Fishing for pike in winter on a balance beam, fishing technique, choice of gear and overview of balance beams

Finding pike in winter

Pike actively hunts on the first ice, acting not only from ambushes, but also cruising throughout the entire reservoir. At the beginning of the ice fishing season, the best results come from searching for predators. First of all, of course, you need to focus on the places where forage fish are concentrated.

Often the pike follows a moving school of white fish. As long as there is enough oxygen in the water and it has not cooled down much, the small fish continue to stay close to summer places.

The best results are achieved by fishing windows and passages in reeds, algae, and near dumps from shallow waters to depth. The large predator traditionally stands at depths with bottom anomalies - flooded channels, snags, channel dumps.

However, pike, even in large bodies of water, prefer shallower depths than, for example, pike perch or bersh. In rivers, the most promising are large backwaters, holes with shelter and a smooth flow.

With the onset of deep winter, pike leaves the shallows for deeper places with good oxygen conditions, continuing to feed periodically. At this time, pike “outings” are unstable and short-term; most often this occurs during prolonged thaws, with low pressure and cloudy, calm weather.

By spring, on the last ice, the pike comes closer to the confluence of rivers and streams, to fresh water. At this time, the pre-spawning feast begins.

Fishing rod and equipment for fishing with a balance beam

The fishing rod should provide a comfortable and secure hold while fishing. Handles made of cork or EVA are comfortable, they are warm and do not slip in the hand. The main requirements for a pike fishing rod are:

sufficient rigidity for high-quality hooking;
an elastic and reliable whip that can withstand the first jerk of a fish;
length that allows you to make brush strokes.

Most often, balance rods with a whip length of 40-60 cm are used. This is the optimal length for pike fishing. You need to have several guide rings on the whip to unload it and prevent breakage. Balance fishing rods require a capacious reel that allows you to quickly wind and unwind the fishing line.

Both simple inertial models with a large drum and non-inertial ones, as well as multipliers, are used. Inertial coils are preferable because of their simplicity and reliability; they do not require special lubrication, do not freeze as much when exposed to water, and are easier to clean.

With an average size of pike up to 2 kilograms, a fishing line of 0.2-0.25 mm is sufficient . If there is a possibility of catching trophy specimens, then the fishing rod should be equipped with a fishing line of 0.3-0.4 mm. For winter fishing in general, and for catching pike with a balance beam in particular, it is advisable to use monofilament fishing line.

It doesn’t freeze as much as wicker, and thanks to its stretchability, it dampens short jerks of the fish well. Braided lines, although highly informative, are highly susceptible to freezing, even those that are positioned as specialized for winter fishing.

You need to have a line reserve of 30-50 meters on the reel . This length allows you to fish any reservoirs with a reserve for breaks and bandages.

When fishing for pike on a balance beam, it is necessary to use leashes. Recently, in winter, fluorocarbon leaders with a thickness of 0.4-0.6 mm are more often used. You can also install braided metal cables. But it is not recommended to use string leashes; they significantly worsen the performance of the balancer. Naturally, leashes must be equipped with high-quality accessories - carabiners and swivels that can withstand high loads.

Perch on the balancer. Rocking the hole

Perch on the balancer in winter.
Swinging the hole To swing the hole when catching perch on a balance beam, you can use the following technique:

Lower the balancer to the bottom;
We do several tosses of the balancer in a row without a pause;
We begin wiring the balancer with a stop and pause after each toss to a level higher than the previous stop.

See how this happens in real winter fishing with a balance beam when catching perch:

After the perch has gathered in the hole and began to bite, it is important to maintain the fishing pace without allowing the perch to disperse. You need to keep it active by quickly lowering the balancer back after the next bite.

Balancer selection

It is believed that pure pike balancers are quite large in size. Although pike is often caught well with perch and zander baits, a “real” pike balancer has a size of 5 centimeters, mostly 7-10 cm. This bait has a sweeping but smooth action, attracting an active predator well.

Balancers of shorter length are used more often in the dead of winter, when the pike bites it during long pauses. In any case, when fishing you need to have bait of different sizes. It often happens that after changing a large balancer to a small one, in the same hole where there were no bites, a confident grip follows.

The color of the bait can greatly depend on the body of water. Natural colors work well - bluish, silver. The toothy predator also reacts positively to “acid” colors and “perch” coloring.

Unlike perch balancers, when a good effect is achieved by multi-colored drops on the lower tee, additional “aiming points” for pike baits are not decisive. The fish reacts more to the game, shape and color of the bait as a whole, and not to the suspensions.

The most common are balancers with a plastic tail; they have the most pronounced play. A bait tail with an edge made of threads, lurex or fur can be recommended when catching inactive fish or on pressed-in reservoirs.

When choosing a balancer, special attention should be paid to the size and quality of the hooks; if the hook is too small, frequent catches and slips are inevitable.

Catching perch on a balance beam: secrets of experienced

When choosing baits, you should pay attention to the behavior of the tail part: soft models that do not have a rigid attachment behave more naturally. Experienced fishermen recommend:

Fish respond best to bright red baits in cloudy weather; on a clear sunny day, preference should be given to balancers with pale shades.
You should not make too short pauses between swings - it is advisable to wait at least 10 seconds.
Change your fishing tactics more often. Fishing with a balance beam requires experimentation and creativity.

Try, experiment and - no tail, no scales. Better yet, come to Sazanya Bay, a fishing base, where you can try out various fishing techniques, as well as catch truly enviable specimens.

