Spinner for lenka and grayling: how to choose the right one? Rotating and oscillating spoons

• November 15, 2018
• Equipment
• Ekaterina Komisarova

It will not be a secret to anyone that many men love fishing. Some people do this for their own pleasure, and there are those who make money from it. It’s clear that this is why. To catch a catch you need special gear, specific for each species. For novice anglers, the issue of choosing a spoon can be a real problem. This is especially true when it comes to fishing for lenok and grayling. So what do you need to know about this? In this review we will look at what a spinner should be for lenka and grayling. In addition, we will learn how to best choose the right product.

Classification

Let's look at this in more detail. Spinning baits can be divided into two large groups:

• oscillating spoons;
• rotating spoons.

You can catch grayling using ultralight and light models of spinners. The smaller the bait, the easier it will be to catch fish. Grayling begins to confidently attack small prey. Bites are rarely observed on larger spoons, so it makes no sense to use such a model when fishing for grayling.

One type of artificial bait is the spinner. It has many positive properties, including:

• versatility;
• catchability;
• availability;
• ease of learning.

Using rotating spoons, catching grayling will be quite simple. It is best to master hunting for this fish using turntables. They work well both in summer and autumn, regardless of the weather.

Where can I find the best lures for grayling? It is not at all necessary to buy such rotating models; you can easily make them yourself. Experienced fishermen do this. They make models that are as similar as possible to purchased spinners. Today there are many instructions for making homemade turntables. It is better for novice fishermen to start catching grayling using proven spoons, which are sold in any fishing store.

Catching lenok in winter

Catching lenok from under the ice in winter is very exciting.

This fish remains active in the cold season, continuing to feed in the bottom layer. Experienced ice fishermen use several methods of catching lenok in winter.

Sheer lure

Catching lenok using spinners in winter differs significantly from fishing for predators such as pike or perch. This applies not only to the appearance and weight of the artificial bait, but also to the technique of its placement.

1. A fishing rod for ice trolling consists of a short rod (40-50 cm) equipped with a reel or a simple reel.
2. The supply of monofilament should exceed the fishing depth, and the thickness of the thread depends on the size of the likely trophy. Typically these parameters look like this:

• length 20-30 m;
• thickness 0.3-0.5 mm.

Trolling can be carried out at different depths using transverse models. When lowered into the hole, the bait takes a horizontal position.

Unlike the usual tossing of a spoon when fishing for pike, the lenka fishing technique looks like stirring at the bottom. The bait is lowered to the bottom surface and, with the help of a fishing rod, it is given such a movement that turbidity forms under the hole. Lenok often first presses the prey to the bottom and then grabs it into its mouth.

On the jig

You can tempt the lenka to bite with the help of jig tackle. In different regions of the country, fishermen use the most unusual designs of fishing rods. A beginner can begin mastering ice fishing for lenok using a jig by assembling a simple fishing rod.

A regular plastic fishing rod and reel is fine for fishing.

You should pay attention to the length of the nylon whip. The optimal parameter is considered to be 15 cm or less

This value will be enough to dampen the first jerks of a large lens. The nod is selected taking into account the weight of the jig.

To equip a jig fishing rod, a thin fishing line is required. This is explained by the fact that as the thickness of the thread increases, the performance of the bait worsens. This has a particularly negative effect when fishing with artificial flies. The most balanced tackle will be with a fishing line of 0.20-0.22 mm.

You shouldn’t go too small with the size of the hook. The jig should be made from models No. 6-7 with a thick fore-end. Then a trophy fish weighing 1.5-2.5 kg will not be able to bend or break the wire. For fishing with a jig rod, both artificial baits (flies) and natural baits are used. In winter, lenok reacts well to a worm, burdock moth larva, caddisfly, bark beetle, bormysh, etc. To attract the attention of the fish to the bait, experienced jig fishermen tie yellow, brown or red woolen threads to the hook.

Many anglers prepare for catching lenka in advance. After all, sometimes you have to travel thousands of kilometers to do what you love. But all the inconveniences and difficulties will be compensated by the good bite of the lenok and the desperate struggle of this small fish during fishing.

