Pike spawning may be an unproductive period of the year for an angler when selectively hunting for this fish, common in our country, but it can still be considered a fundamental moment in the life of a predator that produces offspring, and, consequently, the possibility of successful fishing in future periods. It is important for the fisherman to follow the rules of fishing during the breeding of fish, excluding not only the extraction of trophies, but also observing the principles of careful treatment of their spawning grounds.
For a conscientious fishing enthusiast, noticed attempts by careless fishermen to illegally catch a predator should be strictly suppressed both by their own forces and by the forces of nature conservation, which controls the sphere of recreational fishing. Only such approaches will make it possible to preserve and increase the population and number of pike, which will delight the fisherman with bites and hunting results.
The article presented below will be about the peculiarities of the behavior of the toothy predator not only during its mating season, but also in the time periods preceding this action and unfolding after the completion of spawning. The fisherman will learn about the places in which the predator sets up spawning grounds, when it does this and at what age it becomes sexually mature and ready for reproduction, and we will devote a separate chapter to the prohibitions being established by law during the period of pike spawning.
Features of spawning
Mature pike is a predatory fish that leads a solitary lifestyle. An adult individual inhabits a certain territory of the reservoir, which it adheres to throughout its life, patrolling and staying briefly at promising hunting sites to catch suitable prey. The usual behavior of a predator is to ambush behind natural or artificial cover and wait for a fish or other small animal of suitable size to swallow. The parking lots alternate with short transitions from one promising ambush point to another. And so on throughout the year, with the exception of a couple of weeks of mating games.
When the time of pike spawning approaches, it brings together individuals of equal size and mass into small groups of seven or ten, forcing them to migrate to the shallows in search of spawning sites, where they stay for a couple of weeks, completely immersing themselves in the breeding process. During spawning time, the predator finally switches off from the mode of hunting and searching for food, stopping any feeding activity. Pike noticeably lose their aggressiveness and, to a certain extent, vigilance, behaving recklessly in shallow waters, where they can often become easy prey for a poacher equipped with a spear, pike or hook.
In addition, due to the violent behavior of the breeding predator, spawning grounds can be easily detected by the frequent splashes and turning of the spotted sides to the surface of the water by massive fish. Having spawned, the fish immediately moves to deeper places in the reservoirs, never again being interested in the fate of the offspring that begin to hatch from the eggs.
At what age does pike spawn?
Of course, spawning is the fate of fully formed, mature and healthy fish. Pike is not classified as a slow-growing fish species, but at the same time it is not a record holder for weight gain or precocity. Depending on the type of reservoir, its size and oxygen regime, as well as the saturation of the food supply, the rate of fish maturation varies significantly in terms of time. In large bodies of water with excess oxygen throughout the year and the presence of a large population of carp fish species, pike grows quite quickly, reaching maturity among females by three years, and males a year later.
Important! The size and dimensions of an adult pike ready for spawning will be at least 30 cm in length and weigh half a kilogram.
In small ponds with a small influx of water and a poor food supply, female pikes become sexually mature at four years, and males will only be able to participate in producing offspring in the fifth or even sixth year of their life. Comparing the presented time frames, we can note a rather long time course for the development of fish into a sexually mature individual capable of reproduction. So, in reservoirs with strong fishing pressure, without anglers using the catch-and-release principle, the pike population can be quickly destroyed within two or three years, without giving it a chance not only to recover, but even to replace the fish that are being taken.
Breeding pike artificially
This is a predatory and bloodthirsty fish. It is unacceptable to breed it in seedlings, shallow-water and nursery ponds for raising carp fish fry. Also, for breeding, it should not be released into ponds with trout. It breeds well in natural reservoirs, where there is a lot of low-value fish that will be used for food.
The predator is successfully bred in reservoirs whose banks are densely overgrown with vegetation. There is always a lot of small fish here, so they are at ease and comfortable in such places.
