Fishing for pike with live bait: how to fish from the shore, float rod

Catching pike in spring with live bait

Open water sailing is not only an interesting and exciting activity. Often the catch is richer than that of competitors with spinning rods in their hands. And the availability of this method of fishing allows provincial fishermen to compete on equal terms with equipped city dwellers. If you manage to properly equip your fishing rod and accurately choose a place for an ambush, then the fishing enthusiast will return home in a good mood. And not only novice fishermen, but also seasoned professionals will want to test the power of a large predator.

Fishing technique

The process of fishing with live bait is interesting, although fishing itself is considered unsporting.
First you need to determine the fishing depth. After this, set the release of the equipment so that the live bait is at a distance of 30-80 centimeters above the bottom. After measuring, we throw the tackle to the selected point, select the slack in the fishing line and wait for a bite, as in any other fishing. But then the float went sideways and disappeared under the water. Is it worth cutting? Of course not. The point is that the pike does not swallow its prey right away. First, she grabs the victim across the body and moves away with it. This is what we observe at the first stage of the bite.

Then the predator turns the bait head first and begins to swallow it. At the same time, the float plunges under water again or goes to the side, this is the moment of hooking.

Fishing is carried out forcefully, but carefully, constantly monitoring the tension of the fishing line. If the pike begins to make candles, you need to pull it towards you more persistently, extinguishing the jerks.

The easiest way to remove pike from the water is to use a lipgrip.

in spring

When the water warms up to +10 – +15 degrees, the spawning time for pike perch begins. This is manifested in the fact that it begins to search for heated places with a rough bottom, where it subsequently lays eggs. At the end of this procedure, the pike perch goes to rest; it is inactive for 2 weeks. During this time, he will become very hungry, so after resting, he begins to eat vigorously, moving from one zone to another.

[THERE IS AN ANSWER] How to put live bait on a walleye hook

During this period of time, catching pike perch with live bait in the spring can be done both from a boat and from the shore, using various gear that are made specifically for catching the predator. It is well caught both from the shore and from a boat, quickly attacking a variety of baits, including live bait. This does not last long, then the activity of the pike perch becomes less and it moves to depth. At this time, he hunts only at night.

The calm life of pike perch begins somewhere in early June, and it begins spawning in mid-April or early May. Without exception, everything depends on natural circumstances and how quickly the water heats up.

Live bait with a wide body, for example, crucian carp, rudd, and bream are not suitable. We choose a fish with a length of 7 to 10 cm.

Subtleties of fishing in early spring

Early spring is a difficult period from a fishing point of view. Fishing at this time is not easy, no matter what body of water the fisherman happens to be on. The weather and changing fishing conditions have an impact on the behavior of the fish. You have to adapt to the situation, select the optimal gear and bait.

Important! On the Ob, the lower Volga, Oka, and Neva, spring arrives at different times. Therefore, you always need to take into account the characteristics of the region where you plan to catch pike. A particular difficulty in fishing for pike in early spring is finding a predator’s camp.

Depending on the body of water, region, weather conditions and other factors, its location may change. As a rule, when a fisherman, even an experienced one, finds himself on an unfamiliar river or lake, he returns empty-handed. This once again emphasizes the difficult nature of pike hunting in this period.

A particular difficulty in fishing for pike in early spring is finding a predator’s camp. Depending on the body of water, region, weather conditions and other factors, its location may change. As a rule, when a fisherman, even an experienced one, finds himself on an unfamiliar river or lake, he returns empty-handed. This once again emphasizes the difficult nature of pike hunting in this period.

in autumn

Pike fishing for live bait in the fall, when the predator begins to actively feed itself, goes especially well. Fishing tactics include biting, hooking, and fishing. And all stages are extremely important for pike fishing. It is also necessary to ensure that the reservoir is not overpopulated with perch. Then even a fairly large live bait will not save you (this striper can swallow fish only a third smaller than its size).

The presence of a float on a live bait fishing rod

The rod can be equipped with a float, or you can fish without it. The choice depends on the fishing conditions:

Catching pike with live bait on a float: what equipment

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.

Fishing rod

Any regular telescopic fishing rod will do (very convenient for transportation). Size may vary. If you’re fishing from a boat, then a fishing rod up to three meters in size will do, and if you’re fishing from the shore, no less than five meters. The lighter the better, but if you take a fiberglass fishing rod, it is more flexible and durable. This fishing rod can withstand strong jerks from large predators.

