Uralka jig is one of the most effective fishing baits

Design

The Uralochka jig has the shape of an elongated and slightly curved drop. A single hook is soldered into the narrow end of the jig. There are two modifications of the uralochka: with a through hole in the body of the jig and with a loop soldered into the end of the jig.

These or other additional elements are usually put on the shank of the uralochka hook: beads, beads, cambrics.

Options

Size

The size of the uralochka is a few millimeters or a small centimeter and depends on the material from which it is made. If tungsten is used, then the required weight is achieved even when making a small jig due to the large specific gravity of this metal. Lead jigs are usually larger, just like tin jigs, which have the lowest specific gravity.

Weight

The weight of the jig is determined mainly by the depth at which it is used. At a depth of up to two meters, they fish with jigs weighing 0.5 g. With an increase in depth to 5 meters, the mass of the jig increases to 1 gram. At great depths, jigs weighing from 1 to 1.5 grams are used. In addition, the size and weight of the jig depend on the object being fished. In particular, bream prefers large jigs, even if fishing occurs at shallow depths.

Material

The greater the specific gravity of the jig, the smaller its size for the same mass. Tungsten is used for fishing in currents or when you have to catch cautious fish with small baits. Lead urals are used most often. If the jig is made of tin, then it has a small specific gravity and, accordingly, a different game, which is sometimes necessary. In addition, Ural jigs are made of bronze and copper.

Color

The jig got its name because it looks similar to an amphipod or jig , since its play in the water resembles the movements of this invertebrate. Natural jigs are colored green, brown, and sometimes red. But the small fish can have any color, depending on the taste preferences of the fish in the pond and the imagination of the fisherman. Still, the most commonly used color is black, less often brown, purple and dark green. In addition, natural silver and golden colors are popular.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Healthy! In bright sun and clear water, jigs of natural colors are considered the most catchy. In cloudy weather and at great depths, baits of provocative colors: red or yellow can be attractive.

Additional items

beads (one or two pieces), a bead or one or two multi-colored cambrics must be put on the shank of the hook . The color of the additional element should contrast with the color of the jig itself. Thus, black jigs are usually equipped with yellow or white decorations. When fishing with natural bait, additional elements do not need to be used, although most likely they will be useful.

Mormyshka Uralka

Today we will talk about how to use one of the most catchy jigs - the “Ural” . This bait works when catching a wide variety of fish, both on a “bare” hook and with various pendants.

Assortment of bait

In the arsenal of many experienced fishermen there are 10-15 variants of this jig: large and small, “pot-bellied” and elongated, almost “straight” or steeply curved... And they differ significantly in the game.

Some work without any additional elements, others have to be weighted with beads or suspension in order to swing to the desired vibrations.

The game of all baits of the type we are considering is similar to one degree or another: the heavy upper part almost does not oscillate, the lower part with the hook trembles. Experienced fishermen say that the bait is catchy because of the wide and clearly audible vibrations that attract predators. One thing is for sure - the no-attachment “Ural” is no less effective than any other jig.

Tip: Don’t get too hung up on any one bait, as it will be attractive to fish one day and not the next. In addition, you have to experiment on an unfamiliar body of water.

The following real story will be indicative. Once, a friend and I found ourselves above a large flock of a rather large bream. For two hours we changed baits without success, the fish was silent. True, sometimes weak bites were noted. The bream ignored the “devil”, and small jigs with bloodworms landed on little things, which it is better to remain silent about when among fishermen. Everything changed when a tackle with a black “Uralka” with white beads and a rather large orange “wing” on the hook was used.

The second drive with a slow, smooth climb brought the first good trophy. An effective bait game was determined. The bait sinks to the bottom, moves for a second and slowly rises to about 1.5 m at a speed of 60-70 vibrations per minute.

To resume the stopped biting, the jig is knocked on the bottom, two or three active and fast retrieves are made. As was established later, it is useful to accelerate at the end of the postings. After the start of the bite, the retrievals are slow again. As it turned out, even passive fish react to the “Ural” jig.

Another case, but from the practice of a fisherman I know. He once went on a ruff fishing trip. The bite was intense, but only one small thing was needed for the tackle. A jig with bloodworms was used as bait.

