How to relax / 31.08.2023

Spring pike. Spinning in April - biting and fishing with spinners Spoons for pike in April

Pike is the main object of hunting for most domestic spinning anglers. It rightfully occupies a leading position in fishermen's catches, since it inhabits almost all reservoirs of our latitudes and is characterized by an increased appetite, bordering on greed.

Fishing for pike in April with a spinning rod can give the angler a lot of positive memories and emotions. However, this is a difficult period, characterized by not entirely favorable weather, and the behavior of the predator is not easy to predict. To be successful at this time of year, you need to know the fishing location well, know the habits of the local spotted beast, have extensive experience and skills in using various artificial baits.

Important! In some reservoirs or certain areas thereof, a spawning ban is in effect in the spring. Love nature, don't break the law!

In this article we will talk about how to catch pike in April. What to pay attention to and how to behave correctly on a pond during this period of spring? Let's look at the most typical places where the toothy predator is located, the best baits for catching it, and the tactical features of fishing.

Features of April fishing

In our regions, in the second month of spring, all reservoirs have finally “opened up” and are gradually beginning to fill with melt water. Their levels are rising rapidly, especially in rivers. All the fish try to move away from the rapid flow, hiding in areas with a slow flow.

April weather is also an important factor affecting fishing. At night, the thermometer may drop below zero, and frost, frost and ice can be observed on the surface of the earth. During the day the air warms up, especially on clear sunny days. It becomes comfortable, but the still cold wind does not allow you to take off your warm clothes.

In addition, spring is the period when underwater inhabitants spawn. The process of prolongation of the genus leaves a serious imprint on the behavior of the fish. Pike is no exception. Even such an active and always hungry predator can be capricious. Sometimes finding the key to it is very difficult.

Pike behavior in April

In early April, pike, as a rule, have spawned and are gradually moving away from this exhausting process. The exception is the year when a long winter smoothly turned into a cold spring, the water did not have time to warm up enough for the predator to go spawning.

After spawning, the pike still looks tired.

Having spawned, the pike does not immediately leave the spawning grounds. It remains in flooded areas of meadows, in oxbow lakes and shallow channels. Every day, returning to her usual state, she begins to hunt little by little. Moreover, by this time the water has warmed up well and peaceful fish such as roach, silver bream, bream and others rush to the spawning areas.

Unlike the summer period, the main activity of pike occurs in the middle of the day. The spotted beast begins to feed steadily around 10 am. She can take it all day until 4–5 pm. Then the bite subsides. During the twilight hours, only occasional bites occur, which are random.

Where to look?

As noted above, in the spring pike occupy shallow water areas without current. Here the fish lay eggs, recover from spawning and begin to eat off after a difficult period of prolongation of the genus. A good food supply forces the predator to stay in such places until the end of the month, sometimes until May.

So, you need to catch pike in April with a spinning rod in the following places:

various shallow oxbow lakes, branches, backwaters and channels;
flooded coastal areas of meadows;
coastal zone along flooded bushes and other vegetation.

Advice! An indicator of a good place for pike in April will be last year's thickets of reeds, reeds or cattails.

In such places, pike can “graze” until the end of April, while there is a lot of easily accessible food. Then it gradually disperses throughout the reservoir, occupying its usual locations, where it spends the bulk of its time, eating and resting from hunting.

On lakes, ponds, quarries and other small enclosed bodies of water, you can find pike in any place with insignificant depth. It is necessary to examine various toes, snags, aquatic vegetation, and submerged branches of bushes and trees.

What to catch?

Successful fishing for pike in April with a spinning rod is possible using any artificial bait that allows fishing at shallow depths. The main criterion when selecting ammunition is the ability to carry out leisurely movements, delivering prey at the surface and in the water column.

As a rule, the pike lure set of an experienced spinning angler during this period consists of the following items:

spinners;
vibrators;
minnow;
silicone vibrotails and twisters.

A wobbler is a good bait for spring pike.

