Where to look for perch
So, the best time to catch perch is on the eve of winter. A week later, after the ice has formed, the activity of the perch increases sharply (it can be compared to a meal before spawning). Now, until severe frosts hit, the perch is in the coastal zone in its natural habitat. Preference is given to grassy or snagged shallows, headlands and bays. Perch loves a hard, pebble-sand bottom, strewn with snags.
It also lives on the bottom covered with silt, but there should not be too much of it. It can also be found on the border with aquatic vegetation or in places where other artificial and natural shelters are available.
Towards the end of December, the activity of perch decreases significantly, and in addition, previously large schools that formed in the fall disintegrate. Nowadays, finding a school of minke whales numbering over 10 individuals is a great success. The perch leaves the coastal zone, but as before, it tries to stick to the shallows that are adjacent to holes, river beds or dumps; there is a high chance of meeting it on the shallows between the holes. You should also look for perch in old river beds and in areas where rivers and streams flow into the reservoir. The depth at which perch prefers to stay is 2 - 3.5 m. You should look for perch in holes and pools only during periods of severe frost. Due to the decrease in the activity of stripers, catching perch in winter with a jig will be most effective, because a jig is the most delicate equipment.
At the beginning of spring, perch becomes active again and disperses throughout the entire reservoir; moreover, it can more often be found in various layers of water. This is especially true for large perch, which can be located a few centimeters from the ice edge.
In winter, perch bite throughout the day; it is quite difficult to say which time is best for fishing for stripers, since now they are very capricious and can be passive all day long; once they start feeding, they feed only in the evening. It has been noted that the evening bite is the shortest.
Perch loves windless, frosty days, the main thing is that the atmospheric pressure is stable and the frost is not lower than 15˚C.
Catching perch in the middle of nowhere with a jig. Fish Search Tactics
Until the sun warms up and the first spring streams begin to gurgle, things will be difficult for our brother, the fisherman. Due to lack of oxygen, the fish refuses to actively bite. The January frosts are fierce, the February blizzard is - all the paths are covered with snow.
Many winter fishing enthusiasts give up and wait for the beginning of spring, when it will be warm outside and there will be no need to shiver in the wind and cold. The tropics will thaw, become covered with crust, and the perch will wake up after hibernation and begin to peck greedily after a long hunger strike...
But there are also those who cannot sit at home for a week without their favorite hobby. We are ready to run to the pond in any snow and frost to see the long-awaited bite! If you are one of these fishermen, this article will help you!
During these months, it is better to look for perch in places where the oxygen content in the water will be highest , here are the basic principles:
- look for fish at the mouths of small rivers and streams;
- choose places with hard soil: sandy, pebble, rocky;
- look for areas where springs and springs gush out at the bottom of the reservoir;
- give preference to bodies of water with running water.
Silty soils and oxbow lakes should be avoided. Places where there is a lot of last year's vegetation and there is no current. The longer a body of water is frozen under ice, the less oxygen remains. Due to the rotting of algae, its content drops even faster and becomes critical. To the point where starvation occurs and the fish die. This fate awaits many small reservoirs, lakes where there is no access to running water and no springs flow from the bottom.
Fish prefer almost the same places and conditions from year to year. This is quite easy to track based on news from reservoirs and reports from fishermen of past years. Study the news - this will help you better decide where to go fishing even in the “low season”.
Depending on the type of reservoir and time of year, perch can stand in different places. First of all, the fisherman needs to explore such areas of the reservoir as:
Catching perch in winter with a jig, search technique
We start making holes from the shore, and the colder and longer the winter lasts, the further we begin our search. We drill 10-12 holes in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 5-10 meters from each other. When you drill holes near the shore, you must be careful not to let the drill come into contact with the bottom. Also, the knives of the drill can be dulled by sand blown onto the ice from the shore.
First, using not too thin equipment, catch all the active fish from the holes. Then go back and feed each hole with bloodworms, a pinch will be enough.
If you are fishing on a still body of water, it is enough to simply throw the bait into the hole; in the current, you need to use a feeding feeder, and the stronger the current, the lower at the bottom we should open it; as a rule, the feeder is opened by a strong hook. There is no need to knock the feeder on the bottom. After feeding, we check whether the fish has arrived, for which we make 4-5 retrieves. It is advisable to use several different jig movements. Moreover, winter fishing for perch using a standing jig is often successful.
The more confident the bite is and the more perch in the hole, the more often it is necessary to feed it, while reducing the number of bloodworms to 10-15 pieces.
