Catching pike perch in winter using balance beams and choosing bait

One of the youngest baits for catching predators in winter is the balancer. Fans of vertical spinners were skeptical about it until they were convinced from their own experience of the effectiveness of the new product. The Russian pike perch also liked the unusual bait. With the help of a balancer, anglers successfully catch it from autumn to spring. However, the balance beam becomes the best bait for fanged predators in winter. There is a wide variety of balancers available in fishing stores. They differ significantly from each other, both in price and size. And how many colors are offered for the same series.

Our rating includes the 10 best zander balancers for winter. The selection of models was carried out on the basis of expert opinions and reviews of Russian fishermen.

Features of the behavior of pike perch during winter fishing and the optimal choice of balancers

First of all, it is necessary to take into account the behavior of pike perch in winter.
Before freeze-up and in the first weeks after the formation of the ice cover, the predator prefers large prey with active play. The fanged robber's predilection for vertical wiring still remains. The optimal size of the balancer at this time is 6-8 cm. In the dead of winter, as well as during the last ice, the fish becomes less active due to lack of oxygen. She prefers to eat small things that can be obtained without excessive costs. Therefore, the game should be measured, not aggressive. At this time, the best option would be a balancer about 5 cm in size with a natural color.

Why a balancer?

The balancer is an effective winter bait, which today is successfully used when hunting for predatory underwater inhabitants inhabiting our water bodies. Pike perch is no exception. This representative of the ichthyofauna responds well to horizontal spoons all winter. Fish readily respond to it in various bodies of water, from rivers to lakes and reservoirs.

However, the balancer cannot be called a simple bait. Mastering the technique of fishing with a balance beam takes time and a thoughtful approach.

Depending on the fishing conditions, it is necessary to use different models that will best suit the fishing depth, the strength of the current, the mood of the pike perch and other factors that influence the overall fishing performance.

Global brands offer many balancers. But the price for such baits is not small. Is it worth paying $10 for a branded bait or using a fake for 10 times less?

Balancers appeared relatively recently, but have firmly occupied a niche in winter fishing for pike perch. Strong arguments in favor of a balancer are its catchability and ease of execution. When the spinner does not catch, the balancer works. With a balancer, less virtuoso skills are required from the angler compared to a spinner. One swing and the balancer itself moves in a horizontal plane, with its inclinations, like a wobbler, luring and catching pike perch.

Horizontal movements of the balancer

What is better for pike perch - a balancer or a spinner?

If we take into account only catches, then the effectiveness of spinners and balancers is approximately 50/50. There are days when the predator does not miss the spoon, and sometimes in some places the balancer catches pike perch better.

Some anglers prefer the sportiness and improvisation that can be shown with spoons, others prefer the confidence of balancers.

What to choose for pike perch fishing? Of course it’s both. But here we will further consider some of the nuances associated with fishing with balance beams.

Selection of balancer for pike perch by size

For catching pike perch, the most suitable weight balancers are products in the range of 12 - 21 grams. And length - 5 - 10 cm.

These are the so-called middle balancers. It is interesting that heavier ones - 25 grams or more, and very light perch fish, are not much inferior in catchability for pike perch. True, the word yield is not entirely correct here. They are inferior only in certain conditions or on average according to statistics. But in certain conditions they will be preferable.

But on average, the walleye is a narrow body 7 centimeters long and weighing 15 grams.

It is models with these characteristics that show the best lethality in most conditions. And among them there are famous models from well-known manufacturers.

A typical balancer for pike perch caught...

How does the size of the balancer depend on the depth?

It should be noted that the required mass of the balancer depends little on the fishing depth. And it is determined mainly by the size and mood of the pike perch.

Models of 7 - 8 cm at 15 grams work perfectly from a depth of 1 meter and more. And there are a huge number of such models in the middle weight category.

They can also be used at the fairway depth of the reservoir of 10 meters. After all, the wiring is horizontal, the only thing is how long it will take them to swim to the working horizon, and how the windage of the line will affect the game. But there will be a game, and it is possible that it will be even more catchy than in the shallows.