Coil

It is better to choose a spinning reel with a front clutch, they are more powerful. The clutch must be well adjusted.

fishing line

It is better to choose a monofilament fishing line for pike fishing. It is better to reel in at least 50 meters on the spool, as breaks can occur or sometimes the pike has to be landed. If you catch small specimens, then the diameter of the fishing line can be 0.25 millimeters. Well, if you want to catch a trophy - about 0.35 millimeters.

Leash

Since the pike has sharp teeth and can very easily bite through the fishing line, the tackle must be equipped with a leash. There are several types of them: fluorocarbon, monofilament line, steel leader and titanium-nickel alloy. But every fisherman has his own preferences. But the one I have tested and the simplest is a twisted steel string.

Hook

For pike fishing, it is better to use double or treble hooks, depending on the size of the bait. It is better to take sizes 8-12.

Cargo

It's better to choose an olive. The weight of the load should be less than the weight of the float, about a third. For example, if the float is 6 grams, then the weight of the load is 4.

Float

Depending on the body of water, weather conditions and current, it may have different weights, but it is quite large. It is better to choose a sliding one - suitable for any body of water. But he shouldn't drown. If the water is stagnant or has a slight current, you can install a float weighing from 6 grams to 15. But if the current is large, then the carrying capacity is greater - 30-35 grams

The top of the float should be bright, but the bottom should be dark, so as not to distract the attention of the pike

Catching pike perch with live bait

Below we will look in more detail at the options for catching pike perch with live bait, depending on the method, equipment and choice of time of year.

Fishing with a rod

They can fish with a regular live bait or float rod in summer and autumn, either from the shore or from a boat. A spinning rod is also allowed. With complex bottom topography, a large number of holes and snags, the fishing rod comes in handy, allowing you to fish runs with a clean bottom. Release the float further and catch fish in the retrieve. For such fishing, take a long, strong rod of more than four meters. A fishing line is used, or a cord with a thickness of no more than 0.4 mm, or braid, for fishing in snags.

It is better if the float slides along the line, leaving greater freedom of movement for the bait fish. When choosing a float, remember that a predator that is too heavy will not be able to handle it and will simply spit out the prey. The choice of hook, whether regular, double, or short treble, depends mainly on the size of the bait, not the prey. The weight of the load varies depending on the strength of the current.

Fishing with bottom tackle

This type of fishing is carried out mainly in spring and autumn, during times of increased activity of pike perch. Armed with any type of bottom fishing rod, you can start fishing from the shore. For maximum efficiency, it is advisable to use several donks.

We usually assemble the tackle according to the following scheme:

spinning or feeder rod at least 2.5 meters long.

A reel, preferably inertia-free.

Three-millimeter fishing line.

The leash , for example, is steel 0.2 mm.

Several sinkers weighing at least 40 g.

Double hook , or small tee.

If desired, you can use an electronic buzzer as a signaling device.

As an additional option, you can use a predatory feeder.

Spinning fishing

1. A spinning rod for pike perch should have increased rigidity. Length – within 3 meters. When fishing for pike perch, both types of reels are used, both inertial and non-inertial. Of course, each type has both pros and cons. The diameter of the fishing line should be adjusted to the type of reel, since the peculiarity of pike perch is that it pays almost no attention to its thickness. If you simply put a baitfish on a hook, it will most likely have no effect.

There are two specific techniques for catching pike perch with live bait using a spinning rod: the Shcherbakov rig and the Nefedov rig. The most common head weight for such rigs is 18 grams. The weight should be increased in winter, or in the presence of a strong current. When wiring, make 2-4 sharp turns, raising the top a meter and hold it there for a couple of seconds, then lower it to the original position. This wiring creates the illusion of a wounded fish that is jumping in the water column or along the bottom.

Fishing with mugs and girders

An example of passive fishing is girders and circles:

In summer, mugs are placed closer to the coastline, near accumulations of reeds, sedges and other aquatic plants, in all those places where heavy clutter is expected. In autumn, fish are caught with mugs in pitty, deep places.

Before starting, they set up a buoy and measure the depth in order to determine how much to lower the bait. Then a circle is installed. And each subsequent one is no closer than 5 m from the previous one. From the equipment, a small tee with a nylon leader is usually chosen. The most profitable fishing hours are pre-dawn, a couple of hours before sunrise. And an hour before sunset. In bad weather, pike perch often bite all day.

Plumb fishing

Despite the fact that this technique is very similar to stationary fishing, at its core it is a spinning rod, and a very special one at that. With such tactics, first of all you will need a boat, because otherwise there will be no way to get to the pike perch places.

