Pike on the girders according to the first. Pike on the girders on the first ice. Choosing a fishing spot
Fans of winter pike fishing begin hunting for toothy ones immediately after the formation of a strong ice cover on the reservoirs. But in order for pike fishing on the first ice to be successful, the fisherman simply must know some features and subtleties, which we will try to consider in our article.
Peculiarities of pike behavior on first ice
When the first strong ice appears on the reservoir, the toothy one sticks to its main camping and hunting areas on the reservoir. At the same time, representatives of the pike family actively hunt schools of small fish. Therefore, it is more promising to start fishing for pike on the first ice from the coastline.
In cases where the angler knows for sure that there are not particularly many pike in the reservoir, then the most preferable method of fishing on the first ice is to install girders and circles. When there are a lot of toothy fish in a reservoir, it is better to catch on balancers and spoons. Pike are especially good at catching using live bait.
When setting out on the first ice for pike, you need to know where to look for the toothy one in the pond. When fishing on first ice, pike can be located in those areas of reservoirs where there are reed thickets, all kinds of underwater vegetation, exits from holes and underwater ditches.
The colder it gets outside, the closer the toothy fish begins to move into the deep areas of reservoirs, so in severe frosts you should not look for it in shallow water. Here, the best fishing areas are all kinds of exits from underwater holes and ditches.
First ice fishing for pike on girders
The most basic way of catching pike on the first ice is using fishing poles. Even at the beginning of the first ice season, pike prefer to hunt in coastal areas of reservoirs, where there are schools of small fish.
It is in such places that it is most preferable to install girders. The girders themselves are plastic stands where the stand and reel are attached. A spring and a flag are attached to the stand itself. When the bait is captured, the reel rotates, signaling to the angler that the pike is biting.
In this case, the fisherman should not rush to pull out the pike, otherwise you can simply snatch the bait from the mouth of the toothy one. You should wait for the moment when the pike completely swallows the bait and attaches itself to the hook.
And spoons are also very effective ways of catching pike. At the same time, in the presence of active pike, balancers are still more preferable than spinners, because they are more noticeable to the pike itself at long distances.
When fishing with balancers in snags, it is better to use balancers that have a short game, with a smooth lift up. Balancers that have three attachment points on the back of the balancer itself are very effective. The most suitable time for fishing with balancers or spoons is calm and calm weather. You can fish in channels, near edges, and in the beds of flooded rivers.
Spoons are used both vertically and spoons. At the same time, the angler chooses the colors of such spinners independently, based on the existing fishing conditions. At the same time, fishing with spinners on the first ice is also very effective.
At the same time, pike fishing on the first ice using spoons and balancers is carried out using a wide variety of types of play and fishing. If fishing is carried out at great depths, then short and sharp retrieves will be more effective.
When catching pike with balancers or spoons, rods are used, which fishermen call fly rods, with a length of forty or fifty centimeters, no more. It is better to have a carbon whip, and the handle should be comfortable.
As fishing line, fishermen use fishing line with a diameter of around 0.3 millimeters, monofilament or fluorocarbon, which are less susceptible to abrasion and less noticeable in the water.
- Do not use braided line to catch pike on the first ice, because it freezes heavily, which makes the fishing process very difficult.
- When fishing for pike on the first ice using live bait, the bait itself must be caught in the same body of water.
- The most preferred live bait for pike is small crucian carp or gudgeon.
- The guards can be installed in the evening and checked in the morning.
How many optimistic speeches can you hear about fishing for pike on the first ice? All there is to talk about is that the pike is so active that you don’t have to wait long for a bite; you just have time to run between the girders and catch the fish.
After such a presentation, the inexperienced fisherman can only wait for the first ice and, having already grabbed it, hurry to the reservoir. But more often, the fisherman, in the best case, returns home with the live bait he caught; in the worst case, the winter swimming season opens.
