How to catch live bait from the shore in summer

A single hook is placed behind the lip, behind the back and behind the tail.
Double for the gills, behind the back and behind the lip.
The tee is used when the nozzle is placed behind the back and under the skin.

Since ancient times, people in Rus' have loved to enjoy dishes made from fish.
Some of the most delicious species were considered to be predatory species: pike, burbot, carp, pike perch, and catfish. Having caught a large specimen of such a fish, any fisherman became the envy of other fishermen, and the household members were proud of their earner, anticipating a festive table on this occasion. However, in order to catch fish of any predatory species, you have to work hard, resorting to various fishing tricks. There are a huge number of ways to “deceive”: a variety of fragrant baits, intricate gear, spinners of various shapes and types. But nothing compares, as an enticement, to live bait, a natural bait for a predator, live bait.

What kind of fish can you catch with live bait? ↓
Options for placing live bait on a hook ↓
Which hook to choose for each bait method? ↓
Common mistakes ↓
Tips and tricks ↓

It is considered to be the best natural bait that fishermen are accustomed to. This method is most popular in autumn, winter and spring, at a time when there is less food in the water.

Live bait is an integral part of fishing, and accordingly, every fisherman, both beginner and experienced, must be able to catch it. In our article today, we will consider this issue in detail and find out the main nuances that affect the productivity of this matter.

It is used as bait for catching larger and more predatory fish. Both juveniles and adults can be considered live bait. In our area, fishermen most often bait fish with fry, for example roach or crucian carp.

It is considered to be the best natural bait that fishermen are accustomed to. This method is most popular in autumn, winter and spring, at a time when there is less food in the water.

Where to look for fry and how to catch them

We will tell you some of the most basic methods; they can be used at any time of the year. The methods are very simple and do not require serious skills or a lot of gear. We should start with the fact that it is more convenient and easier to fish in shallow water. In this place, the water warms up stronger and faster, and small fish accumulate in large quantities.

If you sprinkle a little bran, the fishing efficiency will increase several times; the fact is that the bran will create a “dust cloud” that attracts schools and flocks. Collected fry in one area can be picked up using a landing net or spider.

A spider is not an insect, but a collapsible metal frame covered with a mesh with a fine mesh; the fry will not pass through it. Some manage to catch it with fishing rods. To do this, use small hooks; if you are catching small perches, if you need to catch small ruffs, use larger hooks. It is easy to catch a gudgeon close to the shore, making the water cloudy in advance.

Once the live bait is caught, the problem of storing and transporting it arises. In order for the fish to remain alive and active for as long as possible, it is necessary to listen to the advice of experienced ones and create the necessary conditions for the fish.

Overview of methods

There are quite a few methods of catching live bait, and the choice of the optimal one depends entirely on the type of fish, reservoir and time of year.

The last factor is considered the most significant, since live bait production in July, October and January will vary significantly.

Below are the main methods of catching live bait, taking into account the seasonality and morphological characteristics of the species being caught.

Trap

There are several types of traps, but all of them are designed to catch fry or small fish. This is due to the fact that the mouth of these miniature representatives of the ichthyofauna is very small, and fishing with a fishing rod is often impossible. Therefore, to obtain “trifles” they use traps - plastic bottles, tops and jars.

Water entering the bottle gradually washes the bait out, where its smell begins to attract a large number of fry. Through the neck they fall into a trap from which they can no longer get out.

The muzzle (top) is similar in design to a plastic bottle with the neck inside , but is much larger in size and made of willow branches or metal wire. The tackle has a small hatch through which fish are removed and is installed in the water near the shore. The top can be installed for a long period of time, which is very convenient for multi-day fishing. Fishermen can only check the trap from time to time and remove the bait.

The top is a fairly effective trap, but this gear is prohibited in sport fishing.

Jar

There is no need to throw the can too far, since the main target of prey is fry, and they live close to the shore in shallow water. According to experienced fishermen, in 30 minutes you can catch about a dozen small fish in this way.

The jar can also be used in winter. It goes well into a standard hole and brings in a good catch.

Float rod

The sinker is not used in such cases. An earthworm or maggot is used as bait.

Landing net

A landing net is a net with small cells and a long stick. Live bait fishing is carried out close to the shore, preferably next to algae thickets.

This method allows you to catch a large number of fry at one time, and it is very convenient to use.

Mesh, cloth or gauze

Fishing for spined lance

Most fishermen are accustomed to catching pike with spinning rods and spinning lures. But there is an equally interesting way - fishing with a float rod with a live bait attachment . This method is very simple, since you don’t need much, just a rod, reel, fishing line, weight and float.

How to catch live bait - minnow

Catching a gudgeon for bait is easy at first glance: it stops feeding and hides while predators are fattening.

It is very effective to catch large fish using natural bait, that is, small live fish. Potential prey, seeing a frisky fish, loses its vigilance and greedily grabs the bait.

In order to protect fish stocks, as well as to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases and fish parasites, a provision was introduced requiring that only fish from the same body of water where fishing takes place as bait be used. Given the specifics of the reservoir and changing conditions at different times of the year, this is not so simple. One more important condition should be remembered: during an intense feeding period of predators (that is, during the most suitable period for an angler), it is difficult, often even impossible, to catch live bait in that part of the reservoir where predators are active.

However, minnows work best as bait. This fish is found almost everywhere; there is no protection period or minimum size for it.

In the coastal area

The gudgeon can be found both on the hard and sandy bottom of a deep or very shallow river, in the current zone and in calm places, on the edge of the current and in quiet backwaters. The fish can rise to the bait floating at a height of 15 cm from the bottom, but it does this extremely rarely. The best fishing spots are at a depth of 0.4-1 m.