Another interesting device will be an echo sounder, with its help you can determine the bottom topography. You will need a higher test rod. The clearer the water, the deeper the pike perch, so the load will need to be a couple of grams heavier than usual. The fishing line should be thin and braided for better game of live bait. Try to play the bait slowly and smoothly.

An integral condition for effective fishing for pike perch with live bait in the summer
the current is considered, and the larger it is, the better. There should be no soil sediments at the bottom; it should be rocky or sandy - both are favorite fishing and habitat areas for pike perch. The depth in these areas is 4 – 6 meters.

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.

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 tactics

After the pike grabs the fry, it tends to move to the most convenient place to feast on the prey. From the bite point, the float can sometimes float up to 2 meters! At this time, experienced pike fishermen advise taking a pause and under no circumstances hooking, as you might end up with an idle run. When the float has slowed down, then you only need to make the appropriate movements.

Sometimes it happens that the pike does not swim anywhere, then the float dives sharply, but then floats up and freezes for a while. A pause is also important here to give the fish a good “test” of the bait. If you hook at the wrong time (as hasty beginners like to do), the trophy, as a rule, comes off the hook. And the live bait remains in the predator’s mouth, torn off by the sharpest teeth.

So, we pause before the float begins to swing to the sides and sink. At this time, the pike turns the live bait head first. And then, having swallowed the nozzle, it makes a movement to the side, dragging the float along with it. Now it's time to hook! And the fishing trophy is almost guaranteed not to get off the hook and will end up on the shore after skillful fishing!

We use live bait, what a novice fisherman needs to know

With the onset of autumn, the pike behaves actively due to hunger - it constantly moves around the entire reservoir, looking for unwary fish. The hunt is active, because the pike does not wait in the thickets in the hope of catching a gaping fish, but constantly cruises around the reservoir, looking for prey.

Predicting the exit of pike will be problematic. But experienced fishermen were able to figure out its pattern. For example, in the morning, pike often stands on the edge or at a depth under snags; at noon, it can hunt in shallow water or stay near overgrown islands. In the evening, the toothy predator slides into the depths. Many people note that fishing is productive when fishing with post-shooks, which can be installed without any systematization.

If you are a hunter of trophy specimens, then you will enjoy night fishing with live bait. In this case, a dead fish is used, which is located almost at the bottom. In such a situation, a large pike will behave like a burbot.

Read Salmon Fishing

With a sharp drop in water temperature, many weak inhabitants of reservoirs, such as fry, frogs, etc., die and sink to the bottom. In such a situation, the pike doesn’t even need to hunt, because the food itself goes into its mouth.

A large pike, in anticipation of cold weather, begins to eat intensely, accumulating fat, and it does not disdain even dead prey. To hunt for “live” prey, pike have to move a lot and spend a lot of energy

Also, it should be taken into account that the reproductive products have already formed in the pike, and it simply does not want to lead an active life until November

Attention! You should immediately understand that any trophy is predominantly a female. The average weight of a trophy in Central Russia is in the range of 7.5-15.5 kg

As for males, they are not large and weigh on average 1.5-2 kg.

Pike can be caught in various bodies of water in the fall. Including reservoirs, ponds, rivers, lakes, etc. If you can go fishing and have a weekend, it is recommended to catch pike in the fall in the north: in the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions, on Ladoga and Onega, on the Rybinsk Reservoir and in Karelia.

Lake Kubenskoe, which is located in the Vologda region, is especially famous for its heavy catch of pike. Here, catching a pike weighing over 9 kg is the norm. Here you can regularly catch trophies weighing up to 14 kg or more.

Places to catch pike with live bait in the fall

In the daytime, pike prefers to move to the edges. If you fish on rivers, then you should look for predators on the transverse edges, which are found everywhere on winding channels. This choice of pike can easily be explained by the cold snap - the fish begins to look for places where the current level is lower, which means the water is warmer.

When fishing on dams, pike prefers to hide in snags, which serve as a target for the edge of the flooded bank. On reservoirs you can choose similar places where there are a lot of sharp changes - shallow water abruptly gives way to depth. For example, in November, ice may already form in a number of such places. It should be noted that the pike is not in such places because of hunting.

Attention! In autumn, pike take greedily, not neglecting both live and artificial baits.

In autumn, pike can be easily found near schools of perch. Pike, which live in fresh waters, often like sharks, feed on their own kind. If you manage to find a large school of perch, then you should leave your live bait there, because, most likely, a pike is hanging around them. In such a flock, in order to catch a predator, experienced fishermen bait small perches, which can be caught right here. The cast is made further away, to the “outskirts” of the school, where the pike feeds on gaping fish.