Also interesting: Bait for fishing

After several hours, the following experiment was carried out - a friend of mine hung a bright orange, 2.5-gram Uralka on a fishing rod with a spoon that was in the car. It took 40-50 minutes to find the optimal game. The bite was more active during the next game: the jig hits the bottom for a while, raising a cloud of turbidity, then, with acceleration and a fairly high frequency, it gradually “flies up into the sky.”

The height of the bait above the bottom corresponds to the length of an outstretched arm. After raising the Uralka, there is a short pause, during which the fish grabs the bait. It is noteworthy that with such a game there is no need for sweeps. The result of such a 3-hour fishing was a box filled with a 250-gram ruff.

Pendants

Due to the fact that the jig is located on the line at a fairly large angle, the angler has many opportunities in terms of changing the game. Experienced fishermen call the “Uralka” the standard of an unbalanced bait without bait. Successful animation is not always achieved due to the considerable frequency of oscillations of the bait.

Even smooth swings of the fishing rod are a guarantee of solid catches. Fans of quiet fishing should pay attention to this.

Some baits require serious “loading”, without which they do not work due to improper play. This is especially true for thin elongated baits. The swinging of the latter is achieved due to high frequency during fast wiring. This game does not attract all fish. Usually the slower wiring option is more effective. The question arises of how to obtain noticeable vibrations at low frequencies.

This can be done by adding large beads to the hook (an alternative is a small plastic wing) cut from sequins (we are talking about sparkles on women's clothing). This design solution radically changes the game of the bait - making it more sweeping and active.

A similar function is characteristic of the various “claws” on the hook of the bait, which primarily make the bait noisier. This “Uralka” attracts fish not only with its noise, but also with its appearance - it is very similar to the legs and wings of underwater insects. A bait with such a suspension quickly helps out with inactive perch.

The bright shiny “legs” almost do not hinder the bait, but are very visible from a great distance and continue to oscillate for a long time even when the game is completely stopped. To maximize the positive qualities of the bait, slow dotted wiring with pauses is required.

Also interesting: Bloodworm - as the best attachment

Other Ural cars sway clearly and rhythmically without any suspension. Often they even need to be slowed down, which is achieved by loading or slowing down their progress. This feature is characteristic of baits that are strongly curved relative to the longitudinal axis. Even the slightest movement of the rod leads to the fact that they begin to actively tremble and oscillate in the water column. In order to “pacify” such agility, the jig is equipped with a kind of parachute made of plastic wings and beads.

To do this, use wire cutters to cut off a piece of wire with an eye from an ordinary hook and string several small wings onto it, after which they are “pressed” with small beads. This whole structure is glued into the hole for the fishing line in the jig. This design trick makes the lure's movements smoother without disturbing the swinging action.

The bite also depends on the sound made by the suspension on the jig. You can bet on glass beads. However, not all fish are interested in its sound. Therefore, you can do the following - replace the glass bead with silicone beads.

Many American publications note that when fishing for perch using a Texas rig, it is best to use a brass olive sinker rather than lead or glass. Brass is heavier than glass for the same volume, so a brass bead is most suitable for tungsten “urals” .

“Uralki”, which do not require any changes, are distinguished by their compactness and moderately wide and soft play. True, it would be useful to have sections on such a bait, like on an “ant” jig.

In any case, the beads are pressed tightly against the body of the bait. If this is not done, it will slide along the hook, which is typical for most baitless jigs. To eliminate such an undesirable prospect, beads can be glued to the hook, but such a trick eliminates the possibility of changing it. Nevertheless, beads that contrast with each other should be used as an “extension of the body” of the bait.

It is precisely for contrast that a wide variety of fish are especially often “led.” Excellent combinations for perch: white and black, yellow and black, red and black, brown and gray, and closer to spring - green and yellow.

What kind of fish do they catch?

Using the Uralochka jig you can catch perch and almost any non-predatory fish, namely:

1. Bream. Bream prefers large black or red jigs. You can fish both with bait and without bait. With any fishing method, the game should not be too fractional, and if bloodworm larvae are used, then the movements should be smooth and leisurely.
2. Roach. Roach prefers small jigs and faster play.
3. Ruff. The “king” of reservoirs prefers animal bait on a hook.
4. Guster. Fishing resembles bream fishing.
5. Crucian carp. Crucian carp prefers leisurely play with a jig.
6. Yazya. Ide often lives together with bream, so there is no need to specially select a game when fishing for it.

Perch can be caught with or without bait; often baitless fishing is more effective.