At the same time, heavy weights - 25 - 30 grams and 12 centimeters - are excellent at catching pike perch in shallow waters, that’s a fact.

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Thus, in contrast to the spinner, there should be no specific recommendations regarding the relationship between the mass of the balancer and the depth. And we can talk about the versatility of balancers depending on the conditions of use. Those. With just one model of bait you can fish very diverse areas of the reservoir.

Global brand or...

Global brands offer many balancers. But the price for such baits is not small. Is it worth paying $10 for a branded bait or using a fake for 10 times less?

If you purchase a brand, you can be sure that this bait will catch pike perch if handled properly. In general, that's all.

You can give a lot of examples when an unknown manufacturer caught perfectly and re-fished the brand.

But there are also other examples when a cheap bait “didn’t play” and didn’t catch, had unworthy fastenings and hooks, fell apart under load, peeled off the paint, etc.

What to look for when choosing a balancer

When choosing a balancer, pay attention to:

Other questions about choosing a balancer

Also, one of the features of balancers is the possible presence of a coating that glows in ultraviolet light, or a phosphorescent coating. This is a useful addition that makes the bait more catchable.

If the glow or reflection of rays is definitely a useful thing, then with regard to color it is impossible to say anything definite. Most likely, pike perch don’t care what color the balancer is. This means that the fisherman shouldn’t care either.

Models with more rounded shapes are more common and heavier. Should we give them preference? There are significantly fewer shad that would become famous for catching pike perch. So, you still need to start, at least, with the classics - the purlined form of the balancer.

Equipping the balancer with a hook

There is something special about this process. You should not try to bend the factory suspension with a tool. This may cause the balancer to break.

Many balancers have a hook for hanging the tee. The tee is inserted into the suspension with force. To insert, you need to use pliers. The same goes for removing the tee. The design of the suspension can be very diverse. But in any case, you should not make any effort to unbend it. It is better to insert the tee according to the principle “like in a winding ring”.

The tee is inserted so that one hook is directed directly at the nose of the balancer.

This hook can be used to reattach.

Podsakda, when fishing on balancers

Many fishermen use attractants to give their baits a scent. Various artificial additives are hung on hooks - beads, silicone, thread.... .

In general, by analogy with jigs, the balancer can be made somewhat distinctive, with a very individual sound, smell, and movement. Experiments can be endless.

But one option for attaching a balancer to pike perch deserves special attention. It is very effective to equip the balancer hook with a piece of fish. Exactly one hook of the tee, which is aimed at the nose of the bait, so that the mass and resistance of the water less disrupts the game.

But of course the game will go astray, or rather it will differ from the original one. And this plays into the hands of those who criticize animal infusions.

But does the “wrong” game reduce the effectiveness of the bait? No, it is not decreasing. On the contrary. Now the stationary balancer also catches pike perch. The pike perch takes the smell of its usual food in the pond like a donk.

What kind of fish should I hang on the balancer hooks? Of course, it is better if this is the main hunting object for pike perch. The predator knows her smell very well. More often - sprat.

Equipment for balancers

The fishing rod may or may not be equipped with a nod. In any case, this is not critical when fishing with spoons and balancers. It is important that the fishing rod is light, durable and has a “warm” cork handle.

But the reel should be of high quality, not weighty and easy to control.

The fishing line is monofilament 0.25 - 0.3 mm depending on the size of the bait. Usually, a thinner line is placed under a lighter bait to reduce the influence of windage.

But you can also use braided wire - 0.14 mm, then the issues with water resistance, especially at depth, are resolved, and the control of the game at great depths is the same.

It is better to equip the balancer with a tee No. 4 - No. 6. In general, the rule is known that the spread of hooks beyond the contours of the body should be half the thickness of the body. If the hooks of the tee do not protrude beyond the contour of the body (we look at the balancer from above), then the pike perch will move away. It is advisable not to skimp on hooks. Take a specially designed pike-perch tee, capable of breaking through the mouth of a pike-perch during a sharp hook, a sharp, strong one - from a well-known manufacturer. Then the trophy is yours.

