A spinner or spinner is one of the most popular and effective baits for catching predators, particularly pike. This is the most common bait when fishing with spinning rods. Any beginning spinning player will have one or another spinner in his drawer. Professionals have long chosen their favorites among baits and have not changed them for many years.
Pinwheels are considered the most reliable baits for catching toothed predators. The spinners demonstrate their effectiveness both in active feeding and in the quiet absence of biting. They have proven themselves excellent in almost all bodies of water where predators live. Anglers naturally ask: “Why is the spinner so successful?” The fact is that a rotating spoon creates an oscillatory circuit, which is attractive to predators at a long distance. The spinners emit a vibration that matches the vibration of the wounded fish. The pike picks up these vibrations at a distance of up to 20 meters and attacks quickly and fearlessly. By choosing the correct mode of wiring, you can use a spinner to make the pike believe that there is a wounded fish in front of it. These vibrations are created by the structure of the pinwheel.
A pike spinner is a piece of a streamlined metal plate that is loosely threaded onto a rigid rod. Under water pressure, the structure creates a force that rotates the petal and creates vibrations. This is what fascinates the predator and makes it attack without hesitation.
How to choose a spinner for pike
Despite the fact that the spinner for pike is guaranteed to work, you need to pay special attention to the selection of the spinner. The fact is that not a single spoon will catch pike equally at depth and on the surface, in spring and summer. For successful fishing you need to choose a set of working spinners. To choose the right spinners for pike, you need to pay attention to some factors.
When choosing a pinwheel, you need to pay attention to the shape of the petal. It is the shape of the petal that will determine the performance of the bait in the current or in its absence. Traditionally, there are three classes of spinners: Aglia, Aglia Long, Comet. The Aglia spinner has a large and convex petal, which makes it indispensable when fishing downstream. The Aglia long pinwheel owes its name to its shape; it is long and narrow. This spinner is used against the current. The comet has an oval shape and is ideal for fishing in deep water.
The weight and size of the spinner affects the depth of the dive. The seasonality factor is also extremely important, because the predator behaves differently in different temperature conditions. At a water temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, you should use spinners with long petals, and in warm water with round ones, the rotation speed of which is much higher. In general, in warm water the predator is more active. The main condition for successful fishing: the bait is correctly selected for the circumstances and its high-quality execution.
Tail spinner or axleless spinner. Fishing with tail spinners for perch, pike and asp
My first introduction to tail spinners was in the 1980s. In those years, my main lures were oscillating and spinning spoons. But since the arsenal of tackle was not only limited, but generally consisted of a single spinning rod, with which it was not only problematic, but in principle impossible to cast a light spinner bait far, the situation was saved by spinners additionally loaded in front. It was then that I first saw in the store and purchased baits called tail spinners.
On my first shore fishing trip, I tried long and hard to catch new baits. Looking ahead, I will say that all my efforts led to nothing. This is understandable, despite the fact that the tail spinners flew relatively far, it was still impossible to get them to the asp feeding on the surface. In addition, when the wiring slowed down, they immediately went into the lower water horizon and often came into contact with the bottom, collecting vegetation and bottom debris. The fast, even retrieve did not interest the perch either.
As a result, after several fishing trips, my tail spinners ended up in the closet on the far shelf.
I came across these baits again when I went with a friend to a fisherman I knew to catch a large chub on the Volgograd Reservoir. Imagine my surprise when Mikhail started fishing with tail spinners! According to him, they also perform well when catching other predatory fish. I also caught a few things with tail spinners, but I can’t say that they hooked to such an extent that they would take a special place in boxes of fishing lures.
Finally, during the Nizhny Novgorod fishing exhibition, at one of the stands I saw branded tail spinners from the Japanese manufacturer Viva. Needless to say, the quality of the lures, as always from the Japanese, turned out to be at the highest level. I purchased several pieces at once in different colors, sizes and different weights. It turned out that other manufacturers also have something similar, but for some reason each company called these baits differently.
If the Viva baits purchased at the exhibition were called Kozo Spin, then Lucky Craft had the name Spinboard, and Strike Pro called them Micro Whaker 30. But, be that as it may, it is always a heavy compact body, to which it is attached in the tail section through a swivel. petal. Some manufacturers attach the petal not through a swivel, but using a bow, like in conventional spinners. But some homemade tail spinners have a body very similar to the most common ice fishing balancer. I purchased what I could from branded catalogs, and made some with my own hands. More precisely, I converted it from ordinary balancers.
So why is this class of bait interesting and what kind of fish can you catch with tail spinners? Without exaggeration, they can be classified as universal baits, but still, their main and most important purpose in the conditions of the Cheboksary Reservoir, in my opinion, is perch fishing.
If fishing is done from a boat, our possibilities expand significantly. Catching perch, as a rule, takes place on sandy rifts, where we use the jig method as the main feed, i.e. a real stepped retrieve. And here, unlike coastal fishing, we don’t have to worry about losing the bait on the hook - as a rule, the bottom on such riffles is clean.