You can look for pike based on the movements of a school of bream. Many experienced fishermen are aware that by autumn bream begin to gather in large schools, which are accompanied by various small fish, such as pipe cleaners, breams, etc.

This is justified by the fact that bream, in search of food at the bottom, lift many nutritional components from the bottom, which are actively absorbed by the “escort”. Pike easily obtains food for itself at the moment when small fish are feeding, and does not pay attention to predators swimming nearby. If a large school of fish appears on the echo sounder screen, you can safely cast live bait near it and wait for bites

When looking for pike in estuaries, bream can be found in muddy spots on the water surface. The average depth in this area reaches 1.5-2 m and the spot is easy to notice even from afar. By carefully selecting a boat, a fisherman can catch many predators not only using a spinning rod and live bait, but also using a classic fishing rod.

Finding pike sites

You need to look for spring pike, first of all, in the grass, near the shore, where small fish come out to bask, and the pike feeds on them there.

For ambush, pike choose places that would camouflage it and serve as an observation post.

So if a pike sees a live bait, it will attack, so in the spring you need to catch pike with live bait in or near the grass thickets. In lakes, pike are found near snags and flooded bushes, at changes in depth and at the confluence of rivers and streams.

Favorite places for pike on the river are whirlpools, oxbow lakes, entrances and exits from holes, channel edges and washed-out banks. On the river, the pike also stands at the places where the depth transitions into a shoal, and the pike stands immediately under the dump or on the edge of the dump. Where the strength of the current is less, the whitebait stands there.

On the small river

Fishing for pike on a small river in the spring is very different from hunting in large water areas. This requires more sophisticated fishing of the location, since the fishing area is limited. The main fishing directions used in such conditions are:

light spinning rod,
float rod,
running donka.

The most common and popular is spinning, and the fishing method is jig. Small silicone and foam rubber baits are used, equipped either with a hinge or on banal jig heads with open hooks, the weight of which rarely exceeds 10–12 grams.

The second most catchable fish is live bait. Small fish are used when fishing with float rods or running donks. By the way, at any time the “floater” can be converted into a mobile running live bait simply by removing the bite alarm from the equipment.

The Malaya River is a good place for pike fishing.

On a small river in early spring, special attention should be paid to the following places:

coastal edges, where in the warm period there is a border between algae and clean water;
local shelters, especially large tree trunks and branches;
pits, tubercles and other individual anomalies of the bottom topography;
rifts, slopes, depth differences in riverbed areas;
reaches and extensions of the river, where the current slows down and “twists” in certain zones;
hydraulic structures, especially bridges, old dams and mills, piers.

Pike in a small river are usually passive. Therefore, it is necessary to use animation techniques that will arouse the predator’s interest in the proposed bait.

Fishing methods

Fishing for pike in early spring is possible in different ways. It is caught both with artificial baits and using natural baits, in particular live bait, frog, large worm and leech. The main directions of fishing for the spotted beast during this period are:

spinning,
float rod,
bottom gear,
zherlitsa.

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. They must be used depending on the prevailing fishing conditions, weather factors, predator behavior and other circumstances.

Spinning

Fishing with artificial spinning baits is the main direction that is used when fishing for pike in early spring in open water. A wide variety of methods and equipment allows you to adapt to any conditions, regardless of the type of reservoir and the mood of the predator.

The most popular and effective methods are:

jig,
diverter leash,
drop shot,
Texas.

In riverbed areas, heavy jigs and front-loaded spinners work. When the flood begins and the pike moves to shallow areas, good results are shown by oscillating spoons, endowed with an imposing, sweeping game, which is similar to the behavior of a wounded fish.

Jig is the best way to catch early spring pike.

The best baits for early spring spinning are foam rubber and silicone fish. The former are less popular among domestic fishermen, since real catchable models can only be made independently. However, in skillful hands they often beat the classic “rubber”.

With a spinning rod in early spring, you can hunt everywhere, from deep riverbed areas with currents and snags, to shallow locations with standing water. When selecting suitable baits, experienced fishermen always adapt to the mood of the pike and the current situation on the pond.

Bottom gear

Donka is a good and effective equipment, which is often suitable for medium and large rivers, reservoirs, deep lakes and quarries. It allows you to purposefully hunt for large prey, catching the most promising points where there is a high probability of its location.