The balancer is suspended on a swivel and a winding ring. This pair must withstand a tensile strength of 10 kg. Accordingly, the material is only high quality. The use of a clasp instead of a winding ring simplifies installation, but increases bulkiness and windage. This means there is also an impact on the game, for the better...

How to fish with a balance beam

The usual game is swinging a fishing rod. In this case, the bait rises up from the initial level (bottom) and makes longitudinal pendulum-type movements.

Pauses between strokes should be 5 - 10 seconds. The pike perch takes it when the movements of the balancer slow down.

Other actions by the fisherman are also possible, with moving the balancer in a jig-style manner - with periodic twitching, with raising the bait high at the top and smoothly lowering it, even with dragging along the bottom, with an attempt to raise the turbidity in the fishing zone... All this is done by anglers when there is no predator nearby or passive

Also, in the same situation, the jig’s main trump card can play a significant role - high-frequency noise from glass baits on the hooks. It attracts fish from afar. You can try this with pike perch…. In general, the balancer is an interesting and effective bait. Which of course you need to master.

The fishing rod for catching pike perch on a balance beam is not equipped with a metal leash, because Unlike pike, pike perch is not capable of chewing through fishing line. The bait is fixed both to the main fishing line and to special fasteners. In the second case, it will be more convenient for the fisherman to change the balancers depending on the fishing conditions.

Features of zander balancers

Balancers for pike perch have a special specificity. When choosing a bait, you should carefully consider the weight, size, shape, game, type of plumage of the fish:

The best choice is a large, weighty balance beam 5-12 cm long. Pike perch is an inhabitant of the depths, the bait should easily sink to the bottom, and the greater the depth of the habitat, the greater the gear that needs to be used. The universal size is 7 cm.

Based on the type of plumage, bladed, bladeless, and combined devices are distinguished. All of them can be used for catching pike perch, you just need to take into account the conditions of their use.

Bladed ones create fairly fast movement, so they are best used in the first ice, when the fish are relatively active. Bladeless ones are used in the depths of winter, when the ice is quite thick and the pike perch is inactive. Playing with such gear should be slow, the fisherman’s movements should be periodic, leisurely, and have a small amplitude. Combined models are more suitable for perch, but at a depth of up to 10 meters, beautiful pike perch also bite on them.

Fishermen note that pike perch respond best to silicone rather than metal baits, since their game is more attractive. It should be remembered that silicone wears out faster.

You need to choose fairly narrow balance beams, because the main prey of pike perch are small and medium-sized fish with a narrow body.

One of the important advantages of a balancer over a vertical spoon is the ability to fish with the same bait at different depths. Although for shallow water areas it is preferable to use lighter models (up to 20 g) and shorter lengths (up to 70 mm). It is better to fish deep horizons with balancers weighing from 15 g and a length of at least 70 mm.

Selection of baits

To catch pike perch in winter, it is not enough to buy any balance beam and throw it into the water. The chosen bait should be suitable for fishing conditions and be interesting to the predator. The models available on the market differ in the following characteristics:

1. Length.
2. Body shape.
3. Color.
4. Weight.

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For catching small and medium-sized fanged fish, products with a length of 7-9 cm are suitable. If you expect to catch a larger specimen, you can take an enlarged model.

The optimal weight is 20 grams for bodies of water with flow, and 10-15 grams for standing water. Lightweight balancers are suitable for inspecting holes, but throwing them to the bottom will be problematic.

The behavior of bait in water directly depends on its shape. To increase the chances of a good bite, it is better to take several modifications with you when fishing and experiment with them.

There is simply no catchy color of balancer for winter fishing for pike perch, which would always bring a positive result. There are a huge variety of color options today, and everyone usually chooses a color at random.