Such moments remain in the memory for a long time, and a year later a strong desire to go to a Siberian or Far Eastern river to hunt for lenok appears again.

Making a turntable with your own hands

Let's take a closer look at this. To make your own rotating spoon for fishing, you will need the following elements:

• sheet metal;
• steel wire (from 0.5 to 0.8 mm);
• loading;
• swivel;
• winding rings;
• beads;
• tee;
• clamp

You will also need tools such as a drill, a needle file, wire cutters, a hammer, and pliers. The instructions for making a turntable look something like this:

1. A petal is cut out of a sheet of paper. The resulting stencil is glued onto a sheet of metal.
2. Using scissors, cut out the workpiece.
3. Use a file to remove irregularities and burrs on the edges.
4. Using pliers and a hammer, we give the desired profile to the petal.
5. We drill a hole with a diameter of 1.5-2.0 mm in the petal.
6. Make a loop at the end of the steel wire. We insert a tee into it using the winding ring. It will be better if the tee has feathering. This will help stabilize the bait in case of strong currents.
7. On the axis of the spinner we place beads, an olive and beads again.
8. We attach the petal using a clamp to the axis of the spinner.

You can make a pinwheel without a clamp, putting the petal directly on the axis. Then we put a divider (if available) or beads on top of the clamp. You will only need to form a loop to connect to the fishing line. A winding ring with a swivel must be inserted into the upper loop. This minimizes line twisting during fishing. At this point, the process of making a homemade rotating spoon can be considered complete.

How to properly catch grayling with a spoon?

When choosing gear for a given predator, its nutrition is taken into account. The main food of fish is aquatic invertebrates. Lures for grayling are small and miniature.

Fishing technique

The spinning rod is chosen with an ultralight class rod with a fast action made of light and durable materials. It should be quite flexible. Grayling in winter, as in summer, does not chase bait. In order for it to react to the spinner, the retrieve must be slow and even.

An important condition for a good catch is the quality of the spoon. The petal of the rotating bait should not stick or stop rotating at low reel speeds, otherwise there will be no catch

The spinner is tested for performance by slow retrieving near the shore.

To get a catch of this shy fish, holes and gear are prepared early in the morning. Experienced fishermen have been working on the ice since 4 a.m., preparing everything for fishing so as not to spook the grayling. The fish may move away from the hole if it hears the crunch of snow under the angler’s shoes. Grayling is especially active in the early hours in clear weather. On cloudy days, activity increases in the middle of the day, and there are no bites in the morning.

The grayling bites the bait, which it carries diagonally. At the same time, the fishing line is reeled in with a reel when casting the spinner crosswise. Wiring against the current gives good results.

A video shot by experienced fishermen conveys well the technique of catching grayling with a spinning rod. In it they share the secrets of collecting gear, the rules for selecting spinners and wobblers.

Casting and wiring rules

Casting the spinners is done closer to the opposite bank. The bait is carried to the shore. At the same time, they begin to slowly wind the line onto the reel.

Retrieving with bait casting along the river against the flow of water can be effective. The stream picks up the spoon, and it floats along the stream on its own. The fisherman is only required to reel in the fishing line in time.

Fishing tactics in still water and rivers

Grayling is found in reservoirs with clean water. The bottom should be rocky or pebbly. The predator winters in the lower reaches of rivers or lake holes. Spawns in river tributaries and small streams. This fish does not like stagnant water and prefers rivers with a gentle current. In lakes it lives on shallows 1.5-2 m deep and near coastal boulders.

To catch grayling in running water in the early morning, the bait is lowered to the bottom. To do this, the tackle is made heavier. The cast is performed upstream. After entering the water, the tackle is smoothly led across the stream. During the daytime, grayling rises closer to the surface of the reservoir. At this time, it is caught using micro-oscillators and small wobblers.

MYRAN WIPP

What is she like? Another spinner that can be used to catch grayling is MYRAN WIPP. It is designed for fishing on fast-flowing rivers. The spinner has quite a lot of weight, but despite this, it has simply phenomenal flight performance. This rotating bait can be easily cast over a long distance. At the same time, it rotates stably at different angles during wiring and works stably at a given horizon. The petal of the spoon starts up immediately and plays on both slow and high-speed reeling of the fishing line.