Some anglers who have no problem with bloodworms feed the holes immediately after they have been drilled. In cases where there are not many bloodworms, throw only into those holes where stripers have bitten.
If the bite on a hole is weak, it makes sense to make an additional 1-2 holes within a radius of no more than 2 meters, perhaps the flock is standing somewhere nearby.
And remember, complementary feeding is secondary, if there is no bite, we move on and make the next series of holes. Winter perch fishing is an active type of fishing, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a jig or a spoon. The larger the water area you fish, the more substantial the catch will be.
Strategy and tactics for catching perch with reelless jigs in winter - tips and videos
The first question that an angler has to solve on a pond is to find a perch. And where it stays depends greatly on the stage of winter.
There is detailed information about where to look for perch when fishing with one of the popular types of reelless fish - devils - and what animations to use.
First ice - features of searching and catching perch with a reelless reel at the beginning of freeze-up
On the first ice, okushats often stand near the shore - in thickets of reeds, cattails, among fallen branches and bushes. Larger individuals stay on coastal edges, spits going deep, at depths of 1-3 meters.
Any fish, including perch, looks for anomalies on the bottom - differences in depth and current strength, changes in the nature of the bottom, snags, stones, etc.
At this time, the perch continues to actively move around the reservoir following the food supply, and the fisherman actively follows it.
In the video, a technique for catching large perch in winter using a reelless reel:
Catching perch in the dead of winter with no bait - where to find and what to serve
In the dead of winter, perch moves to deeper places, as well as to points saturated with oxygen - the junction of rivers and streams, dams, hydroelectric power stations, ice holes and dams near factories, etc.
At this time, it is quite difficult to stir up the perch, and the reelless one may lose in catchability to the bait fishing method. But adherents of baitless fishing are successfully catching fish even in this difficult time.
Pay attention to all promising points - snags, channel and bank edges, river turns, bends near the banks, as well as sudden changes in depth.
The animation is lazier and more imposing, without sharpness with a lot of pauses.
Learn more about how to catch perch with a reelless bait in the wilderness.
Catching perch in winter with a reelless bait - video 2021:
How to catch a striper at the end of winter using reelless jigs
At the end of winter, when areas of open water begin to appear, perch should be looked for precisely near such places; it rushes there for small things that want to take a sip of the necessary oxygen.
Be careful! Don't get too close to the edges of the ice!
Winter fishing for perch without bloodworms using a jig:
You're on the ice - tactics and strategy in pursuit of the striped robber
In a promising location, we drill holes in a checkerboard pattern, 8-15 pieces. The distance between holes depends on the size of the fished area and its nature. A single snag can be drilled completely, and when fishing the coastal edge, holes can be drilled at a distance of 8-10 meters.
Also, this moment depends on the state of the predator; the more active it is, the more active the fisherman should be. In particular, in the number of holes and the distance between them. A passive somnambulant perch cannot be seduced from a great distance by any devil, give it under his nose... Then the holes are drilled more closely.
The typical rule of a seasoned winter road - “the more you drill, the more you catch” makes sense.
It is advisable not to clean the holes and even cover them with snow in a circle so that a minimum of rays penetrate into the water.
It is better to start fishing holes with the first drilled and tested reamerless reel, the one in which you believe. We use several different types of animation. If there is no bite within 5-7 minutes, we move to the next hole and so on until we find a working hole, or we are completely disappointed in the chosen area.
Try my grandfather's life hack. Rub the jig with a clove of garlic and give the perch what it loves. Such a cheap and working flavor often helps out during hard fishing.
In the photo in the first and second row are reelless jigs (devil and devil) for perch.
Fishing for a perch caught on a reelless jig is uncompromising, but without harshness. It is necessary not to give any slack, but also not to allow the thin fishing line to break. There are more hits with a reelless jig than with bait.
Posting a reelless reel to catch large and medium-sized perch - types of animation
Active and daring types of wiring, high-frequency with characteristic dribbling in the vertical component, work well for active perch.
In all proposed types of wiring, the speed, sharpness and frequency of all movements are selected experimentally based on experience, the activity of the perch, the nature of the reservoir, and weather conditions. Dogmatic thinking is harmful.
From the working animations of reelless fishing for perch, in most cases we note:
- Small, uniform dribbling from the bottom with a pause at the end point and subsequent control blasting at the dead point and further controlled release of the jig to the bottom. Working basic game for normal biting. This type of reelless fishing works well for medium-sized perch and humpback salmon, which stand alone or in small schools.