Pinwheels perform well at any time, April is no exception. It is necessary to use rear-loaded models with large rounded petals and a core of relatively low mass. Such a bait should be fed very slowly so that its petal rotates on the verge of failure. Such “dying” vibrations of the spinner have a positive effect on the reaction of the pike, so the angler is literally doomed to bite.

Oscillating spoons in their movements plausibly imitate a small fish that has wandered into shallow bays. We need light, wide-bodied models that can stay in the thicker at low bait feed speeds. The size of the vibrator should be between 6–10 cm.

Wobblers of the “minnow” class are designed to imitate small fish in body shape and action. For April fishing, you should select baits 100–130 mm long with a working horizon of no more than 50 cm. In spring, floating minnows show good results, suspenders are also used, sinking ones are irrelevant.

Among the “rubbers”, the best ones in the summer are vibrotails. In shape and movements, they realistically imitate the natural food supply of a predator. Twisters work a little worse. It is advisable to select “fleshy” models with wide, sailing tails.

Silicone is mounted on open jig heads with rigidly soldered single hooks. The weight of the load is selected depending on the fishing conditions. As a rule, heads weighing from 5 to 12 grams are sufficient. In difficult to pass places, it is advisable to use non-snacking installations.

Unloaded “rubber” is used in very shallow waters.

The listed baits continue to work successfully in May and summer. A well-chosen complete set for April fishing is generally universal, allowing you to fish at any time in different places, with the exception of riverbed areas and deep holes.

Gear requirements

Since fishing is carried out at shallow depths using bait weighing no more than 20 grams, it is advisable to use relatively light gear for pike fishing in April. The optimal set for such conditions is as follows:

a rod 2.10–2.40 meters long, fast action, with a powerful butt and a movable tip. Test from 5 to 25–30 grams;
reel size 2500–4000. Universal, with a gear ratio of no more than 5.2:1;
cord or monofilament with a breaking load of at least 5 kg. Braid is preferable.

The assembled kit must have a certain margin of safety. Once hooked, the predator behaves aggressively, rushes around, and approaches the “candle.” The tackle must not only withstand its pressure, but also effectively dampen all jerks, preventing it from running off.

Advice! Properly assembled, tested and reliable tackle is the basis for a successful pike outing.

We must not forget that pike have very sharp teeth, therefore, to protect the equipment from being cut, it is necessary to use a leash. The best option is homemade steel twist. It has the following advantages:

cheapness;
ease of manufacture;
high strength;
good performance.

Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the fittings used. All clasps, winding rings, and swivels must withstand significant loads, since pike is a strong and aggressive predator. At the same time, they should not have a significant impact on the performance of the bait and the operation of the tackle as a whole.

How to catch?

In April, the pike is not yet so active as to rush at any moving object, so you need to take bait placement seriously. An attractive, easily accessible prey presented in close proximity to the spotted beast’s camp site can tempt the predator to attack.

The main wiring of pike lures is uniform. The unhurried, monotonous delivery of a spinner, vibrating tail or wobbler allows you to imitate a careless fish swimming straight into the “paws” of a predator. If the bait is presented very slowly, on the verge of failure, then it will behave like a wounded or exhausted fry. Such behavior also cannot leave the pike indifferent; it makes a throw, followed by a confident bite.

The second productive option is wave-like wiring under the surface itself. The bait is fed slowly with accelerations and decelerations while winding the line with the reel. It is important to conduct it so that it does not touch the bottom, which can disrupt its operation and alert the predator.

Many minnows work great on twitching. And although jerking is not considered the best for April, it does occur. Preference should be given to a soft twitch with medium-long pauses. Such animation is most effective at the end of the month, when stable warm weather sets in and the water warms up noticeably, activating the pike.

Advice! Jerking elements can be added to the wiring not only when using wobblers. They allow you to diversify the work of vibrators and silicone.

The stop&go technique cannot be discounted. It applies to wobblers. Allows you to precisely fish a promising point or zone, prompting a passive and sluggish pike to grab. Stoppandgo wiring is suitable for floating baits, less commonly used with suspenders.