Read: Catching gudgeon with a float rod

Minnows are not shy fish; they live in schools and quickly swim into the bait. Knowing these features, it will not be difficult to catch a minnow. We recommend using a size 16-20 hook with a small meat bait. To hold the bait at the bottom, the leash should be weighted with shot weighing 0.06 g, clamping it at a distance of 3-5 cm from the blade. On the fishing rod you need to install a float for bleaks, which will make it easier to fish with wire or on bottom tackle with a float and signal a bite. We recommend using bottom bait for carp; you need to throw a ball the size of a walnut every 15 minutes. The bait can be replaced by the following action: you should go into the water upstream from the bait (for example, at a distance of 1.5-2 m) and scrape your boots along the bottom several times. Silt and small particles raised from the bottom will very quickly attract minnows. This is a natural behavior for them, because they often hunt in clouds of silt while fattening carp, bream, and barbel.

In the main current

If minnows have swum away from the coastal zone, they need to be looked for in the main current. To do this, you should prepare fishing gear for wire fishing, bait mixed with binding-weighting clay in a 1:1 ratio, make balls the size of an orange and throw one ball every 20 minutes. A hook with bait is thrown into a cloud of bait. We recommend floating the bait at a moderate speed and often reeling in the gear, as the minnows chase their prey.

Fishing with live bait

What kind of live bait is best to put on a pike and how to put it on the hook?

To catch pike, you can take any live bait: crucian carp, roach, bleak, chub, sleeper, rudd, and so on. The main thing is that if you catch a small pike, then the size of the live bait can be small, about 10-15 cm. But if you want to catch a trophy of about 10 kilograms, then you will have to set the bait not small - from 20 to 35 centimeters. After all, a big pike is not interested in hunting small fish.

Tips for fisherman: How to catch pike with mugs in summer - What to choose for fishing

Live bait can be baited in different ways. One of the most faithful is through the gills. You can also put it behind the back under the fin. But I prefer the universal method - with a sting upward through the upper lip.

In order for a toothed predator or pike to have the desire to hunt for live bait, the bait fish must move - be alive. Because pike is not a cancer - it does not need carrion. When she is really hungry and has no choice, she can become covetous and attack a dead fish.

Fishing takes place under the shore itself, preferably near vegetation, where small fish like to swirl. The fishing process is simple - with deft movements the fry is raked into the landing net. In general, to understand the whole procedure, you need to watch the video.

Fishing for live bait in winter

All the methods that we have discussed relate to the summer season, although live bait is caught using a lift (live bait) in winter. But I would still like to dwell in more detail on the targeted fishing of live bait in winter, since the differences here are significant. In winter, reservoirs are covered with ice and the methods and process of catching live bait will differ from summer ones.

In winter, live bait is mainly caught for girders, which are then used to catch pike, pike perch, and burbot. Since girders are usually placed around a dozen per fisherman, an appropriate amount of live bait is needed. And if fishing takes place during the day, then another supply is needed to replace live bait on the triggered girders. Below we will look at how to effectively catch live bait in winter for subsequent catching of predators.

The correct strategy for catching live bait in winter with a jig

In order not to waste precious time catching live bait, you need to do everything with a properly thought-out strategy. It is necessary to clearly define the plan of action - drilling holes, arranging girders, catching live bait, etc. So that you know where to start and in what sequence it is optimal to act on winter fishing, watch the following video.

Catching live bait in winter on a lift

Not everyone knows, but in fishing stores you can buy a lift for catching whitebait, which fits into a standard hole, opens inside, and when pulled out of the hole, folds again and you take out the bait in batches simply from the hole. The beauty of this method is that for one lifting of a spider (little spider, hoist) you will provide yourself with live bait for the whole day.

The principle is the same as in the summer - lower the lift, feed the fish with bread and after a while raise the lift with the catch of live bait. The only differences are in the design of the lift, but everything is identical. Next, as usual, is a video of fishing on such a lift for catching live bait.

Now you know a lot of ways to catch live bait both in summer and winter and you will be able to fully catch a predator using the caught live bait. But if you have a need or desire to store live bait for several days or a month, then you need to create special conditions for it. Let's take a closer look.

How to keep live bait alive

Let's say you caught live bait, but did not fully use it, or you obviously caught a lot of live bait and would like to save it until your next fishing trip. You can save it in several ways, and choose which one is more convenient for you.

Method No. 1: storing live bait at home

But keeping live bait at home is not suitable for everyone due to a simple lack of space or the reproaches of the wife; the reasons may be different. And there is a way to store live bait directly on the reservoir. Of course, this method is relevant if you fish regularly in one body of water. You can store live bait there all year round and it will not cause you any discomfort - you arrived at the reservoir, took your live bait and you can start catching a predator.

Method No. 2: storing live bait on a pond

You can catch predators using forage fish using a spinning rod, but it is better to give preference to a live bait fishing rod. This is a type of float tackle that uses a stronger fishing rod, thick fishing line, a large, easily visible float, a special leader (usually fluorocarbon) and a large hook. If fishing is carried out from the shore, and the promising points are far enough away, the fishing rod is equipped with an inertia-free reel, which allows you to fish remote areas.

You can catch predators using forage fish using a spinning rod, but it is better to give preference to a live bait fishing rod. This is a type of float tackle that uses a stronger fishing rod, thick fishing line, a large, easily visible float, a special leader (usually fluorocarbon) and a large hook. If fishing is carried out from the shore, and the promising points are far enough away, the fishing rod is equipped with an inertia-free reel, which allows you to fish remote areas.

A hooked pike can suddenly jerk to the side and entangle the tackle in the grass, from where it will have to be pulled out by force. That is why it is advisable to use a strong fishing line: monofilament with a diameter of 0.35 mm or braided 0.2 mm.

The live bait fishing rod is equipped with a float with a large carrying capacity. The choice of this element should be approached responsibly, taking into account all the nuances. An ideal float does not sink when jerked by live bait and does not frighten the pike with strong resistance after capturing the live bait. Since when fishing you sometimes have to use different live bait (small, large, sluggish, active), it is advisable to have with you several floats of different carrying capacity and the same number of removable weights corresponding to them.