Oscillating spoons

What are they and what are their features? Initially, micro-oscillators were developed for trout fishing. This bait is also considered suitable for salmon. It can be used in wild streams and ponds. Over time, micro-oscillators have also found use in catching freshwater fish.

Oscillating spoons for lenka and grayling are used as often as spinners. Beginner fishermen do not really like to use such products, since they are difficult to learn and require some experience in spinning fishing. However, in terms of productivity, this type of bait is in no way inferior to others and makes it possible to fish throughout the entire season.

Tactics and fishing techniques

The bite is often a way out. After capturing several individuals, the flock may scatter. Regardless of fishing methods, it is worth being active in fishing and not staying in one place for too long. Fishing with an artificial mouse is carried out during the period of “liquid” water. In addition to the effectiveness, the fishing turns out to be spectacular, because bites occur near the surface. Imitations of rodents, both branded and homemade, are used as bait.

Catching lenok with a “mouse” is as effective as with a spinner. To do this, the bait is thrown a little upstream from the promising point, under the opposite bank. The wiring should be uniform, exactly simulating a rodent swimming across a river. If the fish does not show interest, it makes sense to change the bait to another model, smaller or in a different color.

How to make a mouse

The greatest number of bites occurs in the evening. This is due to the activity of rodents at night. You can try this method at nightfall and at dawn. The mouse is made with your own hands from a dense black material. A metal wire is threaded through the body, having ears on both sides. A tee is mounted on the back, and the front ring serves as a hook for the carbine. The compound mouse is in demand among predators. The mobility of the body attracts the lenok and provokes it to attack.

To learn more:

Storing silicone baits

Bottom tackle

In Transbaikalia and other regions of Siberia, the running donka is popular. Structurally, it consists of several elements:

• main line, 0.3 mm in diameter;
• a sinker that will hold the equipment at the bottom;
• one or two leashes.

Fry, insects and worms are used as bait. The tackle is waded on the stream or carefully cast from the shore. The “Zakidushka” can be used both in fast and moderate currents, by adjusting only the weight of the sinker used.

The advantage of the rig is the detection of feeding fish at relatively large depths. There are times when a school cannot be detected on the surface of the water, and it is in such situations that the donka comes to the rescue.

Downhill fishing method

Not so common among lenok hunters. Its huge disadvantage is the constant loss of bait, because fishing is carried out along the bottom of the river, where the tackle catches snags and large stones. The design's appearance resembles a donkey and differs only in the use of a smaller sinker and one leash. The gear is thrown upstream. A light sinker is carried away by an abundant flow, rolling along the bottom, which gives it its characteristic name. You should watch the line tension carefully and at the slightest stop, immediately hook. The bait used is the same as for donkey, but the bites are more careful.

Spinning tackle

When talking about this method, we mean a large number of baits and subcategories of this fishing method. Gear for catching lenok is used in the medium class with an upper test limit of up to 30-35 g. The reel is used of the inertial type.

Budget models do a poor job of laying out the cord, which will result in “beards.” There is no need to skimp on this part. Braided cord has long replaced its monofilament counterpart. The fishing line is used only by old-school local fishermen.

The box must contain all popular types of bait. Wobblers for lenka are also used for grayling, since these species have similar tastes. Despite the transparency of mountain rivers, the fish in them prefer bright colors. Red and green are excellent at tempting predators to bite. Lenka spinners can be painted or have a sticker on the body, are made by hand and, just like wobblers, can be used for grayling.

To learn more:

Methods of catching asp: fishing time and equipment

It is better to fish with a spinning rod while standing in the water, since the banks of taiga rivers are covered with dense vegetation, which interferes with free movement. A good bite begins at the end of August, and the peak of activity occurs in September - October. The choice of bait depends on the season, weather and fishing conditions. In a steady flow, a jig is used instead of the usual wobbler or spoon. Spinning gear for lenka is vaguely reminiscent of trout fishing - similar baits, retrieves and fishing tactics.

SMITH PURE

Such oscillating spoons for grayling have become widespread among domestic fishermen. This is a universal bait that is successfully attacked by lenok, chub, dace, ide and other fish. This bait works well both in calm areas and on riffles. It shows consistently good results at any time of the year.