Very often, seagulls serve as an indicator of the presence of fish on a riffle. If we see a gull, there is no doubt: either an asp or a perch is chasing a fry. In our case, it doesn’t make much difference which fish feeds. After all, the perch is where the asp is, and the pike is where the perch is. In other words, having found an asp boiler and approaching it in a boat, we carefully, and most importantly, quietly anchor the craft. If the asp is on the surface, rest assured that the perch is below, which means that the tail spinner fed by the step will not be ignored. Bites do not happen on every retrieve, we have several contacts during one retrieve: the fish follows the bait, pokes it and attacks until it ends up on the hooks of the tee.
By the way, if there are still concerns that in a particular place the bottom of the reservoir is not very clean and you can get caught and lose the bait, it is more advisable to change the treble hook of the tail spinner to a double one, equipping it in such a way that the hooks of the double are oriented towards tail part of the bait. This equipment reduces the number of hooks significantly.
But we are not always able to find a perch along with an asp, focusing on seagulls or splashes on the water. Even if everything is calm on a riffle, it is still useful to fish for it. And under no circumstances should you despair if there were no bites on the first cast. If it becomes clear that the perch is not attached to the fry, I fish the riffle using a fan method. This is the only way to find and catch fish.
And in the future I constantly adjust the casting direction, trying to track where the school of perch is moving. It should be noted that there is one more interesting factor, in my opinion: as a rule, much larger perch are caught on tail spinners. In any case, last year I caught disproportionately more large perch (from half a kilo and above) with tail spinners than in previous years with other baits. In addition, he broke a record by catching a perch weighing 1320 g in the Cheboksary Reservoir.
Let us remember again that where the perch is, there is an asp. Stepped wiring of a tail spinner is more appropriate when fishing for perch. But at the moments when this bait breaks through the water column after splashdown, asp bites often occur.
And there is an explanation for this. The petal of a tail spinner operates during any stage of the retrieve, including during its free fall. It is then that the petal comes into play, attracting the asp. But still, catching a sheresper, purposefully relying on a bite at the moment the bait falls, is not entirely correct.
But nothing stops us from using the so-called pelagic jig. After casting, give the bait 2-3 seconds to sink into the water column. Then we make several turns with the reel and at the same time raise the tip of the rod upward, trying to produce something similar to a jig step, only without contacting the bottom, but in the water column.
You can also use wavy wiring. Unlike pelagic jig, during wave-like wiring, I eliminate the free fall of the bait and remove pauses.
And another argument in favor of a tail spinner when catching asp is its range. Despite the fact that tail spinners are inferior in casting range to jig-like spoons, they outperform various types of bulky baits, be it wobblers or top waters. And in this case we use light class tackle, and this greatly increases our emotions from catching a large fish.
For tail spinners weighing up to 12 g, I used the SL Rods Atria 702L series spinning rod. Excellent sensitivity allowed me not only to track the contact of the bait with the bottom and any contact with the fish, but also, importantly, I saw the whip and felt the play of the petal at all stages of the retrieve. Among other things, the rod has a decent holding power, which I was repeatedly convinced of when a pike was hooked.
In my opinion, it is undesirable to purposefully catch pike with tail spinners only because our tackle is not equipped with a steel leader. To the main eight-strand cord measuring 0.8 PE, I tie a fluorocarbon leash, invisible in the water, with a capacity of only 8 liters with a clasp at the end. Such equipment cannot withstand the sharp teeth of a predator. Practice shows that when fishing for perch on the riffles, the pike that controls these places comes out to hunt and attacks either the bait or the perch caught on the tail spinner.
In most such cases, the fight ends in favor of the pike. If we still want to catch pike with tail spinners, we must follow some rules. Firstly, it is necessary to change light-class tackle to more powerful ones, where the use of a steel leash is considered the norm.
Accordingly, tail spinners should be significantly heavier. If in the light class the weights of these baits range from 3.5–12 g, then when fishing with medium-power gear it is necessary not only to increase the weight of the baits, but also to change the fishing location from shallow riffles, say, to channel edges. In these cases, a bait with a double will be in a more advantageous position than with a tee, and its passage along snags will be better.
In the same way, you can catch pike perch and bersh using tail spinners. All that remains is to find baits weighing 20 g and above. The fact is that not many manufacturers offer original tail spinners in such weights. And here I went my own way, that is, winter balancers served as the basis for tail spinners, only they were much heavier and, accordingly, larger in size than those we talked about above. I purchased several baits weighing from 20 to 36 g, cut off the front hook with wire cutters, and put a swivel on the rear hook, at the end of which I attached a petal through a winding ring. Using this installation, we can experiment not only with the size of the petals, but also with their shape.