- Smooth swinging is an animation aimed at perch in the dead of winter, or simply standing passively at the bottom.
- A knock on the bottom with gradually increasing frequency and speed, combined with a very slow rise of the reelless bait, can stir up the perch and revive the bite. This game works well when catching large humpbacks.
- Climbing with high-frequency dribbling and sharp acceleration . Animation is a provocateur. This kind of reelless fishing works well on the first ice when catching small and medium-sized perch.
- Sharp jerks/throws up cause chaotic movement of the rewinder (those that do not have an ideal aerodynamic shape), and it is thrown to the sides. From the side of the fish, this resembles the movement of underwater inhabitants, which provokes the perch to dine on a tasty meal.
- Raise the bait evenly by rattling 50-80 cm from the bottom . Then we pause and lower the reelless reel to the bottom with the same frequency and speed. Often the bite occurs at the moment of changing the direction of movement.
- Smooth rise with slow rocking . Works well for passive bass, as well as for some types of massive mothless fish.
The striped fish reacts very gratefully to any changes in the wiring, followed by a bite. We change the manner of shaking, the speed of rise, pauses between stages of animation.
An example from practice is casting a reelless bait at the fishing spot and checking the perch for activity with a high-frequency game on 2-3 rises. If it’s quiet, we slow down the chatter of the jig and the lifting speed (reduce the frequency and amplitude), make 2-3 more runs. Then change the game to, for example, jerks like a children's Christmas tree - 2-3 more lifts in different directions. Changing the jig to a different type. Same actions - silence? Let's move on to the next hole.
You can also change the angle of the fishing rod to the horizon, this will also change the game of the bait.
Playing without a nozzle is done with a nod block, and its tip only rattles slightly. This is the only way to set a clear trajectory for the jig.
Tackle for winter fishing of perch with a jig
Rod
The stores offer a fairly wide range, but the most important thing when choosing is that the fishing rod should sit comfortably in the hand and there should be no feeling of awkwardness when playing with a jig. It is advisable that the handle be made of heat-insulating material so that your hands do not get so cold. The most common and popular among fishermen is the balalaika fishing rod. A special feature of this fishing rod is the reel, which is built into its body. The role of the reel here is to wind and store the fishing line; in principle, we don’t need anything else. The whip is quite thin and flexible.
An important component of any rod for catching perch in winter with a jig is the nod. You can buy it or make it yourself, for example, from polymer film or boar bristles. The main thing is that your guard matches the weight of the jig. The best option is when, under the weight of the jig, it is bent at an angle of 30 - 60˚ in relation to the ice surface. The length of the guard is 4-6 cm, the color is preferably bright, so it is visually easier to monitor the bite. It is advisable to always have at least 5-6 fishing rods with you, differing in the weight of the jig and the thickness of the fishing line. Well, or, as a last resort, several models of nods designed for the weight of jigs.
For convenience, it is necessary to write down the diameter of the fishing line and the weight of the jig on the rods in advance.
fishing line
Use quality fishing lines designed for winter fishing. As for the thickness, you need to start fishing with a coarser fishing line with a diameter of 0.9-0.12 mm, such a fishing line will be able to withstand a kilogram handsome one, and even in cases of active biting of smaller brothers, you will be able to quickly and confidently fish for stripers without fear break the line. Catching perch in winter with a jig when the bite is weak can become more effective if you switch to smaller jigs and thinner fishing line 0.06-0.07 mm. But remember that now when playing, you must be extremely careful. After drilling the hole, be sure to remove any ice from it and get rid of any sharp edges, since the line is quite thin and can be easily cut.
The amount of fishing line wound on a fishing rod depends on the depth of the reservoir where you are going to fish; as a rule, fishermen wind no more than 25 m of fishing line on one reel; in the absence of deep holes, 15 m will be enough.
It is advisable to always have a small hook with you so that you do not experience difficulties when catching a large specimen.
Rating of catchable jigs for perch
In this section of the article we will focus on the description of the main types of products that have their own names, distributing them in order of universality of application and degree of catchability. We advise the fisherman to purchase these unambiguously catchy jigs for perch to add to his arsenal of baits for ice fishing, which will provide him with full opportunity to use various fishing strategies regardless of the prevailing conditions on the reservoir. It is worth noting that the bait must be selected in different color options and with different weights, and the parameters for choosing these characteristics were discussed in detail in the material presented above.
