Experienced fishermen know that pike fishing in the fall is always the most successful. At this time of year, the fish begins its main feeding period, as a preparatory period before wintering, which makes it easiest to catch. But you need to take into account one nuance - at the beginning of autumn and at the end, the behavior of the fish is different. Two main factors have their influence: the presence or absence of algae and the temperature of the aquatic environment. It is worth remembering this when choosing gear and bait, which should be different in September and November.
Specifics of pike fishing in autumn
Autumn is a time when the air becomes cooler, as does the water, which affects all processes that occur in reservoirs. For example, with the arrival of cold weather, algae and other aquatic vegetation die off, and the water becomes much cleaner and clearer than it was in the summer. The behavior of pikes also changes.
At the beginning of autumn, when the water is warm enough, the fish are close to the surface of the water most of the time, which allows fishermen to take a large catch, since any bait can be used - be it live bait or artificial. Pike are especially active at this time, they are full of energy and therefore rush at everything they see in front of them, so this is the best time for anglers. And when the temperature drops significantly, the pike goes to a depth that is more comfortable for it.
Less effective and more difficult is catching pike in late autumn, when the first frosts begin and the water is covered with thin ice. It significantly reduces visibility, which creates additional difficulties and inconvenience for fishermen.
How to catch pike with a spinning rod from the shore in clear water
How to catch pike with a spinning rod from the shore. Cloudy water or clear? The success of catching predatory fish often depends on the transparency of the water in a reservoir. And this applies not only to spinning fishing. I am on the shore of a small lake, which is known to be the best pike pond in the area. It was the warmest spring in many years. The sun was hot as in June, although it was only the beginning of May, giving hope for a good catch.
But from cast to cast she faded in me. At the end of the fishing day I walked around the small lake twice. Once with a large perch on a rig, another with a small roach, but there were no bites. I was new to this lake, so I didn't want to give up so quickly. The following weekend I went to this pond again. The water was still so muddy that there was apparently no point in hoping for anything good. And this is called the best pike lake in the area!
Splash of a hunting pike
After this failure, I fished several times in other bodies of water, primarily in carp ponds between plantings of fruit trees. A colleague I met there in the summer once remarked in conversation that there were a lot of decent carp in the pike lake. Therefore, in September I again headed to the small lake, taking with me hard corn for feeding. The water in the lake was now surprisingly clear.
Only at the edge of the shore I could see the remains of a carpet of yellow-green aquatic plants. And I thought that the lake, in which the water was already muddy in the spring, would remain so all year round. As soon as I started feeding a suitable place, something splashed near the shore. Several waves diverged at an angle to the sides. I'm sure it was a pike. Then I decided to observe: I sat down on the shore and began to look at the water. Here again a wave passed through a school of small fish.
The next morning I came here with a spinning rod. My rig was the same as in the spring - a dead fish on the rig, but the fishing result turned out to be completely different. I caught three pike, two of which were more than 70 cm long. Until winter came, I fished here with a spinning rod, and quite successfully. Old, experienced fishermen, whom I had not seen on the pond for a whole year, now came here with their pike gear.
This lake has a law that I know from other bodies of water: the pike bite depends primarily on the transparency of the water. If the water is clear, the chances of catching are excellent; if it is cloudy, the chances of catching are quite poor. Many people evaluate possible external circumstances before they take the bait. What temperature is the water, how strong is the wind blowing, how full is the moon, is the weather good or bad? The question of how clear the water is is often overlooked, but it can be a crucial one.
Cloudy water for a long time
Are there bodies of clear water where you can catch pike all year round? And doesn’t the catch depend largely on the fishing method? In muddy water, pike have difficulty distinguishing blue baits, but in clear water, fishing with a bait fish can be more successful. This happens, but not always. And in reservoirs with muddy water, I caught pike all year round, primarily with sinning baits.
The muddy water was no obstacle here. How light affects fish bite, information - here In one small pond, I successfully caught beautiful pike with a spinning rod, although the water there was always brown, like coffee. When the water is cloudy for a long time, the pike is forced to get used to it. She was already born in the dark, learns to hunt with the help of the lateral line and brings it to perfection. This may be the reason why long-term turbidity of water in such reservoirs does not affect catches.