I agree, the chance of catching a pike is quite high. During the formation of ice cover, the predator, unlike its legitimate lunch, experiences less stress. In the first couple of weeks it remains active, but catching it with a jig, balance beam or spoon is no easier than at other times of the year. Since success in catching pike will depend on knowledge of the reservoir, taking into account the nuances of the behavior of the predator, its food object and the desire of the pike itself.
But before moving on to the main topic, I still dare to instill a little fear in beginners who are going fishing on the first ice.
What is first ice
I don’t know what “first ice” is in your mind, but in my case it’s a two to three centimeter crust of ice. Clean and transparent, sometimes dusted with snow. You understand - quite a dangerous thing. When they talk about quickly moving from one hole to another, I always want to say that the person is lying a little.
It is considered correct not to go out onto the pond at all. On the official website of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, all safety measures are clearly described and a safe thickness of ice is specified, which should be able to withstand the average person - 7 centimeters. But even in this case, running around can lead to obvious “surprises” - swimming different distances in cold water.
And for this reason, a beginner should learn (experienced fishermen know) that the steps should be shuffling, leisurely, and not wide. Being in the hands, or a stick or pole replacing it, Necessarily. Checking the consistency of the ice in front of you will make your fishing safer and increase the chance of a happy ending.
Remember:
The first ice does not forgive mistakes and in almost every region it begins with the death of several arrogant fishermen who did not take into account certain subtleties of fishing during this period. But if you are still a restless fisherman and walking on thin ice will not stop you, then at least try to follow simple safety rules.
I believe it’s boring, but your health directly depends on these instructions. I will not hide that when I was younger, I treated everything like this with a smile. It happened that recklessness could become the real reason for leaving for another world, but more often he became just a “walrus.” And why does a wet, frozen and ice-encrusted person care that a fish is biting?
Which ice is considered dangerous?
- Milky, white or matte, formed from the freezing of snow. It can break without cracking.
- Ice that can be broken with one blow of an ice pick, ax or stick. In this case, its thickness will be less than five centimeters. According to the standards, the ice shell must be at least 10-12 cm.
- It is worth avoiding places where the ice begins to crack around the circumference and creak. A clear sign of danger.
- Areas where water comes out.
- The coastline is fraught with surprises until the reservoir freezes completely. Here at the beginning and end of winter you can get your feet wet.
- The ice on the current is thin.
How to move on ice
- Not to run! Even if you often watch the video when the fisherman rushes to the “tanned” flag of the girder, but know that you can’t do that. Move across unfamiliar ice with small, gliding steps.
- Check the road ahead with an ice pick or pole.
- If you are walking in a group, the distance between those walking is at least 5 meters. And let the more experienced one go ahead.
- Rescue gear should be at hand.
- When going winter fishing, you always go with your luggage (backpack, fishing box, drill, etc.). Take off one strap and free your shoulder. It’s inconvenient, but if necessary, it is possible to quickly free yourself from the burden.
- Places frequently visited by fishermen have certain trails. Even dusted with snow, they are denser and taller.
- I won’t say anything about moving on ice with good visibility. I myself am a sinner. In my youth, I crossed the Angara two days before the autopsy, and at night. It's a different story, but I wouldn't recommend crawling between really dangerous areas in the moonlight.
- Do not test the strength of the ice by kicking or jumping.
- If the ice crackled or began to move in waves from the one in front (typically on the last ice) - do not panic. If there is an opportunity to go another way, take it; if not, continue walking carefully, shuffling your soles. If necessary, slowly lie down on your stomach and crawl.
Let's be honest. Everything described above often goes unnoticed and is located in the farthest corner of the gray matter. We begin to remember only when the “unforeseen” happens.
What to do? We learn from our mistakes. After swimming on the first ice, my little son instantly learned simple truths. Now, although he wanders through dangerous places, he first thinks about where to enter.
How many girders should I put?
