Orientations to “hot” spots, large lures for pike fishing in winter, the color of lures - this is simple and useful to know for a real fisherman.
Before you find the so-called “hot” places for pike fishing, you should know that experts identify several guidelines by which fishermen identify the above-mentioned places:
- It is necessary to look for bodies of water with a large number of edges, which have steep, breaking edges. It is in these edges that you can find a considerable number of pikes; *predator*
- Flour products, which are so fond of feeding feathered animals, appeal not only to them, but also to fish, especially if the pond is no more than 1 meter deep. Initially, such places may seem unremarkable to avid fishermen, since in such places only small, small fish, unremarkable, usually live, however, take a closer look at such places, since pike also often visit such places;
To catch pike in winter using a spinning rod, depth does not matter at all, since vibrating tails on a jig head can be cast to any depth. Due to their use, detection of predatory fish species occurs in an extremely short time, despite large water surfaces. The noticeable mass of the vibrotail jig head makes it possible to cast them into remote places that are simply inaccessible to other baits, regardless of their size.
Content
- Winter fishing with spinning rod
- Are you catching fish?
- Winter spinning fishing technique
- Spinning rod, reel, cord for winter
- Spinning in winter: tips for beginners
- Video: winter spinning
Friends, winter fishing is not limited to vertical fishing. In our city there are reservoirs or areas of water areas that allow you to fish with a spinning rod in winter. With our article today we want to touch on the topic of “winter spinning” and everything connected with it. To do this, we asked our users who have been practicing this kind of fishing for several years to answer our questions. Which spinning rod to choose for winter fishing, which bodies of water don’t freeze, how to fish with a spinning rod in winter - these and other questions will be answered:
- Nikitapipin is a multiple prize-winner and winner of fishing festivals, a person who has been practicing winter spinning fishing for several seasons
- Sibiryak007 is a famous fisherman and author of numerous reviews on fishing topics, winter spinning fishing practitioners
- SPIN23 is a fisherman-sportsman, a member of the management team of the NSO Fishing Sports Federation, a participant in the Russian Spinning Championships, and a winter spinning fishing practitioner.
Preparing gear
Spinning rods for winter fishing are easy to assemble yourself. Since negative temperatures negatively affect the performance of polymers, it is worth taking a responsible approach to the choice of equipment. Some labels and packaging do not indicate the operating temperature range. Let's look in detail at how to choose a winter spinning rod for beginners and pros.
Choosing a rod
We immediately discard budget fishing rods, since even in summer their work is not very effective. Back in the early 2000s, carbon fiber spinning rods easily crumbled in harsh temperatures; now the best option would be a carbon fiber spinning rod. The rod test must match the weight of the bait. Experienced fishermen have several different spinning rods in their arsenal to match a specific bait.
If we are fishing a wide section of the river, we choose a length of more than 3 m of fast action. Small reservoirs and small rivers about 60-70 m wide, here it is better to take a short spinning rod 2.5-2.7 m long with a rigid action. An important feature of winter spinning fishing is the diameter of the rings. The larger the better, at least 7 mm, since ice forms in the cold and the width of the rings decreases.
Be sure to insulate the reel seat using foam rubber, cork or any wood material. Any synthetic material or fabric is also suitable for winding. Next, the fabric can be secured with rubber bands.
Reel and line
Any model is suitable for equipping a spinning rod with a reel. The needle bearing acts as the weakest point of the multiplier option. In the cold it jams. To prevent this, before fishing, be sure to lubricate the elements with a special lubricant - you can buy it at any fishing store. Another negative feature of a coil in winter is the splashing of water droplets that freeze to clothes and hands.
It is best to equip a winter spinning rod with a spinning reel with 4-5 bearings. When fishing medium and large rivers, you should give preference to power characteristics. The line on the spool should be laid evenly. An inertia-free reel in cold weather has one drawback - the friction brake sticks (it may not work as well as in summer). In winter, it is advisable to choose a spool with a volume of 150 m.
In winter, it is better to use multi-filament fishing line, but it has zero elasticity. Therefore, a cord based on high-molecular polymers made in Japan is the best solution for collecting winter spinning rods. The fishing line can be lubricated with a water-repellent mixture - fishing silicone, animal fat, petroleum jelly or glycerin.
Winter fishing with spinning rod
Question. Tell us, where and at what time can you practice winter spinning? What kind of catch can you expect in these places in winter?
Nikita (Nikitapipin):
— I would divide winter spinning in Novosibirsk into two types: on the Ob and on small rivers. On the Ob I fish until the ice freezes completely (around December), and I open a new season when the unsafe ice washes away (in February - March). You can catch the entire species composition of the Ob, including white fish. The main catch is pike perch. On small rivers, small pike and perch are caught, once a crucian carp pecked on a jig 
Vasily (Sibiryak007):
— In winter in our city I had to fish on the Gloomy River, also known as “Smelly”, “Funka”, “Ugryumka”. This is a small river formed by a warm drain from a thermal power plant. In this reservoir, I personally only came across small pike, no more than 300 grams, but, as a rule, in quantity. I also know from reviews and reports that sometimes you can meet up to a kilo of pike there, but this is more of an accident than a pattern. Unfortunately, I don’t know any other winter spinning spots within the city.
Sergey (SPIN23):
— Winter spinning is a rather loose concept. Spinning fishing in sub-zero temperatures can already be considered winter spinning, but for me, winter spinning begins when all the main bodies of water are frozen, and ends after the ice melts on still bodies of water. The main places for winter spinning are, of course, the Ob River in the area of the Novosibirsk hydroelectric dam and the warm flow of technical water from CHPP-3, in the common people “Vonyuchka”. It is also possible to occasionally fish on the Ob from a boat in winter. Of course, this depends on the ice conditions on the river, but there are winters when the ice does not rise for a long time and the river remains clear of ice almost the entire winter. Thanks to the variable hydraulic regime, even in the most severe frosts, the period of ice captivity on the Ob is short, and the ice is often simply washed away by the rising level.
Unfortunately, now, due to recent changes in legislation, the main winter spinning spots - ZhBI Bay, Kamni, Mayak - are closed to anglers. In the listed places one could count on excellent catches of pike perch, pike perch and pike perch. Today, only Eltsovka remains at our disposal - a not particularly promising shallow area, and Matveevka, as well as sections of the river within the city - Dimitrovsky Bridge, for example.
On Vonyuchka, you can only rely on strings, but in winter the local crucian carp is surprising, which is caught in the mouth on a jig. The only thing is that the very quality of the fish from this reservoir is questionable and is only of sporting interest.
Promising places for fishing
It should be remembered that at the beginning of the freeze-up, the pike continues to remain in those sections of the river where it was before, in the fall. That is, in places where there are shelters and at shallow depths, rifts, and jams. Later, when the reservoir is completely covered with ice, the predator gradually moves to wintering pits and pools, to where its prey goes. That is, you should fish in pools, near depth changes, trees flooded at depth, near reed thickets.
Read: Catching perch with a spinning rod
Also, the location of pike in winter strongly depends on weather conditions, in particular, on atmospheric pressure. When it is high, you should look for pike deeper, and when it is low, at a shallower depth. In deep winter, when fish feel a lack of oxygen, it concentrates at the gushing underwater springs, at the confluence of streams.
Are you catching fish?
Question. How can you characterize the winter spinning bite? Are there snatches, for example, or are captures always rare?
Nikita (Nikitapipin):
— In winter, the fish bite is not much worse than in summer. Of course, there are also mega-grabs, but this applies to fishing on the Ob. On small rivers, throughout the winter, fish are caught consistently, without grabs, but we always get away from zero.
I believe that the wild bite on the Ob is tied to the water level. Each level has its own “golden” places within the city. As a rule, these places are located next to pits with a calm current. During this period, the pits are filled to capacity with peaceful fish; such aggregations also have their own “shepherds” who make short-term raids or feed all day. Before freeze-up and in early spring, I caught short-term (maximum week) bites of large bream (from 2 to 4 kg) and ides, which respond well to small, bright edible silicone. Moreover, from one point, pike perch, pike and large bream are caught mixed together.
Vasily (Sibiryak007):
“Specifically at Ugrumka, I didn’t encounter extremes of bite; the fish there are always more or less active. What’s interesting is that she behaves there, as it seemed to me, not at all like a winter person, but rather like a summer person. Not only are the bites usually aggressive and active, but you can almost always catch the fish; it willingly repeats the attacks. Resistance is also “summer”, sometimes it even came to candles. Apparently, all this is explained by the warm water in this river; the fish there are “warm and cozy.”
Sergey (SPIN23):
— Naturally, in winter the fish are less active than in other seasons, but you can still catch the so-called grab and have a blast; one such fishing happened to me last year, in December. Fish bites occurred on each retrieve, and it got to the point that the fish would bite several times until it sat on the hook. But in 90 percent of fishing trips, catching 1-2 tails per trip is the norm.
Winter spinning fishing technique
Question. Tell us about the baits you use in winter and their placement? What is the difference and fundamental difference between “winter” animation and “summer” animation, if there is one?
Nikita (Nikitapipin):
— When fishing on the Ob I use silicone baits 5-7 centimeters, foam rubber, mandules and streamers. Sometimes fish prefer passive baits with a delicate presentation and a light load, and sometimes, on the contrary, they respond better to active baits with a significantly heavier load. Animation is generally slow. “A sad, dying fish” is how I would describe my favorite winter fishing trip. I animate the bait with a spinning rod, and with a reel I only reel in the weak.
On small rivers I fish with wobblers from 7 to 13 centimeters and with a jig of 2-10 grams (depending on the place and situation) with different silicone baits.
Vasily (Sibiryak007):
— I caught pike in “Funka” using a jig and wobblers. Most of the points are checked with a jig on an offset hook, due to the large number of hooks. Wobblers were used less often, mainly in shallow waters with quiet currents, where predators can also be found. In general, both types of baits work well there; combining them = maximum fishing efficiency.
Sergey (SPIN23):
— There is no difference in baits and animation, the only thing is that weather conditions sometimes set their own rules, such as the weight of the load and the size of the bait, sometimes you just need to throw it to the fish, the weights are mostly light - from 4 to 14 grams, but sometimes you have to fish with 26 -28 grams.
In general, the picture is no different from other seasons.
Spinning rod, reel, cord for winter
Question. Are there any features that fishing gear should have when fishing in winter? What helps you get rid of freezing of the cord, rings, and freezing of the reel grease?
Nikita (Nikitapipin):
— In winter I fish with the same spinning rods and reels as in summer. On the Ob these are light and medium class spinning rods, on small rivers these are ultralight, light and medium. The only thing I note is that I coated the reels with lubricants that allow fishing at subzero temperatures. I fish with the same lubricant in the summer.
If I plan a fishing trip in advance, then in the evening I treat the line 2-3 times with Johnson's Baby Oil and that's enough. If the trip is spontaneous, then I use silicone lubricant already on the pond. I process the cord and rings. The first 5 casts after treatment, the casting range suffers greatly.
Vasily (Sibiryak007):
— I won’t note any special features, because... I just take a spinning rod that is suitable in test/length, a reel of the appropriate size and go fishing. Except that very small rings become clogged with ice a little faster than larger ones. But this is not critical, the difference is small. But you definitely need to fight the freezing of the line, otherwise fishing will turn into torture. I use the well-known Johnson's Baby oil, applying it to the line the night before fishing, it helps a lot.
Sergey (SPIN23):
— In winter, I use exactly the same gear as in summer, the only thing is that I use thinner cords in order to have the maximum sensitivity possible in these conditions. For me it's Major Craft KGL and Sunline Super PE braid.
Take a pink Johnson's Baby bottle and saturate the wicker with it - there will be less frost, and also wipe the rings, but in general there is no way around it, you still have to clean off the ice with your hands.
Spinning in winter: tips for beginners
Question. Here is a person who has never fished with a spinning rod in winter, but really wants to try it. He needs your advice and guidance. What would you recommend to him?
Nikita (Nikitapipin):
- Gather the necessary gear in his opinion, dress properly and go to the pond! It is also important not to forget to experiment, because... in winter, it is experiments with baits and wiring that can bring a huge catch.
Vasily (Sibiryak007):
— The main recommendation is not to be afraid. What? Yes, climb in waist-deep snowdrifts along the river, which by some “dirty miracle” does not freeze in winter, while also having a spinning rod in your hands. You know, from the outside it looks very strange, especially in our region, where winter spinning is rather an exception to the rule. And, yes, be sure to release fish from this reservoir, do not kill young predators, because there are few of them there, and do not spoil your health with such a “delicacy” - there is never too much of it either.
Sergey (SPIN23):
- Choose a nice calm day, dress well, grab your favorite gear, and enjoy fishing!
Yes, I completely forgot to say - for fishing on the Ob, put on a life jacket. If the bank is thin - about 5 centimeters, then it is better to play it safe, since life is more valuable than any fishing. For these purposes, I purchased an expensive rescue unloading, but now I feel safe. Always wear your pants over your boots - this will prevent them from quickly taking on water if you go under the ice.
These are precautionary measures, don’t be alarmed; in several years of winter spinning practice, I failed on the edge only once.
What does a fishing rod for trolling in winter consist of?
Handle
. Can be made from foam, wood, plastic, cork or Eva. The glitter should lie comfortably in your hand and not slip.
Whip
. The choice of whip depends on the type of fish that is more realistic to catch. For example, for perch we take a short and soft whip, and for pike or pike perch - a hard one, since with a soft whip it is rarely possible to pierce the jaws of these predators.
Nod
or its absence. The presence of a nod is justified in cases where the bait is light, during the period of deep winter and the passivity of the predator. For example, it is almost impossible to catch a perch without a nod, since it often bites even before the spoon falls. And while you are waiting for the bait to sink to the bottom, the perch will taste the bait, realize that he was deceived, angrily spit it out and go away.
Coil
, but this is also an optional element, if there are no sudden changes in weather and no particularly large prey is observed, then you can get by with a spinner with a reel.
Winter fishing rod Ice Battle 55 carbon Helios 1,090 for 1 piece.
Winter fishing rod. SPS red fiberglass whip with rings (SPS-R) Helios 540 for 1 pc. Winter fishing rod. RHC-L green (hi carbon soft whip) Helios 390 for 1 piece. Winter fishing rod Ice Sensor EVA 45 Hard (N-ISE45H) Nisus 1,290 for 1 piece. Winter fishing rod GLACIER ZGR-65MH ZETRIX 3,900 for 1 piece. Winter rod ICE ROD TWO TOP (2 whips) Cara NOBLE 2,898 for 1 piece. Rod set winter C-TECH PIKE & PERCH SET Lucky John 3,836 for 1 piece. Winter rod ICE ROD Carbon DWPS 24M Cara NOBLE 907 for 1 piece. Winter rod. SENSITIP 60 cm Salmo 949 for 1 piece. Winter fishing rod ForceAge 60XXH Stinger 1,993 for 1 piece. All rods for winter trolling in the catalog
