The predatory fish is an enviable trophy in the winter season. When most anglers are content with small roach or sailors, using a spoon or balancer has a chance to catch a respectable humpback or pike. One of the most important aspects of successful fishing will be the correct choice of fishing rod for trolling. Thanks to high-quality tackle, you can select an irresistible bait that will make the predator peck. Specialized stores offer a wide range of fishing rods for vertical trolling in winter. But the fishermen themselves create competitive products that bring good luck. What models are there and how not to make a mistake in choosing?
Main types of lures
All gear designed for catching predators from under the ice using the vertical trolling method can be divided into two categories:
- small sparklers;
- powerful fishing rods for trolling.
Small sparklers
Lightweight models are designed for the use of artificial baits such as:
- small vertical spinners;
- small balancers;
- miniature silicone fish.
The main area of application for light-type spinners is perch fishing. Of course, the fishing rod can also handle trout, chub, pike, and pike perch.
- Since the whip does not allow one to clearly detect the moment of a bite from a cautious fish, such gear is usually equipped with nods.
- It should be noted that light lures can have reels or be used without one. This is explained by the fact that, as a rule, there are no problems with landing the average perch. Only when there are strong differences in depth is it more convenient to use gear with a reel.
- A characteristic feature of such gear is a short fishing rod. This choice is determined by the height of the bait, as well as the need for a short hook to catch the perch’s mouth.
Recommendation! The length of the whip on a light winter fishing rod for trolling should be in the range of 20-30 cm. The compactness of the gear allows it to be carried in a pocket or bag, which facilitates the movement of an angler loaded with an ice auger, a box, a thermos and other accessories.
Photo 1. Fishing rod for light spinners.
Powerful fishing rods
When there is a targeted hunt for large pike or pike perch at great depths, more stringent requirements are imposed on the fishing rod for trolling in winter. After all, you have to tie heavy spoons, large balancers, rattlins and soft baits to the fishing line.
- First of all, special attention is paid to the strength and rigidity of the whip. If you make the tackle yourself, then you should give preference to carbon fiber tips. They successfully combine reliability with sensitivity. Using this equipment option, it is possible to eliminate the use of a gatehouse. A no-kick winter fishing rod looks simpler, and control over the bait is not lost due to the flexibility of the tip of the whip.
- Heavy gear is equipped with longer whips. In some cases, anglers prefer a telescopic or plug-type fishing rod so that the fishing rod is compact when moving and transporting. The long whip provides a sweeping game and a powerful hook that should pierce the dense mouth of the predator.
To equip such a fishing rod you need a reliable reel. Metal inertial models with a medium or large drum, meat grinders with a 2000-3000 spool, and high-quality multipliers are suitable for this. The reel is entrusted with not only the task of storing fishing line, but also assisting the fisherman in retrieving the trophy. Therefore, all models must have a fail-safe braking system.
Photo 2. Small reel for winter lure.
Sheer luster method
Sheer lures are suitable for those anglers who love dynamic fishing. In search of fish, you have to constantly move from hole to hole. This method is used to catch predatory fish. On wild reservoirs this is most often perch and pike perch, on free-flowing reservoirs it is trout. The predator bites best on a lure in snags, so there is a high probability of snags. When going to catch perch in such places in winter, don’t forget to take a hook, it will help preserve the bait. Just in case, prepare several spinners, since the risk of the tackle breaking is very high even with a detachment.
The technique of vertical trolling usually does not cause difficulties for novice anglers. First you need to measure the depth, then lower the bait to the bottom, sharply (within reason) tear it off the ground and throw it about half a meter up. The spoon should fall back to the bottom freely. A few seconds of pause - and the bait is thrown up again. This is a classic technique.
Proceeding in this way, approximately 8 entries are made in each hole, after which they move to the next point. Having walked around all the drilled holes, they return to the starting position and check the “rested” holes. The classic game can be alternated with light twitching of the tip of the fishing rod, as a result of which the spoon moves at the very bottom. They pause from time to time. Often it is during such pauses that a bite follows.
What does the lure consist of?
A winter fishing rod for trolling consists of several important elements.
- The handle is the base of any fishing rod. It is constantly in the fisherman’s hand, so it must be comfortable and ergonomic. Often you have to hold the lure with your bare hands, so the handle should be made of such “warm” materials as:
- Styrofoam;
- cork;
- wood.
It is important! Some materials that are found on the handles of summer fishing rods (neoprene) freeze heavily when fishing. They should not be used in the manufacture of lures.
- The whip is selected for the fish that is most likely to be caught. A winter fishing rod for perch is equipped with a soft short whip. It can be made from a juniper branch, the core of a gel pen, a used telescope, etc. When the goal of fishing is pike or pike perch, then the softness and “noodles” of the whip are not allowed. Such a balancing rod does not always manage to penetrate the hard mouth of a predator, which is why annoying accidents occur. The length of the whip also depends on the depth at the fishing point. The larger the hole, the more convenient it is to play with long tackle.
- The presence of a nod in a lure is justified in the case of using small and light baits, as well as during periods of deep winter, when the predator behaves passively. Casting a perch without a nod is an unpromising activity; bites often occur when the spinner falls. While the fisherman waits for it to sink to the bottom, the striped robber will have time to realize its inedibility and spit it out. In other cases, a nodless fishing rod can be successfully used.
