Working fishing rods for the balancer - light, heavy and no-kick

When to catch pike with a balance beam

It is believed that pike is always active on the first ice. However, there are times when a toothy predator refuses to take the bait and there is no way to force it. And the capricious weather is to blame. When going fishing you should consider the following points:

• fluctuations in atmospheric pressure negatively affect the activity of pike;
• if the winter is warm, then throughout the winter high activity of the toothed predator is possible;
• cloudy weather is better suited for winter pike fishing on a balance beam;
• light snowfall, no frost, slight south or southwest wind;
• on clear frosty days, pike is just as active, but much less;
• It’s better to go fishing while it’s still dark, so you can start fishing at dawn.

Read also about fishing on the first ice at:

• Perch
• Roach

Why should you catch pike with balance beams in winter?

In conditions of low air and water temperatures associated with ice fishing, the angler’s options for choosing gear are limited, as are the sectors in which fishing is carried out. This summer, in clear water, they move by boat throughout the entire water area and catch pike using spinning tackle with baits like:

• spinners;
• silicone;
• wobblers;
• live bait;
• poppers;
• balancers

Some anglers and balancers call them horizontal spoons, although this is not entirely true. Indeed, an artificial fish - a balancer - is located horizontally in the water and, thanks to the nodding movements of the fishing rod, imitates the behavior of live bait.

But unlike a standard spinner, this bait is equipped with two hooks (in the front and back), as well as a tee located under the belly. That is, in any direction of attack of a predator, a steel sting of a hook or hooks awaits it. This fact alone increases the effectiveness of fishing with balance beams.

In addition, balance spinners fish the entire coastline, and in search of promising places, they travel thousands of meters during daylight hours. In this case, you have to regularly drill holes and spend energy on it, but when you bite a trophy, both inconvenience and fatigue are forgotten.

When fishing with girders, after installing the traps, the angler cannot in any way influence the behavior of the pike standing in the fishing sector. If she becomes interested in live bait, a bite will follow, but this does not always happen.

Like other predators, pike is curious and is able to detect prey not only visually, but also by sound waves and water vibrations. Even if the bait is fresh, this does not mean that it is actively moving in the water column and thus attracting predators.

Catching pike with a balance beam is more effective, since the angler uses various fishing techniques, and the bait in the form of an artificial fish is constantly in motion, imitating the active behavior of real underwater inhabitants.

Balancers for pike differ in design and color, but successfully cope with the task of attracting and catching fish.

Advantages of catching pike with balance beams:

1. the bait is similar to live fish, but unlike live bait, it is used repeatedly;
2. fishing a wide area under the hole with a balancer;
3. numerous wiring techniques that increase performance;
4. reliable hooking of the trophy and comfortable fishing;
5. The bait catches both small pike and large trophies.

Despite the fact that live bait was considered the best bait for pike, balancers proved their “professional suitability”, and the ease of their use was beyond doubt. When going to a winter pond, fishermen take with them a set of balance beams of different shapes, weights and colors and reasonably expect to catch a silver predator.

Tackle for catching pike on a balance beam

Fishing for pike in winter on a balance beam should be carried out with high-quality tackle:

1. As a fishing rod, you can take a shortened version of a spinning rod, or use an original plastic fishing rod. It will be convenient to use a handle made of non-thermal conductive material. The length of the whip can be from 20 to 40 cm. The longer this element of the tackle, the easier it will be to absorb pike blows.
2. Most fishing rods are already equipped with an inertial reel. Otherwise, you can use a baitcasting reel. There are special models of multipliers for winter fishing. Such reels are equipped with a friction brake, which makes it much easier to catch a predator.
3. Whether to use fishing line or braid is a controversial issue. The fishing line does not freeze as much as braid, so most anglers use it. It is advisable to use fluorocarbon fishing line - it is more resistant to abrasion on the edge of the ice. The optimal diameter of the fishing line will be 0.25-0.3 mm. Braided wire is a stronger option, the reliability of which is beyond doubt. You just can’t use it in cold weather. When fishing regularly, it is necessary to cut off the used piece, as its strength is lost due to friction against the edges of the hole.
4. A leash is mandatory when fishing for pike. It is convenient to use leads from a guitar string numbered 1 or 2. This element of the equipment should not be deformed or bent, otherwise the play of the balancer will be disrupted.

Balancer fishing tactics

As a rule, the search begins with 10-20 holes drilled in a line from the shore to the depths. In coastal areas, you need to pay attention to all kinds of visible shelters - flooded bushes, protruding grass and reeds. In such places, holes are made around shelters or along, for example, when fishing a coastal reed wall.

Not only is there no need to scoop slush out of the holes, but in general it is better to additionally darken them with snow. Pike does not respond well to harsh lighting, especially at shallow depths. The balance beam easily breaks through the ice porridge and this does not interfere with fishing. When fishing holes, you need to notice changes in depths in the fishing areas. Having found a sharp drop, you need to make a series of holes along it, both on the slope and on top of the edge.

In large areas, there is no point in spending a lot of time fishing one hole. This takes 5 minutes; if there are no bites, you need to move on to the next hole. While fishing, you need to remember the distinctive features of the holes in which the catches occur (depth, distance from the shore, presence of shelters). This will help you determine the patterns of fish behavior today and focus on finding places with similar characteristics.

If there are no bites for a long time, you can try to radically change the characteristics of the balancer. For example, to a much larger or smaller size, to change a natural color to an “acid” one, sudden changes often bring results.