The predator can be caught using the bait in spring, summer and autumn. The design of the gear is very simple, so it’s easy to make it yourself. People call it a flyer, which is what a zherlitsa essentially is. To make it ready, the main fishing line is wound onto the forked half. A leash is tied to it, a sliding weight and bait are attached.

Tips for fisherman: In which wind does fish bite better in summer - Features of choice

The opposite part of the flyer is attached to a branch hanging over the water or to a pole stuck into the ground at an angle. The fishing line is fixed in a cut, which is in one of the horns. When a predator attacks the bait, the line will jump out and unwind. Pike are mainly caught in this way in the fall, when the coastal water cools down sufficiently after the summer heat.

You can also hook live bait in different ways. If a tee is used, then the fish is hooked by the back, head, belly or tail. A single hook can be pulled through the mouth and brought out on the back. This type of baiting resembles the connection of a silicone twister and a jig head. Experienced fishermen prefer to place live bait behind the head, since this is where the attack of the pike perch is directed.

Fishing with live bait

Fishing with live bait is effective in spring, autumn and winter. Live bait is the best bait for large predators. The food supply of the reservoir becomes depleted at these times of the year and even semi-predatory fish begin to feed.

Fishing with live bait When choosing live bait, you need to proceed from the conditions and time of fishing. The method of fishing determines the depth of fishing - in mid-water, from the bottom, along the top, as well as types of live bait - bottom and upper water. Will there be wiring or not? If we use wiring, then you can use “dead live bait”. Verkhovodny - can be used when fishing from the bottom in snags. Bottom - you can use half-water on a clean bottom, because in snagged and overgrown areas it will simply get tangled. There is an opinion that predatory fish (size does not matter) prefer smaller fish, about 8-9 cm. The species that are much more numerous in a given reservoir should be used.

Most of the large fish bite on narrow-bodied ones: loach, bleak, gudgeon, ruffe, verkhovka and others. Pike, unlike other fish, pays less attention to the width of the body, and catfish can even take on crucian carp, silver bream, and roach. For catching perch, chub, pike perch, the verkhovka is good as live bait. The loach acts as a “test subject” for catching catfish and perch. Char and minnow are suitable for catching perch and pike in bodies of water with no current or low flow. When catching pike, burbot with mugs or bottom tackle, the best is the ruff; when hooked in cold water, it remains alive (mobile) for a long time. Most often, crucian carp (the most affordable) are used for catching grass pike. As for other predatory fish, they take crucian carp only at the moment of intense feeding.

Perch as live bait is used for catching the largest perch, pike, asp, and chub. The gudgeon dies very quickly on the hook, but pike perch, pike, asp, chub, and perch are still caught on it. Roach, on the contrary, is a more tenacious and lively bait. Almost all predators can be caught using it, especially pike. Bleak also catches almost all predators. This is a very movable attachment. Also, for pike, pike perch, and perch, a spined lance (similar to a loach) works well. She is very active and tenacious.

Fish used as live bait

Verkhovka
. A widespread small fish that can be used when catching most predatory fish. The verkhovka leads a gregarious lifestyle, so it is not difficult to catch it as a wren, using any light-colored food of plant origin as bait. This fish is delicate and, therefore, does not retain activity on the hook for such a long time, and therefore it is hooked directly without removing it from the water, threading the hook through the upper lip, then withdrawing it into the nostril.

Crucian carp
. As such, it is not a widely used live bait; only pike always take it willingly. This is due to the fact that in densely overgrown rivers and lakes, crucian carp is the most common fish, which is found literally at every step. Pike perch and pike perch, in turn, are not so indiscriminate, which is probably due to the size of the crucian carp.

Rudd
, once hooked as bait, retains its mobility and vitality for a long time - this is a really good baitfish, the difficulty in its use lies only in the fact that it is not so easy to catch it itself, especially in comparison with a goby or a verkhovna. Rudds are usually caught with a fishing rod using small hooks, but fish caught in this way receive additional injuries, so their value as live bait is somewhat reduced.

Perch
. It has proven itself especially well when fishing for pike and large perch; it is also known that some anglers often catch not only whole perch, but also parts of it. You can catch perches vertically, equipping the jig with a perch eye or perch fin, since this is how it becomes extremely attractive even for the smallest perches.

Ruff
. Ruff, as a live bait, enjoys great success with burbot, and the predator grabs it even when it’s dead. So L.P. Sabaneev in his book described what he saw of catching burbot with a ruff tied by the tail with string. Having swallowed such bait, the burbot is no longer able to free itself from it and is removed from the water without problems. Also, it is the ruff that is used more often than other baits when fishing for pike with a wide variety of gear: float, bait and bottom. In winter, this fish is able to maintain its vitality and mobility, sometimes for a whole day or even more. When using ruffe as live bait during fishing, some fishermen trim its spines with scissors, but when catching burbot, this is completely unnecessary.

Minnow
. The gudgeon is used as live bait everywhere and everywhere; you can catch almost any predatory fish with it. Pike take it well, pike perch loves it, and among other baits, perch definitely won’t miss this one. As we can see, this live bait has many advantages, but there are also disadvantages - the gudgeon is quite gentle and does not tolerate long stays in warm, slow-flowing water. But nevertheless, properly hooked, or even better tied by the gills, the gudgeon, when caught at depth, in cold layers of water, retains its vitality much longer.

Goby
. Most species of gobies are used in one way or another for catching predatory fish, and they are often caught not only with whole live bait. So, when catching pike perch, you can achieve very good results by attaching the tail of a goby to a large jig.

The spined lance
is a good baitfish, capable of maintaining its activity and vitality for a long time when hooked. Storing and transporting this fish is not difficult, and catching it is also simple; pinched fish can easily be caught in the most common little fish.