I don’t know if such lures can be called tail spinners, but, in my opinion, we, in principle, did not violate anything. There is a heavy body, a double or tee is attached to the bottom, and a petal is located in the tail part. The only difference from the classic is an additional hook in the tail. But here, too, practice shows that this is not at all an unnecessary attribute, since very often the predator is caught precisely by the rear single hook of the bait.
Someone will ask: why such difficulties, because pike perch and bersh can be successfully caught with classic jig baits. And I agree with this, but only half. If the fish is active, yes, it can be caught with classic baits, but when the activity of the pike perch drops, the tail spinner often finds itself out of competition.
My partner and I repeatedly conducted experiments: one fished with a classic jig, the other at the same time in the same place with homemade tail spinners, and we held the baits parallel to each other. And in order not to violate the purity of the experiment, they changed places after several casts. In most cases, the predator fell for the tail spinner, leaving other baits unattended. The main part of the bites occurred right next to the boat, that is, when the tail spinner, due to the strength of the current, hung on the next step for a much longer time than other jig baits.
Of course, the use of such baits in “strong” areas of the reservoir is unacceptable. No matter how much we protect ourselves from snags, an open rear hook will sooner or later find something to snag on. Sometimes unhooking helps to save the bait, but after that you always have to change the place of fishing.
It is no coincidence that I put this fish in last place on the list, since I have repeatedly purposefully tried to catch the bigheaded fish using tail spinners. Moreover, I tried to catch it quite closely with different bait deliveries. I used both uniform and stepped retrieves, and offered pelagic jigs to the chub, but all to no avail. Unlike perch or asp, the bighead did not appreciate these baits, and all catches were sporadic.
In a place where they mainly catch chub, unexpectedly for the locals (and how unexpected for him!) I managed to successfully bathe a homemade tail spinner. While I was adapting with its help (so as not to carry out reconnaissance with a chub cicada) to shallow depths and bottom differences, small shell rocks with “garlands”, current and other features, I experienced a couple of bites that I no longer regretted the excessive safety margin of the spinning rod. I had to work hard and be persistent, staying in this place for an hour and a half.
Everything turned out to be not in vain. A cut of braid on the shells, a break on the fish (fortunately, I made enough tails), but finally, the first troublemaker - a quite decent-sized pike perch - on the shore. Further - more: the second trophy was a pike, which offered good resistance. In vain I was annoyed after the break on the fish that I never found out/saw who was there: this pike had my tail, which had been torn off earlier, in its mouth!
Locals from the other side joked later, surprised at this catch: “Well, you put on a show there!” Of course, it’s one thing to have a chub weighing up to a kilo, and another thing is to have decent-sized teeth that are unexpected for the place.
Once again I am convinced:
1. A tail spinner, even (and especially) a homemade one, is an excellent scout in unfamiliar places (I was fishing on a visit many kilometers from home). 2. With a small single hook with the tip oriented upward, such a tail passes various types of obstacles well, although it certainly increases the number of large fish coming off. 3. A tail spinner of this design (quite long, including “Cheburashka”, rings, hook, spinner, petal) works well with both uniform and other types of wiring. 4. The petal size of the tail spinner is a COUPLE OF CENTIMETERS!!! quite enough to attract fish for two kopecks!
PS The chub nearby, as I found out later, went for everything: a tail, a spinner spoon, a cicada, a very “primitive” rubber frog... But that’s what I have. And the local “pro” of the most “pre-beach” type showed his class with a Chinese wobbler, beating me to a chub with a devastating score of about 6:20. While I persistently and principledly “tormented” each of the baits in turn until I caught the first chub, Gena caught several at a time without much strain.
For me, a tail spinner is, first of all, a universal bait that catches ALL predatory and conditionally predatory fish in the Volga. Moreover, we are not talking about accidentally catching “whites”, as in jigs, but about targeted fishing... I probably didn’t catch only catfish and ide with them. Pike-perch, perch, pike, chub, asp, even caught gobies. The tail spinner mows down EVERYONE, you just need to make minimal changes to the wiring.
Active fish are much less attached to the bottom than is commonly believed. More than once I have found myself in a situation where at a party a pike perch is rummaging around in a ten-meter depth and you can’t get it with a jig, and you still can’t get it with a wobbler. Chub, asp, perch are also explorers of the river depths.
Let's start making a simple and catchy tail spinner; we will need a petal from a spinner, a tee, a swivel, a silicone twister and a piece of tube.
On the forend of the tee we place the body of the twister without the tail. In size - so as not to interfere with hooking. Tee for a collapsible Cheburakh: the weight can always be changed.
We attach a swivel to one of the hooks of the tee, between the two tubes with clamps placed on the bend. It doesn’t move like that, the main thing is to choose the tubes.
At the other end of the swivel, through the winding ring, we place the petal. It’s better to take a petal for the tail spinner “Aglia Long”, but “Aglia” also catches. As a result, you can change the weight of the Cheburashka and the petals and body of the twister by color.