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How to choose a balancer for pike

Today's market presents the modern fisherman with a wide range of balancers. What you need to consider when selecting balancers for pike, read below:

1. The size of the balancer should be in the range from 5 to 10 cm. Lures from 5 to 7 cm in size can be considered universal - they also catch perch well. The most preferred size for pike is 7 to 9 cm.
2. Tees on pike balancers must be numbered from 4 to 6 according to the international classification. The tee can be supplemented with a drop of weight so that when casting it does not overlap the fishing line.
3. Popular pike colors include perch imitation, white with red head, and a variety of fancy colors.
4. The shape of the balancer does not have a significant size, but it is believed that the wider belly of the bait contributes to excellent gliding properties.
5. The balancer hooks should be large enough with a large offset - the tip of the hook should not extend into the bait area.

Read also: The best balancers for pike

Rating of balancers for pike fishing

In recent years, the choice of balancers has become huge. It is difficult to say which balancer will be guaranteed to catch fish always and everywhere. But nevertheless, there are a number of proven models that are successfully used by many anglers.

Rapala Jigging Rap

The Finnish brand Rapala produces a large number of excellent lures for winter fishing. Jigging Rap has already become a classic for catching any predator in winter; pike are also caught well with it. With a stroke size of 70 mm, this balancer works successfully both in strong places and in shallow watering areas.

Kuusamo Tasapaino X-Pro

Another famous Finnish balancer with a familiar appearance. At 75 mm, it can be confidently called one of the best for pike fishing. The shape of the body and tail allows for any wiring, and a variety of colors suit any body of water.

Lucky John Classic 6

The Lucky John brand has long been known to lovers of predator fishing. The 60 mm “Classic” model has firmly established itself in the arsenals of winter pike fishermen.

Aqua trapper 7

The balancer has an interesting body balance and an offset attachment point. Thanks to this solution, a unique game is achieved even with small stretches.

Nils Master Nisa 50

The next interesting Finnish product. Despite its short length, the pike always actively responds to this balancer. The high body and wide tail provide somewhat imposing play. Shows itself well in shallow waters.

Scorana ICE FOX 55

Extremely realistic balance beam with elongated body. The bright coloring and peculiar game provoke not only pike, but also other predators to attack. Works well both in shallows and at depths.

Lucky John Pro Series "Mebaru" 67

A universal new product that works in open water and from ice. The layout of the balancer is somewhat different from the usual one. So, on the back there are several attachment points, which makes it look like both rattlins and “cicadas”. The hook arrangement is also interesting - two tees are suspended from the bottom of the bait and at the tail.

Lucky john pliant 50

Another very popular balancer from Lucky John. Suitable for searching for pike at great depths, it is distinguished by a detailed design of its appearance.

Strike Pro Challenger Ice 50

In this bait, pike are attracted by the unique shape of the body; the shifted center of gravity provides an attractive game at any depth, but is more often used at large and medium depths.

Karismax Koko 2

A narrow body with a wide tail blade and an interesting game have brought this balancer the reputation of one of the best for catching pikes in any conditions.

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Application of balancers

Fishing for pike in winter using balance beams is usually carried out together with other baits - spoons and ratlins. Fortunately, the fishing rods and tackle for these baits are the same. Winter fishing for pike with a balance beam differs from fishing for perch or pike perch - larger baits are used, and a smoother, more sweeping game is required to attract a toothy fish. The best places for predators to stay are grass and snags. Therefore, you need to understand that baits in such conditions are consumables. In such places, due to the nature of the game, baits are often lost on blind hooks. This can be solved by being careful in exploring new places and using a special cutter. There are no special balancers for pike for winter fishing. Further in the article, specific baits are indicated that, according to anglers’ reviews, work well on the toothy robber.

How to equip a winter fishing rod with a balancer?

So, a set of fishing rods has been selected. Now let's touch on equipment issues. The equipment of a winter fishing rod for fishing with a balance beam depends on the size of the bait and the expected trophies. So, having three different-sized fishing rods, we equip them accordingly. Some fishermen use braid, but practical experience is clear - only monofilament. Fluorocarbon can also be used. The diameter of the fishing line used depends on the “caliber” of the tackle, from 0.12 to 0.3 mm.

The best fishing rods for balance fishing are not specific models of rods, lines and lures. This is the gear that the fisherman managed to perfectly balance and select for himself personally. This feeling will come with some experience of shining. Whether or not to use a nod is a matter of personal preference. We have already discussed above why we need a guard in the balancing equipment. Each angler must complete the final set of equipment independently after some acquired skills during fishing.

Tackle

the spinning rod itself

The tackle for catching pike on a balance beam is a winter spinning rod, always equipped with a reel. The length of the rod whip is from 30 centimeters to 1.5 meters. A smaller size may not allow you to play the balance beam correctly, while a larger size will create unnecessary problems during transportation.

It is in your best interests to ensure that the rod handle is covered with insulating material. Neoprene or cork will do.

Most fishermen use an ordinary inertial reel with a stopper. It is inexpensive and allows you to reel in and unwind the tackle relatively easily and quickly. However, a reel with a multiplier gives the best results. It allows you to adjust the brake force, which is useful when fishing for large fish.

It is recommended to use fluorocarbon as fishing line. The absence of memory effect and tendency to freeze, resistance to strong jerks and less visibility in the water in the eyes of the buyer are negated by only one drawback - high cost.

Ordinary nylon fishing line with a thickness of 2 to 3 tenths of a centimeter is widely used. Sometimes a braided cord is used. In the case of the latter, be extremely careful: if you take out your prey without gloves, you risk causing yourself serious damage with the cord.

A balance beam invariably remains a mandatory part of the equipment when fishing for pike . Without its use, there is a high risk of not only missing out on everything that was provoked to bite, but also losing catchy baits.