In reservoirs with poor vegetation, as a rule, there are insufficient food resources. It is not advisable to breed pike in such reservoirs: due to lack of food in the reservoir, it begins to eat its own young. Under conditions of artificial breeding, she gains weight approximately four times faster than under natural conditions.
With an abundance of fish for food, young animals reach a weight of up to 400 grams, and some specimens even more.
How many times a year does pike spawn?
Pike spawning occurs only once during the calendar year. Of course, from year to year the time period for the beginning and end of reproduction may shift slightly, which is expressed only in a week-long delay or an earlier start of the process.
Important! Shifts in spawning periods directly depend on weather conditions associated with warming up water and melting ice.
The annual life cycle of a predator can be divided into three distinct phases, the largest of which will be preparation for spawning, which the fish begins to do from mid-summer until spring, gradually storing calories and increasing its appetite to ensure the maturation of milk and eggs. A short, couple of week phase of the spawning itself and a two-month rest phase of the predator after reproduction.
The necessary conditions
Pike begins to spawn earlier than all fish in conditions when the water warms up to +6-+7ºС. When the rest of the fish begin to spawn, the small pike are already real predators. Despite this feature, only 10% of all pike offspring survive. This is due to natural phenomena, and primarily to fluctuations in water levels. A sharp drop in water can destroy not only eggs, but also adult individuals that may end up in pit traps.
The spawning process begins in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. When the water temperature rises to +7ºС, the most active period of pike spawning begins. Individuals that have reached sexual maturity are the first to spawn, after which larger individuals begin to spawn, and finally the largest specimens come to spawn.
When does pike go to spawn?
Pike spawning begins at the end of winter and directly in the spring itself, which depends on the type of reservoir and weather conditions favorable for spawning. Regarding the structure of reservoirs, it is worth noting that first of all, the predator begins its mating games in the upper reaches of small rivers, which are cleared of ice cover earlier, and therefore the water in them warms up faster, reaching a temperature of 4–8 degrees, which stimulates fish to spawn. Closed, stagnant ponds with relatively shallow depths are the last to be cleared of ice, already in stable above-zero weather. Thus, even in reservoirs located within the same region at short distances from each other, pike begins to spawn with a possible time interval of one and a half months.
On rivers, pike can spawn at the end of February, and on a pond shaded by trees even at the beginning of April. In addition to the structure of the reservoir, weather conditions also affect the spawn. The strong thaws of the early spring, rapidly opening up the reservoirs, stimulate the predator to start spawning early. A long winter can delay the spawning season for a considerable time. Based on the conditions presented above for the start of pike spawning, we can safely conclude that the probability of spawning of the predator is within the limits of the end of February and until the first ten days of April.
Pike spawning period in spring
Before you go hunting for toothy fish, you must remember that catching it is universally prohibited during spawning, which directly depends on the region. The spawning calendar, scheduled according to the main fishing areas and regions of our country and neighboring countries, will help you get your bearings a little and be aware of the spawning period of this most popular predator:
- in the Krasnodar Territory, where spring comes earlier than in other regions, spawning begins in February and continues until early March;
- in the Rostov region, where the water warms up a little later than in the south of the country - in early March;
- in Karelia, where there can be strong ice on the reservoirs almost until mid-spring, the toothfish spawning begins no earlier than April and drags on until early May;
- in Siberia - almost the entire month of April, at least for this month there is a ban on catching toothed fish. Although here there are some nuances depending on the location and type of reservoir - spawning takes place earlier on rivers, and later in lakes;
- in the Leningrad region, pike spawn at the end of April-beginning of May, which coincides with the beginning of the spawning of pike living in Karelia, since these two regions are in close proximity to each other, and therefore the weather and climatic conditions there are very similar;
- in rivers near Moscow, spawning of the predator occurs in February-March, and in reservoirs with stagnant water (lakes and ponds) - March-April. This is due to the fact that the ice on them has not yet completely melted, and the water temperature has not risen to the required temperature;
- in Astrakhan, this fishing mecca on the Volga, where fish lovers come from different parts of our country, pike spawning usually lasts from mid-April to the end;
- in Belarus, toothfish spawning begins in mid-April and continues until early May.
