The best winter fishing rod for jigs: models, reviews, recommendations for choosing

Of all the gear used for ice fishing, the most common is a winter fishing rod equipped with a small lead or tungsten bait with a jig hook.

The history of this tackle and the winter fishing rod itself as its main component goes back more than 150 years - this is how the first similar tackle for fishing for the small crustacean mormysh (amphipod) was described by the famous Russian fishing researcher, scientific ichthyologist Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev in his famous publication “Fishing Calendar” .

The fishing rod described by Sabaneev was made from a short birch rod with a handle made of dense reed plume, tightly wrapped with twine. The hair line was tied to the tip of such a fishing rod. A special feature of this gear was also the presence of a special wooden spatula, with the help of which the fisherman performed the fastest and most effective hooking.

Fishermen of the Trans-Ural lakes used such a fishing rod. Over time, the design of the winter fishing rod has undergone many changes and modern tackle only vaguely resembles the primitive Sabaneev one.

What kind of fish can you catch with a winter fishing rod and jig?

Thanks to the variety of jigs used in size, shape, design and fishing characteristics, almost any fish can become prey for a winter jig angler.

The most commonly caught with this tackle are such peaceful fish species as:

• roach;
• silver bream;
• bream and bream;
• dace;
• ide;
• bleak;
• perched water;
• gudgeon.

Very often, voracious ruffe and rotan are caught with this bait; less often, carp and crucian carp are caught in some reservoirs. Of the predatory fish species, the most common trophy is perch of various sizes.

Note! Predators such as pike and pike perch are caught on this tackle much less often than perch, and their sizes, as a rule, do not exceed 400-500 grams.

Installation of winter fishing rod equipment for perch

The question of what is the equipment for winter fishing rods with jigs should not cause any difficulties for the fisherman. Everything is much simpler than with summer gear.

According to some anglers, perch can be caught well on baitless gear. In winter, it happens that this fish is at the bottom or swims right under the ice. Although its activity is limited by low temperatures, anglers like to catch it with a jig.

Changing gear for different conditions of a fishing spot occurs with a change in the diameter of the fishing line, the size of the jig and the hook. The best fishing option is obtained with a certain ratio of fishing line and hook parameters.

The most commonly used line diameters are 0.05 mm; 0.06 mm; 0.07 mm.

When assembling a winter fishing rod with a jig for perch, you must follow some rules:

• the fishing rod should be comfortable and not freeze in the cold;
• fishing line with a diameter of 0.1 mm;
• a reelless jig is suitable, its weight is 0.3 g;
• If possible, make the nod from boar wool; it will be visible in the snow and has sufficient rigidity.

Correct rigging of a winter fishing rod with a jig - sequence of actions:

1. The fishing line is wound on a reel with a length three times the fishing depth in this place.
2. The nod is attached to the end of the fishing rod.
3. The line is passed through the nod.
4. The jig is tied to a fishing line, the devil, for example, is knitted vertically. Some baits are tied so that the hook is at an angle.

If we talk about choosing a jig for a winter fishing rod for catching perch, then this topic will be the most important for every angler. They can be for bloodworms and bloodworms with different beads and cambrics. Some believe that each fish should have its own type of bait; other anglers are of the opinion that the main thing for fish is the action of the jig.

But there is also the main thing - weight. It plays a role during wiring. If you use a heavy bait, you won’t be able to lower it smoothly. And in the current, you won’t create the desired game with a light bait. Tungsten jigs for winter fishing rods are more versatile.

Considering that perch is caught all winter, the line should hold a decent trophy. Here you need to select a diameter of at least 0.1 mm. A thicker line will spoil the play of the bait, and a thin line, for example, 0.06 mm, may not withstand it. It also deteriorates on the edges of ice.

The amount of fishing line is determined by the depth of the fishing spot. Usually they wind 10-15 meters on a reel.

Winter tackle for two jigs

The advantage of this gear is simultaneous fishing at different depths. Some fishermen mount two or three jigs on a winter fishing rod to a fishing line at once. This can only work at great depths.