Devil
The most popular, and one of the most catchy bait options. The devil has several types of its design. Thus, the product can be made by a combination of direct soldering of the hook into the body of the sinker, or it can be used with a hanging hook. The number of hooks themselves also varies. Three hooks with a combination of weights are a direct and classic devil. There are options using two and four hooks. Fishermen believe that the devil is a distinctly reelless fish that does not require any type of live bait. Perch is caught purely by play, performing a kind of animation of a naked bait without bloodworms.
Uralka
Uralka is a complete imitation of mormysh, an amphipod crustacean that gives its name to the well-known bait. It is considered a classic perch bait that works throughout the entire freeze-up period. For fishing, it is used with a bloodworm additive for passive fish, and as a bloodless bait for active perch. Playing this instrument is simple in terms of technical performance. Even in free fall, the uralka causes low-frequency vibration waves, stimulating the perch to feed. Therefore, the bait is recommended for inexperienced novice fishermen to gain initial ice fishing skills. Uralkas are produced in various coloring options and with different loading weights. Not a single winter fishing for perch, roach and bream is complete without the use of this type of jig.
Goat
The goat is as mothless as the devil. The jig has two bent goat horns, which is how it got its name, hooks soldered into the body of a weight similar to the body of a devil. This is precisely the main difference between the baits. As a rule, in addition to the attractive game, the animation of the goat is accompanied by a sound, which causes beads attached to the fastening loop, knocking when thrown against the load and being an accented point of attack. Fishermen classify the goat as a universal jig, working not only on perch, but also on ruff, roach and bream.
Nymph
A nymph is a spindle-shaped jig, equipped with additional elements or wings. This type of bait is different in that when playing during fishing, the wings, consisting of a set of beads, small beads, plastic plates and cut pieces of cambric, emit additional sounds that arouse the interest of the striped robber coming to the fishing point.
Important! Nymphs resemble an insect larva in their type, so fishermen recommend using such fishing tools in natural and discreet colors.
When purchasing, you should definitely pay attention to the unhindered and free movement of the wings on the hook of the jig.
cat's eye
The cat's eye has one immediately noticeable feature of its structure. In addition to the attached bait on the jig, or rather, on its hook, there is always a large fluorescent bead, which is the point of attack. In addition, when fishing at depths greater than 3–4 meters, a glow-in-the-dark bead attracts the ubiquitous and curious perch into the fishing zone and provokes it to attack the bait. The shape of such a jig most often resembles a devil or can be in the form of a drop. Cat's eye is recommended for fishing in deep holes for passive fish. A universal tool that works not only on perch, but also on all peaceful white fish.
Gvozdik
Gvozdik is another one of the best jigs for catching perch in winter. The shape of the load is similar to an oblong cylindrical object, tapering towards a hook. This type of bait has a very stable game and quickly reaches the bottom even with small masses. One of the features of the stud is the presence on the underside of a pair of miniature brass balls, which have a natural yellow color for a copper alloy. When playing, the balls tap each other and cause a sound that lures perch well from long distances to the fishing spot, which increases the chances of bites without additional and lengthy searches for the predator’s parking areas.
Choosing a jig for winter perch fishing
Material
A jig is a fishing hook soldered into a small piece of metal.
Jigs are made from:
- Lead;
- Tin;
- Tungsten.
When choosing, preference should be given to tungsten jigs, since they have the same weight and are smaller in size. In addition, many lead jigs have a dull hook.
Form
The shape of the jig can be:
- Drop;
- All around;
- Diamond-shaped;
- Curved (resembling a banana);
- In the form of a fly or other insect.
Color
Here, the opinions of fishermen vary greatly, some suggest bright jigs in order to intensify the bite in the dead of winter, others, on the contrary, say that this will scare away the fish.
Catchable jigs
The point here is that in each body of water, perch behaves differently, and it is impossible to guess in advance what it will prefer. Therefore, you should always have a fairly wide arsenal of jigs of different shapes, weights and colors with you and alternate them while fishing.
But still, I would advise fishing with baits of natural colors during the period when perch is active.
In the wilderness:
- Depth up to 1.5 m - baits of dark tones or silver-dark;
- Depth from 2 m - silver, golden, yellow.
If this does not work, then use various bright and poisonous colors.
Jig weight for perch
At the beginning of spring and late winter, when the perch is active, it makes sense to use relatively large jigs of 3-4 and even 5 mm (according to the classification of sports jigs) or 0.3-0.4 g. (according to the classification of amateur jigs), the fish sees them from a greater distance, they are easier to play with, and the tackle sinks faster.