The main bait used in bottom pike gear is live bait. In early spring, the best results are achieved using small perch, ruffe, goby, or gudgeon. The equipment is located at the bottom, and the most catchy areas during this period are as follows:

slopes, rifts, slopes, and other sudden changes in the riverbed area;
local pits and tubercles;
single large flooded tree trunks;
bridge supports;
pools, deep reaches, return lines, pockets.

Advice! In addition to live bait, large earthworms, leeches, crayfish meat, and various insect larvae can be used as bait.

On small rivers, classic donka is unproductive. It has to be modified by using a slight load, which increases the efficiency of the equipment at shallow depths and insignificant currents. Lightweight tackle is used, which improves its sensitivity but reduces power.

On the float

A float rod loaded with live bait is used primarily on small rivers, small ponds, canals and lakes. It allows you to catch small fish more efficiently, fully controlling the behavior of the bait and clearly recording the moment of bite.

The advantages of fishing on a float are as follows:

high mobility of the fisherman;
sensitivity;
ease;
the ability to fish in any horizon;
ease of fishing;
low cost of components.

One of the disadvantages is the inability to use a float fishing rod over a long distance. It is only suitable for fishing in the coastal zone. In addition, anglers, especially beginners, may have difficulties in the process of landing heavy specimens.

On the big river

It is not easy to find pike on medium and large rivers due to the vast area of the water area, but the predator’s mooring sites can be different

The main attention should be paid to the following areas:

Channel dumps, rifts, snags are potential sites for heavy prey.
Extended coastal ditches, whirlpools and backwaters near steep banks can present a commercial spotted beast.
Shallow coastal areas with slow currents, as a rule, bring bites of individuals up to one and a half kilograms.

It is imperative to fish various oxbow lakes and backwaters. Especially during the period of ice drift, when frightened fish move here in large numbers in search of shelter and silence. At this time, experienced “pike fishermen” practice catching pike in the spring with live bait using a float rod or a running bottom.

A large, full-flowing river becomes free of ice earlier than other bodies of water.

It is easier to find an active predator on a large river than on a small river or lake. The main tactics of fishing in such waters comes down to constant movement and search for fish. Mostly fishing is carried out “in areas” and only when you are completely sure that the pike is in a specific place, you should focus on one point, carefully examining it.

Where to fish?

Fishing with live bait has no restrictions, so it is permissible to catch pike anywhere in the reservoir, regardless of the depth and presence of current. Still, it’s better to catch pike:

In oxbow lakes, creeks, river branches and channels at medium depths and in the presence of aquatic vegetation.
On rivers, lakes and other bodies of water at the border of clean water and vegetation.
In large areas with or without current.
Within underwater shelters, which are represented by submerged snags, islands of algae, small islands, etc.

With the arrival of autumn, when the pike goes to deep-water areas, promising areas may be channel drops, deep edges, areas of reverse currents and whirlpools, reaches and other places where pike can feed and where it feels more comfortable.

This is the simplest tackle, and that’s why they love it.

How to attach live bait

Live bait can be attached in different ways, but there are three main ones.

Over the ridge. In this case, the sting of a tee or double pierces the body of the baitfish in the area of the dorsal fin so that the suspended fry is positioned with its head slightly downward. This method works best for spiny fish: perch or ruff. Even if pricked by a sting, the pike will not notice the catch.
For the lip. This is how crucian carp are usually mounted. This method is more gentle on the fish than the previous one.
“Tender” live bait like roach is baited with a leash through the gills. In this case, first the leash is threaded through the gill cover and out through the mouth. Then a double hook is put on the loop of the leash; this trick will not work with others.

The tips of the double hook should point down, so it hooks higher.

Fishing rod equipment for catching pike with live bait

I didn’t buy a special rod, but simply used what was available. A simple Chinese telescopic fishing rod five meters long. In the original version, it was somewhat soft; the removal of the last knee gave it rigidity. The reel I use is a Chinese-made Daiva CrossFire 2500.

For fishing near the shore, you can use a simple lead reel, but if long casts are needed, then you can’t do without a spinning reel.

The main line is 0.4-0.5 millimeters. It's not worth grinding. If for catching perch, and in the fall you often come across large specimens, 0.25-0.3 is quite suitable, then when going after pike you need to be confident in the equipment.

Read: Catching burbot with a donk or a line in the fall

As a leash, I used to use string number 1 or 2, or purchased green leashes. Now that leash material from Pontun 21 is on sale, I make leashes of the required length with my own hands. They differ from strings in their flexibility. The usual length is 15-20 centimeters.

I equip the leashes with doubles through a carabiner. There are more problems with tees in snagged places, and single hooks do not provide a 100% guarantee when hooking.

