Pike is a voracious predatory fish that lives in freshwater bodies of water. The chances of catching a large specimen increase in the fall, since during this period the seasonal glutton begins and the predator goes hunting. Active and aggressive behavior of fish has a positive effect on the quality of the bite. The preferred option for spinning fishing is pike fishing in the fall.
Autumn on the river
When does pike bite in the fall?
The predator begins to hunt and eat immediately after the summer heat has subsided. The autumn feeding period of pike is long and stable. The activity of the individual remains until the first frost, and is reduced to a minimum after the onset of freeze-up.
The biting time varies depending on the month.
- September. A massive flight of leaves from a birch tree is the beginning of the hunting season for large pike. Bite time is morning and evening dawns.
- October is the high season. The predator moves to depth, and the biting time also shifts - no earlier than the 11th day.
- November. The bite doesn't start until noon. Suitable times for fishing are afternoons and evenings.
To catch a trophy specimen, you need to come to the reservoir in “pike weather” - drizzling rain, light wind, ripples on the water, fresh and cool. The chances increase significantly if such weather persists for several days.
Types of autumn spinning fishing
Spinning fishing in our country is perhaps the most popular type of fishing. One of the advantages of spinning fishing is the wide variety of baits, both animal and plant, and artificial. For successful spinning fishing, you should learn fishing techniques and some tactical tricks:
1. The even fishing method should be used by beginner fishermen. This type of wiring is carried out at the same speed. The speed of the retrieve depends on the depth.
2. Fast retrieve is used in the upper layers to catch active fish.
3. Classic wiring takes place in the water column. It is universal for all seasons and suitable for catching all types of fish.
4. Slow wiring is the most difficult to execute. It passes close to the bottom, but without touching it.
5. Uneven wiring means that the movements of the bait become jerky and chaotic. This is achieved due to the uneven speed of rewinding the fishing line.
6. Hard wiring is done with quick and powerful jerks of the spinning rod. Between jerks there are stops, the duration of pauses depending on the types of fish and seasons. Experience is required to use this type of wiring.
7. Soft wiring, unlike hard wiring, is performed with soft jerks, using acceleration, pulling, and so on. Such wiring is very useful when the predator is inactive.
By studying various types of fishing, a spinning fisherman gains experience that will be useful to him when fishing in any conditions.
Looking for big pike
The minimum size of pike allowed for catching is 35 cm. Such individuals are called “pencils” or “shurogags”. Predators are considered large, with body size starting from 1 m and weight starting from 7 kg. To reach this size, a pike needs to live 7-10 years.
Reference! The largest specimen in our country was caught in 1930 in the waters of Lake Ilmen (Novgorod region). The pike weighed 34 kg.
Fall is the perfect time to find big fish. Such individuals are selective in their habitat and feeding habitat. Trophy specimens are solitary: they do not live or feed with “pencils” or young fish.
It is unlikely to encounter a large pike in shallow water. Such predators prefer deep-sea areas:
- deep holes at the bottom, whirlpools;
- channel channels on the river;
- places where tributaries flow;
- crevices and gorges at the bottom;
- deep creeks;
- sunken trees, snags.
There are high chances of catching a large pike in a large and deep area - a river, a reservoir, a lake. In small ponds or settling tanks (maximum depth no more than 3 m), it is difficult to catch a predator of decent size. There is a small food supply and a lack of places for shelter or hunting. The maximum possible weight of individuals is no more than 5 kg.
About
Fishing technique
The choice of spoon should be made based on the conditions of a particular reservoir and the potential fishing area. There are two main categories of spinners:
- Spinner
- Oscillating spoon
The spinner, also known as the spinner, is one of the most respected lures among experienced fishermen. Its design, which includes a petal, implies an interesting and noticeable game for a predator, perfectly imitating a live fish.
The presence of a large number of hooks on the bait reduces the chance of catching the catch, but can damage the balance of the spoon itself and deprive the game of smoothness. In addition, it is worth considering that pike is a dangerous, strong and persistent predator. Poor quality of components can lead to fish leaving and damage to the bait itself, for example, it is not uncommon when the tee unbends without even supporting the average fish. For these reasons, it is strongly recommended to choose high-quality and not the cheapest gear.
Be sure to control the immersion depth of the spoon when retrieving. Pike rarely lives at the very bottom of a reservoir, mainly hovering 2-3 meters above it. This is due to the fact that shoals of small fish live in the lowest layers, which predatory fish prey on. It is also important to take into account the topography of the reservoir in order to avoid unwanted snagging. It is recommended to carry both surface and deep baits so that you can change them if necessary. Read more about the technique of fishing with spoons and you will always have a catch.