During the deep winter, when the perch becomes more passive, it is necessary to use delicate equipment, jig size 2-2.8 mm (or weight 0.2-0.3 g) at a fishing depth of up to 6 m.
As a rule, a jig is equipped with one solid hook, but there are cases when a tee is soldered in, such a jig is called a “devil”. Also, some hooks are connected to the pellet through a ring. This type of gear is called a “witch”.
They can fish with jigs with or without bait. As a rule, winter fishing for perch using a jig with an attachment is more effective than without it. You must have high professionalism in order to force a minke whale to attack a naked jig.
Top 7 catchy jigs for perch for winter
The following jigs are the most popular among anglers:
- “Banana” is probably the most popular and in demand jig among our fishermen.
Its curved shape and play are very attractive to the perch, forcing it to immediately attack the bait. Banana - Nail with brass ball — a feature of this jig is the presence of a brass ball on the underside, which slides freely along it during wiring. Winter fishing for perch with such a jig is very effective, since bites do not keep you waiting.
- A drop with a loop, the Salmo campaign has a rather interesting jig, its hook is soldered into the body at an angle that ensures the highest quality bites. In addition, polymer powder paint has a special protective layer, protecting it from excessive abrasion.
- Nymph - this jig has a spindle-shaped shape and wings (a set of plates, cambrics, and beads). When retrieving, the nymph imitates a larva in the water, so it is recommended to use nymphs of natural colors; the nymph also makes sounds during retrieving, which arouses additional interest in the fish. When choosing a nymph, be sure to pay attention to the fact that the attachment (plates, disks) should move freely.
“Devil” is also an equally catchy and time-tested bait. May have 2, 3 or even 4 hooks. Hooks can be either hard-soldered or suspended. It is best to use a three-hook jack. True, the catchability of this gear directly depends on the quality of the wiring and the balance of the equipment. Shark company has some pretty good electroplated bits.
- Cat's eye feature of this jig is that there is an additional translucent bead placed on the hook, and the bead can also be attached using a staple. It is not so widespread and well-known, but those who use it praise it very much.
- Uralka jig has a slightly elongated and curved shape; when played, it creates a vibration field, giving the perch a signal to feed.
Catching perch in winter with the jigs mentioned above is successful both with and without baits. In addition, they are catchable for other fish species.
Equipment
The equipment of a winter fishing rod with a jig for perch seems to be simple - tackle, fishing line, bait, nod. But there are features that must be taken into account (of course, if you want to catch fish). It is better to prepare in advance and always keep several adjusted gears with perch jigs of different calibers ready. The basis of the tackle is a fishing line, a nod and a jig, which must be balanced with each other. The nod is adjusted to the weight of the bait, and so is the fishing line. With small jigs, use a thinner one, with large ones, use a thicker one. The fishing rod on the pond should already be set up; tying on ice in the cold is inconvenient. The perch doesn’t take one rig – we quickly take another one out of the box and work.
Fishing rod
In order to successfully catch perch in winter using a jig, you need to make the right gear. The fishing rod itself does not play a special role - as long as it is convenient. As a fishing rod, you can use various store-bought winter fishing rods - balalaikas, axleless rods, fillies. You can make them yourself from scrap materials. They can be equipped with a fishing line storage reel. Often, anglers use fishing rods with reels instead of reels. More important is the correctly selected nod, fishing line and jig itself.
Types of fishing rods
Nod
Fishermen use nods of various designs. All of them must efficiently perform two fishing functions - give the jig the correct action and clearly register the bite. Previously, gatehouses were made of boar bristles; now gatehouses made of metal and various polymer materials are in use. You can use both purchased Mylar nods and homemade ones. The best shape is double conical, when the nod tapers towards the end in thickness and width. This form works best. To catch perch with a jig, a more elastic nod is required than for roach or bream. The tabby loves aggressive, frequent play. The weight of the jig is also matched to the nod - the bait in the water should bend it a quarter of a circle and clearly record the rise. Retractable adjustable nods are convenient - they allow you to use jigs of various weights.
fishing line
Which fishing line is best for winter fishing for perch with a jig? Athletes use a different diameter for each bait weight. For example, for the lightest micro jigs – 0.08mm. For medium ones – 0.1, and so on. For amateurs, the most popular one is 0.12 mm. Quite thin, but also allows you to get large fish from under the ice. A line that is too thick impairs the performance of the bait. When catching humpback salmon with heavy pike perch jigs, of course, monofilament is used with a thickness of 0.2-0.3 mm.