Considering the natural predilection for clean water, depths and currents, the weight of pike perch should be impressive. Sometimes the weight of deep bait can reach up to 20 grams. The size of a pike perch can be from 5 to 12 cm. Moreover, large baits measuring 10-12 cm are intended exclusively for trophy specimens. Since the main food of pike perch is narrow-bodied fish, the balancers intended for catching this fish should have a narrow and slanted shape.

There is simply no catchy color of balancer for winter fishing for pike perch, which would always bring a positive result. There are a huge variety of color options today, and everyone usually chooses a color at random.

Worth knowing! In any case, it is necessary to have natural colors and poisonous ones. In addition to these color options, light green, yellow and blue are also considered popular.

The entire range of balancers can be divided into two categories - bladeless and bladed. The first option is more promising in the middle of nowhere, when the predator is sluggish and passive, and the second option is more promising during the first and last ice, when the activity of pike perch is much higher.

Each angler has his own rating of the best balancers for pike perch in winter. Usually these are the baits that have already brought certain catches. However, there are “star” balancers that show themselves on the positive side even in the complete absence of bite.

The examples given above are the most catchy balancers for pike perch in winter, the effectiveness of which is beyond doubt. And most fishermen use high-quality and proven balancers from well-known manufacturers, which fully justify themselves compared to cheaper Chinese analogues.

Video: catchy balancers for pike perch in winter

But such gear is not without its drawbacks:

Top 5 best winter balancers for perch in winter

1 place. Rapala Jigging Rap W SSD, FP

In first place are two colors of the Jigging Rap W model. These are SSD and FP.

Without a doubt, these winter balancers from Rapala are the best winter balancers for perch fishing. Delightfully realistic vertical bait play on the hole with a depth of up to 15 meters. The impeccable quality of materials and the execution of the balancers themselves indicate slow wear. Even after interactions with the teeth of predators, the paint does not peel off, and the body remains unharmed. Rapala lures are perfectly balanced, quickly sink into the water, and extremely realistically “play” the role of a live fish.

Editor's choice in FP and SSD colors; believe me, more than a dozen perch have been caught on them.

• Sizes: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 cm.
• Weight: 4, 6, 9, 18, 25, 30 grams respectively.
• Line or braid: line from 0.18, braid from 0.13.
• Dimensions for perch: 3 and 5 cm.
• Hooks from VMC.

The price is about 540 rubles.

Balance game

2nd place. Karismax Koko 4 s6, s8, s9

For medium-sized and larger perches. The minimum size from the series is 50 mm. Perfect Finnish quality. High degree of balancing. Hundreds of thousands of anglers around the world have appreciated the advantages and efficiency of balancers from Karismax. The Koko 4 line is one of the latest and one of the most successful. Small models (5 cm, 9 grams) are suitable for fishing with a nod on the surface, up to 1 meter deep. Heavier models (15-20 grams) are more logical to use for near-bottom play, for a rougher nod.

The s6 model with red and gray colors is used mainly for deep fishing. s8 – at depth and surface, s9 – surface.

• Model sizes: 50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm.
• Weight: 9 g, 15 g, 20 g, 33 grams.
• Tee disguise: red bead.

Price: 560 rubles.

3rd place. Salmo Lucky John Nordic 6 51600-02H

Heavy, ideal for winter fishing at a depth of 2 meters or more. Lucky John Nordic 6 series in light colors and a variegated red-yellow-green back. It perfectly imitates the movements of a small fish at a depth both within a meter and in lower areas (2-3 meters). In principle, all Lucky John Nordic 6 models are quite catchy, but this one was singled out as the best in terms of sporting performance.

• Models in sizes: 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm.
• Weight: 12 g, 21 g, 36 g.
• Tee: Kamasan, sizes from No. 8. There are teeless options.
• Tee disguise: yellow-red bead.

Price: 250 rubles.

4th place. Black Death Gerasimova 04, 09

Black Death of Gerasimov, models (Click to enlarge)

Masterpieces from St. Petersburg masters Boris and Sergei Gerasimov. The rating presents two models at once - colors 04 and 09 due to the impossibility of selecting one of the two. An extremely desirable prey for predators in winter. Both of them are excellent in their catchability and game, imitation of fish. The balancer reacts to almost any movement of the fishing line. All balancers are made by hand, so they are almost impossible to find in stores; you can order them in their official group.