The top bait is attached to the fishing line itself or to a separate leash. It is pulled onto the fishing line, a knot is tied on the shank of the hook and passed through the jig again. A heavy bait is tied to the end of this line.

Another advantage of such gear is that you can immediately test two baits, for example, bloodworms and a worm. Many variations are used, this way the catchable bait is quickly identified.

You also need to be able to control such gear as a winter fishing rod with a jig. Two jigs are held at the bottom for 2-4 seconds, then they are raised quickly or slowly. The fish most often takes one of the baits, sometimes bites occur alternately: first the upper one, then the lower one.

Large fish can also be caught with this tackle. The fishing line should be 0.17-0.2 mm.

Features of a winter fishing rod for jig fishing

Fishing rod design

A winter fishing rod used for jig fishing consists of the following components:

• whip - a round cross-section with a diameter slightly varying along the length made of plastic, nylon, vinyl plastic or other polymer material. The whip serves to transmit vibrations of a given frequency from the angler’s hand through the nod attached to it and the fishing line passing through the tip of the nod to the jig;
• reel - used to store the main amount of fishing line, changing its length when moving from one fishing depth to another. The reel consists of a plastic or nylon reel, a simple braking mechanism (a locking lever or a screw that secures the reel tightly after bleeding off the fishing line). Reels on a winter float fishing rod can be either open (the fishing line on the reel is visible, snow and drops of moisture can fall on it), or and closed, built into the handle;
• handle – made of plastic, fine-pored rubber, foam, cork. Its length ranges from 3-5 to 10-12 cm. In sport-type fishing rods - “balalaikas” - there is no handle, and its role is played by the body of the reel into which the reel is inserted.

Temperature during fishing

In most cases, the temperature when fishing in winter ranges from a few degrees Celsius to 10-12 degrees below zero.

At lower temperatures, most jig fishermen do not go fishing - the fishing line freezes very quickly in severe frosts, recently drilled holes are quickly covered with a fairly strong layer of ice, and at low negative temperatures great difficulties arise when attaching small bloodworm larvae to the bait hook.

Good to know! Also, despite the noticeable activation of fish, they do not come out on the ice with significant warming - the ice cover in the bright spring sun very quickly loses its strength, becomes loose and very dangerous for movement on it.

The optimal temperature for jig fishing is from +3+5 C0 to -8-10 C0

Nod

The nod is that part of the jig tackle on which not only the attractiveness of the bait game depends, but also its sensitivity to the most careful and subtle bites.

All this is possible provided that the nod has the following characteristics:

• length 5-10 cm;
• bright, clearly visible color against a white snow background;
• a passage ring or hole at the tip having a diameter such that the fishing line, even when frozen, will pass through it with little effort;
• lack of “memory” - the nod must remain straight and not deform after heavy loads;
• strength – the material of the nod must ensure its flexibility and bending strength;
• frost resistance - the nod must withstand low temperatures without changing its properties.

Modern nods are made from materials such as lavsan, boar hair, and polycarbonate. Much less frequently, but still used, are nods made of flat spring steel.

Note! The nod should be attached to the fishing rod using a rubber clamp - a cylinder with a diameter and height of 3-5 mm, at the end of which there are holes for the tip of the whip and fishing line.

Whip

Despite the fact that the whip is, at first glance, not a very important part of the jig tackle, the catchability of the tackle depends on its length, material of manufacture, flexibility, and frost resistance.

In order for the whip not to spoil the fishing process, it must be:

• 10-15 cm long
• Made from flexible, low temperature resistant material
• The color of the whip should ensure its visibility against the background of ice and snow

Good to know! Just like the whip, like the nod attached to it, should not have “memory” - after the load on it ceases, it should again acquire its original straightness.

How to choose and what to equip with a winter fishing rod

It is best to select a fishing rod for winter fishing based on how comfortable it is in the hand, how neatly and securely it is assembled, and also based on how much fishing line and what diameter it should hold.