As the basis for installation for winter fishing of perch with jigs, special winter fishing lines are used. They have less memory, are not visible in water and are resistant to damage from ice. Winter fluorocarbon, fluorocarbon or regular good quality monofilament will do. The required amount of fishing line is wound onto the reel, based on the maximum fishing depth with a reserve for possible dressings. The knot tying the jig to the fishing line is important. The correct knot does not weaken the tackle and shapes the position of the bait in the water. An article about the correct tying of jigs to fishing line.
Jigs
In your arsenal you need to have several models of different weights made of lead, tin and tungsten. Tin jigs are light for their size and are useful for fishing in shallow water. For greater depths, heavy tungsten is better. The shape and color itself are more important for the rewinder. For bloodworm fishing, discreet, simple jigs are more suitable. They serve as a sinker to deliver the bloodworm to the desired depth. The best jigs to use for catching perch are described in the article:
You need to experiment with colors while fishing. The generally accepted opinion is that when bait fishing, color is of secondary importance. The main pool of jigs are uncolored, dark. In the middle of winter and closer to spring, small baits of dark, brown colors, reminiscent of amphipods, work better. But sometimes elongated ones with a non-ferrous metal spinner work great. In any conditions, black jigs are often caught well.
For greater depths, bright provocateurs are also suitable - poisonous green, orange, yellow. As an additional garter, you can tie flies, silicone fry or hooks under the bait higher on the fishing line or leash - this action will only have a positive effect on the perch’s interest in your gear.
Woods and amphipods
Types of postings
Tapping method . For beginners and fishermen who do not like to be too clever, catching perch in winter with a jig is preferable to one simple, but quite catchy retrieve. We lower the tackle to the bottom and make three or four taps on the bottom, while the jig rises to a height of no more than 3-4 cm, after which the tackle sinks to the bottom, and we pull the fishing line. We wait in this position for 5-10 seconds and slowly unwind the tackle. At the same time, we are in constant readiness for a perch to bite, because it can be in different layers of water. In this way, two entries are made, and if there is no result, we move on to the next holes.
Stepped wiring . We lower the bait, and when there is about a meter left to the bottom, we begin to swing it from side to side, smoothly lowering it to the bottom. As soon as it reaches it, we wait a few seconds; quite often active fish bite at this very moment. If the bite does not occur, we again raise our jig to a height of 50 cm and begin to make circular movements with the fishing rod with gradual acceleration. Then the jig sinks to the bottom again. We repeat this wiring three times. It is on the third rise that the perch most often bites.
Combined wiring . We lower the jig into the hole and wait until it reaches the bottom. Now we lift the tackle 30-35 cm from the bottom and tug lightly, creating slight vibrations of the tackle. Then we put the jig on the bottom again and tap 4-6 times on the bottom and slowly raise it to a height of 6-8 cm, pause for 5-10 seconds and lower the jig back to the bottom. Then slowly raise the jig to a distance of 20-30 cm from the bottom and lightly, but at regular intervals, hit the whip with your finger for 20-25 seconds. The tackle is lowered back and the procedure is repeated several more times; if the perch does not respond, then we move on to the next hole. Winter fishing for perch with a jig with this type of fishing is quite effective, since it combines techniques that make the jig react differently.
Posting on the eve of spring. The essence of this wiring is that our game begins not in the bottom layer, but immediately at the edge of the ice at a distance of 60-80 cm. We smoothly lower the tackle to the bottom, while simultaneously swinging it from side to side. When the bait lies on the bottom, we perform 2-3 taps. Then we wait a little and knock again. Then slowly raise the jig 15-25 cm from the bottom and lower it again. After 20-30 seconds, we unwind the tackle and repeat the wiring again.
Correct jig play
It is very important to choose the correct wiring. Sometimes perch responds better to sluggish play, and sometimes to active and even aggressive play. Any wiring begins with lowering the jig to the bottom.
Try several variations of playing with bait: just touch the bottom and start playing; Hit the bottom 3-5 times, then start the game. Very often the perch grabs the jig after hitting it on the bottom, apparently because it reminds him of a bug swarming in the silt.
But sometimes, on the contrary, the predator bites better on a jig, which almost does not touch the ground.
Here are some effective wiring methods:
- Lower the jig to the bottom (with or without tapping, you can try different options) and begin to lift it from the bottom with slight fluctuations. The lifting height can be adjusted - try both 5 cm and 20 cm. But, at the top point, be sure to pause for 1-3 seconds. It is during pauses that you wait for the bite.