Tested by me personally - the homemade tail spinner catches perfectly.
Read other articles, reviews and testimonials:
- Catching large perch. Where to look for large perch and what to catch?
- Homemade detachment for spinners and wobblers. Simple do-it-yourself release
- Review of the Kosadaka Resolver spinning rod for jigging. Reviews from fishermen about the Kosadaka Resolver spinning rod
- Which leash is better for a spinning rod? Review of leashes for spinning rods
- Tactics for catching large pike in November using spoons, wobblers, jigs and spinners
The best spinner colors for pike
The choice of color is also one of the most important factors in successful fishing. Let's take a closer look at what colors of spinner spinners are suitable for pike. Any bait has one goal: to attract attention and provoke an attack. In spring and summer, it is better to give preference to dull colors of pinwheels, with bright splashes. In autumn, on the contrary, you can safely choose bright, fancy colors. In addition, you should also select the correct plumage of a tee or hook. A very shiny bait can scare away a pike with its unnaturalness. Dull copper and silver are a good option, matching the coloring of the scales of the fish that the toothed predator hunts.
The best spinners
Mepps - No. 1 in the world
The most famous among fishermen are spinners from MEPPS (France).
The main models here are: “Aglia” - for calm water, “Comet” - for medium current and “Aglia long” - for fast water (Fig. 1). These lures of the same size have almost the same weight and differ only in the blade.
Fig.1. MEPPS spinners No. 2: a) Aglia, b) Comet, c) Aglia long.
Many imitations and similarities have been created in other countries based on French samples and the ideas embedded in them.
Mepps size and weight range
To catch any fish in any conditions, each MEPPS model has 7-8 standard sizes (Fig. 2) and 4 main colors: silver, gold, copper and black.
Fig.2. Size and weight range of MEPPS Aglia long spinners.
Interestingly, new samples are added to the size range as needed. For example, when it became clear that there was quite a big difference between the most popular Long sizes – No. 1 and 2, an intermediate size No. 1+ was “inserted” there. And for fans of “ultralight” they added another number 00.
Rods for spinner fishing
The first thing an angler should think about is rods for catching pike with spinners. The length of the spinning rod is chosen based on the size of the reservoir and terrain features. Short options are suitable if the bank is quite overgrown. The action is suitable for slow or medium. A fast rod is not the best option, as it reduces the casting distance of light lures. Super fast rods are not at all suitable for this type of fishing. It is better to choose a spinning reel, a size that is related to the length of the rod.
Petal characteristics
In real models of spinners, the petal is put on freely, mainly on the bow (clamp), so theoretically it can deviate from the axis of rotation at different angles. But it turns out that even here it deviates only by a very specific angle, which is determined by the geometry of the petal itself: its shape, deflection and thickness (weight).
The shape of the petal is of paramount importance; the ratio of its length L to width B is especially important. It is this indicator, along with the deflection, that characterizes the petal’s ability to rotate. The best illustration here is the “sliding” petal (Fig. 1). The wider the halves move apart, the faster the rotation and the greater the spread.
Fig.1. “Sliding” petal: a) minimum width, b) maximum width.
It is believed that the L/B index for most petals should be in the range of 1.5-3.0, depending on the specific fishing conditions.
It is clear that an elongated petal rotates more slowly and at the same time deviates less from the axis. And the longest options give the most “narrow” and slowest game. Spoons with such petals visually appear smaller when moving, so they are preferable for catching predators with small mouths.
Conversely, relatively wide petals play sweepingly and quickly, creating the impression of large prey. This is natural, because the petal rotates due to the action of the oncoming flow of water on its front surface. And the larger this surface, the greater the disturbing effect and the more active the game.
Although the actual configuration of the petal is also important here (Fig. 2).
Fig.2. Petal configuration: a) with a narrow front part, b) with a wide front part, c) transversely symmetrical.
Most petals have a narrow front and a wide back. After all, the petal is a kind of single-bladed propeller. And it is precisely this “propeller” shape that promotes easy rotation.
But there are also “reverse” petals - with a wider front part. Due to the increased drag, spinners with such petals have a very “intense” stroke, which means that the vibrations created in this case will be maximum.
There are also intermediate options - with transversely symmetrical petals. The frontal resistance of the spinner and its acoustic “sound” depend on whether its front part is narrow or wider.
The less water resistance to the rotation of the petal, the easier the rotation itself. But this condition is not at all important, but only desirable.
Therefore, I cannot agree with the so-called “cone” theory of some authors. In their opinion, the rotating petal moves along the surface of an imaginary cone, and the more tightly the petal “fits” on this cone, the better.
In my opinion, this is a simplistic approach.
Firstly, the petal does not move at all along the surface of the cone. After all, the spoon does not stand still, but moves forward - which means that the petal does not slide along a cone, but along a more complex spiral-cone trajectory.
Secondly, many petals of different lengths, widths and shapes can be applied to the surface of a certain cone. It's hard to believe that all of these options will play the same.