Loach
. Able to survive even in very oxygen-poor waters. When unfavorable conditions arise, it burrows into the mud for a long time. As a live bait, it enjoys constant success with many bottom-dwelling fish who are very familiar with it. You can catch not only pike and pike perch with it, burbot and catfish are also very fond of it. And it should be noted, with rare exceptions, the loach is almost always taken dead by the pike. This is due to the fact that the loach spins quite a bit, thereby provoking the predator to take a more secure hold.

Minnow
. In its habitat, you can catch almost all predatory fish with this lively fish; the minnow is especially good when catching grayling, the largest individuals of which prefer this particular baitfish.

Live bait fishing methods

Fishing with a float rod

The float is indispensable when fishing from the shore in heavily overgrown reservoirs.
It can also be used when fishing from a boat. A strong and long fishing rod is used (up to 4-6 meters) with a spinning reel, which can be high-speed or ordinary, with an average gear ratio. It is convenient to catch pike perch with such tackle. Fishing takes place with a leash. For pikes it should be steel.

To attach live bait you will need a single or double (triple) hook. On a single fish, the fish is placed behind a nostril or two lips. A double or triple is passed under the upper fin on the back.

Fishing with live bait

The bait used for fishing with live bait is distinguished by the presence of a removable leash. For pike it should be steel. The leash is connected to a clasp and a swivel. It is attached twenty centimeters above the sinker. For pike fishing, it is better to secure the leash at a distance of one and a half to three meters. The leader is passed through the mouth and gills of the bait.

It is not recommended to use bleak and verkhovka for this method of fishing, which fall asleep almost immediately.

However, they can be secured to the back by inserting a hook under the dorsal fin, thereby extending the period of activity. In this case, you will have to throw the tackle very carefully.

You can fish both in winter and in autumn or spring (in calm water and a depth of up to two meters). If you equip the bait with an additional foam float, the bait will be closer to the surface - increasing the chances of catching a pike or perch.

Fishing by line

In this case, you should decide who it is betting on and choose the appropriate tactics. Bottom placement of the gear will allow you to catch burbot.

In the water column, the line is effective for catching asp, catfish, perch and pike. But the line for catching catfish must be strong and reliable. Live baits are attached to both lips at once for reliability. If you are going to fish in a pond with snags, it is better to use fry. They won't be able to get under the snags. It is preferable to use this tackle on narrow bodies of water.

The leashes are attached at meter intervals. The length of each is up to 60 centimeters. The main line is 0.6 millimeters. And for leashes 0.3-0.4 millimeters in diameter is suitable.

Fishing from a boat with live bait

The use of a boat is justified during the autumn cooling period, when the fish begin to eat. Many fishermen love this fishing method. It puts you in a peaceful mood.

If there is no current, you can use three fishing rods at once (both sides and stern). When moving and on bodies of water with current, two fishing rods are used, attached to the sides of the boat.

Fishing takes place in places with shallower depths. The live bait is located forty centimeters from the bottom. In windy weather or in places with current, it is permissible to use wiring, when the tackle is adjusted by releasing the line from the reel.

Rod length up to 4.5 meters. The reel is taken to be a spinning reel with a capacity of up to 100 m of fishing line (0.20 millimeters). The leash must be used with a swivel to avoid twisting.

During the current, the bait is secured through the upper lip or by threading a leash through the mouth and gills. In calm water, you can thread the hook through the back under the fin. Hooks are used single, double, special triple.

Other methods of fishing with live bait

In addition to the popular methods mentioned, fishermen successfully use it for live bait fishing.

“elastic band” – near reeds and on stretches (throws without jerking!);
zherlitsa - on small rivers and near the banks (a willow rod is used as a fishing rod);
mugs - on closed reservoirs (they are a so-called floating girder, disks made of wood or polypropylene).

Basic mistakes when fishing with live bait

Incorrect selection of live bait (the predator did not like the bait).
Wrong choice of method for attaching live bait for a specific fishing method and equipment that we use in this case.
Rare change of live bait. The bait dies and the fish lose interest in it. However, it is worth noting that among fishermen there are many supporters of fishing for dead fish. It is considered a good winter bait.
Fastening with a single hook behind the back (the bait breaks off).
Previously, pulling out the tackle prevented the pike from chewing the bait (the predatory fish first tries to kill and turn over the fry and only then swallows the bait!).

Options for attaching live bait to hooks

It is customary to attach live bait to 3 parts of the body. Or behind the back, in this case the hook needs to be threaded under the skin of the upper fin, it is important not to touch the spinal ridge. Or in the head area. In this case, the fish is baited by one or both lips or by the nostril, and the hook is pulled out through the cheek.

Or the live bait is attached in the tail area; in this case, the hook can be passed through the body above the ridge. Or you can hook it on a thread that is tied around the fish’s body.

It is better not to put live bait on hooks that are too large. It is also better not to use very thick leashes. This way, live bait can seriously injure itself while being active in the water.

The type of hooks used depends on the desire of the fisherman. One hook more severely injures a well-moving live bait, while two hooks keep it in a sedentary state. It is better to attach bottom bait fish to your back. It is better to attach live bait behind your back in a weak current. In strong currents, live bait is attached to the head area. There are many ways to attach them to a hook, the main ones are shown in Figure 1-2.

Live bait is placed on single and double hooks on metal leashes, and they also use gear consisting of several hooks. A triple, double or single hook on a steel leash is hooked under the dorsal fin without touching it.

Tackle

Feeder gear is excellent for catching pike perch with live bait: you can make long casts from the shore, and it is perfectly suited for landing large fish. There are no strict recommendations on fishing strategy. Some people act by analogy with a classic feeder, that is, they are based in one place; for others, searching for pike perch seems more interesting. In the second case, fishing is more reminiscent of spinning fishing with probing the entire water area. This does not affect the equipment.

