Catchy pike fishing in winter - video and photo guide

Today, fishing has turned from a way of obtaining food into entertainment, so hunting for predatory fish is of particular interest. Avid fishermen use girders - gear for catching pike. These devices were used in ancient times, and today they have been modified and improved, which ensures a guaranteed catch. The participation of the fisherman when using the girders is limited solely to the installation of gear and removal of the catch. Catching pike with girders gives you the advantage of being able to use gear in any place, even hard-to-reach places, where other devices cannot be used.

Pike behavior

The behavior of the predator at this time largely depends on how the ice is established. Namely:

Where the ice has just frozen, this predator is quite active. She strives to grab almost every bait, every fish she can reach. It is especially noticeable in water areas with strong currents, on the edges.
Where the ice has been established for a long time, the behavior of pike comes down to the fact that mainly only juveniles continue to actively play and feed.
If the ice does not rise, then the pike still remains active, feeding as before.

Fishing time

The best time for pike fishing in winter is the morning. Little by little, the small fish become more active, going out to feed, and the predator goes hunting.

The bite subsides towards noon, resuming in the evening. In some cases it can last all day. But if you are aiming to catch a large pike, then the best time is morning and evening.

Throughout the winter, the behavior of pike, its location, and feeding habits will change. Therefore, the fisherman needs to adapt to it all the time.

Let's start with the girder

It must be said that girders are not sophisticated and sophisticated fishing gear for winter fishing. It has the following characteristics:

Lightweight and small in size.
Easy to assemble.
Good bite alarm.

The platform platform is less convenient on the first ice; it is better to use it on a tripod.
But if you have the opportunity to sprinkle it with snow, then it’s ideal. Each angler chooses which type of structure suits him best for fishing.

What should you pay attention to when choosing?
Pay attention to the reel. It should work perfectly, not jam, there should be no play, otherwise difficulties may arise when fishing.
It would be great if there is a nut or screw on the fastening axis, with which you can control the stroke of the reel, which will allow you to avoid excessive line release when biting, and also prevent the line from getting tangled.
The reel must be of the appropriate size; too small will not work, as it may begin to spontaneously shed the line when the pike jerks.
The bite alarm cannot be ignored ; it is preferable if the material is not so prone to freezing.
The spring should not be weak , but not too strong either. Elasticity is optimal to the extent that it can hold the fish both in an inactive state and during jerks, etc. This characteristic is interconnected with the thickness, elasticity and amount of bend of the spring.
The stand or base is better made of plastic so that it does not freeze to the ice.

Winter rig for pike

The entire design of a pike girder is described in detail in one of the previous articles.

Diagram of the vent device

The circuit of the girder is very simple, it consists of:

Main fishing line - a good monofilament, quite elastic, is suitable here. Wicker is not suitable because it freezes in the cold, and as a result, you can injure your hands when fishing.
Coil - as mentioned earlier, a larger one is preferable. So that 15-20 m of fishing line 0.3-0.4 mm thick can be wound on it. If you intend to catch large fish, then the thickness of the fishing line should be 0.5 mm.
Sinker. We recommend using an olive sinker, which has an oblong shape. Its weight is determined by fishing conditions: fishing depth, current strength, activity of live bait. But you need to remember that a sinker that is too heavy has a negative impact on the sensitivity of the alarm. Therefore, choose the optimal one for fishing. So, for shallow depths a sinker weighing 10 grams is quite suitable.
Sinker stopper. This is not a mandatory element of the equipment, however, it is quite convenient, because with its help you can accurately determine and control the degree of freedom of the live bait on the hook.
Hook. The size of the hook has a lot to do with the size of the baitfish and the intended predator you want to catch. We do not recommend using too small hooks, nor do we recommend using hooks that are too large. There must be moderation in everything.
Steel leash. This is an important point in rigging. This is explained by the fact that a steel leash significantly reduces the number of bites, because the predator sees it and avoids it. As a result of this, they prefer to make leashes from thicker fishing line or from double fishing line.

How to catch pike in winter

Fishing in December

Pike fishing in December largely depends on how quickly the pond becomes covered with ice. If the ice forms early, then fishing follows all the canons of the first ice. If only by the middle or towards the end of the month, then only small grass remains in the coastal zone. Medium and large individuals go deep into holes.

On the first ice, the pike is quite active, moves a lot, enters shallow waters in areas of coastal thickets. Here at the beginning of winter there is an accumulation of small fish.

Gradually, the activity of large pike decreases; medium and small predators continue to feed intensively. Therefore, fishing takes on a different – sporting character. You have to look for fish carefully. Since there are no snags and vegetation in deep places, it is necessary to examine the bottom in more detail. The predator uses the slightest unevenness to set up an ambush.

Fishing in January

In January, the period of deep winter begins, the activity of underwater inhabitants decreases and comes to almost nothing. Pike is no exception; catching it becomes very difficult. She moves little, trying to stay in the depths and slopes all the time. Only the need for food gives a chance for successful fishing even at this time.

The pike's prey is only the fish that happens to be nearby. Therefore, the first priority, ideally, would be to find areas at depth where fines are concentrated in large quantities.