And finally, thirdly, among the known spinners, only a few really look like “cone” ones, and even then their petals do not quite “pull” and are used mainly with a sinker head (for example, “Lusox”).
Deflection is the most important characteristic of the petals. Almost all of them have the shape of a spoon (Fig. 3), and in cross-section they resemble the profile of an airplane wing (Fig. 3b) or a hydrofoil of a boat (Fig. 3c), the flow around which creates a lifting force.
Fig.3. Profiles: a) petal (longitudinal), b) airplane wing, c) hydrofoil.
Approximately the same process occurs when water flows around the petal of a spoon: the resulting pressure difference on the convex and concave surfaces “repels” the petal from the rod. Due to the high density of water, the deflection of the petal should not be too large, because the deeply stamped version “breaks” the flow and plays poorly.
In order for any petal to rotate better, you need to reduce its deflection, for example, by tapping with a hammer through a layer of rubber. In this simple way, I was able to improve the game and change the rotation angle of a particular petal from 20 to 60° - practically from minimum to maximum.
It is necessary to distinguish between the general (maximum) deflection of the petal, which we talked about now, and its deflection in each specific section.
Thickness , and therefore the weight of the petal, are no less important characteristics. A thinner, lighter petal rotates better, but its thickness must provide the necessary strength and shape retention. Therefore, the optimal range here is 0.4-1.2 mm. Petals that are too thin (less than 0.3 mm) no longer provide stable rotation and are easily deformed even when playing fish, so they are practically not used.
Techniques and tactics of fishing with spinners
The nature of the retrieve and its speed influence successful fishing no less than the correctly selected spinner. If fishing occurs at depth, then after casting you need to wait until the spinner reaches the bottom. Only after this can wiring begin. If fishing occurs near the surface, then retrieving should begin after the bait has touched the water. Experienced fishermen feel the bait, know how to control and hold it. Beginning spinners should learn this. When fishing for pike, uniform fishing is used at the same speed. It happens when a predator does not want to peck, then you should try wavy wiring. The speed will change and attract pike. During active feeding and biting, the retrieve should be fast. Water temperature also affects the speed of the turntable; the warmer it is, the faster it is. It has been noticed that pike bite well on stepped retrieves. The spoon is allowed to lie on the bottom, and then actively lifted. This technique will lure even an inactive pike.
Review of catchy spinners
Insect spinners
In countries where trout fishing is common, spoons that imitate insects and their larvae are especially popular. This is the MEPPS Platinum series, where the petals of Aglia spinners are coated with translucent varnishes that imitate the chitinous cover of insects.
The next step is the Thunder Bug spinner (Fig. 3).
Fig.3. MEPPS Thunder Bug spinner.
Here the core of the spinner exactly copies the dragonfly larva, and the plumage of the hook and the “webbed” coloring of the petal further adds “naturalness” to the bait.
Spoons - “condoms”
One of the best salmon spinners is MEPPS Flying C (Condom), shown in Fig. 4.
Fig.4. Spinner MEPPS Flying C.
Its characteristic features are a heavy lead core for long casting and a long and bright rubber body placed on this core.
Bell spoons
After the BLUE FOX Super Vibrax series of bell baits began to be produced in Finland (Fig. 5), the era of acoustic spinners began in the world.
Fig.5. Spinner BLUE FOX Super Vibrax.
These turntables can be called the most outstanding of the latest developments. Here, the core weight is also an acoustic resonator - as a result, the bait in the water really sounds like a bell. But the most important thing is that with its sound it attracts almost all predatory fish. For example, I successfully caught pike, perch, asp, ide, chub, salmon, brown trout and grayling using Super Vibrax.
I would like to note a very competent layout: a medium spread petal that works well in any conditions, a well-thought-out system of throwing and anti-twisting, a high-quality bow and careful assembly - all this provides the “bell” with remarkable catchability.
If we also take into account 7 sizes and the maximum number of colors, comments are unnecessary.
Spoons "Colonel"
German spinners are well known for their working qualities, especially since the company produces only two models: “Colonel” and “Colonel lank” (Fig. 6).
Fig.6. BALZER spinners: a) Colonel, b) Colonel lank bomb.
However, each model, along with the usual core (Fig. 6a), also has an option with a weighted “bomb” sinker (Fig. 6b). Thanks to the new core, the weight of the spoon increases by a third - the bait flies further and goes deeper.
In addition, the company was one of the first to produce a tandem lure, which we will consider in the corresponding chapter.
Unfortunately, the quality of the Chinese assembly is extremely unsatisfactory: for example, I am rebuilding these spinners again.
Spinner "Panther"
MARTIN Panther is perhaps the most famous pinwheel with a biconvex petal (Fig. 7.)
Fig.7. Spinner MARTIN Panther.
A special feature of such models is their operation in the current, when the spoon goes deeper during short stops with characteristic vibrations.