The question is relevant. According to the rules, since 2009 there must be 10 fishing rods per fisherman. However, there are nuances of interpretation by region, and this should be kept in mind. The total number of hooks should not exceed ten. That is, a representative of the fisheries inspection has the legal right to make a claim if he sees that the girder has set the standard for supply and continues to fish with a fishing rod.
This way of thinking is quite understandable.
But, as already stated, everything may depend on the region. In the European part of the country, fishermen will most likely point out a violation. We, at Angara, have a slightly different approach. The guardians of the law are primarily interested in networkers. Paying attention to a winter fishing enthusiast with a fishing rod and placed flags is definitely interesting, but with a different purpose.
On the other hand, it is not always reasonable to place the legal 10 piers on the first ice that is not yet sufficiently strong. The path of attitudes may turn out to be too long. I have already determined the number 5 for myself.
With knowledge of the reservoir and the correct application of information, an area is determined where the concentration and activity of pike allows you to effectively use even such a small quantity at first glance. By the way, according to the old legislation, it was precisely five zherlitsa per person that were legalized for use.
Search for pike
Friends! No matter how much I would like to give a comprehensive answer that can help you accurately find pike sites or indicate hunting routes, this will not be possible. Even seemingly similar bodies of water conceal their secrets and features. There are some rules, in this case you will have to use them.
As stated above, during the period of ice formation, the pike is in a less stressful state than the object of its hunt. This gives anglers the right to enjoy an active bite on the first ice.
Pike adapt perfectly to changing conditions, even when a shell of ice quickly covers the surface of the water. And if the daily temperature fluctuates and the process of ice formation is extended, then this does not particularly affect its behavior.
It is no secret that fresh ice forces peaceful fish to move further from the shore. At depth, the temperature regime is more constant and large groups of fish are provided with a food supply. This is where you should look for an active predator.
The places for such dislocations are edges with sharp changes in depth, areas of washouts at the mouths of rivulets and streams flowing into a larger body of water, at the exits from ponds and lakes into rivers, where holes and whirlpools are often observed. Schools of peaceful fish usually accumulate here in large numbers and, until the ice becomes solid, practically do not move around the reservoir and do not huddle close to the shore.
For example, we have the taiga river Chadobetc, which flows into the Angara. When the surface of the water is covered with ice, just recently the frantic dace rolls into deep water, at the mouth of Chadobets, and stays there for some time in large numbers. Where local fishermen, using nets, harvest dace for the winter.
Of course, there can be no talk of any kind of pike fishing with girders on the first ice. Despite the presence of caulk. It’s just that a similar situation can be observed in small shallow water bodies, where depth differences of one and a half to two meters already have advantages in relation to the general bottom topography. In addition, it is precisely such shallow waters that are the main areas where girdle fish successfully catch pike in the first ice. The ice crust primarily covers shallow bodies of water.
I would question the recommendations to look for pike near the boundaries of aquatic vegetation. Firstly, more than once I was convinced of the absence of hunting pike. Secondly, most importantly, in a sincere disregard for peaceful fish in such areas. Probably this is due to a sharp drop in temperature and the inability to feed numerous flocks of dace, sorods, and perches. Or maybe I was simply unlucky.
What else should I add? Pike loves bays, spits bordering the depths, and snags along the coastal dump. It is precisely such areas, found during the season of “liquid” water using a spinning rod, that I primarily focus my attention on. Even if there is a current, it is worth looking for quiet backwaters, protected by protruding dams, bends in the channel, behind islands.
Fishing tactics
Even having an idea of the topography of the bottom of the reservoir and the conviction of the presence of a predator, the labor-intensive task of finding a pike arises. Because the concentration of fish is not uniform. One can recall the embellished primeval ice zhora. The stomachs of all the pike caught were full.
By the way, good news. Even with a full belly, pike during the period of first ice are caught better with girders than with spoons and balancers. But this situation is soon changing. As the ice thickness increases, the balancer comes into first place. However, even this advantage soon disappears.