- After the jig is on the bottom, play with the bait several times with sharp jerks and a large amplitude (about 20 cm), followed by a pause. With small vibrations, return the jig to the bottom. Repeat the wiring about 6 times, if it doesn’t work, change the bait or hole.
- The jig oscillates at the same level. Try different depths - at the very bottom, at a level of 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm. Oscillations are carried out by tapping your finger on the whip.
- Just a uniform rise of the bait 20-30 cm from the bottom and return to the opposite point. At the upper and lower levels, a pause is required.
Catching perch with a jig in winter will become quite simple for you if you carefully read this article and understand the basics of this fishing. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments, the website ryba4ok.ru will definitely answer you. Happy fishing and no tail, no scales!
Bait and attachment for catching perch in winter with a jig
Groundbaits
- Groundbait No. 1 Mix bloodworms with breadcrumbs in a 1:1 ratio, then make balls and throw them into the pond.
- Groundbait No. 2 . We take the crumb of black bread and mix it with blood (you can buy it at the market) or “Albumin” in proportion to make a dough. Roll the dough into a sausage and freeze. At the pond we cut it and throw it into the holes.
- Bait No. 3. According to the principle of action, it resembles bait, since we lower the resulting balls into the holes three days before the start of fishing. Take finely chopped entrails (heart, liver, etc.). We add blood, bloodworms (chopped worms), then cereal or flour in sufficient quantities to give the bait viscosity and the ability to form balls from all this.
- Groundbait No. 4. A rather non-standard method, which consists in lowering a jar of small fish to the bottom, which will attract the perch with their appearance and will keep it at the fishing point for a certain time.
In addition to the above baits, you can use attractants and flavorings. For example, mix them with bread or breadcrumbs. You can also use aerosol baits to add a scent to the jig itself.
Bait
Catching perch in winter, even with a baitless jig, will be more successful if you put 1-2 bloodworms on the hook.
But it’s not just bloodworms that are of interest to winter perch. The fisherman can use the following baits:
- Chopped dung worm (in order to be able to use this attachment in winter, many fishermen store dung worms in boxes in cellars, periodically moistening the soil and adding vegetable waste there).
- Various bright pieces of insulation, polystyrene foam, beads, and woolen thread are especially effective in combination with no-attachment jigs.
- Dragonfly or caddisfly larva;
- Pieces of mussels or shellfish;
- Pieces of fish with fins sticking out (small perch you caught will do)
Jigs for perch
The first thing you should remember is the “golden rule” - you can never have too many jigs! The more fisherman have, the better. Experienced amateur fishermen and athletes often carry entire cases with them. Jig-muscle makers. The most popular jigs for perch for winter fishing remain:
- "Devil";
- "Bug";
- "Witch";
- "Goat";
- “pellet” type;
- "Nymph";
- "Cat's Eye";
- "Larva";
- "Bolda."
Not just popular, but experienced fishermen call these baits the most catchy jigs, which perch simply cannot resist. Now let's talk about the parameters, according to which we will select bait:
- Lure weight. The shallower the location of the reservoir, the lighter and smaller the jig. In shallow water we use a weight range of 0.1-0.16 g. To depths we lower baits weighing more than 0.3, this is so that it sinks to the bottom faster and can be tapped.
- The size of the bait, like the hook, depends on the size of the aquatic inhabitant. The best jigs for perch are somewhere from 1 to 4 mm. In the dead of winter we take the smallest baits.
- Color and shine. In cloudy weather, you should wear brighter, shiny baits. This also applies to great depth, however, there is a nuance - we will indicate it below the list.
- Availability of bait. A jig with a bloodworm (and not only) always has a better chance of catching! Some types of baits are usually called reelless baits (“Devil”, “Bedbug”, etc.) - we don’t pay attention to this. These jigs are perfect for baiting, which often gives excellent results.
- Additional “decorations” - colored rings, beads, cambrics can also add effect. In general, besides blue, the favorite colors of perch are green, red, orange, yellow and purple.
Now, about the very great depths, where “pit” perch is also found. You have probably noticed that some fish of this species are more humpbacked, have more pronounced stripes, are darker, and have brightly colored fins. When fishing from depths of more than 10 meters, you can not look at the color of the jig, since there the predator only picks up vibrations, which are enough for him to determine the exact location of the bait and attack.