How to choose a whip for a winter fishing rod

In addition to storing a supply of fishing line on the fishing rod, the fishing rod helps you play with a jig or spoon and hook fish in time, as well as help in the fight against fish immediately after a successful hook. To do this, the design of any winter fishing rod has a fishing rod or, as it is more often called, a whip (or whip, depending on the size). The quality of the whip, its length and stiffness are extremely important. Unless only when fishing with a float rig, the quality of the whip is not so important.

The whips that come with industrial products rarely satisfy the needs of the fisherman. Cheap fishing rods are equipped with whips made of polypropylene, nylon or even polystyrene. Polypropylene and nylon whips have very large residual deformation and insufficient rigidity. Polystyrene whips usually break on the first fishing trip. Rarely, industrial fishing rods are equipped with polycarbonate whips, which in most cases are suitable for those who like jig and float fishing.

The best ones that can be found on sale are fiberglass whips. A thin fiberglass whip is great for both a jig rod and a float rod. They can also be successfully used when fishing with small spoons, when a fishing line with a diameter of up to 0.14 mm is used.

If thicker line is used, stiffer rods are usually selected, either thicker fiberglass or hybrid glass-carbon composite. Pure carbon fiber whips can also be used, but only when fishing, for example, for pike perch or bursh, from a depth of more than 8–10 meters. That is, when hard cutting is required. It is difficult to purchase or make such whips yourself, so they use fragments of spinning rods. There is no point in using hollow whips, since they are either not rigid enough or not strong enough.

Some fishermen who have the technical ability make whips from light titanium alloys. Such whips have proven themselves well, especially in cases where “braid” and very heavy bait are used when fishing from great depths and in strong currents.

In addition to the correct selection of material, the correct selection of the rigidity of the whip is equally important. Giving the required rigidity is achieved by changing the length of the whip and grinding off excess material. The easiest way to remove excess material, that is, to make the whip thinner, is with sandpaper, clamping the workpiece into the chuck of a machine tool or electric drill. Personally, I select the stiffness as follows.

I attach the fishing line to the tip of the whip, which I plan to equip the fishing rod with, and pull the fishing line down. If the whip bends about thirty degrees before the line breaks, then good. But if the whip bends up to forty-five degrees, then it seems to me that this is too much. Although many people think differently, so everyone chooses rigidity based on their own experience.

Tips for choosing a winter jig fishing rod

When choosing a winter fishing rod for fishing with this bait, it is worth considering some subtleties and tips from experienced fishermen:

• For walking fishing, “balalaika” type fishing rods are more suitable; I use fishing rods with a handle when fishing “on a stand”;
• when buying balalaika fishing rods, choose models that come with a spare drum and several whips;
• in order for a fishing rod with a white reel to be clearly visible on the ice, it is tinted with bright paint;
• in rods in which the role of a stopper is played by the screw that fixes the reel spool, a fleece lining is made under it to clamp it more tightly, as well as to allow the line to come off under load;
• after purchasing a fishing rod, all flash on its plastic parts is thoroughly cleaned with fine sandpaper;
• After purchasing a “balalaika”, you need to replace the whip with a better one and glue it “tightly” - this will prevent the whip from jumping out and being lost among the accessories in the fishing box during transportation. If the whip breaks, it can be easily drilled out with a thin drill.

How to make a winter fishing rod with your own hands

Anyone can buy a winter fishing rod, but making one with your own hands is a whole science. However, do not rush to get scared, and watch this video. From it you will learn that these handmade tackles behave no worse than store-bought ones. For example, you can try making a fishing rod out of champagne corks.

What to do if the desire to make a fishing rod is great, but there are no traffic jams at home? It's not scary, you can make it from a regular medical syringe!

Friends, do you want to know more?