In April, fisherman cannot stand in one place. It is necessary to continuously move around the water area, fish both in areas and point-by-point check each promising zone. Most casts are made at short and medium distances; long-range casts are caught less often.

April is not the best month for hunting pike with a spinning rod. But a keen fisherman will never sit at home when there is an opportunity to go fishing and try his luck. An advanced angler differs from a beginner in that there is no bad time for him to fish for a predator. Therefore, you should not be lazy; you must definitely go hunting, armed with suitable gear and bait. Perhaps luck will smile and the pond will give you one or more “tails”.

It begins before its spawning, this happens in early March, when ice is still found on reservoirs. At this time, the so-called zhor occurs. When the pike begins to feed greedily and grab any bait that the fisherman gives it. So active pike biting in March very short, so you don't want to miss it. More details

Pike biting forecast:

Pike fishing in March, April - reports

Fishing report 12.04 I went to one small reservoir (after lunch) to catch pike with a spinning rod. By this time (mid-April) her spawning should have already passed, and I was hoping to get a few bites. I was going to fish with a JACKALL SQUAD MINNOW wobbler in size 80, suspender. I recently bought it and needed to catch it.

After half an hour of fishing I didn’t get any bites, but I took a good look at how the wobbler worked. It works well with both slow and medium steady retrieves. When twitching, he makes a jerk to one side (always in different ways), and turns 70-90 degrees. After which, during a pause, it hangs in the water column, since it is a suspender.

And so, watching the wobbler swim, I continued to catch spring post-spawning pike. It was spring, and this particular day turned out to be warm +12, and almost windless, and the fishing process was enjoyable.

The first and only bite occurred after an hour of fishing. The pike attacked the wobbler with a slow, even retrieve, and was pulled ashore without much difficulty.

It turned out to be a small pike, 40cm long, and very thin, it was obvious that it was after spawning. When I started to unhook the wobbler, I noticed that her teeth seemed to be made of soft plastic. That is, the change of teeth is in full swing, and a weak bite is also incorrectly connected with this.

Conclusion from this spring pike fishing: the wobbler gives hope for new bites. Although the pike has spawned, teeth are changing. and active biting (post-spawning food) should be expected by the end of April, beginning of May.

P/S The fish were released back into the reservoir to grow up, and perhaps give us new bites.

The best wobblers for catching pike in spring and at other times of the year

In April, fishing is pleasing with the increased biting of almost all fish. You can already put away your winter gear and... The main thing is not to forget that in a number of regions a spawning ban comes into force in April. Let's figure out what's good about fishing in April, how to fish in this spring month, what kind of fish to catch in April. Read on to know how fishing for pike happens in April, how to catch roach, how to catch crucian carp and more.

Fishing in April: What fish to catch in April

In April, water bodies gradually clear of ice. It would seem that it's time to take on summer gear. However, fishing in April is limited by law. With warming, many fish begin to prepare for spawning, so in some regions. However, there is a way out. Eager anglers can fish while following the Fishing Regulations for their fishery. As a rule, during the period of the spawning ban in April, fishing from the shore outside the spawning areas is possible with a float rod (in some regions also with a donka, spinning is banned almost everywhere) with a certain number of hooks. Don’t be lazy, find your region in the Rules and a lot will become clear to you. Appendices to the Rules include lists of spawning areas - read and you will know exactly where fishing is prohibited, but you can be caught with a large fine and even criminal liability. Fishing in April on paid reservoirs can also be considered an option.

How to go fishing in April

In some regions, ice fishing is still possible in April. Everyone hears about the fantastic bite on the last ice. Here it is important not to forget about safety in the heat of excitement. The ice is already loose and fraught with a lot of dangers. You should be especially careful in areas of reservoirs where there is a current, rocky rapids and rifts, areas near reed thickets and fallen trees are very dangerous.