Methods of catching lenka

Lenok is best suited for several types of fishing:

• Fly fishing;
• Float rod;
• On a bottom fishing rod;
• "Ship";
• Spinning method.

Spinning fishing

Most often, the lenok swims to feed in the rifts, where a spinning angler can hit a good fishing jackpot. For spinning, you need to choose places under trees or an uneven bottom where fish can lie, waiting for their prey. The spinning rod should not exceed 150 cm with a fishing line of up to 0.2 mm.

Fly fishing

Fishing for dark streamers with frequent use of mouse tackle. Common techniques are drifting and stripping, which depend on the type and flow of the river.

Fishing with a float rod

The criteria are the same as for a bottom fishing rod. The main difference is the signaling device on the rod, which begins to move during the bite. This option guarantees that the fisherman will see the catch on time, and the fish will not slip off the hook.

Donk fishing

Hooks No. 7 - 9 with fishing line up to 0.8, if the cast is from the shore, then the fishing line must be at least 20 meters to achieve results. In fast-flowing rivers, you can use a stand. When biting, the fisherman uses smooth hand movements to catch the fish by the fishing line.

Fishing on a boat

Live insects and small fish are used for tackle. The float will be a homemade boat made of wood and foam. The mechanism distracts the fish, and it goes hunting without noticing the hook.

Catching lenka

What makes it special? Lenok is a predatory fish belonging to the salmon family. It is usually found in river mouths. The predator may be located near rifts and rapids. The optimal time for catching lenok is considered to be the period from the end of May until the first ice appears on the reservoir. The fish prefers depth and feeds early in the morning.

Fishing for lenka can be done using various types of gear. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of gear should be made taking into account specific fishing conditions. Good results are ensured by spinning lure fishing. If you're going lenka fishing, you're probably wondering what lures to take with you. Oscillators are better suited for use in strong currents, and turntables will be indispensable in whirlpools and pits. There are also universal models that can work in any conditions.

Winter fishing for lenka

Lenok is a beautiful salmon fish. The laterally compressed, slab-shaped, elastic, muscular dark-brown body with a golden tint is covered with black spots, a dark back, fleshy fins with a white border. All this speaks of the strength and grace of the fish. When fished, the lenok resists to the last. Much has been written about it, but mainly about summer fishing in open water. Winter hunting for lenka is no less exciting. It is usually caught with transverse spoons, in which the center of gravity is in the middle. In the water they hang horizontally. These are “Sigovki”, “Crabs”, “Beetles” - common names for spinners in the Far East. But they are played differently when fishing for lenok than when catching other fish, for example, pike. To catch a pike, the lure is cast at a height of 5-10 centimeters from the bottom, with a short stroke and a pause of 3-5 seconds. Lenok, as a rule, does not immediately grab the spoon, but presses it to the bottom, as fishermen say, “presses.” Therefore, the bait is moved near the bottom with different oscillation frequencies, raising mud, grains of sand and small stones. At this time the grip usually follows.

The tackle consists of a fishing rod 20-30 centimeters long, with a fishing line with a diameter of 0.4-0.5 millimeters wound on a reel, preferably a reel. At the end of the line there is a transverse spinner. However, I have been using a jig for several years now. It seems to me that fishing with it is much more effective than with a spoon. I fish with jigs from the first days of freeze-up until the rivers open. I equip my winter fishing rod with a reel, on which I wind 12-15 meters of fishing line with a diameter of 0.3 millimeters in case a large fish takes it. A nylon whip 10-15 centimeters long is required. It does not break in the cold and does a good job of dampening the first jerk of a large fish after a bite. I usually fish at a depth of up to three meters. At greater depths, fishing is less successful; bites in such places are extremely rare. At the end of the fishing line I tie a drop-shaped jig with a No. 7 hook with a thick shank. Thin hooks are not suitable: lenok has a hard mouth and when fished out, the fish strongly resists. A flax weighing 2-3 kilograms either breaks or unbends a thin hook. A nod made of fishing line with a diameter of 0.5 millimeters, folded in half, with colored cambric at the end, is quite elastic and is easily cleaned of frozen pieces of ice. Nods made from other materials did not justify themselves, and store-bought ones are very bad.