Spoons
Of the old Swedish turntables, the most famous are “Droppen” and “Reflex” (Fig. 8).
Fig.8. ABU GARCIA spinners: a) Droppen, b) Reflex.
A special feature of the “Droppen” model is a fairly heavy drop-shaped weight, which ensures long casting and retrieving at a relative depth. And the original petal with “corrugated” edges creates a varied play of light and sound.
"Reflex" features a wavy petal and a colored core with many contrasting dots. When wiring, such a core, and even with a feather “tail,” in itself serves as a good bait.
Another feature of the “Swedes”, like most Scandinavian turntables, is that the core weight is close to the maximum. This is probably justified when fishing for salmon and trout in fast rivers. But in calm water, “overloaded” spoons are often inferior to their lighter counterparts.
Spoons
Most Myran turntables use the same very successful petal shape. The only differences are in its design: regular or acoustic, as well as in the variety of cores and the feathering of the hooks (Fig. 9).
Fig.9. MYRAN spinners: a) Agat, b) Tony, c) Wipp.
These spinners are characterized by the widespread use of acoustic holes on the petals and the almost maximum weight of the core. However, the petal, which many experts consider one of the best, can cope with a heavy “burden” even in small models.
Small spoons
DAIWA Silver Creek spinners have a cast eccentric core in the form of a whitebait (Fig. 10).
Fig. 10. Spinner DAIWA Silver Creek.
Thanks to this, they especially attract fish, and besides, they cast far and do not twist the line. The spinner has two options: with narrow and wide petals.
Advantages and disadvantages of turntables
The main advantages of turntables are their simple design and the ability to carry out independent repairs if necessary. In addition, turntables are one of the most catchy baits for predators, including pike. The huge market for spinners makes it possible to purchase high-quality bait at an affordable price. In addition, the spinner is a 100% working bait. Its use does not require special skills, and even novice spinning anglers can fish with it.
The spinners have no disadvantages as such, except for the possible twisting of the fishing line. However, this drawback is quickly eliminated. It is necessary to either bend the tip of the rod or replace the fishing line with braided one.
Classifications of spinner spinners
Pinwheels are divided into three classes, based on the type of petal:
- Aglia - this bait has a large round petal with a rotation angle of 60 degrees, this allows you to make movements in still water with a dive of up to 80 cm. This makes the spoon irreplaceable in dirty reservoirs in which the bottom is strewn with algae or snags. The Aglia class spinner does not begin to rotate immediately, but has a high oscillation frequency. This mainly attracts predators such as trout, perch and salmon.
- Comet - these spoons have an oval petal with a rotation angle of about 40 degrees, which allows them to be used on various bodies of water. Whether in stormy rivers or on stagnant water, making this class almost irreplaceable. Any predatory fish can be caught on spinners of this type, which makes this bait one of the most popular. Many anglers consider comets to be the golden mean.
- Long - have narrow, long petals that look like the foliage of a willow tree. This allows you to achieve instant rotation with an angle of about 30 degrees. Such spoons are indispensable for fishing in fast water and are capable of sinking deeply, which forces a predator such as pike perch to attack the bait. Because pike perch, as you know, loves depth.
Also spinners - spinners are divided by type of load. Front-loaded ones have a removable weight and allow you to fish without using sinkers in deep-sea reservoirs. Rear-loaded, which have a huge range of castings, and their advantage is that you can cast over considerable distances. Unloaded, these are spinners that do not have a core, they are quite light, so not all experienced anglers prefer them.
Advantages and disadvantages of spinner spinners
The advantage of this bait is its simplicity in design, allowing for easy repairs. In addition, there is a large selection and good fishing efficiency. Many fishermen like spinners because they can catch fairly weighty fish. And the trophies can be noble salmon predators such as grayling or trout. drawback , and even then it is considered insignificant. This is the twisting of the fishing line around the spinner's shaft, which can get tangled in a beard that is difficult to untangle. But if the fisherman is experienced, then this is very rare.
The best spinners for pike
The modern fishing market offers spinners for every taste, size and budget. Below is the rating of the top 10 best catching spinners for pike. These spinners have been tested by time and by professional spinners.
Blue Fox Vibrax Super Bou
The American subsidiary of Rapala, Blue Fox, produces high-quality and catchable baits. The Blue Fox Vibrax Super Bou series spinners were designed specifically for pike hunting. The design of the spoon makes it very attractive to predators. The round shape of the petal emits a strong vibration, which the fish picks up even from afar. The body is made of steel, and the plumage is made of natural marabou feathers. This spoon has proven itself to be excellent when fishing for large prey. The tandem of the petal and plumage creates a realistic composition for the pike, and makes it rush to attack with lightning speed.