Pike perch instead of pike
The situation is different if the normally clear water becomes cloudy for a short time during an algae bloom or during high water. Obviously, a visually oriented predator like pike is not able to quickly adapt to hunting in muddy water. In any case, my catches in such conditions were rare. Colleagues whom I asked about this confirmed my observations. But wouldn’t natural baits be more effective under these conditions? For example, live bait on a girder.
On that same pike lake I tried this method when the water became cloudy for a short time. Indeed, I had bites and caught a pike. Not giants, but still the tape measure showed the length of one of them was 68 cm. And yet, when the water was cloudy for a long time, I caught better with natural baits than with artificial ones. Probably, when attacking a spinner or wobbler in muddy water, a pike more often misses, even if it is forced to hunt in such conditions for a long time.
Forced diet
A short-term turbidity of the water in a reservoir puts the pike on a forced diet, since it is more difficult for it to hunt for small fish that serve as its usual food. During this period, the predator practically does not react to all artificial imitations. This is confirmed by the results of scientific studies conducted in France, during which the stomach contents of pikes were studied.
According to them, pikes eat an incredibly large number of worms when the water begins to become cloudy. Undoubtedly, this is not a favorite food, but a necessary one, which is easy to detect even in troubled waters. With the onset of autumn, the short-term summer turbidity of water in many small reservoirs gradually decreases. Maybe this is the reason for that.
Why is it better to catch fish in small ponds and lakes mostly in spring and winter, although in summer fishermen visit these reservoirs more often, including spinning anglers? Is cloudiness of water bodies due to algae blooms or heavy rains always a negative factor for pike fishing? Not always, if we remember the subsequent enlightenment of water. Pike take the bait very aggressively as soon as they can see clearly in the water again.
It’s as if they are trying to make up for what they missed. Therefore, my strategy boils down to the following: in muddy water, I switch to fishing for pike perch, which can be just as effective in the daytime as it usually is only in the dark. And as the water clears, I return to pike fishing again. Treacherous cloudiness. It’s very similar to a fairy tale, but it’s true: the color of the pike shows whether it fed in muddy water or not.
In reservoirs with long-term turbidity of water, where pike have adapted to hunt in these conditions, they in most cases have a pale color. On the contrary, in bodies of water that become cloudy only for a short time, and the water in them is clear most of the year, most often you will find pikes with pronounced spots on the body and almost red fins. In such reservoirs you should not fish when the water is cloudy; here you need to wait for it to clear.
Written by Bert Schroeder
Habitats of pike in autumn
Pike, like other fish species, have individual behavioral characteristics that can vary depending on the body of water, as well as taste preferences. Since this is a predatory fish, it needs to hunt someone, but in the fall the pike prefers to do this not openly, chasing prey, but watching it from ambush in order to pounce at an opportune moment. To do this, the fish always chooses some kind of shelter.
Most often, while the water is not yet too cold, the pike hides near the places of the greatest concentration of fry and small fish, for example, in the grass or reeds. By observing their behavior, experienced fishermen can accurately determine where the pike is hiding and behave as quietly as possible so as not to inadvertently scare it away as it swims past. And the lower the water temperature, the deeper the small fish go, to where the pike is already waiting for it, because that is its native habitat.
If pike fishing in late autumn is carried out from the shore, then you need to look for areas where there are snags, algae, tufts of grass, and underwater spits. It must be remembered that pike are not found where there is a river current, so an area with a reverse flow (but no closer than 50 meters from the main current) can become a place for successful fishing.
As soon as algae and other vegetation in the water begin to die off, you can approach those places that were previously inaccessible, since the fish there feel safe and can go for any bait.
When should you not fish for pike?
Fishing for pike in muddy water using a spinning rod is possible all year round, regardless of weather conditions. But there are times when fishing is still more successful.
Why are bodies of water muddy at certain times of the year? Firstly, some lakes and rivers are always in this condition, and for them this is considered the norm. Especially for those with a sandy or clay bottom. This type of soil suggests that even in the case of a slight current, the water will become cloudy.