Also, the best jigs are those made in the colors of copper, silver and gold. If we are going to make a whole purchase, then it would be good to purchase 2-3 copies for each type in color, shape, etc. There are other types of winter jigs for perch like “Banana”, “Uralka” or “Ant”, we take different ones. Very often, under specific conditions, perches develop a number of clear preferences - you will have to select and, possibly, modify them!
You can read a useful article - how to tie jigs to fishing line, which lists all the best methods.
Tactics for finding and catching perch on the last ice
First, you need to drill a hole 10-15 meters from the hole using a square-cluster method. The hole where the bite was taken should be remembered.
On the last piece of ice, a hit in the teeth always works. Anyone who has fished with a naked jig knows that even with super-successful fishing from one hole, an unsuccessful bite can occur on the next retrieve. It feels like an empty hook with a jig hit. After this, the hole no longer works.
No need to waste time on it. As a last resort, you can make a couple more postings, but there is a 99% chance that there will be no bite in this hole for a certain time. Therefore, you need to remember this hole and move on to the next one. There is an important nuance here that sometimes on the last ice you can drill a hole a meter away from this hole, which was hit in the teeth, and in this hole there will be a bite.
Tips for fisherman: Winter fishing with a reelless roach perch - What is the difference, pros and cons
Despite the fact that the water is clear, despite the fact that the perch sees everything, fish will be actively caught in the new hole, and the old hole will be dead.
As a rule, out of 20 drilled holes, 5-6 will bite. In some others there may be single bites, in others there will be no bites. Therefore, it is important to remember the holes in which the bite occurred.
What's the easiest way to do this? The coolest option is to leave the caught fish near the holes. Then, when going around the holes, you can see exactly what you caught and where. In the future, only catchable holes should be fished. You can walk in circles. They kicked us in the teeth and moved on to the next hole. We just caught 2-3 perch, the bites stopped, we move on to the next one.
It is extremely important to let the hole settle. After a good bite, a catchable hole should spend at least 20-30 minutes, or better yet an hour, “in silence.”
Among the catchable jigs for winter fishing for perch, the following are used:
Adding bait to a jig
The following should be used as bait for the jig:
- Bloodworm.
- Red worm.
- The meat of freshly caught fish (preferably the perch itself with the fin left in sight, since this fish reacts very well to this bait).
- Larva of dragonfly and caddisfly.
You need to attach these baits in the same way as on a regular hook. There are no special innovations here.
Methods of posting a jig
Today, there are many different ways of wiring a jig, each of which is used in certain cases.
Let's look at the most effective wiring methods:
1. The first method is called step wiring. The essence of this technique is to force the fish to bite, as if to provoke it to do so.
This wiring is done as follows:
- a meter from the bottom, begin to slowly and smoothly lower the bait, while making slight swings from side to side;
- after it reaches the bottom of the reservoir, stop the movement for a moment and if at this moment there is no bite, then continue to tease the fish;
- raise the bait half a meter and speed up the movements in a circle, then lower it to the bottom again;
- repeat this pattern of actions several times without stopping, waiting for a bite.
Usually, the perch bites already on the third circle of fishing, at the moment when the bait rises from the bottom. In this case, the nod sharply bends or rises upward, letting the fisherman know about the bite.
2. The second wiring method is called high frequency wiring. It is used when you need to attract fish to the hole from a long distance.
This wiring is done in this way:
- From a distance of one meter from the bottom of the reservoir, slowly lower the bait, while making slight vibrations;
- when reaching the bottom, make a short stop and, in the same rhythm, raise the slightly moving bait by twenty centimeters;
- after that, lower it down again and hold it five centimeters from the bottom;
- Make further retrieves in the same rhythm, but each time raise the bait ten centimeters higher so that the fish swims closer and closer.
With this kind of fishing, the perch usually bites during pauses and stops of the bait, so the fisherman must always be on alert.
3. The third wiring method is called “one step forward, two steps back.” It is best done at the end of winter, when the perch, as a rule, is already very capricious after the entire winter period.
This wiring is done according to this principle:
- you need to start fishing from a distance of eighty centimeters from the water level;
- when the bait touches the bottom, you need to take a long pause (up to six seconds), and then make a small swarming of it on the bottom of the reservoir;
- then again you need to pause and again touch the bottom with tapping movements;
- after this, you need to very slowly begin to pull the bait up, and just as slowly lower it down;
- pause for half a minute and repeat the process again.
Such “flirting” with fish always brings good results.