- The reel also does not always become a mandatory element of the lure. In the absence of sudden changes and large fish, it is quite convenient to fish when the fishing line is wound around the handle.
As for the equipment, monofilament is the only option due to low freezing. It is recommended to use metal leashes only when catching toothy predators. When using spinners and balancers, you can install swivels that prevent the line from twisting.
Photo 3. Spinning spoon with replaceable whips.
Winter fishing for pike
The process of hunting pike in different conditions occurs with varying success. The location and activity of toothfish in a reservoir is influenced by many factors:
- Water temperature;
- Level of oxygen dissolved in water;
- Migrations of forage fish;
- Weather and atmospheric pressure;
- Water level in the reservoir;
- Individual characteristics and conditions of reservoirs.
When an angler’s understanding of all these phenomena adds up to an overall picture, he can catch a predator almost anywhere - this fish feeds all winter with varying intensity. Even in the dead of winter, a passive hunter grabs a gaping fish. Read more about the behavior of winter pike in the article:
Examples of equipment for different types of lures
The easiest way to assemble a winter fishing rod for a balancer or spoon is based on specific examples of proven gear. Let's consider working options in light and heavy “weight”.
Photo 4. Heavy spoon assembly.
Equipping a light fishing rod for perch fishing
Winter lure of perch allows you to successfully cast a fishing rod with the following parameters.
- A fishing rod with a cork handle and a soft whip with a total length of 30-35 cm.
- A desirable element would be the presence of a small inertial plastic coil with a diameter of 5 cm.
Attention! Before installing the coil, you should check the smoothness of the movement, make sure there are no jams, backlashes, or burrs.
- It is enough to wind 20-30 m of 0.12-0.20 mm monofilament on the drum. At the beginning of each season, it is better to renew thin monofilament.
- The choice of nod depends on the type and weight of the bait. It is advisable to group the entire arsenal by weight. For each group you can select a sensitive guard made of steel or lavsan plate. Under load, the nod deviation should be within 20-30 degrees from the horizon. In this case, the length of the guard should be limited to 50-60 mm.
- Lures are selected taking into account the fishing location and time of year. Gliding spinners and “studs” have proven themselves to be effective against perch. Perch balancers are considered to be models with a length of 30-40 mm, although a hungry robber can grab larger baits.
Tackle for pike and zander
If you have an old unnecessary spinning rod, it’s enough to simply make a working homemade fishing rod for a heavy balancer or spinner.
- First of all, you need to shorten the handle. The optimal size is 20cm.
- The butt is equipped with a tube into which the whip is mounted. If the spinning tip is too rigid, then you can purchase a carbon fiber tip and equip it with rings. A good option would be a heavy feeder quivertype.
Advice! To remove the pass rings from the old form, you need to remove the braid and heat the glued area in the flame of a lighter.
- On a whip 40-50 cm long, it is enough to install 3-4 guide rings. Often the tulip does not match the diameter of the carbon whip. In this case, you can cut off the tip of the fiberglass top with a tulip 30-35 mm long. Then clean the form with sandpaper, apply glue and install the piece inside the main whip. The joint is smoothed by winding the thread and then applying 2 layers of varnish.
- The presence of a reel seat on the handle simplifies the installation of an inertia-free model or meat grinder.
- To catch pike perch or bersh, you can use a 0.16-0.20 mm monofilament line without a leash.
- Among the baits, it is worth noting special zander verticals, balancers and rattlins weighing up to 40 g. This fishing rod can be used not only for balancers, but also for silicone baits.
Modern anglers have a wide selection of fishing rods for winter fishing.
You can not only buy good tackle in a store, but also assemble it yourself. It's time to start preparing for the winter season! Source
Choosing a fishing rod
Convenient and familiar simple classic fishing rods are good because you don’t need to select a reel for them, it is included in the kit. We will not present branded fishing rods here, since a Russian or Chinese-made device is quite enough for an ordinary fisherman, especially when it comes to fishing for sport perch. Most often it is difficult to find any markings on them. The manufacturer believes that this is not necessary, but sensitivity for flashing is very important. In the absence of markings, you have to choose at random, but the main points can still be taken into account.
To make fishing comfortable not only with your bare hand, but also with mittens, it is advisable for the fishing rod to have a longer handle. Now many Russian manufacturers make it from cork and neoprene, and this is good. The length of a normal trolling rod when assembled is about 40 cm, you shouldn’t take less. Make sure that the handle is securely fastened and does not turn or become detached when trying to remove the whip. Be sure to check the stop key on the reel. A spring that is too tight is not very comfortable. When the button is pressed, the bobbin should rotate freely.
If possible, it is advisable to test the plastic whip for residual deformation. It must return to its original state. The main thing with this experiment is not to overdo it and not break the fishing rod before you buy it. Budget fishing rods with a tulip can have serious defects - low-quality rings. The inner surface of the ring should be smooth. In budget fishing rods the insert is usually metal. Check that there are no nicks there. The tulip should not dangle. With well-chosen, high-quality equipment, fishing is always a pleasure, so there are no trifles in this matter.