Where does it spawn?
As we already know, the harbinger of pike spawning in the spring is considered to be the melting of ice and the subsequent natural slight warming of the water. With the emergence of these situations, the so-called pike run begins, when sexually mature individuals begin to unite in small schools, where there are two or three males for one female. The predator leaves its usual and habitual habitats and begins to move towards shallow waters and spills, in which the first aquatic vegetation begins to awaken and grow.
The fish goes to the upper reaches of large rivers, entering small river channels and backwaters, where deep water levels do not exceed one meter. On stagnant lakes and ponds, the predator lives in shallow waters where the bottom is covered with aquatic vegetation, snags and driftwood. When setting up spawning grounds, the fish avoids noisy places, the background of which is created by active human activity. The spawning ground itself, during the active phase of spawning, is a seething cauldron of fish rubbing against each other, sometimes jumping out of the water and often showing their backs with straightened bright fins on the surface of the reservoir.
In the excitement of mating, a pike can even jump onto the shore, subsequently actively wriggling and moving its body until it slides into the water. Spawning on floods is fraught with the death of fish offspring, which can occur as a result of a rapid drainage of water and, as a result, drying out of the delayed game. In the best case of spawning, the eggs stick to plants or snags, after a week they turn into pike larvae, and after another month, small pike are already capable of attacking fish mallow.
How does pike behave before spawning?
With the appearance of thawed patches on the rivers and the disappearance of ice, fish tired from wintering begin their movement to spawning grounds. During its migration, even when it has already gathered in flocks, the predator does not stop actively feeding. But small fish become food items, which applies even to large-sized pike. This is due to the fact that the belly of the predator is densely filled with caviar and milt, leaving no room in the stomach for large prey. In addition, the long and relatively insatiable winter season does not leave much energy for the extraction of large and fast food items.
Fishermen have noticed that the start of the predator’s move is accompanied by its increased activity. The so-called spring pre-spawning glutton for pike is especially noticeable on large rivers with a good oxygen regime in the water, which increases the activity of the fish. In ponds and lakes suffering from a lack of oxygen, pike may not show any feeding activity at all before spawning, saving the rest of their energy for spawning itself. Fishing during this period is not prohibited and fish can be caught quite successfully using a spinning rod, loading small-sized and aggressive baits with bright colors.
Features of pike fishing in autumn
When the first cold snap occurs, this is the beginning of September, the pike, brought to the point of exhaustion by the summer heat, begins to come to its senses and emerge from its half-asleep state. At this time, she simply amazes with her gluttony. The time has come for fishermen to catch pike. An unbridled appetite turns her into a reckless, unguarded fish that is easily hooked.
Autumn is characterized by the pre-winter feast of pike; this is a golden time for spinning anglers.
In addition, unlike in spring, there are no prohibitions on autumn fishing, which means you can fish for your own pleasure and still get a decent catch. Article on the topic: Pike biting calendar
How does pike behave after spawning?
After the pike's spawning is over, the female will go to rest and within five to seven days will come to her senses without showing any feeding activity. The males will remain in shallow water, waiting for the next batch of pikes to approach the spawning ground, with the males from which the old-timers of the spawning ground often engage in fights that are serious in intensity. Subsequently, all the fish weakened by spawning will remain standing at the bottom at the boundaries with shallow waters, saturating the gills with oxygen.
Often smaller young males become victims of large females, who begin to actively feed after settling. The post-spawning period is the most difficult time for a predator, since the fish that overwintered and gave birth to offspring has completely depleted its energy reserves and requires a serious replenishment of vital resources. Stationary fish in parking areas are exposed to danger from poachers, who calmly collect tired fish with nets and grabs in places where they are densely concentrated.