On large bodies of water this will take time. It is necessary to examine the bottom topography, determine the positions of the riverbed, holes, and exits from them.

On small rivers and lakes everything is simpler. There are not many areas with great depth, so the pike can remain in the places that it occupied in the fall. These are the same coastal hollows, snags, and depth changes.

For the sake of experiment, you can fish areas near the reeds, provided that the depth there is at least 1.5 meters.

In the dead of winter, pike activity is minimal, so some girdle fishermen refuse a metal leash due to an increase in the number of bites. There will be a lot of line cuts, but there is a chance of at least some catch.

During prolonged thaws, the activity of pike increases noticeably, this is due to the penetration of melt water under the ice and an increase in oxygen levels.

Fishing in February

Pike fishing in February initially differs little from fishing in the previous month. The predator is still inactive, so thin jigs and small lures with slow action are used.

The behavior of fish is unstable - in some reservoirs its activity can slowly increase, in others it’s the opposite - periodic sharp surges in feeding and subsequent declines.

With an increase in the average daily temperature and an increase in light levels, pike, like other fish, becomes more active. The small fish rise from deep areas, moving to the middle horizons, and the predator follows it.

In large bodies of water this phenomenon begins earlier, apparently due to the fact that here the fish have to travel a greater distance to spawn.

It is preferable to look for pike at depths of 2-3 meters, not far from the remains of last year’s thickets, locks and dams and other water structures.

How to make a vent yourself?

Assembling the vent is not so difficult if you approach the assembly with all attention and do everything step by step:

First, the required amount of fishing line is wound onto the reel.
A stupor is installed at the end of the fishing line.
Then we attach a sliding sinker.
Let's put the lower stop on the bottom again.
After we put the end loop, you can make a winding ring or a carabiner. Or you can simply tie the leash to the fishing line.
We install the leash.
We tie a hook.

And that’s it, the zherlitsa is assembled.

Important: in most regions of the Russian Federation there are strict restrictions on the number of girders allowed for fishing. Therefore, before fishing, make sure whether fishing with girders is prohibited in a particular region, and if not, then how many girders can be caught by one fisherman.

What kind of live bait should I choose for fishing? A popular species for catching this predator is the gudgeon. The fact is that, unlike perch or roach, it does not particularly like to hide, preferring open places. Also a common choice for fishing is small carp. It is characterized by active play, which attracts predators. It is important to remember that pike are quite wary of prickly fish, for example, perch or ruffe, as well as unfamiliar fish species that do not live in this body of water. However, if perch is found in predominant numbers in reservoirs, then pike bite well on it.

To the balancer

To catch pike in winter, different types of bait are used - both artificial and live. Winter baits include all spinning baits that are used to catch pike in the warm season. You can even use silicones, but balancers are considered the most popular and effective, especially since they make hunting much more interesting. Balancers can be used when fishing for pike in shallow or deep water.

The structure of the balancer is in many ways similar to a wobbler, but it needs to be hooked onto your back, so it is located in a horizontal position. In this case, hooks are attached to the head and tail of the bait, as well as a double or tee at the bottom. For pike, it is better to use large balancers 6-9 cm long in bright colors so that the bait looks like perch or roach living in the pond. You also need to consider the size of the hook for equipment. It is the correct selection of bait that will provide the fisherman with a good catch.

Fishing with a balancer takes place in the following order:

First you need to drill 8-10 holes.
Fishing must begin from the first hole and move alternately to the last.
Then the game begins - the balancer is lowered to the required depth, then thrown up 20-25 cm, then returned to its original position. After such a movement, you need to wait a little, as the pike may begin to peck.
When catching pike with a balancer, you need to start in shallow water, and then check each layer of water, gradually lowering it to the bottom of the reservoir. After reaching the bottom, the balancer must be raised again, cleared of algae and the game repeated.
It is better not to take long pauses in the game of the balancer, since the whole essence of this fishing is the movement of the bait.

Expert opinion

Valery Andreevich Sizov

Professional fisherman with 35 years of experience

IMPORTANT! If fishing takes place in a body of water with a fast current, then it is better to take a narrow-bodied balancer. Such a model will not rotate and twist the line, worsening the performance of the bait.

Other fishing methods

In addition to jigs, you can use spinners and balancers. At this time of year, in the majority of cases it remains active, as a result of which, if you do not notice bites for 5-10 minutes, then change the place of fishing. And you can return to this place later, when you go around the other holes, because... remember that pike also move around the pond.

Lure fishing

The predominant number of winter spinners have an oval shape. Fishing is done with a spoon, which has a tee, on which there is a plumage of red hairs. Practice shows that this design provides good bite and hooking. We do not recommend fishing with a spoon with a tee that is too large, as this scares away predators. Do not forget that the spoon also requires a strong leash, otherwise the pike will simply bite it. Whether steel or fishing line - depends on your preferences.

To the balancer

The balance beam is a very common bait for predators. It is a small fish that plays quite actively when caught, which attracts the attention of the pike. In the first winter month, fish are caught quite well with it. The most suitable baits are sizes from 2 to 9. The balancer can be improved with various beads and flies of bright colors, which can attract predators.