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.

Fishing technique

After the hole is drilled, after lowering the balancer, one smooth toss is immediately performed. The first pause after the toss should be long enough. After the game fades out, you need to wait another 5-10 seconds. The fact is that the predator standing under the hole first notices the movement of the bait, then turns around and attacks the balancer while paused.

If the first strokes are made frequently, the fish often misses or gets pierced. In addition, pike generally prefer attacks during long pauses, when the “prey” freezes. If after the first two or three throws there are no bites, you can make several high and frequent ones. Active movement will attract fish from long distances. Then swings with pauses follow again.

If this does not bring results, then you can make several short, smooth strokes, as when playing with a jig. Such manipulations work well when catching “quilted” fish.

When fishing for passive pike, the first strokes should be neat, 20-30 cm high, with long pauses. Sometimes a smooth rise of the balancer without tossing helps. In this case, after lifting by 50-70 cm, the balancer returns to its original position with short, 10-20 cm, resets. Catching inactive fish always involves finding an effective game, so experimentation is inevitable.

In any case, when fishing for pike, you should not get carried away with sudden movements; winter fish react poorly to random throwing of bait under the ice.

Balancer fishing technique

So, first, it’s worth saying a few words about the tactics themselves. When using a balancer, its operating radius can be about 3 meters. Therefore, drill holes at a distance of about 5 meters from each other.

After you have drilled the very first hole, you need to start determining the depth. Let's say if it is about 1-2 m, fishing experts recommend covering the hole with snow. This method will help avoid creating too light spots on the bottom. In order not to scare away the perch. After all, he can be afraid of light much more than noise.

Now you need to start choosing fishing equipment. The bait, which was previously lowered, must be raised, then the game begins. The most effective and catchy techniques are:

It is necessary to lift the balancer from the bottom with smooth movements, approximately a meter. We wait a short pause, then slowly lower it. You can do this with slightly rocking movements. This game will allow you to work using the lower tee. It will help provoke even the most passive individuals.
The next method involves a kind of knocking of the balancer on the bottom. After these steps, you need to lift it by 10-15 cm, and then sharply pull the fishing rod 30-40 cm up. And lower the balancer to the bottom, as in the original position.
They like to use this option already on the last ice. When playing with bait, you need to make a sharp and short fish to the top by 20 centimeters, take a short pause of about 10 seconds and jerk again. The bait should be lowered with gentle rocking motions.
This is also a pretty good option, which is increasingly in demand. The so-called jig technique. You need to perform short and small swings and twitches with the fishing rod. This option attracts perch very well.
An equally popular technique is called “Double lift - single reset”. There are almost never any difficulties with such a game. It is performed using the following method: you need to tear the balancer from the bottom and raise it 30 cm, wait a few seconds and lift it up 20 cm. Again, take a short break and repeat these steps several times.

Technique for catching perch using a balance beam in winter video

These are just a few of the postings that are in particular demand. It is simply unrealistic to list absolutely everything, because literally every day more and more new inventions appear. Since every fisherman experiments and with each new experience finds something new for himself.

Perch bites very well on the balance beam in winter and there is a great chance of catching the largest individual. A fisherman who is just beginning to discover new knowledge in the world of fishing with a balance beam should stock up on various types of gear. So with great endurance and patience.

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.

Technique for catching perch in winter using balance beams

Let's look at the methods of playing with balance beams and learn how to find the elevator and swing the hole.
The main fishing technique is jerking, the question is how often to pause and how hard to pull the rod up.

Classic balancers with triangular tails like Rappala or Lucky John require very little time to return to the starting position. Therefore, between jerks there is a pause of 2-3 seconds , no more. For this, of course, the weight of the balancer must be at least 8 grams.

The jerks are sharp, but not strong. Judging by the fishing line, it sticks out of the water by 10-20 centimeters.

For fishing in the wilderness, the following option is suitable:

Since the perch goes deeper in the cold, the balancer sinks to the bottom
You will feel a hit on the bottom and the line will stretch.
With a smooth winding it rises 40-50 centimeters from the bottom
If the first 20 jerks do not bring results, raise the balancer another 50 centimeters
If there is no bite for more than 5 minutes, do not hesitate to change the hole.

Fishing in December on the first ice and in March :

Depth 1-2.5 meters
Light snatch pull-ups
Do not release the balancer deeper than two meters
When catching the first perch, do not change the hole under any circumstances, perch is a schooling predator, where there is one, there are others
If small perch are constantly biting, place the balancer a centimeter larger, then a larger perch will definitely appear

Tips for successful fishing

Remember the working holes. Although pike do not travel in schools, they have quite pronounced underwater “paths”. After catching a predator or several in one of the holes, let the hole “rest”. When returning to this place after one or two hours, you can count on new bites.

Fish around the perimeter of the “bazaar” of white fish lovers. The stopping places of small fish are very often under the close supervision of toothy “shepherds”.

During the first ice, don’t be afraid to get into the very thick of the reeds; one free “window” among the thickets can make the whole fishing trip.

Underwater filming of catching perch on a balance beam

Do not forget that successful fishing is possible only if all horizons and layers of the reservoir are fished. You constantly need to drill new holes and move the rod in search of toothy predators.

In the absence of such, it is recommended to feed the holes with bloodworms or chopped dung worms - such bait will certainly attract the attention of a new school of perch. In order not to frighten off the fish, you should move along the surface of the ice of the reservoir extremely quietly and carefully, so as not to frighten off your future catch.

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