Fishing technique with a reelless jig

The most common mistake of beginners is that they try to immediately find the most catchy reelless reel that the fish will bite on always and everywhere. Whereas the most important rule when working with baitless fishing is to follow the basic principles of such fishing, which are very different from standard fishing with bait. First of all, you need to master the correct game, understand its nuances, develop the correct brush movements with a standard jig, understand how the gear works and all the features of biting fish on a reelless bait.

Fishing with no bait in still water differs from fishing on a river, but understanding this comes with experience; everyone must understand for themselves how the tackle behaves in the hand in a current or on a lake. And choosing a successful and catchy reelless reel will be achieved in exactly the same way - through trial, error and endless training. But you need to remember one thing - there is no universal jig that will always catch any fish. The same bream will grab a reelless bait one week, as soon as you put it in the hole, and the next week it will simply ignore the same bait. Therefore, a good fisherman must be able to work with all basic jigs, at least understand the technique and be able to play with them correctly in order to interest the fish.

We come to the most important thing - the game without a reel. It should be monotonous, this is the most basic rule of a fisherman’s movements. Even if you can't play high-frequency games, it's okay. The main thing is to follow the rule of monotony, do not make unnecessary movements and jerks, this will scare away the fish or will not awaken in it the desire to grab the bait.

Comparison of the Uralochka with other jigs

In terms of popularity, Uralochka occupies the top places in the ranking of jigs, but it has serious competitors. The comparative properties of various jigs are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 - Comparison of various jigs

An analysis of Table 1 allows us to conclude that the Uralochka jig is the most universal , since fish bite on it both when fishing with a nozzle and without using it.

The Uralochka can be used when fishing in still waters and in currents, while some jigs are ineffective when fishing in rivers. But as baitless jigs, the “goat”, “devil” and “witch” can be more catchy, especially when fishing for perch. Due to the larger number of hooks with additional elements and more intense vibrations that occur in the water environment, these jigs seem more voluminous and can attract fish from a greater distance.

Types of baits

Despite the differences between the types of baits, they have common characteristics:

• standard shape: long drop with a slight bend;
• the ability to play and create vibration fields around. The fish feels vibration in the side stripe and acts on the prey as a bite activator;
• frisky game of bait;
• can be used for fishing both at shallow depths and near the bottom in deep-sea holes.

Fishing with bait

The role of the nozzle is to deliver food to the bottom of the reservoir. An exclusively single hook is attached to the jig, and you should choose a small nozzle. The hook also contains cambrics with beads of different colors; they additionally attract prey.

When inserting attachment equipment, it is important to make smooth movements with a greater amplitude in comparison with non-attachment models. Some fishermen cast the tackle and wait for a bite without any movement of the bait, but such tactics can only provoke very hungry prey to bite.

Baitless fishing

Uralka reelless jigs are only slightly inferior to baited tackle in terms of attractiveness from the point of view of fish. The design has a single hook to which multi-colored beads are attached. It is better to use a jig that is curved and longer than in the nozzle version, which will help the bait stay in the desired water horizon.

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Additionally, cambrics with beads of different colors attract prey.

Quickly moving the fishing rod leads to high-frequency vibrations of the jig; it begins to move in the horizontal and vertical plane. Such a varied game often turns out to be effective in conditions without bite.

How to choose in a store

What to look for when choosing a Uralka jig in a fishing store?

1. Workmanship. There should be no paint drips on the body of the jig. If there is a ring, it should not be painted over.
2. Quality of hooks. The hooks should be sharp and of the required thickness: when fishing with bloodworms, they should have a smaller thickness.
3. The edges of the hole for passing the fishing line must be flared, otherwise loss of the bait is inevitable. This is essential for tungsten jigs.
4. The hole should pass through the body of the jig at the desired angle.

Efficiency different times of the year

In summer, jig fishing is not very common, although at this time the use of a jig can be even more effective than in winter . In summer, the fish rushes to everything that seems attractive to it, while in winter it is more picky.

In the summer, you can fish with a Uralka jig from a boat on an onboard fishing rod, or use a long telescopic rod without a reel with a side nod. The jig is lowered vertically into “windows” in the grass thickets and played with. This kind of fishing is very effective when catching rudd.

In winter, fish are more capricious and the fisherman often has to face a dilemma: whether to fish with an animal bait or use a no-bait option. Both can be effective, but success is largely determined by the behavior of the fishing target, and this, in turn, depends on many factors.