Daiwa Silver Creek Spinner
Daiwa Silver Creek Spinner spinners have proven themselves to be catchy baits. The Silver Creek Spinner stands apart. The spinner is light in weight. The catchability of this bait lies in its unique structure. The complex curve of the petal is combined with a core made of two types of metal of different weights. This spoon has proven itself to be excellent both in strong currents and in calm water. Japanese spinners from Daiwa are popular among fishermen all over the world.
Savage Gear Caviar Spinner
The Savage Gear company produces catchable baits for predators. Their meticulous approach to business allows us to consider these baits as one of the most efficient. Savage Gear Caviar Spinner has a simple, but very effective structure. The surface of the spoon is matte on one side and shiny on the other. The bright feature of the bait of this line is the cambric, which is put on the shank of the hook. This additionally attracts the predator and makes it attack.
Mepps Black Fury
Without a doubt, the favorites of the world market for the production of turntables are the French company Mepps Black Fury. The turntables of this company are very popular among both professionals and beginners. Mepps produces many lines of spinners. Black Fury - this lure in the fishing world is called the most catchy bait of all time. “Black Fury” has 4 numbers from 1 to 4 in order of increasing size. Perhaps the main secret to the success of fishing with this bait is its color. The spinner is black in color and this is precisely the phenomenon of its catchability. Black bait is noticeable in any water. It contrasts in clear water, and is clearly visible in cloudy water. The bait does not scare away fish. For several decades, “Black Fury” has been an all-time favorite for many spinners.
Mepps Aglia long
The Aglia long spinner from the same Mepps brand has proven itself to be excellent. This spoon, like the Black Fury, is the old guard of the company. This model is the most titled in the fishing world. The main secret of this turntable is in its structure. The shape of the petal has a deviation from the axis and drag. It changes with the wiring speed. With a wide speed range, the ideal performance of the spinner is maintained. This contributes to record catch rates. This spoon is ideal for beginners, as it forgives mistakes made due to inexperience. A rotating spoon works both in strong currents and in calm water in the lake.
Mepps Comet
The Mepps brand has a large line of Comet turntables. This is a very popular series of turntables. The numbering of this series starts from 1 to 5. The petal of the “comet” is of medium width, which makes it quite universal. This spinner can be successfully used both in current and in still water. Meps spinners for pike are available in two colors: silver and gold. On the surface there are red or blue peas, depending on the number of the spinner. This bright color attracts predators.
Mepps Lusox
Lusox from Mepps is an ideal spinner for inactive pike. With its structure, it will force the sleepiest pike to rush into the hunt. The weight heads of this bait are replaceable. The petals combine two colors: gold and silver. Its structure allows it to create strong vibrations under water. The spinner makes it possible to replace the tee, which in the original is disguised with a red edge. This makes it possible to avoid snags, since sometimes you have to fish for predators in very overgrown reservoirs. This spoon is designed specifically for pike fishing.
Kuusamo Kuf
The Finnish company Kuusamo has proven itself in the fishing products market. Their high-quality spoons are designed to catch predators, in particular pike. A special game of pinwheels can stir up the sleepiest fish. Their baits are made from environmentally friendly materials. Each spinner undergoes a thorough quality control check. Kuusamo Kuf universal spoon. It is attached to the leash on both sides, this allows you to choose the lure to suit the mood of the predator. The Kuusamo Kuf spoon has snag protection, a sharp tee and an attractive red fly.
Lucky John Shelt Blade
The Latvian company Lucky John produces quite innovative spinners on the market, with a standard appearance. The Lucky John Shelt Blade series spinners have a long petal shape and are painted on both sides. On the background, bronze or copper color, there are spots and colored dots. The Shelt Blade series is available in 5 sizes. The bait is modeled on a computer, which ensures its stable operation. The core of the turntable consists of tungsten balls.
Pontoon 21 Ball Concept
Ball Concept – catchy spinners from the Pontoon21 brand. The set of cores for this spoon consists of balls of different diameters. The shifted center of gravity gives the helicopter excellent flight characteristics. The coloring of the petal creates an original visual effect and makes the spinner even more attractive to fish. The spinner performs well in fast water.
The modern market offers a huge selection of spinners for every taste and color. There are many classic models whose manufacturers have remained true to themselves for several decades. In addition, the modern fishing market is constantly improving, and new catching models are being developed. In the huge variety of fishing market, every spinner will find a bait to his liking. Beginning fishermen, who have tried spinners at least once in their lives, always leave them in their fishing boxes. In addition, no predator fishing is complete without a high-quality and catchy spinner.
In summer for winter baits
Balance. This is an absolutely highly specialized winter bait. The weight is quite heavy for its size, its unique play, interesting geometry - it seems that all this suggests using it only for its intended purpose - fishing under ice.
I’ll say right away that the idea of attaching a balancer to a carabiner when fishing from a boat among water lilies constantly occurred to me for several seasons. For some reason, I believed that this bait would work in the summer. But, as usually happens, there were many excuses, mainly that I hadn’t tried all the summer lures yet... As a result, I learned about the successful use of balancers in the summer from fishing periodicals - and immediately decided after all: to fish myself with this winter bait in the summer.