When does pike start biting after spawning?
You can expect the toothfish to start biting only on the 15th–20th day after the start of spawning. Thus, the spawning itself will take about 10–12 days, and the rest of the fish will take about a week. By tracking these time intervals, the angler can safely go hunting, if this is not prohibited by calendar dates, using live bait or artificial bait as bait. Live bait is considered a more promising bait than imitators, which the fish preferred during the pre-spawning period. Having rested and gathered strength, the spawned pike begins to feed greedily, devouring any prey. The post-spawning feast begins, which will last with varying degrees of intensity until the end of May. Compared to the zhor in the fall, the post-spawning zhor is considered to be more productive in terms of fishing results, but shorter in time.
Important! The peak of the bite occurs during the flowering of bird cherry and the blossoming of oak leaves.
Floods cause inconvenience for fishing on rivers, complicating approaches to promising places for feeding fish. It is easier to fish on ponds in spring due to more convenient approaches and the relatively small size of the reservoir. With saturation, by the end of May, the predator goes to calm waters in bays and backwaters on rivers and backwaters on lakes and reservoirs, where it settles into so-called summer apartments, setting up ambushes in water thickets, becoming picky and capricious in choosing a victim suitable for attack.
Prohibitions during spawning
The fisherman should be reminded that when pike spawn, there are a number of categorical prohibitions on catching the predator. In addition to the direct ban on catching toothfish, the use of any swimming equipment is limited or completely prohibited. In addition, throughout the entire spring season, in many reservoirs fishing is allowed using only one tackle and one hook, single double or triple, regardless of the type of bait, with casting only from the shore and without entering the water.
From region to region of the country, the terms of the bans are shifted according to calendar time, the value of which is introduced by the authorities regulating and protecting natural resources based on the actual conditions on water bodies. Before planning a pike fishing session, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the fishing rules in the place where you are fishing, so as not to subject yourself to huge fines, and not to limit the fish’s ability to reproduce and replenish their population.
A five or seven year old female pike is capable of laying up to several hundred thousand eggs, which can significantly increase the number of predators, therefore, when catching a brood fish, the fisherman must remember to preserve and increase natural resources, which in the future will please not only him, but also many others of the same kind. like-minded people passionate about pike fishing.
Pike fishing during periods of famine
Now is the time to talk in more detail about how to catch pike during periods of bursts of its feeding activity.
Spring
In the spring - as mentioned above - pike have two zhoras, and fishing during each of them varies greatly and has its own aspects that the fisherman must take into account.
Before spawning
Before spawning, pike feeding activity begins to intensify even after the last ice. At this time - if it is strong enough, and the situation allows you to reach it from the shore - pike is caught with girders and winter lures.
Photo 4. Pike caught from the ice during the first spring feast.
However, it often happens that by that time the ice becomes fragile and wide open areas appear along the banks. Now it is extremely dangerous to climb it, and the fisherman has only one thing left - before the water is completely clouded by melted streams - to open the “summer” season and catch pike with a spinning rod in those places where the waves are already moving.
Photo 5. Open areas of water along the banks allow you to successfully fish with a spinning rod during the pre-spawning feeding period for pike.
During this period, the toothy predator has one contradictory circumstance that greatly influences the spinning baits it prefers. On the one hand, caviar or milt matures in the fish belly. Sexual products require a lot of space, but on the other hand, the pike also needs to absorb large volumes of food. Therefore, she now feeds often, but for all that - the smallest “game”, which will not take up much space in her still insatiable belly.
It is the above-mentioned circumstance that is the reason that before spawning, only small spinning baits of the light (L) or medium-light (ML) class work well for pike. And everything that exceeds this limit in its dimensions would be of interest to the pike at another time, but not now.