It’s good if you have prepared worms for bait for the winter. If not, then it can be found on the shore, in the stems of thistles: these are larvae 2-3 centimeters long. Bark beetle larvae are found in old willows near the river. On ice-free riffles under stones there are always larvae of caddis flies, stoneflies, and geese. You can lure fish by winding red, yellow or brown woolen threads around the shank of the hook. But there will be significantly fewer bites.

On large mountain rivers, such as the Kur, a tributary of the Amur, lenka should be looked for in quiet narrow channels with a medium current, in places where shallows drop into the depths, near snags, in small holes. Lenok never stands alone. If you catch one lenka in some place, do not rush to leave - there will definitely be more bites here.

However, you should not stay in one place for more than twenty minutes if there are no bites. We need to look for Lenka. It happens that a fisherman catches several fish in one place and continues to sit all day, but without success. This means that he caught the fish that was there. But if he had only moved 100-200 meters above or below that place, he would have had excellent prey. If there is a lenok, it will not keep you waiting long and will definitely bite.

Why should you fish in channels and not in the river itself? The fact is that on large mountain rivers during the freeze-up period the current carries frozen pieces of ice, which literally clog all more or less suitable places for fishing, while channels with a medium flow or without it at all remain clean. Lenok, avoiding places clogged with slush, has already taken a fancy to the channels and continues to stay here all winter. On narrow small and medium-sized rivers, lenka should be looked for in wide reaches, holes up to three meters deep and in adjacent areas, on the shallows. If there is an ice-free spring that flows into a river, there is no better place for fishing. Small fish constantly roll off the key. You'll catch a Lenok whose stomach is full of small change, but he still manages to grab the jig. In such places you can fish all winter with constant success.

In January, the lenka bite subsides, and its bites become cautious. As soon as the nod bends or rises slightly, you need to immediately make a short hook. At the end of February, the bite resumes, the grip becomes sharp and confident. And this continues until the end of the freeze-up.

In addition to lenok, the jig also catches grayling and taimen.

S. Zobin Khabarovsk Territory (Fisherman No. 6 / 1996)

Lenka spinners

Let's discuss them in more detail. How to choose a spinner for lenka and grayling? The shape of the bait should resemble a small fish. In shallow areas of the river, the predator will react more actively to large baits. For fairly deep places, it is better to choose rotating spoons, approximately 5 cm long. Since the average lenok swarms small, large tees may simply not get into it. Experienced fishermen recommend using small spoons up to No. 3.

So, what are lenka spinners? Which models are best for catching predators?

Catching lenok in winter

Winter fishing for lenok is different in that it is better to catch it in channels, and not in the river itself. This is due to the fact that when there is freezing on the river, all the places where fish can live are clogged with ice, and the channels, having an average current, remain clean. Since the lenok loves clean water, for the winter it moves to oxbow lakes, closer to the rifts, to holes in shallow water.

They have several advantages over ordinary teardrop-shaped baits:

• imitate the head of an insect;
• have a variety of shapes;
• fewer hooks, due to the fact that the fly agarics are located at right angles to the fishing line.

This bait has larger and “humpbacked” hooks. You can watch how to properly make a homemade jig on the YouTube channel. Many experienced fishermen posted videos of master classes on making homemade baits there.

Making jigs at home

Winter jigs are made using simple bolts. The head of the selected product should be large. The size of the future bait depends on this. The bolt head is turned by hand or on a machine. After rough grinding, the workpiece is polished with GOI paste. A birch log is selected from a piece of wood, and indentations are made with the heated blank.

From a sheet of copper purchased from the radio components department, squares are cut to fit the size of the recesses in the block of wood. The copper squares are given the desired shape using a bolt blank, the excess copper is cut off and the curved plates are inserted into the recesses in the wood. A hook is placed into the resulting container and a small needle is driven into the middle. The form is filled with solder.

Manufacturing methods

Homemade fishing devices are made in the following ways:

• casting;
• soldering;
• instrumental method.

Cast baits are made from lead. You can solder a jig from tin and its alloys. The instrumental method is used for tungsten crafts.