In addition to spinners, wobblers are widely used, but using them in snags is dangerous due to frequent snags. There are 2-3 tees on the body of the wobbler, thus the chances of getting a hook are much greater. The advantages of such baits include a variety of wiring options, installation methods, as well as working depth, which varies from 0-10 meters. A Tyrolean stick or a retractable leash will help diversify the casting possibilities when fishing for pike.
There are rattle wobblers that have a good acoustic component in their game, creating the appearance of large and desirable prey. Rattles are used, as a rule, in the late autumn season, and bright options predominate among the colors. It is worth taking into account the behavioral characteristics of the fish in order to cast the bait exactly to the depth where potential prey is likely to live. In order to be able to fish different layers of water, it is worth taking care of the presence of several different options for spinners and wobblers.
Gear selection
Autumn fishing begins when there is still vegetation in the reservoir. Long casts in this case are ineffective. The optimal fishing rod at this time is a spinning rod, the length of which does not exceed 240 cm. The action is medium-fast with a dough of no more than 25 g. A regular spinning rod of the middle price category will do. Further cooling and the disappearance of plant elements from the surface also entail a change in suitable gear. Since October, the best option is a spinning rod with a rod length of 270-300 cm for long casts.
Pike fishing in autumn
The thickness of the fishing line varies: for monofilament - 0.22-0.35, braided - 0.15-0.3 mm. In general, the chosen fishing line should be designed for a weight of 8 to 15 kg. The sharp teeth of a predator can bite through the fishing line. For protection, the tackle is equipped with a metal leash, length – 20-50 cm.
Reels must correspond to the structure and purpose of the gear. Don't save money and buy Chinese counterfeits. The basic options are inertia-free models or multipliers. Suitable capacity is 2500-3000.
Choosing bait for pike fishing in autumn
In autumn, pike are voracious and attack everything that at least in some way resembles food. You can use any bait. The main parameters for choosing them are large sizes, bright colors and good play.
Spinner: rotating and oscillating
Used in reservoirs free of vegetation. What lures to use to catch pike in the fall: rotating models (spinners) are suitable for fishing in September. The recommended size is 2 and 3. Since October, only small individuals have been biting on the turntables. Therefore, at this time they switch to oscillators (oscillating spoons). These are large and heavy baits that attract large predators.
Silicone jig baits
Regular and edible “rubber” is in demand for its price-quality ratio. The following species are suitable for autumn fishing.
- Vibrotail. The stronger the tail plays, the more worthy the catch.
- Twisters. The tail resembles a sickle. Characterized by active play when immersed.
- Lures in the form of worms, leeches, cuttlefish.
Silicone is useful when exploring new places. Such baits are inexpensive and you don’t mind losing them. Therefore, “rubber” is often thrown into muddy water, in areas where roots and snags are hidden under the water.
About
Catching pike with spoons
Oscillating spinners
Since high requirements for playing an oscillating spinner are not required, the spinning rod can be of either fast or medium action. The test is approximately selected according to the weight of the bait being thrown. If the spinner weighs 10 grams, then the rod test should fluctuate 5-20 grams. If you fish from the shore, the length of the rod should be 3 meters. This rod will help you make a long cast and control the pike when fishing, preventing it from getting caught in a snag or around any obstacle. When fishing from a boat, we do not need a long rod, and in some cases it can be a hindrance. The length should be 2-2.10.
The reel can be either spinning or multiplying. Since it is easier to work with inertia-free (it is cheaper and less demanding to maintain), this option will be preferable. With a pulling force of at least 2500. The shape of the spoon should resemble the body shape of the fish living there. The color of the spinner doesn't really matter. But it should be taken into account that in sunny weather, light-colored spinners give off large glare, which scares away the pike. Therefore, you need to take a dark spinner.
Fishing technique with an oscillating spoon. Fishing with a spoon is quite simple: throw it out and pull it evenly towards you. If during retrieving we see that a predator follows the lure but does not attack it, then it makes sense to make short jerks with the rod so that the lure makes jerking movements from side to side. This often provokes the predator to attack.
Also, if there is depth in the fishing area and it is possible to let the spinner fall into free fall for 2-3 seconds, then during retrieving you can make short pauses, pausing the reeling of the reel (the spinner falls freely at this time). This will imitate a wounded fish and provoke the pike to bite.
Spinners
We choose the same spinning rod for fishing with rotating spoons as for fishing with spoons.
Mepps #3
Many anglers praise Mepps spinners. Indeed, these lures often produce results. Pike loves red, we know that.
Fishing with a rotating spoon is practically no different from the technique of fishing with a spoon: we throw it and evenly pull it towards us. There are two types of spinners: with a wide blade and a narrow one. The wide blade has a more sweeping play, but a low rotation speed. With a narrow petal the opposite is true. In practice, it has been observed that pike prefer a wide blade with a lower rotation speed. When fishing in shallow water, when we visually observe a predator, but he ignores the spoon and does not want to grab it, we need to slow down the retrieve and let the spoon lightly stroke the bottom with its petal. This affects the pike like a red rag on a bull.