You can fish with or without a rod. In the latter case, take a regular flyer, like for a donkey or an elastic band. Feeder rods with a weight of 100 g or more are also suitable for catching pike perch with live bait. They allow you to cast heavy equipment quite far from the shore. In fact, there are no special differences in the elements of gear for white fish and predators. The same rod and reel that you use to catch bream. Reel size – from 3000. Powerful carp reels are not needed here.

Next is the fishing line. Take the braided line. Elastic monofilament lines have stretchability, which definitely interferes with fishing for pike perch. The jaw of this fish is strong; in order to pierce it with a hook, the hook must be clear. If you plan to catch large pike perch, the cross-section of the cord should be at least 0.16 mm, and better - 0.22 mm. This will allow you to throw the tackle to the far edge, and will also prevent the line from breaking when fighting a trophy predator.

The equipment designed for catching pike perch with live bait from the shore is quite simple. This simplicity lies in its effectiveness, because the fewer elements, the less likely it is that a big-eyed pike perch will suspect a trap. An important part of the equipment is the leash. No matter how strong the temptation may be to set a steel string in order to prevent the pike from biting, you should not do this. The pike perch sees a metal leash perfectly and will not approach the bait, no matter how appetizing the bait looks.

You will have to sacrifice something - either catch pike perch and know that a toothy one can cut the line, or not catch pike perch and keep the tackle intact. The conclusion is obvious: you need to take risks. Fluorocarbon is used as a leader for rigging zander. It is almost invisible in the water, durable, but the pike cuts it easily, so cuts are inevitable. If you are counting on a pike perch bite, you will have to come to terms with this. The fluor diameter ranges from 0.25 mm to 0.30 mm.

There are several rig options for live bait fishing. From the shore, pike perch are most often caught using gear that includes the main line, one or more leashes, hooks and sinkers. To secure the leashes, use either rubber stoppers or knots on the fishing line. Stoppers are more convenient, as they allow you to make sliding equipment.

Where to catch perch with live bait

Choosing a place to catch perch with live bait is a very important component of successful fishing. Every fisherman should know that perch is a lover of all kinds of underwater and surface structures. Therefore, it is almost always available in such places:

under bridges;
at the berths;
at hydroelectric power stations;
at sunken ships and boats;
near fallen trees, etc.

That is, as you noticed, perch likes to be where there is some kind of structure or other protective objects in the water. But in addition to such favorite places, perch also loves places that are clear of such accumulations. So he often stands in grassy pools, where there are usually a lot of small fish - his food.

Another perch place is an area with a reverse current. Such places should definitely be examined for the presence of perch, making several casts of live bait. You should also fish steep yars and places where the perch has the opportunity to protect itself from the current, nevertheless remaining in close proximity to it.

On very large bodies of water, large rivers or reservoirs, schools of perch can be found by seagulls feeding at the surface of the water. Usually, when hunting, a perch drives the fry to the surface, thereby creating nutrient islands for the birds.

On smaller bodies of water it is easy to find perch based on signs of its hunting. Often the fry runs away from the striped predator in all directions, jumping on the surface of the water. It can be either a school of fry or lonely small fish. If you notice such activity in a fry, rest assured that this is the work of a predator. Most likely a perch, but be careful, it may be a pike that can easily bite through the tackle, which does not need a leash for perch.

When catching perch with live bait, the optimal tactic is to actively search for a predator. That is, if you sit in one place, the result will be much worse. We need to explore all promising places. We found such a place, made a cast, there was no perch bite for about 10-15 minutes - it’s worth moving to another one.

This way you increase your chances of catching a bass. This is a kind of sport fishing. You can, of course, fish at a more measured pace. For example, staying in one place for about an hour is when you need to combine relaxation with fishing. Sometimes you just want to enjoy watching the float, even if there are no bites. And if there are no bites for a whole hour, then you’ll have to pack up and move to another place, otherwise you’ll be able to relax, but you won’t be able to catch a perch.

In late autumn, when the water temperature drops, all the fines go to deeper places - there the water remains several degrees warmer. The perch also goes there and always stays close to its food base. When the fry leave the shallow waters, it is already pointless to look for perch in such areas; you need to switch to fishing at depth. It is already more difficult to find minke whale here, but the chances of catching a real humpback whale increase.

How to catch pike with live bait in the summer

In summer, pike are less active compared to spring and autumn, but do not stop feeding at all. She continues to lead an active lifestyle, usually going to the depths and hiding in the thickets.

In July, the peak of fat comes, the pike lacks oxygen and its activity drops to a minimum. Catching a large specimen at this time is not an easy task. However, a small pike up to 2 kilograms will still willingly bite near the shore.

To find out where the pike is, you need to sit comfortably on the shore and watch for 30-40 minutes. From time to time, schools of small fish will jump out of the water, escaping from the ruthless hunter.

In summer, the best time for pike fishing is early morning or evening, when the heat subsides, in cloudy and rainy weather. Fishing on a sunny day means leaving without a catch.

You can catch pike both from a boat and from the shore.

From the boat

Fishing from a boat is available almost throughout the open water season. Having a watercraft, an angler can explore any body of water and place mugs and summer baits in the most promising places.

Many people equip their boat with a fisherman’s assistant – an echo sounder. It allows you to examine all the deep places of the reservoir. And, if you find a cloud of food fish, then a predator is somewhere nearby.

From the shore

Homemade stand for live bait fishing

The most ancient way of catching pike is fishing from the shore. To successfully fish from the shore, you need to carefully study:

habits of representatives of the pike family;
get acquainted with the types of fish living in the reservoir, so as not to make a mistake with the bait;
study the shore and bottom features;
examine snags and thickets.

And only then proceed to installing gear and directly to the fishing itself.