• Weight of balancers: 14 g.
• Size: 7 cm, recently added models with a length of 55 mm.
• Tee: present.
• Colors: black-blue-red 04, black-green-yellow-red 09.

Price 240 rubles.

5th place. Lucky John Pliant 12 HRT

The realistic coloring of the 12 HRT perfectly attracts not only perch, but also other predators: pike, pike perch, and bass. Therefore, be careful when choosing the size of this balancer from Lucky John.

Perfectly balanced. Universal in “game” due to the tail. The tee is covered with a green drop, which also attracts perch. The hooks on the sides are from one of the best companies producing hooks – Owner.

It occupies fifth, but by no means last place in our top and participation in winter perch fishing. Take a closer look at this option.

• Dimensions: 4, 5, 7, 8 cm.
• Weight: from 8 grams and above.
• Hooks from Owner (!).

Best models

Today, specialized stores offer a huge selection of balancers. The main differences mainly relate to size and shape, which has a direct impact on fishing performance.

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Rapala Jigging Rap

Available in 6 sizes. This model is very often used in fishing competitions. The most suitable sizes for fishing at great depths: W09 (length-90 mm, weight-21 g) and W11 (length-110 mm, weight-32 g).

Rapala Jigging Rap showed excellent results when fishing for low-active predators. The main difference of the product is maintaining perfect balance and performing virtuoso playing.

The cost of the bait is in the range of 280-320 rubles.

Jigger by Nils Master

It is popular due to its specific game, which is played during retrieval and does an excellent job of attracting the attention of a predator. Performing a jerking movement, the bait, moving a little to the side, begins to turn around and return back.

From a distance, the game imitates the movement of a frightened fry running away from danger. Such behavior only encourages the fanged one to attack. The Jigger 2 (length-70 mm, weight-15 g) and Jigger 3 (length-80 mm, weight-25 g) models are perfect for catching pike perch. The use of balancers from Nils Master is most advisable at the beginning of winter on the first ice.

The pricing policy is in the range of 290-350 rubles.

Lucky John

It has an incredible resemblance to a real fish. The range of sizes and colors is designed for catching trophy specimens of the predator. The bait is intended for fishing in areas of the reservoir with great depth.

The tail part of the fry is made of plastic, which allows the product to demonstrate incredible maneuverability in the expanses of water. If the goal of fishing is large specimens of fanged predators, then experts advise choosing a balancer with a length of at least 50 mm.

The cost of the product is in the range of 70-140 rubles.

Cooper

The manufacturer uses a chrome color for the fish, which ensures maximum resemblance to natural fry. Products painted in the style of phosphor colors are successfully used for fishing in deep areas of the reservoir. The bait is made of lead, and painting is done exclusively with good quality paints with high durability.

The most popular model among fishermen is the “Universal” KR-6 (length 60 mm, weight 15.9 g) with a phosphorus belly.

The cost of the product is in the range of 80-100 rubles.

The best bite for pike perch is on first ice. However, this is a dangerous period when there is a high probability of falling through the ice. Some fans of fanged fishing make their way across the thin ice cover by crawling, using boards. Yes, the catches of such fishermen are sometimes impressive, but it’s not worth risking your life like that.

Fishing technique

In winter, you can catch pike perch using a balance beam by pausing and jerking. First, they lower the bait to the bottom, and then raise it by 10-20 cm; the amplitude at a greater distance will not interest the prey. The upward movement must be sharp so that the balancer jumps, and it must be lowered back smoothly. This is how all layers of the reservoir are probed in order to detect a school.

When tapping on the bottom, a sound is produced and turbidity rises, the predator heads to the fishing spot. Often the grip occurs at the moment of impact.

Smooth movements of the rod upward to a height of up to half a meter with a sharp descent of the tip downwards deflect the bait from the hole.