A swivel is attached to the end of the main fishing line, and above it, 5-10 centimeters, a blind weight of 10 grams is attached. I immediately abandoned the purchased weights. All anglers are familiar with lead-braided cables. Lead plates cut from it have the required softness. I load the tackle in small sections using pliers. Care is required here so as not to damage the line when crimping.

A little about choosing live bait for pike

Let’s not talk for long about the fact that it is preferable to catch pike using the “food supply” that it feeds on, that is, using exactly those types of fish that pike eats in its usual habitat, but there are other equally interesting “live baits”, their We will also touch on this in a further description.

Types of live bait and their features:

Roach

There is nothing better for river pike fishing than roach. Its biggest advantage is its accessibility, since you can catch it in almost every river. You can add rudd to the roach and the result will be, plus or minus, the same.

Gudgeon

Excellent live bait, both for still waters and for currents. The body structure of the gudgeon allows the fish to easily swallow it, even if it is a small bee.

Perch

An excellent live bait for cold seasons, not exactly what this article is about, but it was not entirely right to ignore this type of bait. Its spines perfectly camouflage hooks; pikes are reluctant to part with the perch. In summer, unfortunately, perch quickly dies in the cage, so it is not entirely suitable for this period.

Bleak

Normal, runaway baitfish

Just like perch is not able to survive for a long time and must be baited with caution, since there is a high probability of damaging the fish and thereby “killing” the whole trick of fishing with live bait.. Crucian carp

crucian carp

The best representative for fishing in reservoirs, lakes or quarries. Easy to transport and store.

Rotan

"Emigrant" from the Far East. Great for pike, but only in October and November. A recent immigrant from the Far East has become very popular with pike. It is well suited for fishing in autumn, October and November, as it becomes active at this time.

Fishing with mugs

The circles look like large coils of foam plastic, wrapped with fishing line with a diameter of 0.30–0.35 mm and a length of at least 15–20 meters. The sinker is selected according to the live bait, the degree of its agility and size.

Experienced fishermen advise using metal leashes, since they are more difficult for pike to bite, because the fishing line most often does not withstand a meeting with a large specimen with large teeth.

Having lowered the bait into the water, the fishing line is tied around the hook in such a way that it can be reeled into the reel when biting. When the pike jerks, the circle should turn over, and the different colors on different circles make it possible to determine where the jerk occurred. The key point is to have a boat from which the circles will be displayed.

mug rig for pike

Equipment of a float rod for catching pike with live bait

As I already wrote in previous articles, depending on the fishing conditions, there are “float fishing rods with running equipment” and “dead tackle”. In order not to repeat myself, I will leave links to articles where this is discussed in detail:

The design of the fishing rod for pike fishing is the same as described in the above articles. When equipping a float rod, you should take into account the characteristics and habits of the fish, in this case pike. Our predator has sharp teeth that can bite through the fishing line, the fish itself is large, when fishing it strongly resists, and sometimes even jumps out of the water to free itself.

It is imperative to take into account the weight of the fish, i.e. what is the maximum weight of pike expected. I understand that you want the more, the better. What if there are simply no such “monsters” in the fishing area? The usual weight of a trophy is up to 2-3 kg. Of course, you can set yourself up to catch larger “crocodiles”, but their numbers are smaller and there may not be any at the fishing site. And I will also repeat that the article is about equipping a cheap float rod, which is unlikely to support fish weighing more than 3 kg.

I will share an incident from my life. Once I caught pike with live bait using a float rod. In my hands I had the most ordinary budget 5-meter fishing rod with rings and a simple reel. A very large fish pecked at a small baitfish, 8 cm long. I can’t tell its weight because I couldn’t pull this fish out. I didn’t have time to lower the fishing line from the reel, the fishing line tightened sharply, the fishing rod bent into an arc and, grunting... the third knee from the top broke. I immediately grabbed the fishing line, hoping to pull the fish out by it, but I was too late, the fishing line was already broken.

What's this conversation about? If you use budget fishing rods, then you won’t be able to pull out very large specimens, which means you shouldn’t use thick fishing line or braid in case an 8-kilogram pike bites.

Based on the above, I suggest the following equipment:

Rod 4-5 meters. I fished with 6-meter ones, but they seemed uncomfortable to me; it’s hard to fish in windy conditions. You can fish with 3-meter float rods, but I don’t fish because I have a spinning rod of the same length. Therefore, when I can use fishing rods with running equipment and a length of 3 m, I pick up a spinning rod.