At the first opportunity, when the depth and bottom vegetation allowed, I sent the balance beam into the water. The first two hours of fishing were reminiscent of winter fishing. A balance beam lowered vertically under the boat periodically brought perch after perch. There were times when he simply drove a flock of tabbys crazy. There were bites at the bottom, at mid-water, and at the very surface.
Soon the perch pecking from under the boat began to become smaller. By that time, I had already become completely bolder and began to make small, 5-7-meter casts to the side. At first I led the bait evenly, at a fast pace, being afraid to plant it on snags. After some time, I tried to imitate a “bottom-pelagic” jig - that is, if possible, I carried out a balance at the bottom, and at the first contact with something that could cause a snag, I immediately tore it off into “free soaring.”
I don’t know how the balancer behaves when casting with different methods of animation with a spinning rod; I didn’t have the opportunity for underwater filming. I think that visually I would not have noticed any bait play. Nevertheless, casting fishing turned out to be no less productive than plumb fishing. A couple of record-breaking perches on that fishing trip were caught exactly at the maximum distance from the boat, at the moment the balancer was planning to the bottom.
Ice wobbler SALMO Chubby Darter. I caught it only once in the summer, and it did not go unnoticed. In the few minutes that this wobbler was attached to the carabiner, it showed that its summer potential for vertical fishing is quite high. It's just a matter of small things - we need more detailed tests on a reservoir.
Balancers and Chubby Darter.
Jig. This bait is also designed for vertical fishing. Perhaps it is not quite a winter fish; it seems to be caught in open water, although in northern Norwegian waters, at great depths.
I purchased my first jig in the mid-90s only because it looked very much like a whitebait. The blocky, small but heavy body, externally marked head, tail and scales at that time seemed promising elements of the bait. But the absolute lack of play when retrieving, the “incomprehensible” white hooks, slowed down this jig in my fishbox for many years.
Only a few years later, after reading a couple of articles about the use of jigs, I realized that at one time I had become the owner of a very popular product from the German company DAM. I was not interested in vertical fishing on large rivers at that time, there are no asps in our area, repeated experiments with bait again did not work no results, and therefore, with a clear conscience, I gave it to visiting northerner acquaintances with the words that this, they say, is bait for you to catch salmon.
Two months later, one of these fishermen called with a request to purchase a batch of “magic spinners.” After lengthy questioning, it turned out that they took my words about “a spoon for nelma” literally and cast it with a jig. My timid explanations of how this bait is used in Europe were immediately interrupted by enthusiastic comments like: “Everyone is throwing it - and they have nothing, but I just threw it, it didn’t even have time to fall, and the nelma are already grabbing it... Cool!”
As it became clear from further conversation, my friends, inexperienced in European fishing, simply threw the jig into the river and “dragged it back very quickly.” As you know, nelma is a northern asp. Habits, appearance, fishing conditions and bait are largely similar.
The next season, I invited my friends who regularly fish on Akhtuba and Volga to try a jig as bait for asp. The results turned out to be about what I expected. The main baits (castmaster, spinner-tube, wabik) worked, of course, better than the beginner, but in moments of the asp’s whim, it was the jig that helped the anglers get away from nothing and, as a result, caught several quite worthy specimens.
Let me remind you that the fishing was carried out by casting with the maximum release of the bait.
Bladebaits. In Russia, in recent years, these baits, also called “cicadas”, are more often used for winter fishing, while in Europe they are used mainly in the summer, when vertical fishing with a spinning rod along the concrete supports of docks or piers. I think that Russian fishermen are completely wrong to ignore it. I will give only one, but quite illustrative example.
A few years ago, on a mountain fishing trip, my friend looked with interest at the “cicada” I had left in a box from the winter. It was the first time he had seen such a bait, and he liked it primarily visually. Having asked permission to fish with it the next day, he calmly listened to my lecture on the methods of using bladebaits, seasoned with a sufficient amount of caustic advice on using this bait in a mountain river in the summer. By the evening of the next day, he brought to the fire two dozen graylings that he had obtained for my present.
According to my friend, he simply threw a heavy bait directly into the stream and quickly dragged it towards him, trying to prevent it from clinging to the bottom stones. The depth at the fishing spot was 40-60 cm with a very strong current.
While the open water season lasted, I caught grayling more than once with a “cicada” on different rivers, but I had not yet had the opportunity to test it on other summer predators. Perhaps simply because there have always been baits that were more specialized for given conditions, or (more objectively) because no one has yet proven by example the productivity of using this bait in other conditions.
With enviable regularity, a bladebait provokes grayling to bite in the fast streams of mountain rivers.
Strongly ingrained stereotypes often win the fight against innovative ideas. It would be very interesting to try high-speed pelagic retrieve of this high-frequency bait when hunting asp, chub, nelma and other fast predators of our waters.