It is possible to use a technique with smooth movement of the tackle (bait) with slight twitching. The standard long break is about 8 minutes, but results can be positive with breaks as short as one second.

It is not advisable to use pauses during strong water flows, since the action of the bait is greatly distorted. Simply raise and lower the balancer.

About tackle and bait

The required set for ice fishing includes the necessary gear, bait, ice auger and emergency case. The main emphasis is not only on bait. It is necessary to carefully select a rod, fishing line, reel, and check the condition (sharpness) of the hooks. Read more about choosing a fishing rod and accessories below.

Fishing rod equipment

In this case, we are talking about winter fishing for fanged fish; a soft nod will not work effectively. The result of its use is unnatural operation of the bait. And also an increase in the number of fish that are poorly detected.

Fishing line: optimal diameter – 0.25 mm.

When fishing at a depth of over 10 meters, it is definitely better to replace the fishing line with a braided cord. Even a relatively thick fishing line has stretchability and will blur bites and make hooking difficult.

The leash is placed at the personal discretion of the fisherman, although many ignore this element. Reason: You can scare away the fish. Usually they focus on the probability of a pike biting, which will immediately cut through any braided line. But a supply of fishing line must be present. Fishing often takes place in “strong” places. From time to time, dead hooks occur, forcing you to tear the line, which, of course, reduces its reserves.

In most cases, a simple device will help to save fishing line and catchable baits - a detachment. This assistant takes up minimal space and should always be taken with you.

The sharpness of the hook is very important. The effectiveness of hooking a predator with a bony mouth depends on its sharpness.

We recommend reading: What is Shcherbakov’s nod: device, application, manufacturing

Dimensions and shapes of winter balancer

Due to the fact that the search for pike perch is carried out at a depth, and this is often 15-20 meters, you need to select a weighty balancer that can quickly reach the bottom of the reservoir. You can work with the universal 7 cm model and experiment. If necessary, you can put “eight” or “nine”.

There are several variations of artificial baits on sale:

1. Blade models. They are distinguished by the presence of plastic wings glued to the tail, with the help of which an attractive game is created. Their catchability can be assessed by the first ice.
2. Bladeless designs. At the back, such models are equipped with a tassel made of rigid threads. The design is characterized by smooth, measured play. They work well in the middle of the winter season, when the predator is not particularly active.
3. Combined options. It is a hybrid of the two previous versions, which have blades and tails. They are best used at depths reaching 10 meters.

Armed with this data, you can combine and select an artificial bait that works well.

Catchy colors

When working at depth, it is better to use bright and light balancers.
The choice of bait color haunts experienced fishermen and novice trophy hunters. It is difficult to adequately select gear due to refraction (distortion) of color at depth. For example, balance beams of bright red colors look dull at around 7-10 meters.

Many people have a personal opinion about the catchability of color and make an appropriate choice. The following are considered effective “pike perch killers”:

1. Red fish with a yellow belly.
2. Dark blue designs: with silver back.
3. The bait is poisonous yellow.
4. Saltan color.
5. Silver models.

Pike perch clearly sees potential prey at a depth of 12-15 meters. The color of the bait itself does not matter. With the help of “long-range” colors you can help the pike perch find it a little faster. Seeing a suitable object, the fanged one attacks without delay.

Experiment, install balancers with light-accumulating paint. In the shallows and medium depths, the colors show themselves worthy: “a la” bleak, roach. The color of the hooks doesn't really matter.

Remember, the colors can be easily changed on the pond by taking multi-colored markers with you.

Refinement of hooks

As was said earlier, pike perch has a hard mouth that is difficult to break through.
Therefore, the issue of hook sharpness is always relevant. They can and should be improved. You shouldn’t save money, it’s better to buy products from well-known manufacturers like Owner: this is my personal opinion. An irritant element is often mounted on the tee: a tail, a tassel, a bead or a strip.

Increased hook weight is normal. The action of the bait with the load becomes incomprehensible and sluggish, which often provokes the pike perch to attack.