Monoline from 0.22 to 0.28 mm, optimal size - 0.26 mm, maximum - 0.35 mm. When catching fish up to 3 kg with blind tackle, this is enough, even with a reserve. Of course, you also need to take into account the quality of the fishing line. I pulled out kilogram pikes on good quality monofilament with a diameter of 0.14 mm.

Float and sinker

It is important to follow the rule - the float should not sink under the weight of the sinker and live bait. You can’t let the baitfish drown it, but let it drag it around the pond

For example, if a float for live bait with a carrying capacity of 30 grams, then put a weight weighing 25 grams. If the float has a lifting capacity of 6 g, use a 4 g weight. I hope the meaning is clear, that is, the weight of the sinker is slightly less than the norm indicated on the float. You choose the type of float (sliding or regular) according to the situation or based on personal preferences (read the articles mentioned above about floats).

It is better to use a leash made of material that the pike cannot bite through. But it should be remembered that on a metalized leash, live bait moves worse and dies faster than on a monofilament line. Therefore, using a leash made of monofilament, more bites are observed. However, as mentioned above, there is a risk that it will be bitten by a predator when it swallows the hook deeper. As you gain experience, decide for yourself whether your tackle needs a metallic leash or not. To begin with, I recommend using metallic “cable” leashes 20-40 cm long, equipped with a swivel and clasp.

I use hooks for pike No. 8.5-11 according to the Russian classification (see table Classification and numbering of fishing hooks). I prefer treble hooks, but double and single hooks can be used.

Small roach, perch, rotan, bleak, gudgeon and other small fish can be used as live bait. Pike weighing up to 2 kg bite on live bait measuring 8-12 cm. They can even take a fry only 5-6 cm long, but usually perch is caught on such fry. For larger pike, the live bait should be larger - about 18 cm or more. They catch live bait on the spot or bring it with them. Therefore, take care of a container for storing live bait so that they swim there alive.

Read Tackle for catching rams

There are different ways to hook live bait. The most common one is hooked on the back

It is important not to damage the spine of the baitfish during baiting, otherwise the baitfish will become inactive and quickly die. Try not to pierce the area below the dark colored back with the sting.

You need to cast and pull out live bait smoothly, without jerking, so the bait will be more intact.

What kind of live bait does pike prefer in winter?

In winter, pike behave differently, unlike days when it is warm outside and may not immediately swallow the bait, but keep it in their mouth for some time. The best bait for pike hunting is the fish that is found in the greatest quantity in a particular body of water and which the predator is accustomed to feeding on. For example, you can put any small fish on the girders. But the following fish are considered the best live bait for pike:

perches;
crucian carp;
roach;
rudd.

By studying the stomach contents of already caught fish, you can find out with almost 100% accuracy what the pike prefers at the moment and, based on this information, make the right choice of live bait.

It is impossible to say unequivocally what kind of baitfish the pike will like at one time or another, since each body of water has its own and each has its own advantages and disadvantages, which are discussed below.

Rotan

Live bait for pike: rotan

Rotan is a picky fish and bites at almost any time of the year. Rotan itself is a predatory fish. Whatever body of water it appears in, this predator displaces its inhabitants and quickly becomes the “owner” of the water territory. Many fishermen have a negative attitude towards rotan precisely for this quality, since it scares away other fish. But at the same time, its survivability and rapid adaptation to the conditions of detention are noted.

Many anglers are interested in whether catching pike with live bait in winter will be successful if they use rotan as live bait. Yes, but with some reservations. Rotan is quite suitable as live bait, but it is not recommended to use it in a reservoir where it did not live, since predators are accustomed to feeding on the fish that are found in their reservoir. If the pike where winter fishing will take place are familiar with this fish, then the catch with this live bait can be excellent. However, you need to make sure that the baited rotan cannot hide under stones or in thickets, since the first thing it tries to do is just that.

Perch

Perch is considered a durable and tenacious fish if you follow the rules when using it as bait. To make the bait last longer, do not thread the line through the gills or lip of the perch. If the gills are damaged, then very soon catching pike with live bait in winter will turn into hunting for dead bait. It should be noted that it is difficult to store caught perch at home, as they quickly die out. It is better to catch perch directly while fishing before fishing for pike.

Gudgeon

Gudgeon is a small but quite catchable bait for pike and is suitable for almost all types of predatory fish. This fish is found mainly in rivers and shallow reservoirs. They can be caught in any weather using a net and small worms. The gudgeon has the ability to dive to the very bottom, which will undoubtedly attract a predator.