In summer, pike’s favorite places are channel edges, return streams, places with vegetation, and snags. It can also be found where water is mixed and enriched with oxygen. These are mouths, branches in the river, places where streams flow.

It’s another matter if the harvesting is carried out for the winter, and long-term storage of live bait is required. In this case, fishing for fry should begin during the autumn cooling, at the end of September or beginning of October. There is no need to postpone until November.

Live bait is harvested in several ways depending on its species, place of catch and season. Basic fishing methods:

Tips for fisherman: Fishing for grayling on small rivers in summer video - Features of choice

Separately, we need to mention the unforgettable plastic bottle. Let's secretly say that it also makes an excellent trap for live bait. To make the tackle catchy, you need to do it like this:

Cut off the top part of the bottle by about a third.
We insert the cut off top, neck first, into the bottom of the bottle, having first unscrewed the cap.
We fasten both parts of the bottle with wire.
We make additional small holes for water.
We tie a strong rope to the resulting structure.

Before throwing such a trap into the water, we put bait in it and weigh it down with something so that it does not float up, especially in the current. The fry easily penetrate the bottle through the neck, but not everyone succeeds in getting out through the reverse cone.

Now we need to talk about the time of harvesting live bait. If you are planning a fishing trip this coming weekend, then you should not prepare live bait for salting. After all, one of the main tasks of an angler when hunting a predator is how to keep the bait alive and mobile. Moreover, it is not worth just thoughtlessly destroying even any small, from the point of view of ordinary people, waste fish.

It’s another matter if the harvesting is carried out for the winter, and long-term storage of live bait is required. In this case, fishing for fry should begin during the autumn cooling, at the end of September or beginning of October. There is no need to postpone until November.

Firstly, in late autumn in November the predator’s feeding is already in full swing; live bait prepared in advance will come in handy. Secondly, in very cool water, the carp bite is less active, and it’s not comfortable to fish; it’s better to stay at home in such weather.

Crucian carp is considered the most tenacious fish, so it remains active on the hook the longest, attracting a predator. In addition, this is the most common fish in our waters. It can be found in places where many fish species simply cannot survive. Therefore, many anglers prefer to use crucian carp on the hook as live bait.

Fishing with live bait in the fall

Fishing with live bait in the fall is an incredibly exciting activity. With the onset of autumn cold weather, fish, in particular the apex, experience a significant increase in resistance to the adverse effects of the environment. The explanation is simple - winter is ahead. When the water temperature in the body of fish decreases, metabolic processes significantly slow down, underwater inhabitants become less sensitive to the lack of oxygen contained in the water, and the fat reserve accumulated in the summer allows them to go without food for a long time. The vitality of the verkhovkas is sometimes impressive: the fry caught in early October lived without food until December, until they were used for their intended purpose.

Preparation and storage

In late autumn, preparing a top for fishing with live bait causes certain difficulties. With the onset of autumn cold, this fish can move a considerable distance from the shore, so it is better to catch it from a boat. On a calm, sunny day, a slight breeze can help a hunter catch small fish if he is fishing alone.

Drifting under the influence of a light breeze begins by deepening the wren (lift) by 0.5 m. You can clearly see how the fry first spins incredulously near the whelp, and then, having calmed down, begins to boldly swim under the rods. They choose a convenient moment when the density of fish is highest, and begin to quickly lift the little fish out of the water, but do not remove it completely. As a result of the natural deflection of the lift net, all the fish collect in its lower part, immersed in water. With your free hand, slightly squeezing your fingers, the caught verkhovna is transferred to the eland. As soon as the container is filled with a sufficient number of live bait, it is placed in a cool place and waited for several hours. Damaged and weak fish will die during this time and will lie on the bottom of the eland or swim belly up on the surface. They should be removed. The next culling must be repeated after three days. Then live bait is prepared for long-term storage. The water in the container is changed to fresh, since the old one contains a lot of fish mucus and waste. If possible, it is recommended to take water for replacement from the reservoir where the live bait was caught. A container for long-term storage of autumn live bait should be made of a chemically inactive material (alloy steel, enameled steel, polyethylene, etc.) and have a large area of contact between water and the surrounding air. For this purpose, for example, an old two-bucket enamel basin covered with boards is quite suitable (not only aquatic predators are interested in the delicate creatures, but also local cats). The simple structure is stored outdoors, and when frost sets in, it is moved to the cellar.

Tackle

For running live bait fishing in the fall, use a 5-7-meter telescopic rod with guides, equipped with a small wire reel, a fishing line no thicker than 0.2 mm and a “shot” or “goat” jig with hooks No. 3.5-4 according to domestic numbering, the use of a “goat” jig with two hooks is preferable, since one hook on a “pellet” does not always reliably hook an attacking fish.

Fishing with live bait

You can catch any predatory fish that lives in our reservoirs with the verkhovka, but due to its small size (usually 3-4 cm), live bait in the fall attracts mostly perch and medium-sized pike. Perch almost always predominates in catches; occasionally small pike are caught, and sometimes large pike bites occur, most often ending in the breakage of light tackle. The perch takes the fry with great pleasure. The proposed bait is well known to him, because in most stagnant and low-flowing reservoirs the main food item for the “striped” is the verkhovka. No matter how hard manufacturers of spinning baits try to offer a sufficiently effective alternative to the natural prototype, they have not yet succeeded. Sensations from shape, color, smell and vibrations familiar from a very early age help the predator recognize a fake. You can easily verify this by replacing the fry with a twister or spinner. Confident grip on artificial baits is observed only during periods of increased activity of the predator, and when it is sluggish, indecisive and standing at the bottom, offer it live bait - you can’t go wrong. This method of fishing, like fishing with live bait, dictates a number of specific rules:

Casting should be done smoothly; before the live bait falls onto the water, the bait should be slightly slowed down with the rod, softening its impact on the surface as much as possible.
When removing the fry from the eland, use a small aquarium net, protecting the remaining live bait from injury.
Often during casting, live bait jumps off the hook of the jig. Unreasonably high losses can be avoided by placing a stopper cut from an ordinary plastic bag on the hook. Predatory fish will only pay attention to live bait if it is active underwater. While in the bottom layer, the baitfish sitting on the hook must constantly send a vibration signal about its presence. The predator is extremely reluctant to bite on a weakened, let alone lifelessly hanging fish. After several casts, they find out what physical form the baitfish is in: if the fish takes a natural horizontal position in the water and actively works with its tail fin, everything is in order, you can continue fishing; if the top tip falls on its side, it needs to be replaced. For short fishing, you will need 30-40 top tops placed in a small canna (3 liters). This amount is usually enough to replace fallen baitfish and to fish several promising places chosen by the fisherman. The fish is placed on the hook, removing the sting from the nostril, while the tip takes a horizontal position in the water and remains viable longer. You should not stick it by both lips, as this quickly weakens it and hangs motionless on the hook, causing mistrust of a cautious predator. In case of indecisive and sluggish biting, this technique helps out: carefully, trying not to damage the baitfish’s spine, make a puncture in the area of the dorsal fin. It causes serious concern to the fry, which begins to produce vibrations characteristic of a wounded fish. “Easy” prey immediately attracts the attention of the phlegmatic predator, and the bite follows immediately. The disadvantage of this method of attaching live bait is that in this case the jig must simply hang in the water column, and it is very problematic to perform an effective stepwise retrieve, because then the bait will move unnaturally, sideways. The number of escapes increases slightly, as the perch always begins to swallow the victim from the head. The farther the hook is in the mouth, the greater the chance of the angler hooking the fish.

Tactics and techniques for fishing with live bait in the fall

Since fishing is carried out mainly from the shore, you need to carefully study the coastline. A steep bank will tell the fisherman that there is a deep place here where you can stay longer. “Tapping” the bottom with a jig, they pay special attention to places with a sharp difference in depth, coastal edges, holes, underwater elevations and even small grooves. Sometimes the perch concentrates on a small depression of a few square meters in the bottom. It can stand here very compactly, and even a slight deviation of the bait to the side will lead to a complete absence of bites. And once in exactly the right place, it is possible to catch a significant part of the school in a short time. It sometimes happens that bites in the cold season follow a continuous sequence (sometimes after a serious night frost). With such an active bite, live bait quickly runs out, so it’s time to switch to a small jig head with a tiny twister. Since the rod has guides, it is used to fish like a spinning rod. By releasing 2-3 m of line from the reel and holding it with your left hand, make a smooth cast. A jig head that is heavier than a jig will confidently pull out excess fishing line. Then a short wiring of the twister is carried out. In winter, exciting fishing begins on the first ice. At this time, it is quite easy to replenish the stock of tops where there are “walrus” baths. Towards the end of autumn, live bait fishing becomes widespread and the predator goes out into fresh water, where it can be caught in large quantities.

METHODS OF CATCHING BAITS IN SUMMER

Using a jar

The simplest but most effective way to catch live bait in the summer is to use a regular 3-liter jar with a lid. To do this you need:

A hole measuring 2x2 centimeters is cut in the plastic lid.
Pieces of bread are placed in the jar.
The jar is tightly closed with a lid.
Fills with water.
A rope is tied to the neck of the jar.
The jar is thrown into the water.
After this, this place should be left so as not to alarm the fish.

In about an hour you can come up and ask. If you don’t throw the jar too far, you can determine from the shore whether there is a fry in the jar, since the jar is transparent. It’s also not worth casting deep, since the fry prefers to stay close to the shore and at shallow depths.

Using a plastic bottle

You can make a fairly effective trap from a plastic bottle, at least 5 liters. In addition, a plastic bottle has better characteristics compared to a 3-liter jar: firstly, it does not break, and secondly, it is much lighter. To do this you need to have:

A bottle with a capacity of at least 5 liters.
Knife.
Suitable rope.
Cargo.

Manufacturing technology

In conclusion, all that remains is to throw this trap into the water and wait a while.

The water that penetrates the plastic bottle slowly begins to wash the bait out of the bottle. As a result of this, its aroma begins to attract small fish, which enter the bottle through the neck, which is directed inward. The design is such that a fish that gets inside will no longer be able to get out. Therefore, this design can be left for a long time.

With the help of a spider

A spider is a special fishing tackle that consists of a square mesh, which is stretched in a square metal or wooden frame with little sag. This tackle, with the help of strong ropes, is attached to a long pole, with the help of which the spider is lowered into the water. As a rule, bait is attached to the center of the net, which collects fish in this place. The only problem is that to catch live bait you will need a fine mesh net.

Top or muzzle

It was installed near the shore in such a way that it would not be difficult to check it. If you make a small top, then you can throw it into the water with the help of a rope, and then, after a while, pull it out of the water and check for the presence of live bait. Again, you need to make the tackle in such a way that fish of a certain size penetrate the top. It is imperative to provide a small hatch so that you can get the fish out without any problems.

In the spring, when the ice begins to melt, the toothy one slowly changes its winter regime. She swims into shallow water. Here the sun warms up the water more and the fish become comfortable. In addition, the toothy one chooses a secluded place for spawning. Now you need to fish at the edge of the ice, in holes, places with last year’s vegetation, in areas with an uneven bottom and in return lines.

How to catch crucian carp in late autumn

Photo: Alexander Tokarev.
But the open water season is still ongoing, although it’s already uncomfortable on a deserted river, on a gray reservoir covered with white caps of furious waves, hitting the banks with continuous blows.

There also seems to be nothing to do at the village pond.

The crucian carp climbed into the reeds, lay down on the bottom, wrapped in warm mud and basked on the muddy feather bed.

Meanwhile, there is a way to catch these sleepy and lazy crucian carp, and in sufficient quantities.