So, having designated the place for installing the girders, having found out the presence of depth differences, snags, natural and artificial ones that create a calm from the current, shelters, we begin brainstorming - how to correctly place the girders throughout the reservoir? Probably every zherlichnik with experience has a secret tactic, I’ll tell you about mine.
To search for pike, I take ten settings with me. If I am above the edge, then I install some of the vents above the depth, the other along the ridge in the shallows. A similar picture emerges when there is a braid. But this tactic is for a reservoir.
When fishing on the quickly freezing relatively shallow lakes of Chelbikhin Island, the installation of girders is as follows.
The bottom topography here is usually the same. A meter from the shore there is a meter-long shallow zone falling into a coastal ditch, from a meter to two meters deep. Further, towards the middle of the reservoir, an extensive shoal occasionally alternates with holes. All changes in the bottom are clearly visible on the first ice. I place the girders only along the coastal ditch. True, small pike are caught here, but the places are so well known that usually there is no need to reset the settings.
It is worth remembering that when fishing for pike, the girders installed above the pits may not work. It's always better to find a difference.
Fishing in snags
A distinctive feature of pike, on the first ice, in the dead of winter or in summer, is its attraction to all sorts of debris from tree roots, flooded bushes (which is typical for reservoirs) and snags. Having found one of these places, you should always expect a bite. But you should take precautions during installation.
You need to set up the girder not next to the snag, not inside the snag, but moving away from it. Otherwise, with a high degree of probability, I can state that either the frisky bait fish will take the line into the wilds and the bait will stand idle, or the attacking pike will run straight into the bushes.
You can adjust the length of the fishing line for the descent, firmly fix the mood (akin to a fully tightened clutch), but these are not always life-saving procedures.
No tail, no scales. Regards, Oleg
The ice expanses of the reservoir give the fisherman the opportunity to successfully search for pike. However, it is necessary to take into account the period of freeze-up, because the toothy one can change its camp sites during the winter. Properly made gear, a clear definition of the area where the girders will be installed, and the right fishing tactics ensure the success of the girder. Pike are caught on girders throughout the entire freeze-up period. Its greatest activity occurs in November-December and March-April, but in reservoirs with a current this predator bites well in other winter months, even in the dead of winter.
Thus, good catches are regularly recorded in the Verkhne-Ruzsky reservoir, where the current is always noticeable due to constant water discharges. In addition, the presence of vast areas of snags, varied bottom topography, and an abundance of juvenile fish create excellent conditions here for the reproduction of pike. Noting this special reservoir, I note that fishermen who purposefully specialize in catching toothfish and have thoroughly studied such reservoirs as Vazuzskoye, Ruzskoye, Mozhaiskoye, Istraskoye, Ozerninskoye, Ivankovskoye, Uglichskoye, Gorkovskoye, Rybinskoye, do not remain without catches there either.
Tactics for catching pike on the first ice
Of great importance for the choice of tactics for catching pike on a girder is whether it is the beginning of the freeze-up, the middle or its end. So, during the first ice, I choose for fishing mainly shallow places near the coastal snags with a depth of 0.5 to 4 m. It is at such depths, especially if the flooded bed of the tributary flowing into the reservoir is nearby, that many fish fry live, behind which, because pike hunts in shelters. For example, I am familiar with the snag areas on the Vazuz reservoir, where the catches in the first ice are simply fantastic. Usually these are outlets from bays through which a stream or river flows into the reservoir. Irrigation along the bed of the bays on the named reservoir is often snaggy. And it is precisely in these areas that the vents need to be placed, placing them along a zigzag line at a distance of 10-15 m from each other, while covering both shallows and depths of up to 4 m.
But on the same Vazuz reservoir there are areas where pike concentrate not in nearby bays, but where, after a narrow coastal shelf, there are sharp drops in the bottom with ledges of up to 6-8 m. Pike loves such edges for a long time. Once, during the first ice in the Dubinino area, in three days my friend and I caught fifty-two pike weighing a kilogram or more. Moreover, the largest ones were taken from a depth of 6-8 m, where, obviously, larger perch and roach were kept. Later, in January - February, we continued to fish in this area. During the day we only caught two or three pikes. Agree, fishing is quite productive for deep winter conditions.
By the middle of winter, schools of roach, perch, silver bream and other small fish, having raised their food supply at depths of up to 4-5 m, go to feed on the riverbed or on irrigation areas close to the riverbed areas. Pike also come here. In general, in reservoirs schools of forage fish do not stand still. They move in search of food, and the pike relentlessly follows them or stands in cover, waiting for another school. Moreover, the toothy sometimes chooses a very insignificant tubercle or hole on level ground as a shelter, so dug-out irrigation is a promising place for catching the spotted predator.
It is important upon arrival at the reservoir to clearly navigate the area where the girders will be installed. So, at one time my friend and I were constantly catching pike in the area of the village of Shcherbinka on the Ruza Reservoir. On the opposite bank from the village there is a vast snag, along the perimeter of which we usually placed traps, and pike were caught here all winter. However, there were no bites that January day. Sergey got his bearings in time and went to place the vents far away from the snags and the flooded riverbed along a very extensive irrigation area. I was skeptical about his idea, but I had to give Sergei his due: every half hour he moved the vents to a new place, first carefully measuring the depth and looking for bumps and holes. As a result of hard work, by the end of the day, his catch included two measured pike, while I, at the tested spot, could not get away from zero. From this I concluded that fishing, even with such gear as a zherlitsa, should not be passive.
Last year, at the end of January, I was vacationing at the base in the village of Ostashovo on the Ruza Reservoir. I didn’t want to go far after the predator, so I decided to install the girders directly opposite the village. But at the base it turned out that the pike is now taking poorly and that near Ostashovo there were no catches of the predator recorded at all for two days. However, I didn't give up. Considering the wilderness, I went closer to the flooded river bed. I found areas with depths from 4 to 9 m, but before placing the girders, I carefully measured the depth of the irrigation suitable for the riverbed. It turned out that in this place several ditches approach the riverbed, and there are mounds and funnels in the irrigation area. The emphasis was placed on the placement of vents near these areas. Moreover, remembering that in the dead of winter a pike may not move around in search of prey, but sometimes stands rooted to the spot and will bite if you bring live bait to its mouth, I drilled holes along the perimeter of the funnels, along the edges of the grooves and from time to time rearranged them, hoping to find a pike. My work was not in vain. The first pike bit at the point of approach of one ditch to the riverbed, I took the other two-kilogram beast on a hillock near the bend of the flooded riverbed.
Tactics for catching pike on the last ice
On the last ice, the tactics for catching pike on a girder are different. Pike begins to spawn in coastal polynyas when there is still ice on the reservoir. Toothed fish show good feeding activity before spawning, however, for a long time I had no success in fishing on spring ice. The reason for the failures was that I placed the girders near the shore at depths from 0.5 to 2.5 m, but even these were prohibitive depths for pre-spawning pike. It turns out that the toothy one is walking on the last ice where it can barely crawl through. As soon as water flowing from the shore begins to ooze under the ice, a pike approaches here, as if scouting out places where coastal polynyas may first appear. She gives preference to areas with reeds, sedges and reeds, because the ice melts here the fastest and the places for spawning are suitable.
The guards should be placed along the reed zone at a depth of only 10-50 cm from the ice edge. In this case, again, good places will be those where there is at least some kind of pothole at the bottom. Sometimes a pike makes its way under the ice into this rut and stands in it. And here it doesn’t matter whether you slip live bait under her nose or not. If he is nimble, then, sensing a predator, he will try to move to the side, but the equipment will not allow him to do this. Then the movements of the baitfish will certainly attract the attention of the predator and she will find a way to squeeze through to it.
Fishing on the last ice should not be passive either. Having installed 5-10 girders along the coastal edge of the ice, they are periodically moved along the flank, allowing them to stand in one place for at least half an hour. On the last ice, attention should be paid to small shallow bays, especially those from which streams flow.
Biting and playing when fishing for pike on a rig
Often depends on the proportionality of live bait and pike. It is difficult for a small pike to swallow large baitfish, so it chews it for a long time, drags it, and throws it. The unwinding of the reel is then indecisive with long stops, and whether the pike threw live bait or not is determined by the vibration of the fishing line. On the other hand, if the bait is small, a medium-sized pike, having captured it, often immediately moves to the side, trying to find shelter. Therefore, when fishing near a snag, if you are late with the hook, the tackle can become hopelessly tangled in the snag. Sometimes a small pike can be hurried into swallowing live bait. To do this, they tug the fishing line with small movements, thereby creating an imitation of a fish escaping from the mouth.
A large pike usually moves slowly and surely to the side without fear, while simultaneously turning the bait fish in its mouth with its head towards the throat. Before swallowing its prey, the pike stops. It is at this moment that you should strike. It happens that the girder is installed exactly above the pike’s resting place. Then there may be no pulling to the side at all. The flag flies up, but the line does not unwind. Only by its vibration or a very delicate upward pull can you determine that the toothy fish is holding live bait. In this case, you need to wait a while and, if the line does not begin to unwind, sharply make a hook.
The quality of a pike bite often depends very much on what the leash is made of. When fishing with a metal leash and the bite is weak, the pike often throws the bait, sensing a catch. Pike, as a rule, do not feel a fishing line even with a diameter of 0.4 mm. That's why I prefer to fish with fishing line leaders.
For any bite and in any fishing conditions, except for fishing in snags, you need to give the pike the opportunity to move to the side, keeping the line taut. Then the line will go behind the so-called pike whisker, which, in turn, will prevent the leash from getting on the sharp pike teeth and biting it. But after you decide to start leading the pike to the hole, you need to do this quickly, without allowing the insidious beast to come to its senses. On a line of 0.4-0.5 mm, I usually bring in pike weighing up to 5 kg without delay. If the pike did not immediately enter the hole and quickly went to the side, it needs to be tired a little more in circles and then without delay, but carefully introduced into the hole and picked up under the gills with your hands or a hook.
Design of girders for pike fishing
Fig. 1 Passive girders designed for installation under ice: pike girder with an underwater reel, pike girder with a float - diagrams
There are a large number of different designs of these gears. Some fishermen buy girders in a store, others prefer homemade ones. Gears are divided into two main types: those intended for passive fishing and for active fishing. The design of the former provides for their installation under the ice for a long time (usually from the morning until the next morning). After installing the trap, the fisherman can fill the hole with snow and then periodically check the gear, replacing the fallen baitfish with a live one ( rice. 1).
The second type of girders involves active fishing with periodic relocation of the girders to a new location. By the way, running with stomping near the line of the girders often has a positive effect on the bite. This is obviously due to the fact that a passively standing pike is disturbed by the stomp from its place and, starting to move, it bumps into live bait. On the other hand, the stomping also affects the live bait, which, frightened, tries to go for cover, but is forced to walk on a fishing line. The pike senses vibrations coming from the movement of a small fish from a fairly large distance and approaches it. In this regard, it is a good idea to periodically raise the rig by 0.5 m and make the baitfish move with slight rocking.
The design of the girder with a reel based on a folding tripod is quite convenient ( rice. 2). If, as a result of transportation, there is no misalignment of the structural elements, then such a vent works flawlessly. Its advantage is that it folds quite compactly, taking up little space during transportation.
Another model of winter fishing rod also has a reel in its design, but it is not based on a tripod, but on a plastic or plywood circle, in which there is a slot for inserting fishing line. Such a girder is also installed directly above the hole, and the line from it unhindered when biting. You need to immediately notice that there are no idle bites, you need to make sure that the fishing line does not freeze to the ice or equipment elements, especially if it is wet snow. In frosty weather, you need to pour a pile of dry snow over the hole, which prevents the fishing line from sticking.