List of catchable balancers for pike

Fishing places

Typically, in winter, pike stay in the following areas:

Brovki
Svali
Places of exits from pits
Heavily corroded areas at shallow depths
Areas with coastal vegetation
Near large boulders

Keep in mind that in each reservoir the predator behaves differently in winter; you should also look for it based on the type of reservoir where you will catch pike.

Rivers

On large rivers, pike are located in snags and on coastal bays, where the water is a little warmer. Selects depths up to 2-3 meters.
On small rivers it prefers to set up ambushes near thickets of reeds and trees fallen in the water.
Sharp bends in the riverbed are also good places for predators to stop.

Ponds and lakes

On ponds, the predator does not travel long distances. Therefore, it is much more important here to identify the so-called “pike trails”.

Along steep banks, pike stay in snags from coastal trees and bushes.
If the bottom of the reservoir is flat, without obvious changes in depth, then finding fish becomes much more difficult.
On lakes, pike tend to occupy deep dumps, which knowledgeable anglers try to identify in advance.

Large reservoirs

Here, with the onset of winter, pike move away from the shore, moving to deep water, where there is more oxygen and where more possible prey is concentrated. Only when there is first ice and during a thaw can it go out into shallow water to snag areas.

Let's shine big

At what depth is it preferable to fish with lures?

Catching pike with this bait involves taking into account not only the location and selection of gear, but also accurately determining the depth. And this largely depends on the thickness of the ice:

With the first ice, the thickness of which is more than 10 cm, trolling will be most successful at a depth of 5-6 m.
About 20 cm, the most effective fishing will be at a depth of 3-5 meters.
Above 20 cm, pike fishing starts from 50 cm and deeper. Fish are caught at different depths.

Such numbers and calculations are not random and are not taken out of thin air. This is explained by the fact that the pike perfectly hears and notices the fisherman if the first ice is thin.

Flashing tactics

The tactic is to thoroughly prepare for catching a predator. It is important to first work out the fishing route, and then fish exactly in those places that you think will be more suitable, taking into account the preferences of the pike (we noted them above). You need to fish all the prepared holes, but at different times. If the predator does not show itself for 5-10 minutes, you need to waste time. This way you can find exactly the place that will bring a successful catch.

Flashing technique

First, the spoon gradually, without jerking, sinks to the bottom. Then we slowly raise the spoon up to one and a half meters above the bottom. Then we sharply drop it below. So you need to do 7-8 lifts. Then we switch to regular trolling, i.e. trolling above the depth at a distance of 10-15 cm with breaks of about 5 seconds. If you note that there are no bites and the pike is not showing itself in any way, then there is no need to waste time on this hole, but move on to another, repeating this procedure.

Features and nuances of fishing

Winter fishing with girders for pike is interesting and multifaceted. A couple of random trips does not reveal the essence of such fishing. To understand it, you need to constantly practice. Sooner or later, the reservoir will open up and reward the persistent fisherman with wonderful fishing or a trophy specimen.

The specifics and features of pike fishing in winter on girders depend entirely on the conditions of a particular reservoir. After lengthy experiments in the same place, the secrets and tricks of catching pike on girders in winter are revealed to the fisherman. He goes home with a catch even when the fishermen of the same day sit next to absolute zero.

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Final tips

The key to success in catching pike with live bait is its cheerfulness and energy. It is logical that, as soon as the opportunity arises, baitfish will want to hide in thickets or snags, which will only bring the fisherman a tangled line. To prevent this from happening, set a sinker of appropriate weight and limit the movement of the baitfish. It should be located at a distance from live bait so as not to spook the pike.
It is important to note that the pike is repelled by a beam of light passing through the hole. Therefore, if you come to fish on a clear sunny day, then sprinkle the hole with snow or ice chips. This can create some shadow without interfering with either the balancer or the spinner. But it won’t scare away the fish.
For winter fishing, in addition to an ice auger and other equipment, you will need a hook. For what? It’s simple, if you catch a large specimen, you simply won’t be able to pull the fish out of the hole without it.
A common mistake made by novice fishermen is that they try to grab a caught predator by the gills. This should not be done, because... This is where the thorns are located, which can leave cuts. And this is quite unpleasant, plus they take a long time to heal.
If you catch a large pike, it may not physically fit into the hole. Therefore, it is better to take a pick with you, with which it will be very easy to widen the hole.
However, pulling out a pike is not the last difficulty. After all, now you need to pull out the swallowed spoon or balancer, so as not to injure your hands, because it is unlikely that the predator will calmly lie and wait until the bait is pulled out of it. To do this, you will need to use a gapper and an extractor. Thanks to them, you can easily pull the spoon and balance out of the pike's mouth without injuring your hands.
Try non-snagging lures. They differ from ordinary ones in that the tee itself is rigidly attached to the spoon itself. To prevent the hooks from getting caught on anything, they are protected in the form of special wire antennae. This is an excellent purchase for fishing in places where a standard spoon is not suitable, for example, in snags.