• Read about winter jig fishing >>>
• Read about winter fishing with spoons and balancers >>>
• Read about winter fishing with a float >>>
• Find out where in the Novosibirsk region you can go fishing in winter >>>

Dear beginners, we hope that our brief classification of winter fishing rods, as well as advice from sports fishermen and sellers, helped you, and you easily purchased your first winter tackle. Good luck on the ponds!

Choosing a jig

Material

Modern jigs are made from materials such as:

• plastic;
• lead;
• tin and its alloys;
• tungsten.

Heavy jigs made of tungsten and lead are used when fishing at great depths, light baits made of tin and plastic alloys are used for shallow water.

Form

The shapes of jigs are:

• spherical - “pellet”;
• teardrop-shaped - “drop”;
• calpe-shaped curved shape - “uralka”;
• flattened - “perch eye”;
• in the form of an ant - “ant”;
• in the form of a grain - “ovinka”;
• in the shape of a ball cut in half - “bug” “cobra”;
• cone-shaped - small “balda”;
• rod-shaped - “cloves”.

Let's celebrate! Lures of small size and elongated shape are used for small and medium-sized fish at depths of up to 3-4 meters. Large voluminous jigs are used for large fish at depths of more than 5-6 meters.

Color

By color these baits are:

• dark;
• silver;
• golden;
• fluorescent.

Dark-colored jigs are used for fishing in clear water with fairly good lighting and shallow depth. Lures of silver and golden color are used at medium and deep depths in conditions of lack of light under the ice.

Fluorescent jigs, thanks to their coating that glows even with a small amount of light, are used for fishing at great depths in morning or evening twilight conditions.

The best models of winter fishing rods for jigs

Among the models of winter fishing rods used for jig fishing, the following “balalaikas” are especially popular among anglers:

• IceCore;
• Salmo Ice Sportrod;
• PIERCE MASTER;

Among the models of fishing rods with a handle, it is worth highlighting such well-proven models as:

• PIERCE 50 C;
• Profi UP-1.

Reviews from fishermen

I fish with jigs exclusively with the simplest market “balalaikas” and am very pleased with them - reliable reels, durable bodies made of hard foam, flexible whips. The only thing that is sometimes missing from some fishing rods is a stand, but if you wish, you can cut them yourself from durable sheet plastic. Grade:

Alexei

I recently bought a PIER MASTER axleless balalaika and after the first fishing I realized how much lighter and more convenient this fishing rod is than others. I recommend everything to those without reelers and lovers of active running jig fishing!!!! Grade:

Sava

I started to master the basics of fishing with jigs using old Soviet fishing rods with fairly long handles and hard whips - it was not very convenient to fish and by the end of the fishing they left my hand a little tired. Over time, having noticed that neighboring fishermen were using “balalaikas”, I also got hold of two such fishing rods at once and after a couple of trips I realized that it was not in vain! Now I use old fishing rods exclusively for float fishing, and for jigs I use light and compact “balalaikas”. Grade:

Sergey

I recommend to everyone the comfortable and compact Pierce fishing rods with a short foam handle and a small reel. I have three of these in my arsenal - with different sections for light, medium and heavy jigs. In my opinion, in terms of convenience and weight they are not much inferior to the vaunted “balalaikas”. Grade:

Vova

I cast jigs only from a box and therefore I use fishing rods with a handle - they are more convenient to play without bending close to the hole. In addition, in such fishing rods, in my opinion, the reels are more reliable and durable, and the braking mechanism is more convenient. Grade:

Vladimir Ivanovich

I do not advise beginning jig fishermen to use fishing rods with long handles and large reels - if you swing such a fishing rod the day before your wrist hurts, you will no longer have any desire to engage in jig fishing. It is best to start with a simple and cheap foam balalaika. Rating:

Andrey

I’ve been fishing with a jig almost since childhood, and during this time I’ve tried many models of fishing rods - from Soviet to modern. I can say with confidence that the best option today for this method of fishing is an axleless, lightweight and simple “balalaika.” Rating:

Daniel

Note! When choosing a fishing rod, in addition to all the recommendations described above, you should also take into account how pleasant and comfortable it lies in your hand, and what space it will occupy in the fishing box when folded.