Still, fishing in April means fishing in open water. In places with open water, fish can be caught using a spinning rod, a feeder, or a float rod, but you will have to look for places for bottom fishing. The bite gradually intensifies as many fish begin their pre-spawning feast.

Some experienced fishermen advise in April to fish at half-water or at a depth of half a meter from the surface, as close to the shore as possible. This is explained by the fact that the rapid melting of snow carries turbidity into the water with particles of food, which the fish pick up. In addition, the movement of schools of fish closer to the mouths of rivers and streams is noted. Fishing here in April is also more productive.

Fishing in April has its own characteristics: in April, fishing is very effective with a float tackle equipped with a small jig or with a summer nodding fishing rod, also equipped with a jig - nodding tackle becomes simply irreplaceable if fishing takes place in coastal pools with a current.

What fish to catch in April

You can catch good silver bream, dace and white bream using a feeder or float rod. But fishing in April is especially good for roaches, which gather in large schools and respond well to bait. Bloodworms, maggots or maggots are usually used as bait. It is better to catch roach in April in shallow coastal waters or areas bordering reeds.

Fishing for perch is also good in April; on the eve of spawning, it gathers in schools and actively feeds. Before spawning, perch bites better on bloodworms.

Starting from the first half of April, you can start catching pike. Of course, she still doesn’t bite very well, the past spawning is taking its toll, but she still bites. Live bait gear performs well at this time. The pike bite becomes good towards the end of April.

Also, by the end of April, walleye fishing becomes very productive. It can be caught quite well with all types of gear. April is a very good month for those who like to catch crucian carp. At the same time, the only thing that can affect the bite of these fish species is the weather. The following pattern is observed: the warmer the weather in April, the better the crucian and carp bite. The main tackle is either a feeder or a regular donka. The attachments are standard (corn, worm, maggot or dough).

Fishing for pike in April

Pike fishing in April can give the angler a lot of positive emotions if you go fishing at the very period when the pike, having become ill after spawning, begins to feed heavily. When planning to go fishing for pike in April, keep in mind that in the spring the pike bite usually begins at dawn and continues until dusk with varying success. And remember that there are fishing restrictions during spawning season. So, to avoid causing trouble when fishing for pike in April, fish outside the spawning grounds, from the shore and with permitted gear.

Pike is a popular trophy among fishermen, since it lives almost everywhere and even in the waters of the Arctic Ocean. Pike fishing in April has a number of features, the main one of which is pike spawning. In April, the water warms up to +6 and the pike begins to spawn, going to a depth of 0.5 - 1 m. For spawning, the pike chooses quiet backwaters; the fish are not attracted to stormy currents. After spawning, having been ill for a week for the sake of decency, the pike strives to regain strength and begins to actively peck. In general, pike can be caught at any time of the year. However, there are certain periods when the pike bite is especially good: in the spring - pike fishing is excellent before the start of spawning and after it ends, and in the fall - pike fishing is good from about the last days of August to the beginning of November.

The pike has thawed:

Pike fishing in April

When to catch pike in April

It is best to start fishing for pike in early spring, before the water in the rivers rises significantly, that is, during the period when the sun has already warmed the water well enough. As for central Russia, this period usually falls at the end of April.

Where to catch pike in April

Before the pikes begin spawning, you can observe a huge number of small fish among the reeds and reeds: silver bream, roach, rudd. Looking for food, the fish usually moves along the coastal thickets, preferring to freeze in places where there are gaps. It is in such and such places that there are pike hunting grounds. Therefore, in the spring it is very good to catch pike in April along the vegetation growing near the shore.

Zhor of pike after spawning

As soon as the ice begins to melt in reservoirs, pike spawning usually begins. However, the spawning time varies due to the fact that, relative to geographic map data, such reservoirs are not equally located everywhere. For us this usually happens around April. In the spring, a week or two after spawning, the pike begins to actively feed, usually lasting two to three weeks, but sometimes this period is quite shortened. This is precisely the period that is most suitable for fishing, since hungry pike eagerly rushes to any bait.

When does pike bite in April?