To effectively catch crucian carp in late autumn, there is no longer any point in looking for edges in a channel hole that was once a dammed stream.

There, quite recently, active fish were fattening up before winter, grabbing maggots, lumps of rye bread, crushed semolina, pearl barley, and the larger ones, “Bonduelle” corn kernels, on feeder hooks.

That time has passed.

On previously catchy edges you can only catch perch or roach.

Crucian carp come out here on unexpectedly warm days, even if it is drizzling. But it takes here rarely, sporadically, although it can take crucian carp, which is called trophy.

The most effective places for fishing with a fishing rod with a side nod are thickets of already yellowed reeds, where various underwater creatures always live in the rhizomes and on the stems in the form of crustaceans, mollusks, larvae and worms. Here you can also find a goose or naiad, a nymph - a dragonfly larva.

Photo: Alexander Tokarev.

In this natural pantry of snacks and warm refuge, the cunning lazy crucian carp is comfortable.

Photo: Alexander Tokarev.

If this oasis does not freeze out, then the crucian carp will doze here until spring, climbing into the mud from the frost and coming out from time to time to nibble boogers from the stems and dig around in the mud, looking for larvae. And the blessed place will freeze, and the crucian carp will slide into the depths, looking for muddy pits.

Read the material “Catching carp in autumn”

In late autumn, it is better to immediately go by boat to the reeds, pave the way to the fishing point, if there is a ready-made window in the reeds. If not, then you need to pull out several stalks of reeds so that there is at least some patch of clean water and a clean bottom. In an area where reeds are rare, you can fish without preparing the place.

It still makes no sense to throw a float here, even if technically it is possible. If a sluggish autumn crucian carp takes a motionless bait lying on the bottom, it will only take it once or twice in a couple of hours of fishing.

Privada

The fishing point must be fed immediately and ideally fed for several days at the same time. The bite is always much better on bait. This could be a ready-made crucian carp mixture, for example, inexpensive bait for crucian carp from Dunaev with a filler of “Salapin” porridge.

You can also use a universal bait for cold water. For bait, you don’t need expensive bait, in particular Sensas, and other similar mixtures. You can generally throw regular porridge from a mixture of cereals at the point of upcoming fishing, where the porridge may contain pearl barley, millet, barley and corn cereals, peas, and soaked bread crusts. Adding a little branded bait that you are going to fish with soon won’t hurt either.

Both when baiting and when fishing, you should not simply throw bait into the water. Why needlessly scare the fish? It is better to attach the balls molded from porridge onto a jig and carefully lower them one after another to the fishing point.

Usually lumps of porridge stick well to the body of the jig, naturally, if you squeeze the jig with bait. In this case, the bait is freely dumped in the right place, you just need to lower the lump of porridge into the water.

Rod and equipment

To catch crucian carp on a fishing rod with a side nod, it is best to use a carbon rod 6-7 meters long, equipped with a wire or spinning reel. If you use a fiberglass rod, which we sometimes use for old times’ sake, your hand will get tired of holding it suspended for a long time. After all, fishing with a side nod is akin to winter fishing with a jig.

Photo: Alexander Tokarev.

You need to play with the bait and keep the rod suspended throughout the fishing. Therefore, you will have to select the lightest models of fly rods or other rods with the least weight. Usually these are not cheap models, if the weight of a 7-meter rod is 250-300 g.

Read the material “Buying a weapon: important information you need to know”

But you can get by with budget options. After all, the Russian fisherman’s hand is strong and resilient, trained for many years of fishing with Chinese-made “glass” rods.

Fishing technique and tactics

It’s better to start right away from the end, that is, by playing fish with a rod with a side nod. Why? The fact is that the working part of the line on the rod is much shorter than its length. And you need to be prepared for the fact that after hooking and the first meters of movement of the prey on the line, you should remove some more part of the line from the reel so that its length is equal to the length of the rod. Otherwise, you will have to jump after the crucian carp dangling above your head.

The technique of playing with a jig in catching crucian carp is usually not complicated, and there are no secret tricks here. You just need to smoothly lift the bait not high above the bottom and immediately lower it back, forcing the jig to fiddle with the bottom, as if it were some kind of underwater insect or crustacean trying to get out of the silt.

When stopping or lifting the nod upward, you must immediately cut. This previously lazy and sleepy crucian carp, suddenly fired up with excitement, grabbed the active bait.

Read the material “Crucian carp bites before freeze-up”

Sometimes the crucian carp pulls the line down, but such bites are less common. And with a nod, this fish usually bites, like with a float, when a goose feather or fly needle falls on the water, that is, the crucian carp lifts the bait from the bottom and only then swims with it to the side.

Jig and bait

To catch crucian carp in the reeds with a side nod, a round and dim lead or tungsten jig of the “large shot” type is most often used.

Photo: Alexander Tokarev.

It can be black, gray, or best of all, a gray-green bait, more reminiscent of an underwater insect. However, you can experiment with the shape and color of the jig. There is no limit to creativity.

Photo: Alexander Tokarev.

Dung worms or bloodworms are usually used as bait. The closer to winter, the more preferable bloodworms are for fish, since it is a typical winter bait.

That's all about crucian carp and autumn for now.

Alexander Tokarev October 26, 2021 at 12:22 pm

Fishing technique

Initially, you need to throw the equipment exactly at the target. In this case, the bait should not hit the water too hard so as not to create unnecessary noise. Periodically, the bait needs to be moved so that the bait does not fall asleep. Hooking and retrieving must be done quickly and sharply, but this does not apply to large specimens, which require smooth manipulations so as not to break the tackle.

Catching pike with live bait will be relevant in all seasons of the year. You just need to remember about the temperament and behavioral characteristics of pike at different times. Then it’s not difficult to choose fishing spots and suitable equipment.

The features of catching pike with live bait will be discussed in the video: