Catching ide with rotating spoons - Lures and groundbait

Features of catching ide with a spinning rod

Despite the abundance of plant food, ide is often caught on spinning baits. First of all, this is due to the need to replenish the diet with high-calorie foods during the cold season.

Let's look at the behavior of ide at different times of the year:

In spring, ide becomes active immediately after the ice melts. At this time you can count on catching decent specimens. In addition, spring fishing is notable for the opportunity to go fishing during the pre-spawning period. At this time, medium and large individuals gather in large flocks and migrate to spawning sites. After wintering, the ide offers minimal resistance, so anglers use thin tackle.
In the summer it is much more difficult to catch ide. Even before the heat sets in, the fish migrate to the deep-sea areas of the reservoir, where they remain until the onset of autumn. You can catch ides in the summer only in the morning and evening hours.
In autumn, fish biting on spinning baits becomes more active again. Preparation for wintering forces the fish to eat high-calorie foods and hunt for fry.

On the current

Ide prefers large rivers, but during spawning it can also enter the waters of small rivers. The fish avoids fast currents, so you should look for it in holes after rapids, as well as in quiet places with flooded trees.

On the lake

In reservoirs with stagnant water, ide prefers to stay at medium and deep depths. On the lake, he chooses places remote from the shore with various bottom irregularities. You need to throw the tackle as far as possible.

Fishing Features

The ide is very similar to another more popular representative, which is caught on an ultra-light spinning rod, the chub. It also has an elongated, slab-like body with bright red fins and covered with silvery scales. However, these fish still differ from each other and are independent species.

This is a large fish, capable of reaching up to 7–8 kg. Of course, you probably won’t find such specimens in our time. Mostly, the catches of spinning anglers include ides weighing from 0.5–1.5 kg, and catching an individual weighing 2–3 kg is considered a real success and happens once in a lifetime for some fishermen.

Photo 1. Quite a large ide, a trophy specimen.

Ide is an omnivorous underwater inhabitant. Its diet is very varied and depends on the time of year and the reservoir itself. It consists of plant and animal foods:

filamentous algae;
benthic invertebrates;
small crustaceans;
larvae of semi-aquatic insects;
beetles, dragonflies, butterflies and other insects;
river mollusks and shells.

The ide also feeds on small fish. It is difficult to say for sure what this is connected with. Perhaps this is how his predatory instinct manifests itself, or perhaps he simply drives away competitors from his favorite places. In any case, it is caught with a spinning rod and at times very well.

When to catch ide with a spinning rod?

You can start hunting for ide with a spinning rod in early spring. Experienced fishermen manage to catch this predator immediately after the water bodies are cleared of ice. The first fish bites begin at the beginning of the spring flood, when the water is just beginning to rise, raising the river level.

The early spring activity of ide can hardly be called a zhor, but from time to time it is possible to catch this fish well, earning a lot of bites and catching a lot of weighty fish. The predator then goes to spawn when it completely stops feeding and is not hooked.

To spawn, ide rises to the upper reaches of rivers and can enter small tributaries and streams. It is characteristic that this fish does not lay eggs in shallow water. To do this, he chooses quiet places with a hard bottom, uneven terrain and medium depths.

Having laid eggs, the fish stays near the spawning grounds for some time, where it gradually recovers from the process of prolongation of the genus and begins to feed. As the water warms up, the ide rolls off to its usual summer places. This coincides with the moment the cockchafer takes flight, which is marked by the start of the spring feeding of this fish.

With the onset of summer, ide occupies the upper horizons of water.
Now the predator picks up insects that have fallen into the water from trees and bushes, and also actively eats up aquatic vegetation. During this period, it is caught with baits that work either on the surface or at depths not exceeding half a meter. Advice!
In summer, ide is active in the evening hours. Sometimes he is caught even at night. At the end of summer, ide shows a surge in activity. The fish, like the chub, responds very positively to the offered baits, greedily attacking them. During this period, the predator stands in the water column and rarely rises to the surface. This stage continues until the end of Indian summer, when stable, cool autumn weather sets in.

With colder weather, the ide “enlarges” its groups and descends to deeper areas with a slower flow. Now it is becoming difficult to catch him with a spinning rod. You will need specialized baits and a thorough knowledge of the reservoir to detect active fish.

Where to catch ide with a spinning rod?

Ide is a river underwater inhabitant. It is found both in small streams and in deep arteries. This predator also inhabits reservoirs, deep lakes and clean quarries in large numbers. This fish rarely lives in places with stagnant water, although in the northern regions it is successfully caught in closed reservoirs.

Typical areas on rivers where there is the greatest likelihood of catching ide are:

long ditches with medium depths;
slopes, slopes and edges, where you can hide from the current and it always brings a lot of food;
snag and well;
rocky ridges with ripple streams;
bridge supports and other hydraulic structures;
rifts and braids.

In summer, a lot of ide can be found under the overhanging branches of bushes and trees. Here the fish picks up insects falling into the water: butterflies, beetles, dragonflies and other living creatures. In addition, in the shade you can hide from the scorching sun and comfortably spend a hot day.

In summer, if you approach the edge of a steep bank, you can also observe flocks of different-sized ides. The predator loves steep rivers because there is a lot of food here, and you can hide from strong flows in various depressions and pockets.

In some areas, ides may be mixed with chubs. This can be observed on rifts, under steep ridges, in snags or near bridge supports. These species practically do not compete with each other and individuals of approximately the same size accumulate in a particular place.

Choosing a fishing spot

If the bite is weak, you need to look for the fish yourself, so to catch ide it is best to use a boat with an echo sounder. An ideal place for fish has several characteristic features:

significant depth;
the presence of underground sources, or the presence of a weak current;
the presence of shelter;
rocky or clay bottom.

Avoid choosing areas with dense vegetation. The tackle for ide must be delicate, so among the algae the chances of catching it rapidly decrease.

What to catch ide with

Over my long fishing practice, I had to catch ide with various types of bait. I experimented a lot with spinners, wobblers and even poppers. As a result of numerous fishing trips, I came to the conclusion that the best bait for ide is a rotating spoon. And, I would call the best of the turntables “Comet” and “Long”, but only of good quality. The main condition for a spinner is that it simply must start easily, and at fairly low fishing speeds. The fact is that ide is mainly caught at medium and low fishing speeds. And, only forcedly, at a shallow depth (about 1 m), it is necessary to carry out the turntable at a relatively high speed.

It is better to catch ide with small spoons. This is due to the anatomy of this predator - it simply has a small mouth, and large prey is too tough for it. Well, unless you are sure that trophies of 1 kg or more await you, then you can use spinners and No. 3 and even No. 4, just replace the standard tees with smaller ones. Speaking of hooks. I advise you not to skimp on hooks; it is best to use the highest quality and sharpest hooks. Ide is a kind of “intelligent” among predators; it is not as aggressive and greedy as pike or perch. Very rarely, the ide itself is hooked - it needs to be hooked in a timely manner.

Tackle for ide

Fishing for ide is as interesting as it is unique. Therefore, it is better to select gear for such fishing separately. You will need:

Rod. The ide's mouth is fleshy and can be easily penetrated with a hook. Therefore, to catch ide it is necessary to select a rod with a medium or fast action. You can catch fish with baits of different sizes, but it responds best to small baits weighing up to 5 g. For such spinners and wobblers, you should select a rod with a test weight of 2 - 12 g. If fishing conditions require a stronger rod, then the working range should be from 5 up to 20 g. This gear is useful when you have to catch ide near snags and flooded trees.
Coil. The main requirement for this part of the tackle is the reliability of the mechanism and the small size of the spool.
To catch ide, it is rarely necessary to use a fishing line with a diameter of more than 0.2 mm. Therefore, the optimal reel size is 1000. Reels from DAIWA, RYOBI and SHIMANO have proven themselves well. Tip: an extra spool when fishing with a spare fishing line will come in handy in case of beard formation.
Fishing line. To catch ide, you can use a fishing line with a diameter of 0.16 to 0.2 mm. Some anglers prefer to fish with braided line. It is much stronger, but costs more and alarms shy fish. A fluorocarbon leader helps overcome the last drawback. It is not advisable to use steel leashes. Even if there is a pike in the neighborhood.

Feeder equipment for ide

Even a novice angler can rig a feeder rod. The main requirement is that the rod must be extremely sensitive so that every slight touch of the trophy to the bait is immediately reflected on the tip.

How to wind fishing line

The length of the main line should be between 50-100 m. It can be not only monofilament, but also a braided cord with a diameter of 0.18-0.25 mm. First, a reel with a spool size of 2000-2500 units is installed on the fishing rod, and then the monofilament is passed through all the rings from the top of the rod to the device itself. The fishing line is attached to the spool using a strong knot.

By slowly rotating the reel handle, the fisherman winds the line onto the spool. It needs to be filled with monofilament almost to the brim, leaving 2 mm free up to the side. After this, during long casts it will drop smoothly.

Gear configuration

To catch the cunning and stubborn ide you need very strong tackle

And if we take into account the distrust and caution of prey, then you need to be able to throw bait over a considerable distance

When choosing it, the fishing location is of great importance. If fishing will take place on a river with a strong current, then the device should be as stable as possible and have a heavy bottom. Compliance with such conditions will prevent the water flow from carrying away the complementary food from the desired place.

Since fishing in the spring with a feeder is carried out in coastal areas at shallow depths, a suitable option would be to use monofilament with a breaking load of no more than 3 kg. This monofilament will allow you to make long casts and get decent trophies.

Equipment

Catching predatory ide on a feeder is carried out using various equipment that allows you to securely fix the feeder. Many fishermen use a special anti-twist tube or a convenient paternoster. A thin tube should be put on the monofilament and the feeder mount should be attached to it through a swivel. The anti-twist is limited on the fishing line by silicone stoppers. A Gardner loop is considered a good rig option.

With this method, a leash with a hook is tied through a swivel using the loop-to-loop method. The length of the leash should be between 25-75 cm. Many anglers make it much longer, which has a positive effect on the amount of catch.

Lures

The following baits are used to catch ides:

Rotating spinners. The mouth of ides is not very large, so it is better to use small spoons.
It has been noted that the optimal bait size ranges from 0 to 2. Fish preferences vary depending on the time of year. In the spring, during the flight of insects, it is better to catch ide with lures with bright patterns. Closer to autumn, fish bite more actively on metal-colored baits. The number of bites is also affected by the color and shape of the core. Spoons with an asymmetrical core give good results. When retrieved, such a spinner produces a pulsating rotation of the petal. Important: the petal of the spinner should start easily from the first pull, and not stop rotating even on a slow retrieve.
Oscillating spinners. Perfect for autumn fishing. You need to constantly experiment with color. Sometimes oblong lures with bright colors show excellent results. The ide bites both on regular and jerky retrieves.
Wobblers. Some fishermen's arsenal of ide wobblers can reach several dozen pieces. The average size of baits is from 2 to 5 cm. Among them, the following types are especially popular:
crank. They have a short and thick body. When retrieved, lures of this type provide a stable action with a short amplitude. The ides are especially active in grabbing such wobblers during the non-biting period. It is better to combine wiring for cranks. Monotonous, uniform retrieving, as well as jerking, sometimes does not make an impression on ides, but small pauses lasting a few seconds provoke the fish even on the worst day;
dippy. They have a large blade for diving to greater depths. This type of lure works great in boat holes. The wobbler should be pulled in jerks with short pauses.
Silicone baits. Silicone is rarely used for catching ide, but still catching ide on a small “worm” made of edible rubber happens often. Wiring must be carried out with long pauses. After the first bite, you need to give the fish time to swallow the hook.

How to choose an ide spinner?

Over the years of fishing for ide, spinners have accumulated considerable experience, and each of them has their own sets of spinners. If we talk about specific manufacturing companies, we can highlight Mepps and Blue Fox. Meps, perhaps, can already be called classics. If not every angler has spinners from this company, then the vast majority certainly have them.

Models such as Aglia, Blue Fox Vibrax, Myran 5-7 grams have performed well when fishing for ide. By what criteria should you choose an ide rotator? Of course, every spinning player has his own experience and preferences. In addition, fishermen have different conditions. Yes, there are typical ulcer places on rivers. But it often happens that the ide takes the same lure with different desires in seemingly similar places.

If we talk about the elements of the turntable, we will note the core. Most often, ide takes baits with a heavy core. The fact is that dumps and the riverbed zone are usually located at a decent distance from the coastline. To get to those places, you need heavy bait. There are two ways to go about this. Load the bait with an additional weight or use a spinner with a heavy core. The second option is preferable. With such spoons it is easier to guide the bait in the bottom layer. The game will be more natural. Loaded models are worse to drive, and besides, the ide does not handle them very well. Yes, if he has a good appetite, then there will be bites on loaded baits, but this does not happen as often as desired.

The advantage of lures with heavy cores is that they can be cast at different speeds, even the slowest. Moreover, they will go well even at a distance of 50 cm from the bottom. In general, if we talk about the weight of the bait, it is better to use such that when quickly changing the speed of the retrieve, the petals also change the speed of rotation without unnecessary hitches.

As for the size of spinners for ide, many spinning anglers have established the following pattern: the warmer the water, the smaller the bait should be. For example, in the summer it is not uncommon to catch large individuals with spinners 2-3 cm long. During autumn fishing, medium and large models work best.

No rules have been found regarding the color preferences of ide. We can talk about brightness and additional elements. Manufacturers often attach stickers to the petals. They sparkle and shimmer in the sun. In some regions, ide takes better on spinners with a bronze tint, and in others - on silver ones. In others, ide prefers red and black models with dots, and in others it prefers mostly plain rotators. In any case, every spinning player’s collection includes both silver and bronze-toned models.

Don't forget to apply the basic principle when fishing with a spinning rod. When we fish in cloudy weather and the water is cloudy, we use bright and acidic baits with fringe or red threads on the tees. When fishing in sunny weather in clear water, dark spinners are relevant. You can use dull brass or copper models.

When choosing a rotator for ide, follow the rule that the brighter it is, the smaller it should be. This is logical, because shiny baits during wiring create such an “illumination” that is difficult not to notice. Again, all these canons can easily be dispelled on one of the fishing trips, when on a sunny autumn day you catch a 3-kilogram ide on a large bright spinner. What is more important is where and how to place the bait.

Fishing technique

The ide is one of those fish that are in no hurry to swallow bait. You should not hook at the first touch. A careful ide can tug the bait with its nose, or lightly grab it with its lips. If the hook is unsuccessful, but the fish does not hit the hook, then you can count on a bite on the next cast. When fishing in the current, good results are obtained by fishing with a wobbler on the stream. This type of fishing requires attention, but there is no need to constantly cast and retrieve.

Fishing for ide with a spinning rod allows you to take a break from the usual perches and pikes. A careful bite sharply distinguishes the ide from other predatory fish, and its violent resistance makes it one of the most desirable trophies. Successful fishing requires constant experimentation and the search for new solutions.

Where to catch ide

It is best to start searching for ide by asking experienced, practicing fishermen or local residents living near the “suspicious” body of water. Moreover, you need to look and ask for those places where there is a sufficient amount of this fish and it is actually caught and not by single individuals. Stories like “my godfather or neighbor, once... or some year, seemed to meet..., or maybe saw from afar...” - should not be taken into account. Of course, you can look for this predator yourself, but this may take a lot of time - do not forget that ide does not populate our water bodies very densely.

So, where should you look for this fish? From spring to early summer, I would advise you to pay attention to river flood areas. Flooded meadows, flooded stream beds, and various quiet bays are especially good. In summer, ide also prefers calm, deep-water bays of rivers, with a noticeable drop into depth, and all kinds of whirlpools. The favorite places for ide are near the banks, with vegetation hanging over the water and sufficient depth. The ide is strongly attracted to underwater hills, the so-called tables; it can spin around them around the clock.

If in lakes and small rivers the habitats of ide are practically unchanged, then in medium and large rivers the behavior of this predator is not so stable. Its presence in any place is strongly influenced by the water level. This is especially evident in early spring, when rivers flood. To search for spawning grounds, flocks of ides move away from the main channel to floods and flooded meadows. There he can stay for quite a long time, even after the end of his mating games. In such places, the ide fattens, enjoying the abundance of food, and only a drop in the water level causes it to roll back into the river, closer to the main channel.

Ide habitats

In previous years, ide was also found in lakes. I've heard a lot of stories about thousands of schools of fish coming out to spawn in streams. Once, in the 90s, short-sighted managers replaced an old bridge with a concrete pipe. The channel, which served as the only way for the ide to reach the spawning ground, was blocked. After 5 years, the ide population in the lake decreased by 90%. We wanted the best, it turned out as usual!

To catch ide we go to the river. I think the best place for fishing is Kema. It is Kema that is currently the ideal place for its habitat.

Catching ide can be roughly divided into several stages. The first, and most important, is the spring and autumn run (post-spawning and pre-winter feed). The second stage is the choice of summer parking places. It continues until mid-June. And the third stage - the ide stopped and took its place of summer residence.

The first stage is the most important action in all ide fishing, which lasts several days. Ide, gathered in huge flocks, moves along the river. Please note that the spawning temperature for ide is only 6 degrees, and for perch it is 7. Therefore, ide comes first, in splendid isolation. It's a great success to make such a move. For us, this period falls at the end of April, beginning of May, depending on the ambient temperature. You need to look for ide near shallow bays, spills and oxbow lakes, on the Unzha and Indomanka rivers; at this moment the old riverbed “comes to life”. During the move, fishing can be done with anything. Sometimes it seems that the ide grabs any moving object. I think that during this period you can quite easily catch it with a worm, maggot or bloodworm. There is even a certain group of fishermen who take time off from work or save time off, and at the go-ahead of informed fishermen rush to the river.

Well, for those who missed the fish move, nothing has changed. You can successfully catch ide throughout the open water season, until mid-October. After the course has ended, the ide rushes to the bays and reaches. It is at this moment and until the end of June that it will coexist with grass pike and the ubiquitous perch. The moment has come to lift the ban on spinning fishing, now we are going for ide along the Kema.

As soon as July begins, the warmer the water becomes, the closer to the current and depth the fish stay. During this period, the main food of the ide becomes a variety of insects that fall on the water. The ide begins to reach the surface. Perhaps this is the most spectacular event in all river fishing. Only ide can wriggle out of the water so gracefully after insects. Ide has its own “handwriting”. As soon as the ide began to write out its somersaults, the most difficult stage in fishing immediately begins.

Now you can catch ide only in the morning and evening. When the sun comes out from behind the fir trees, experienced fly fishermen have all the odds. It is very difficult to catch an ide on a hot day. It shifts to narrow and deep places in the river. On a hot afternoon it is at depth, and closer to sunset it begins to rise to the surface. This situation will continue until mid-August, until the first leaf flies onto the water.

With the onset of autumn, the reverse process begins. The fish begin to move towards the wintering pits. This is where one of the most successful seasons comes. The autumn process is not as fleeting as the spring one. The fish slowly moves across the entire width of the river, it can be on the border of the current, go out onto pebble shallows, fatten in the riffles, or can actively feed on a completely unremarkable reach.

With the onset of cold weather, closer to November, all the ide have already rolled down to their wintering holes. During this period, it bites extremely reluctantly, and catching ide from the ice is difficult. I advise you to be patient and wait for spring, when everything will return to normal.