 19;
• Shimano Ultegra.

shimano 17 ultegra c2000s
The diameter of the braid will depend on the weight of the bait, the spinning test and the balance of the tackle as a whole. Cords worth paying attention to: Duel Hardcore X8, Daiwa Tournament Braid 8X, YGK G-Soul Upgrade X8, Power Pro Super 8 Slick.

When choosing the first wobblers for a spinning rod, you need to pay attention to the most catchy ones, judging by the reviews of many spinning players with experience, namely: Megabass X-140 World Challenge, Megabass ITO - SHINER, Jackall MagSquad, Jackall Rerange 130SP and others.

More details about wobblers for pike fishing:

Pike on wobblers in the fall: the best autumn lures and minnows, budget and expensive for 2021

How to choose a spinning rod for a beginner to fish for pike with jig and twitching:

Cord selection

Using a thin diameter fishing line/cord allows the fisherman to easily cast bait over long distances. Such a cord will provide minimal resistance to the flow of water during wiring. However, for pike, the use of thin braids is not appropriate; in any case, you need to install a leash, and therefore there is no point in taking a thin cord.

Using braid with a high breaking load minimizes the risk of losing the bait. The durable cord will not break when the fisherman releases the wobbler after it gets caught on underwater vegetation.

To catch pike, whose weight reaches 5 kg, it is worth purchasing braid with a diameter of 0.10-0.12 mm. For heavy spinning tackle, cords with a diameter in the range of 0.14-0.18 mm are suitable.

The following are considered high-quality lines for catching predators:

1. Power Pro – durable and sensitive braid. Using this line makes it possible to perform smooth casts. The diameter is underestimated and the flight characteristics are not the best. Therefore, it is ideal for fishing short in holes, on near edges, and for fishing for pike from a boat.

2. Spiderwire is a perfectly round braid with a smooth surface. The cord is impregnated with polyethylene, which guarantees a long service life. The manufacturer makes the cord from Microdynema fiber. The strength of the braid is increased, the rigidity is high. Spiderwire Dura4

The listed cord models are abrasion resistant.

More information about choosing a cord for spinning fishing:

Features of choosing braid for spinning - parameters, selection for testing and type of fishing

Selection of leashes and accessories

For pike fishing, it is recommended to use metal leashes, the length of which reaches 20 cm. There are no special requirements for the leash material, but it is important to give preference to products of good quality.

Sinkers for jig fishing can also be suitable in a variety of configurations, weights and sizes. Experienced fishermen advise giving preference to lead and tungsten weights. The greater the depth and faster the current, the heavier the sinker should be. In this case, it is advisable to purchase models weighing 20-40 grams. In other cases, lighter weights will do.

In the process of fishing for a predator, you may need hooks of different sizes, so it is better for anglers to immediately purchase a complete set of accessories. However, offset hooks up to size No. 5/0 are most often used.

Kevlar leash

Fishing stores offer a wide range of spinning rods that are suitable for pike fishing. Below you can find popular models of fishing rods that are distinguished by good quality, durability and sensitivity.