The spring bite of pike usually begins at dawn and continues until dusk with varying success. During this favorable period for pike fishing, it is preferable to catch it in spawning areas, since usually after the eggs are laid, the pike has to visit its clutch more often - fish such as perch and roach do not hesitate to dine on fresh pike caviar, thereby heading straight to pike ambush. In addition to the places where the pike itself spawns, you can catch pike in the spawning areas of perch, crucian carp and roach - in shallow water, among the grass.

The best weather for pike fishing is in April

Quiet, cloudy, warm days are especially successful for pike fishing in April through spring. On such a day, it is best to fish with a spoon - then you certainly won’t leave without a good catch.

Catching pencils and grass in April

In lake waters, young pikes up to one kilogram, called “pencils” and “grass pikes”, received their second name for a reason - they distinguished themselves by the fact that they prefer to live near grass thickets or directly in them. The diet of these pikes consists of small fish that live among duckweed and algae. As soon as the sun has sufficiently warmed the spring air, mainly at dawn, pikes can attack fairly large perches. If we take into account the hunting characteristics of the “grass” pike - it usually attacks prey from above - the spoon must be driven higher, and the retrieve itself must be quite swift. Sometimes the lure doesn’t have time to plunge into the water before the pike immediately grabs it, so be always ready.

We remind you that during the spawning season there are restrictions on fishing. As a rule, fishing can only be done from the shore outside of spawning grounds, but each region has its own restrictions on gear, for example:

in the Moscow region you can fish with one float or bottom fishing rod from the shore with a total number of hooks of no more than 2 pieces per citizen outside spawning grounds

Be sure to check the fishing rules during the spawning season in your region.

Another way out is fishing in paid reservoirs.

Fishing for pike with a spinning rod

You can fish in different ways, but fishing for pike with a spinning rod is the most exciting and gives special pleasure. In order to catch predatory fish, no special expensive gear is required. A simple spinning rod will be quite enough, because it is impossible not to notice the bite. When buying a spinning rod, it is advisable to pay attention to the reel.

Now in stores there is quite a wide selection of tackle, a wide variety of spinners, wobblers, and popplers. In shallow reservoirs, spinner spoons are very suitable baits, but small-sized pike are caught on spinners. In the summer you can get a good catch using bait from live natural fish. But the best and most versatile option, after all, is a jig bait.

Note that pike does not belong to the schooling category, but there are happy and rather rare cases when a large number of pikes accumulate in one place in a reservoir. Such luck does not happen very often, but when it does happen, it is not soon forgotten!

Very often, pike is found in abundance in some reservoirs, but it is impossible to catch it, even if the bait is near it. Of course, many people have had this happen when a pike chased your bait to the shore, but did not dare to attack it. At such a moment, it is best to change the bait and this will play an important role. The practice of many experienced fishermen says that various types of experiments with baits give good results.

Let us note a very important point when pulling a pike: the predatory fish begins to quickly rise up. After a moment, the pike jumps out of the water and begins to shake its toothy jaw. After such numbers, it happens that the prey jumps off. In order not to encounter the pike entering the candle position when the fish is at the top, the end of the spinning rod should be immersed in the water. I think now fishing for pike with a spinning rod will be successful.

Catching pike with a float rod

Catching pike with a float rod is not the most effective way, but it is no less interesting and is best suited for those who are not going to bother with a spinning rod and for those who do not have a boat. I’ll tell you how to successfully fish with a bamboo rod, 3.5 meters long, with a float made of large cork, the float must be able to withstand a gudgeon, or any other small fish that acts as live bait, the float should be loaded in such a way that the live bait can hardly drag the tackle , but could move halfway through the water, luring the predator with its movements. I forgot to mention the hook - I used a double goat hook, you can also use other hooks, but if the hook is not large and strong enough, then the broken pike will be on your conscience. Now the process of catching pike with a float rod, choosing a place and time, on which the success of the fisherman sometimes depends to a greater extent than on everything else.

We have mentioned spawning bans several times.