The third type of reel also has a circle at its base, which is usually made of plastic, and the fishing line is wound not on a reel, but on a special movable reel ( rice. 3). All three types of girders are sold in fishing stores and are very convenient to use.
Live bait for catching pike on a girder
It is believed that the best bait for catching pike on a pole is the one that predominates in the reservoir. Since in almost all reservoirs the catch of small fish is often perch and roach, I usually fish with this bait. In many reservoirs, pike readily bite on small crucian carp, which can be bought in fishing stores. The good thing about gudgeon is that it is a universal bait for many predators, including pike perch, but if there is no gudgeon in the reservoir, it is better not to catch it, but to give preference to perch or roach. Ruff is also an excellent bait fish. In many reservoirs and ponds near Moscow, pike do not refuse bitterling, which is very tenacious on the hook. The loach is also tenacious, and the pike does not disdain it, especially if it is hungry.
The activity of live bait is of great importance for effective fishing, and for this it must be properly transported to the fishing site. Live bait feels great in a large volume of water and in a spacious canal. It’s good if air is supplied to the channel with live bait (pumped up with a special bulb). It is advisable to change the water occasionally to free it from fish mucus, which clogs the fish's gills. But water for transportation cannot be taken from the tap. It is better to take it from a stream or other natural body of water.
If you were unable to stock up on live bait in advance, you can catch it in a pond. Usually, for this, several holes are drilled at a depth of 2.5 to 5 m, taking into account the bottom topography and other features of the reservoir that a school of small fish prefers in winter. The holes need to be fed with a mixture of bloodworms and breadcrumbs. After this, they are alternately fished with a nodding rod and a jig, finding the place of the highest concentration of live bait. It happens that small fish do not bite actively, but you need to catch them quickly and a lot. Then above the jig I tie a 3-5 cm leash with the smallest hook, onto which I bait one bloodworm. Usually, such equipment works flawlessly; it is only important to choose the right game and fish with slow or fast retrieval, or prefer fishing with a stationary bait.
If I’m catching live bait in a pond, but there’s no can at hand, then I use a plastic bottle as a container, in which I cut a window on the side with a knife. I throw live bait into it. Sometimes, when I don’t have a bottle at hand, I throw live bait into an incompletely drilled hole, into which I first pour water. In such a natural container, live bait can be preserved for a long time; you just need to make sure that the hole is not covered with a thick layer of ice.
Catching pike on a girder in snags
The tactics for catching pike with a girder in snags are different:
- Firstly, try to install the vent no closer than five meters from a snag or driftwood.
- Secondly, if the snag is dense and the fishing depth is shallow, it is better to place live bait in half the water.
- Thirdly, the very high probability of a snag while unwinding the line when biting in a dense snag forces the angler to hook without waiting for the pike to unwind one and a half to three meters of line and stop.
In this regard, use equipment with two treble hooks No. 3-6 ( rice. 4), which increases the likelihood of a successful hook in the pike’s mouth when hooking on the first revolutions of the reel.
Live bait is hooked with one tee in the area of the dorsal fin, and the other on the upper palate. Since the pike cannot be allowed to move in dense snags, it is advisable to use soft metallic leashes that are too strong for the pike’s teeth.
For fishing in snags, some fishermen use special rigs with a shortened fishing line - no more than 1 meter for unwinding, taking into account the depth.
The degree of respect for this toothy fish can be judged not only by the number of amulets made from its bones, which protected the owners from all adversities, but also by the number of monuments. And she has a lot of them, and the largest pike is a whole museum of fishing glory, the observation deck of which is located in the mouth of the fish.
Pike has truly “predatory” vision; its eyes are located so high that the fish can easily control large areas without even turning its head. Pike is a real hunter, capable of hiding and motionless waiting for its prey for hours. The pike always grabs the intended fish by the head, while its sharp teeth, after grabbing, “hide” like bristles, but with any jerk and attempt to free themselves, they dig into the victim again, leaving it no chance.