What are Uralochka jigs?

Content

The Uralochka jig is more popular than many other types of jig. It is made in the shape of a drop, simulating a jig when in water. Mormysh is an amphipod crustacean common in freshwater bodies.

The natural color of the crustacean is: green, brown and with a yellow tint; red specimens are less common. When making artificial bait, they resort to using different colors, sometimes black models are observed. To distinguish the jig from the rest of the underwater food, beads or colored rubber bands are often added to the design. An interesting jig “Uralka” with a crown, for the manufacture of which beads of white, yellow and red colors are used simultaneously.

The “Uralka” model with a cube and the “Nailball” jig are unique analogues; both baits should be present in a fisherman’s fishing bag. These are very catchy jigs, often providing catch even for a beginner. “Uralka” is interesting due to its special body shape, which ensures stable and exciting play in strong currents.

The Uralochka jig is superior to many other types of jigs in popularity.

All models of Uralka jigs differ in:

• shape: standard drop-shaped and upside-down spinner. The Uralka-reversal jig is a good replacement for the traditional design, but is somewhat inferior in terms of catchability;
• weight, size of the jig: 0.5-2.5 g and a length of several centimeters. You should choose the weight based on the fishing depth: for greater depths, larger sinkers are used. At depth it is easier to animate a heavy bait than a light one. When fishing in shallow water up to 2 m, a jig weighing 0.5 g is used, for fishing depths up to 5 m - 1 g, and when fishing from the bottom up to 9 m, baits weighing 1-1.5 g perform well;
• colors They make bait in a wide variety of colors: silver, dark green and purple shades, copper and brass colors. The correct selection of colors depends on the fishing conditions; a universal rule applies here: in dark water it is better to take light baits and vice versa;
• decorative elements. The choice of material for decoration and its availability is carried out individually;
• location of the center of gravity: in the head or tail area.

Step-by-step instructions on how to tie to a fishing line

Depending on whether the jig has a ring for tying a fishing line, or whether a through hole is intended for this purpose, a different sequence of actions is performed.

Tying a fishing line to a ring

The fishing line is threaded through the ring and tied with a clinch knot or some other fishing knot.

How to knit through a hole in the body

In order to tie a jig to a fishing line, proceed as follows:

1. Thread the line through the hole in the body.
2. Form a loop parallel to the shank of the hook.
3. Make several (4-5) turns of the fishing line around the shank of the hook and the loop pressed against it.
4. Pass the free end of the fishing line into the loop, preferably twice, and tighten the knot, after wetting it.

DIY making

Only a few can make a tungsten ural with their own hands, but a lead jig is quite simple to make. To make it you will need:

Tools:

• Knife;
• flat slab;
• soldering iron;
• an awl or sharp needle;
• file or needle file;
• grinding materials.

Materials:

• Lead rod;
• wire for the ring;
• soldering acid;
• hook;
• primer;
• dye.

The manufacturing process of a Uralka jig includes the following steps:

1. The lead rod is rolled out on a slab, giving one end the shape of a truncated cone.
2. Cut a piece of the cone to the desired length.
3. By resting against any hard surface, the workpiece is given the desired bend.
4. Use an awl or needle to make a hole.
5. Solder in a hook and, if necessary, a ring for attaching the fishing line.
6. Process the workpiece.
7. The jig is primed and painted.
8. Add additional items.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Attention! The most important operation in making a fishing rod is to pierce a hole, since the position of the jig in the water will depend on this. The sharper the angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the jig, the more horizontal position it will occupy in the water.

In order to make the manufacturing process more convenient, you can first solder the hook and make a hole, and only then cut the workpiece from the rod.

If the jig tied to the fishing line is not in the correct position that the angler would like, you can solder a little lead onto the end of the bait (crown), or, conversely, grind off the excess with a file. If the jig has a soldered loop, then you can, within certain limits, adjust the angle of the jig by carefully bending the loop in one direction or another.

The best DIY jigs

Any novice fisherman who owns a soldering iron or plumbing tools can make a simple jig. This work does not require special equipment and can be done at home.

Tungsten jigs

They are a sinker made of high strength metal with a soldered hook. The advantage is the small size combined with heavy weight. This allows you to use the bait at great depths with fast currents.