Secondly, some water areas with a muddy bottom are also susceptible to this. Since during an active flow, the water layers begin to mix, accordingly, everything that is at the bottom rises up.
Secondly, the water becomes cloudy if it rains for a long time. The fact is that sediments from the banks wash up dirt, soil and other elements, polluting the water.
Unseen circumstances
So when muddy water can ruin pike fishing:
- Spring flood. Snow and ice begin to melt, and the ecosystem changes accordingly. Liquid containing dirt, lime, soil, debris, etc. enters reservoirs.
- Strong continuous winds. Under such weather conditions, the water becomes cloudy very quickly. Active wind currents create waves, due to which the water is mixed, and layers of silt rise from the bottom, as well as other elements.
Therefore, under the weather conditions presented above, it is better to simply not go fishing, especially if you want to catch a pike, as this makes the task more difficult. But if you are a persistent fisherman like me, then I will tell you about my secret methods of hunting predators.
What gear is best to use for pike fishing in the fall?
- Spinning . At the beginning of autumn, you can catch more fish using a spinning rod than using any other gear. If you arrange fishing during the period of the most active feeding, then you can use any bait, and the larger the bait, the faster the pike will bite. But when choosing a spinning rod, it is worth taking into account the weight of the fish that the angler plans to catch and the tactics of retrieving. In order not to spook the fish, it is better to take wobblers that are not of bright colors, and choose a spinner that is not too large. When choosing a spinning reel, you need to take into account its quality, as well as its compliance with the action of the rod and its class. The correct diameter of the fishing line can be determined by the method of guiding the bait that the fisherman chose.
- Jig . One of the effective types of fishing is jig fishing. A fast-action spinning rod with a length of up to 2.7 meters is suitable here. It is important that the tip be such that you can feel the behavior of the bait on the bottom, since this is very important with this method of fishing. It is also necessary to ensure that the size of the reel is selected correctly, and that the cord or fishing line is wound well to avoid tangling during use. In this case, the diameter of the fishing line can be from 0.13 to 0.25 mm. If you take a little more, then this will have an insignificant effect on the casting distance, but it will help if the tackle gets caught on something, for example, on snags.
- Mugs. To catch pike with mugs, you do not need to buy expensive reels or rods; this method can be called budgetary, but no less effective, which is why it has become very popular recently. You can assemble the mugs yourself. It is necessary to take spools of polystyrene foam with a large diameter and wind a fishing line on them (10 to 20 meters long) with a cross-section of 0.30-0.35 mm. The weight of the sinker is adjusted depending on the size and mobility of the baitfish. To catch active pike, drifting mugs are suitable, but for passive fish you should use a tethered mug. This is when the baitfish on the hook makes chaotic movements, attracting the attention of the predator and causing its aggression. With this method of fishing, success can be achieved even on small lakes if the pike feeds in the coastal zone.
- Donka . Catching pike with a donk can be called unmodern and unsporting. However, this type of fishing, especially when you go out purposefully to catch a toothy fish, is no different in simplicity. Knowledge and experience are also required here.
How pike behavior changes in troubled water
Poor transparency of the water areas where predatory fish are caught is a big obstacle to a good bite. The fact is that in such conditions she begins to behave differently - less active and even lazy.
The same pike tries to stay in secluded places where, despite the muddy water, it can feel more confident. Therefore, the angler should remember:
- Pike practically do not stand in the coastal zone or on the current. In muddy water, it prefers areas with various shelters. These can be flooded trees and bushes, snags, thickets of water lilies (the main thing is that the depth is at least 1 m), as well as large stones and boulders lying at the bottom. In the presence of turbidity and poor visibility, pike also likes to hide near holes and depressions, since there are often gaps of clearer water here. Accordingly, it is easier for pike to hunt in such places.
- The fish tries to find the cleanest part of the reservoir. True, there are few of them. Especially during floods or heavy, prolonged rainfall. As a rule, this is the confluence of a tributary, some kind of deep-water channel, as well as areas where springs gush from the bottom.