Experts' comments

Now let’s turn to the opinion of experienced fishermen: a jig-fishing athlete and a specialist in the fishing department.

Ivan Sharapov (Predator123), fishing store specialist, experienced fisherman, Candidate of Masters in fishing sports:

— Choosing your first winter fishing rod, just like, for example, a fishing drill, is a responsible matter. Because if, because the store didn’t advise you on what to buy, but simply slipped it to you, you may not like winter fishing, and next year you won’t want to go out on the ice at all. And if you decide to buy your first fishing rod for winter fishing in an online store, then they won’t be able to sell you anything, you’ll just buy a pig in a poke...

I will give some advice to beginners in this matter. First, a fishing rod for a jig. When you come to a fishing store to buy this product, try several options and see how they feel in your hand. This is a very important point, because if the tackle doesn’t “fit” in your hand, your hand will quickly get tired of water bodies during animation. The second, no less important piece of advice for a novice fisherman is to choose a fishing tool depending on the material from which it is made. Personally, I recommend taking polystyrene foam. In the cold, it warms your hand, plus in terms of weight it is one of the lightest. Third, check the spool mechanism. It is important that it rotates freely and is securely fixed with a nut. The fourth is the hole for the fishing line. It is desirable that it be equipped with a cambric. Well, fifthly, the whip is of average rigidity and has no “memory”, so that when hooking a large fish it would absorb shock and we wouldn’t lose our favorite bait on a thin line. This is especially true for such consumables as jigs for winter fishing.

As for a winter fishing rod for trolling or fishing with a balance beam, I would recommend a standard one, equipped with a reel and a key stopper. By the way, when purchasing in a store, pay attention to this stopper; it should not rotate when hooking. I consider neoprene to be the ideal material for a pen. The whip should be of medium hardness.

Friends, when choosing your first fishing rod for ice fishing, understand that there is no ideal middle ground, there is the right tackle for a certain type of fishing, reservoir, weather, etc. Even the most professional fisherman always has several equipment options at hand when on a pond. And finally, taking this moment, I would like to urge you to a sense of self-preservation. Late autumn is a dangerous time for fisherman. Thin ice, snow, due to which you can miss the wormwood, and much more can lead to dire consequences. Be careful on bodies of water, follow basic safety rules and remember - winter is ahead, there will be enough ice for everyone.

Nikita Dupin (ndup), angler-sportsman in the jig discipline, representative of the FishingSib team, Candidate of Masters in fishing sports:

— Like any other winter sportsman, the bulk of my “weapons” are “balalaikas”. However, not simple, store-bought ones, but modified by me personally. Because I think that the store sells “average” goods designed for mass consumption, and I give my fishing rod individuality.

I refine my “balalaikas” to perfect condition so that there are no unpleasant surprises while fishing. The finalization process includes pasting with foam, replacing or adding washers under the spools, and installing my own nods, which I make from popular materials: elastron or lavsan. However, in my opinion, the “balalaikas” beloved by athletes have some disadvantages. First of all, there is a need for improvement.

Another option for fishing rods, which, in my opinion, are more suitable for amateurs rather than athletes, are “fillies”. One of the undoubted advantages is its weight. It consists of a whip and most often a foam handle, so it is very convenient for animating the bait. Of the minuses - in fact, there is only one, it is the constant winding of the fishing line manually on the reel, there is no reel... The second minus is the memory. No matter how good the fishing line you use, there will still be traces of winding on it.

Finally, I want to say that there is something different for every fisherman. When buying winter gear, you don’t have to take only balalaikas, as they were recommended to you. Buy the “fillies” too, try them, compare! I have seen many fishermen who are very successful with both types of fishing rods. This applies to recreational fishing. But if you decide to take up fishing, then you will not only have to experiment a lot and often, but also modify your gear yourself.

By the way, we showed how Nikita refines his fishing rods in one of the episodes of our official video blog.