These jigs for winter fishing are made independently. Some fishermen have already achieved such perfection that their products are caught by industrial designs. Such production requires durable, hard metal and the patience of the performer. Such materials are poorly processed. Lures made from them have one drawback: when fishing for fish, the line is damaged by the edges of the hole. To eliminate this, insert a plastic tube into the hole.

Jigs with bait

There are jigs:

• with attachment (bait);
• nozzleless.

The purpose of baited lures is to deliver that bait to the fish on the bottom. Fishing rods are taken standard with a nod. The jig has one hook on which the “treat” is placed. To make it attractive, the hooks are decorated with different colored threads and cambrics.

Bloodworms, maggots, and burdocks are used as bait. In case of a bad bite, 2-4 larvae are placed on the hook, which cover the entire hook. The remaining bait is taken home, stored in the refrigerator until the next fishing trip.

Special mention must be made of the burdock moth larva. They are found in burdock cones. They look like miniature cockchafer larvae. They are a super bait for any fish, and perches especially love them. This larva can stir up the fish even on days without biting. They simply throw it into the hole. Suitable for complementary feeding at a depth of up to 2 m.

Homemade winter baits can be easily adapted to use small animal baits.

Reelless or attachment jig

As with bait fishing, a winter fishing rod should be light and comfortable. Also, winding up the line and unwinding it must be quick, since when fishing with a reelless fish, you often have to change fishing spots.

Among the most popular factory-made baits for mothless baits are “uralka”, “ant”, “banana”. But well-made homemade jigs can be many times better than store-bought jigs.

Sometimes even a catchy bait made by yourself does not produce the desired catch. Then you have to change holes often, because when fishing without bait you have to search for fish intensively.

Tactics and fishing techniques

Tactics and techniques for catching urinal fish differ when fishing with and without bait. Tactically, baitless fishing is closer to winter trolling - the fisherman should move more around the reservoir in search of fish, without staying in one place for a long time. The technique of fishing with a baitless jig involves high-frequency play with a jig. The most fractional game attracts perch; “peaceful” fish should be caught by playing with a jig at a moderate pace.

Fishing with an animal bait involves a longer wait for a bite . As a rule, bait is used. Even perch can be fed with bloodworms, let alone “white” fish. The fisherman should know the peculiarities of feeding when fishing in currents and in still water. Fishing on rivers means that jigs need to be heavier. Playing with a jig with a nozzle is slower and smoother. Bloodworm larvae, maggots, pieces of worms and burdock moth larvae are used as bait.

In any case, when fishing with a jig, carry out the following actions:

• Lower the jig to the bottom and hit the bottom with it several times, creating a cloud of turbidity;
• make a lift, playing with a nod of the fishing rod;
• at the top point make a short pause;
• gradually lower the jig down;
• repeat the cycle several times.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Important! You should never fish only the bottom horizon. Any fish, except, perhaps, the ruffe, can live in the middle layers of water, and not looking for it there would be a crime.

Seasonal features of using this jig

Ural baits work well in all seasons, providing active play in warm and cold periods of the year. It is often possible to achieve a good catch not only in summer or winter, but in every season.

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Ural baits provide active play in warm and cold periods of the year

Winter

Winter fishing is complicated by the tendency of the inhabitants of the reservoir to stay in the bottom layers of water, where the water remains warm and saturated with oxygen. For winter fishing, it is better to use large, heavy bait. In still water, a jig weighing 1-1.5 g is suitable, and on a river with a strong current, the winter jig “Uralka” should be heavier - about 2 g. The weight of the bait is due to the need for fishing at great depths.

Uralochka jigs for winter fishing are more effective when the body is painted in bright colors: red, silver, gold. A good bite is observed with black bait, which breaks the rule. Fishermen love to use it on rivers with clear water.

Important! Just choosing a color is not enough; it is important to take into account the characteristics of the bait. On the hook, the bait should show an active and attractive game.

Summer

At the end of summer, the fish begins to prepare for the arrival of cold weather and wintering, which makes it hungry.

The choice of bait is based on the angler’s preferences in the catch:

• small baits are effective when catching ruffe;
• medium sizes help in catching roach and small perches;
• Trophy perch and bream are caught well with a large jig.

Medium-sized baits are used more often; they are universal in most reservoirs. It is better to use brown and red jigs for bream and crucian carp.

It is better to use large, heavy bait for winter fishing