Fishing for pike in the fall with a spinning rod, what is better to fish with?
There are no favorite baits for river predators. An effective option is to stock up on a variety of baits and alternate them periodically.
“Working” autumn baits:
- medium and large size spoon;
- wobblers;
- silicone baits.
These simulations show comparatively better results. The main condition is to select a bait that is at least 10-12 cm in length.
Catching pike in the fall with a spinning rod
Wobblers for pike
Considering that in the autumn the pike tries to eat enough for the winter, it is recommended to use large wobblers, which increases the chances of catching a big fish.
The best result, according to anglers, can be achieved if you use wobblers :
- Sebile Koolie Minnow.
- Rapala Glidin Rap.
- Rapala Flat Rap.
- Smithwick Rogues.
- Rapala SubWalk.
The listed baits have colorful colors, large sizes, and are also characterized by an attractive game on a slow retrieve. They can stay in the water for a long period of time, they are characterized by a calmer game - this is exactly what is necessary for the slow autumn pike. Most experts advise using slow wiring in late autumn.
When choosing a wobbler for catching pike at the end of autumn, you should keep in mind that the fish saves energy. She is very attracted to slow, large prey , which with its size covers the energy costs of catching it. It is also necessary to find out what kind of fish the pike eats in the pond. This can be done by analyzing the stomachs of caught pike or asking local fishermen. After becoming familiar with the preferences of pike, you need to choose the color of bait that imitates this type of fish (perch, roach, etc.).
Basic fishing for pike in autumn
The list of basic and popular ones includes uniform, twitching or jerking, ripping, aggressive, demolition or jumping. Each variety is characterized by a special execution technique.
How to do wiring correctly
| Name | Peculiarities |
| Uniform | Ineffective for pike. There are no active movements, wiring does not attract pike. Used to catch other white predators. |
| Twitching, jerking |
The technique consists of light and smooth movements of the spinning rod horizontally. |
| Riping | The rod is moved in a top-down direction. The advantage of this method is deeper penetration of the bait. |
| Aggressive | The jerks resemble hooking, the bait imitates a fish that is trying to swim away quickly, then returns to its original position with oscillating movements. |
| For demolition | The wiring is carried away by the current. It is important to choose the right weight of the bait so that it does not float up and plow the bottom. |
| Jumping | Jumping movements - sharp twitching of the spinning rod, during which the bait comes off by 5-10 cm. |
Features of pike fishing in autumn
The nights are cold, frequent rains and northern winds cool the water. At the end of September, all layers of water become the same temperature. The oxygen concentration is also equalized throughout the depth. In sexually mature pikes, the reproductive cells begin to mature, and the period of seasonal feeding begins.
Beginning of autumn
The summer fishing season continues. The zhor has not yet begun, the activity of the individuals is mediocre. In September, pike fishing also continues with live bait gear. There is still enough animal food in the reservoirs; fishing with spinning rods is not yet effective.
Middle
Peak pike bite. The water has already cooled down, the temperature has dropped. Pike need to build up a thick layer of subcutaneous fat for wintering. The predator becomes unselective in its choice of food; it reacts to most baits. Therefore, it is advisable to start fishing with spinning rods in October.
Late fall
Trophy large pike in November
The predator has already eaten enough, now she has become more careful and attentive. You can catch a large trophy in late autumn only at depth and using deep-sea baits. After the ice crust appears, the pike goes to the bottom and the season ends. However, in reservoirs where the water does not freeze, you can hunt for pike with a spinning rod even in winter.
Lusox turntable
Lusox spinner spinner from Mepps. France and China are considered to be the producing countries, but most likely the fishing lure market is filled with Chinese consumer goods. However, the Chinese have recently begun to make good copies that catch fish quite well. The big advantage of such copies, of course, is their low cost compared to the original, often by half.
So, the spinner spoon of the famous Mepps company is Lusox, size No. 3 and weighing 20 grams. The most popular colors are white and gold. This bait is universal, capable of attracting all predators to attack, including relatively peaceful fish like large rudd. A very important and positive quality of this bait is its ability to work both in still water and at shallow depths, and in currents and great depths. This advantage of this spoon over others is achieved by a removable “field” type sinker attached to a rigid metal wire leash. The bait is distinguished by the stable operation of the petal in different fishing conditions. The spoon passes through thickets of not very dense bottom grass without any problems.
The most optimal wiring without a load is uniform. But under certain conditions in the autumn period, when predators are often caught on deep edges, you can also use jig wiring, for which a removable sinker is used.
The prey is usually not very large pike, but it is quite possible to catch a trophy specimen.