In turn, with small and medium baits only in the spring you can catch a large trophy, which will confidently pull “a dozen and a few kopecks” of kilos. The rest of the time, if they covet them, it’s only small “laces” whose weight does not exceed a kilogram.
Knowing this nuance, the fisherman will take the “correct” gear to the pond, and will definitely return with a catch. As for specific baits, you can use any spinners, wobblers, as well as silicone “tails”.
It should be taken into account that the pike is now staying closer to the bottom and is reluctant to come to the surface. Although, for all that, it can be located at a relatively shallow depth.
Before spawning, the pike stands approximately where it will pass. Usually these are the mouth areas of streams and small rivers flowing into a reservoir. Exits from the depths to shallow waters will also be very interesting in terms of fishing. On rivers, it makes sense to look for fish at the border of the current and small bays, on dumps in depth from islands and coastal spits. Also very tempting will be places near the thickets of last year's cattail.
After spawning
If the first spring zhor is the most favorable time for spinning pike fishing, then with the second zhor the situation is somewhat different, because at this moment such an unpleasant circumstance as muddy water appears. When its transparency becomes virtually zero, you can’t even dream about fishing with spinners and wobblers. If they peck at them, it will only be by accident.
However, in “fast” springs after winters with little snow, when the flood is not very large and subsides instantly, you can catch pike with spinning baits even during the second harvest, although this rarely happens.
In muddy water, live bait gear - summer baits , donks and pike float equipment .
What’s interesting is that during the post-spawning zhora, pike stays closer to the spawning grounds of other fish, for example, roach. There it is not difficult for her to hunt for spawning fish that have lost all caution, which comes in very handy for her somewhat weakened and “beaten” state. Well, of course, now its belly is free of reproductive products, so the pike no longer pays attention to the size of food items and greedily absorbs them one after another, sometimes filling its stomach to capacity with weighty fish.
Autumn
Photo 6. At the end of September, the autumn season begins - the most intense and longest feeding period for pike.
The autumn feeding season of pike is famous for the fact that it is during this time that fishermen come across the largest specimens. Also in the fall, the largest number of pikes are caught using spinning rods.
During this period, the toothy predator feeds throughout the daylight hours and relentlessly follows other fish - its potential food, which the cooling of the water gradually forces to form dense schools and go deeper and deeper.
It’s funny, but during the autumn feast, it’s much more productive to catch pike with spinning baits than with live bait. This is explained not only by the order of magnitude larger fishing radius of the spinning rod, but also by the fact that in cold water, live bait behaves much less actively than in summer, and therefore is less attractive.
Photo 7. Pike caught with a wobbler. Author of the photo: Alexander Smirnov.
During this fertile time, the fish prefers large baits. Not only decent-sized wobblers with spinners , but also poppers , jerkbaits , as well as other “large baits” such as huge twisters and vibrating tails . Successful fishing is quite possible using the simplest “spoon” spinners (including “grandfather’s” ones made in the last century). Pike fishing can be done both from the shore and from a boat.
Photo 8. During the autumn feast, pike bite perfectly on any large bait.
At the very beginning of the autumn zhora, pike robbers at all depths and does not hesitate to come to the surface. However, as the water cools, it hunts more and more in the bottom layers, because this is where all its underwater “game” now tries to stay. Spinning baits, as well as their wiring, should be selected based on this principle. If at the beginning of the zhora surface and low-lying baits work quite well, then closer to its middle and end it is the heavy and deep-sea baits that will come to the fore.
Where to look for pike during the autumn feast significantly depends on this same trend. At the very beginning, it can be found in relatively shallow water not far from the shore - in places where there are algae and reeds, but at the height of the phenomenon and closer to its end - it is best to look for it at depth - in holes where other fish stand on wintering.
During the autumn pike feast, you should fish with the strongest gear, because now there is a very high probability of biting a trophy specimen, which not only has a decent mass, but is also capable of giving the fisherman a good fight.