By the way, when choosing a menu, pikes are generally not distinguished by high taste: they eat absolutely everything, especially in early spring, after a forced winter diet. Their diet includes not only fish and other smaller pike, they do not disdain frogs, crayfish, rats, moles, small rodents and even ducklings that are forced to swim across bodies of water. But the river shark’s sense of smell is completely useless; this sense organ in fish is poorly developed and is compensated by acute vision.
Features of fishing for pike on the first ice
The first ice usually appears in late November-early December. As a rule, small bodies of water are the first to become covered with ice. It is better to go pike to lakes and rivers with weak currents. The favorite places for fish at this time are areas where algae grows.
The ideal place would be the border of vegetation in a river or lake, the transition zone of calm water into a current, and areas with large snags at the bottom. It is advisable that the fisherman knows the features of the bottom of the reservoir and the underwater flora; in this case, choosing the right place will be much easier.
There is no need to waste time waiting for a predator in deep pools: well-fed fish go to the depths, and we are interested in a hungry pike, which is trying to gain fat before the winter “diet”. A calmer and less timid fish sits at depth. The first ice becomes a signal for her last hunt, so the queen of the rivers will peck around the clock. It is better that the ice is well covered with snow; the keen eyes of a river shark are able to notice the slightest movement on the surface of the transparent ice.
Fishing for pike using girders is considered the most effective. You can buy a zherlitsa in fishing stores or make it yourself. The tackle is a circle to which a special bite alarm flag is attached, and a reel with fishing line is attached to the circle. It is better to use a leash so that there are no unfortunate precedents with lost prey. The load is selected in accordance with the strength of the current at the fishing site.
Lure for voracious fish
Pike bites well on other fish. It is best to collect small change from the same reservoir. If this is not possible, then bait can be bought at the store. Crucian carp is considered ideal. Although it is not as tasty for a predator as roach or perch, crucian carp has one advantage: it is tenacious.
Accordingly, the prey will flutter for a long time, luring the owner of the prominent jaws. To keep the bait in the “vigorous” state for as long as possible, fishermen use a special bucket - eland. It is wrapped in a layer of insulation, which maintains the temperature inside the bucket to support the vital processes of live bait.
Fishing technique
First, put the crucian carp on the hook; it is better to use a double or treble at your discretion. Bait carefully so as not to damage the spine, otherwise the bait will die prematurely. Then lower the bait to the very bottom. As soon as it reaches the bottom, spin the reel back a couple of turns so that the bait does not lie on the bottom, but flutters freely in the water. Then the girder is installed above the hole to limit the entry of light that irritates the fish.
You can sprinkle the structure with snow for reliability. That's it, now all we have to do is wait. Usually, experienced fishermen do not limit themselves to installing one piece of gear, just to be sure. When the flag shoots, do not rush to hook, let the fish move to the side and swallow the bait so as not to tear it out of its hungry mouth. The line will lead to the side, then the predator will stop, from this moment count another 10 seconds and only then can you hook.
The line should move freely in your hands. The river shark was given such a nickname for a reason; it is better to drag the fish with gloves, before the surface it will become completely uncontrollable and can reward the fisherman with a “surprise” in the form of hands that are skinned until they bleed. If you decide to sit on the ice for a long time, it is better to lubricate the fishing line with grease so that it does not freeze into the ice and ruin your entire fishing trip.
Afterword
Although pike has a weak sense of smell, it can rightfully be proud of its excellent eyesight. If the ice has frozen the river, but the snow has not covered it with a cap, try to choose places with “muddy” ice so that the fisherman blends in with the environment as naturally as possible. Don’t forget to take an ice pick with you in case the catch is fat in the truest sense of the word and won’t fit into the drilled hole.
Every self-respecting fisherman should catch a pike at least once in his life, because the predator is rightfully considered the “queen” of our rivers. Follow these simple tips and you are guaranteed victory in this impromptu competition with a real shark from your local waters.