- When the water is cloudy, the predator chooses places on the border of several currents. Such areas are not uncommon on many rivers. They usually form near creeks, as well as where different waters merge. For example, a river, and a stream flows into it.
- Both small squinting and large trophy individuals try to practically not move in muddy water. How do they feed? Usually food is always nearby. After all, as a rule, various “linen” (bleak, top melting, roach, etc.) are kept in the same places. It turns out that there is plenty of food for the pike. There is no need to look for it.
- The predator's attacks are very short! In muddy water, pike will not chase the bait for long. The maximum is a jerk over a distance of 1-2 body lengths. This is why there are usually so few bites when fishing in polluted waters.
Varieties of autumn lures for pike fishing
The most affordable way to get a good catch is to catch pike with live bait. Here you can even do without expensive gear, the main thing is to have a high-quality and reliable hook, as well as a strong leash. Roach, minnows or small crucian carp are the best live bait. Sometimes they also use ruffs, but they can scare away the pike with their spiny fins. You should not use too large or very small fish as live bait. And if you have the opportunity to choose, then preference should be given to those live bait that will be mobile longer after being hooked. To make the bait as realistic as possible, it should be put on the hooks through the gills or lips and nostril, and not just through the fin.
In addition to live bait, there is another type of bait - spinners. For pike fishing, this is exactly the gear with which you can get a big catch, you just need to know how to handle it correctly. Spoons are made of copper and tin, but for catching pike in the fall, copper is suitable, as it is light, and it is better not to use tin - it falls off too quickly.
It is in the fall that spinners will be the most effective means for pike fishing. The most catch can be obtained using rotating spoons, but only at a depth of no more than 3 meters. Oscillating spinners can also give good results, which are suitable for those who are not lazy to constantly work with the reel (if they are large and heavy, then it is best to use them before the onset of persistent cold weather). In addition, balancers and castmasters can be used - pike also go well on them.
There is another type of bait for effective pike fishing in late autumn - wobblers. This is a plastic fish equipped with treble hooks. In the water, such a bait moves due to the jerks of the rod made by the angler, and the reel only affects the tension of the fishing line. In clear water and in sunny weather it is better to use wobblers of matte colors, and on cloudy days - bright ones. Dark ones are suitable if the water is cool. In addition, you need to take into account the fact that wobblers come in three types of buoyancy: floating, sinking and neutral (suspenders).
Where does a pike stand in troubled water?
A pike in muddy water tries to occupy a place in order to somehow protect itself from the dirt suspended in the water. Pike does not stand near the shore and does not stand in the current; it chooses areas with low pressure that form behind underwater obstacles.
Or the predator chooses areas on the border between forward and reverse flows. Fishermen can often see that between two jets, forward and backward, a so-called “eye” is often formed - an oval area of relatively clear water.
At these moments, the pike tries not to move unnecessarily. You will not see such movements as the predator sometimes makes in clear autumn water or in clear water before high water. First of all, the fish is worth it. And secondly, the water is so cloudy that you can’t see anything!
Pike attacks at this moment are short. The predator attacks no further than the length of its body. However, at this moment the white fish also tries to stay in the same places that the predator chooses for itself.
And this means that the pike has absolutely no need to make long movements, because the food fish is constantly scurrying in front of its very nose.
Things to remember when fishing for pike in autumn
A fisherman who decides to fish for pike from September to November should first decide what kind of fish he will go for - active or calm. If the first option is chosen, then the bait must be long-range. This includes wobblers, oscillating spoons and silicone baits. They allow wiring along the bottom and in different parts of the reservoir.
Weather conditions affect the behavior of pike in autumn. If the day is cloudy, it can look for food in the shallows, and in sunny weather it can go deeper. When going on stationary fishing, you should not throw away your gear before you have found the place where the fish are most likely to be found.
Pike in troubled water - behavior, bait, how to catch
There is a saying, “Fishing in troubled waters.” To those who hear it, it seems that this is a very profitable and easy activity, as if you can catch a fish in troubled water almost with your hands.
However, any fisherman will tell you that catching the same predator in muddy or dirty water is very difficult, and sometimes completely impossible. And pike is no exception.