The procedure for making a jig “eye”

To make an “eye” bait, you need to purchase a PCB or getinax plate. Plate thickness 10 mm. In the textolite, holes are made with a drill, which give the shape of an eye to the jig. The size of the recess depends on the diameter of the drill. The weight and shape of the bait depends on the drilling depth. An elongated scale-shaped shape will be obtained with deep drilling; with shallow drilling, the shape of a drop will be obtained.

The hole for the fishing line is drilled with a nail of the required diameter with a bitten off head using an electric drill. A steel rod is inserted into this hole. File the surface of the hook with a file.

Soldering acid is applied to the hole, as well as to the base and top of the hook. Tin is applied to the hook. It is secured above the recess using a piece of wine cork. The resulting mold, together with the hook, is filled with molten tin to the desired shape.

After the tin has cooled, the steel rod is removed. The jig is processed with a needle file. Using a drill, smooth out the sharp edges of the hole for the fishing line.

Lead baits without casting

Some fishermen consider “knitted baits” to be the best tackle for lenka. The peculiarities of the jig consist in winding a “fly” from threads of a brick or dirty pink shade a third of the length of the hook with a drop-shaped soldering. The bait is placed on the part free from the thread.

Such bait equipment requires additional loading of the gear. To do this, an additional weight is installed on the fishing line above the jig at a distance of 10-15 cm, which helps to play the bait correctly and easily detect the bottom.

Catching lenok from under the ice in winter is very exciting.

KUUSAMO RASANEN

The design of such spinners is quite complex, which allows you to perform various wiring even in fast currents. What color should the spinner be for grayling and lenok? Tested specimens have acidic or natural shades. During the summer months, it is preferable to use spinners with a silver or dark petal. With the onset of cold weather, it is more effective to use bait with a yellow petal.

Spinner options. What should the ideal bait be in size and color?

Catching lenka with a spoon is simple and at the same time very interesting. The reason for the excitement lies in its capricious nature. A fish that is not picky at first glance may not immediately rush to the bait, but will chase it for a long time and eventually just leave. Fruitful lure fishing is observed in wide rivers, where fishing is carried out from the shore or boat.

Lures for lenka and taimen are imitation of small fish. Habitat conditions and fishing location influence their choice:

• On rapids and riffles, a massive bait up to 50 mm with a thickness of 2 mm or trihedrons weighing 30-35 g is used.
• From a boat, use a spinner up to 40 mm with a tee No. 9-10 and an orange camouflage.
• For shallow places where there is a fast current, heavy oscillating spoons with a length of up to 55 mm and a thickness of up to 2.5 mm are suitable. Fishermen prefer to use the “Pig”, “Storling”, and “Kola” models.

Photo 1. Wide game swings.

• In calm and deep water, rotating tee models No. 8-10 and up to 40 mm long are ideal. A thread or piece of bright orange fabric is used as a disguise. The bait should be selected not only according to the color of the fish’s usual food, but also according to the transparency of the water and lighting (daytime or evening). The most commonly used spinners are “Kemi”, “Nevskaya”, “Universal”.

Photo 2. Rotating lures for lenka and taimen.
Depending on the season, the lure on Lenka is selected according to color so that the fish can take better:

• in summer, a bait with a two-color petal is used, the outer part of which is black and the inner part is silver;
• in the autumn season, a plate-petal of a single color (can be yellow with black dots) is suitable. The black color with large red splashes does not leave Lenka indifferent. The fish simply rushes to such bait even with a mouth full of food.

The fisherman should have several spinners in stock for lenka and grayling of different colors. This makes it possible to select the desired bait after the transparency and shade of the water have been determined. Artificial bait should look as natural as possible.

Advice! Experienced fishermen use sparkling spoons in cloudy weather, and matte ones on sunny days.

MEPPS spinners

The MEPPS AGLIA LONG model works ideally on any river where lenok is found. It demonstrates the ideal rotation of the petal at different sweep speeds. However, the flight characteristics of this spinner are far from ideal.

With the help of the BLACK FURY spinner you can catch both grayling and lenok. It has an elongated body, which reduces the level of resistance when moving. For small rivers, bait No. 2 is suitable. In larger bodies of water, higher numbers should be used.