About

Float live bait

Fishing with live bait from the shore involves the use of float gear and, to a greater extent, in a fly-fishing style. For this purpose, a powerful telescopic or plug-type fishing rod with a test weight of over forty grams and a length of six or seven meters is selected. For greater functionality of the gear, expressed in reducing its total weight and maneuverability when casting and landing fish, the use of a reel is not recommended.

The main cord is attached directly to the quivertype through a rubber shock absorber made from a model, 1–1.5 mm thick and 10–15 cm long. Monofilament with a diameter of at least 0.3 mm is used as the main cord, with the possibility of spontaneous immersion. The use of a rubber shock absorber and monofilament is due to the extreme loads when fishing for pike on short lines, and these materials are guaranteed to compensate for overloads and preserve the catch. Floats are made of polystyrene foam, with short antennas and a barrel-shaped body. As a rule, 20–25 grams is the optimal weight of the accessory, allowing you to clearly control the live bait and signal a bite.

The sinker is placed in the form of a sliding olive, based on the weight of the float used. The live bait fishing rod is equipped with a double hook for installing fish through the gills; the effectiveness and advantages of this installation method were described above. Equipment for catching trophy pike with live bait cannot do without the use of a metal leash. For catching medium-sized grass, leashes made from fluorocarbon fishing line are suitable. Leashes are used with a length of at least 15 cm and are attached to the main cord through a swivel.

Pike is caught with a fishing rod in coastal water thickets. The equipment is installed at a promising point, releasing the fish 30–40 cm from the bottom and waiting for the predator to attack for ten to fifteen minutes. If there is no bite, they change their location, moving further along the coastline and looking for the next suitable point. The pike bite is sharp and aggressive, with the float being pulled under the water or far to the side from the attack site.

The fish are in no hurry to hook, allowing the predator to swallow the bait pressed down with its teeth. Visually this looks like the float stopping and its slight trembling

Any movement after a short stop requires a thorough hooking and further careful landing of the fish. Near the shore, it is mandatory to use a landing net to raise fish.

Pike is caught on a float mainly in the summer, when the fish stands in the thickets and is inactive in migrating through the reservoir.

Fishing gear

When fishing from a boat, almost the entire arsenal of fishing gear is used. Most popular:

side fishing rod;
spinning;
donka;
mugs.

When choosing a fishing tool, you need to proceed from the real capabilities of a particular body of water and fisherman.

Onboard fishing rod

An onboard fishing rod is used for vertical fishing and only from a boat. Most often it is used in pits and snags.

The onboard fishing rod consists of:

rods from 1 to 1.5 m long;
inertial spinning reel;
fishing line 0.25-0.3 mm as the main one;
leads up to 0.5 m with a diameter from 0.2 to 0.28 mm;
a jig head, a Cheburashka spinning weight with an offset hook, or a special tackle.

The wiring technique consists of slowly raising and lowering the bait with periodic dragging along the bottom. The boat should drift slowly.

Spinning

Most fishermen prefer this particular tackle for hunting from a boat. A spinning rod that meets the following requirements is suitable:

fast or medium action, from 2.4 to 2.7 m, test 10-40 g;
reel - spinning, spool from 3000 to 4000, clutch, at least 5-6 bearings.

With heavy loads, multiplier reels are used, which are designed to work with such weights.

When catching pike perch with live bait from a boat, two main types of spinning equipment are used:

Retractable leader - the main line, the sinker on the leader and the leader for the hook with live bait are attached to the triple swivel. A jig head, offset rig or tackle can be used as a hook.
Live bait is attached to the Cheburashka weight using an offset hook or rig.

Leaders from 0.5 to 1 m made of monofilament with a diameter of 0.2-0.25 mm or fluorocarbon. The main line is braided 0.16-0.24 mm.

A variety of jig wiring has proven itself best.

Bottom tackle

For pike perch hunting from a boat, various types of donks and methods of their use are used. Here are some of them:

Hooks are selected with a long shank, preferably forged No. 1-3 according to EK. Where pike are likely to be bycatch, Kevlar or steel leashes are used.

Zherlitsy

Most often, mugs are chosen for fishing from a boat, which can be used in both mobile and stationary versions.

Characteristics of circles for pike perch:

main line with a diameter of 0.35-0.5 mm;
sliding sinker 15-30 g;
leash 0.6-0.8 m, diameter 0.3-0.35;
hooks No. 1-4 EK;
The live bait is placed on the double under the upper fin.

[THERE IS AN ANSWER] How to put live bait on a walleye hook

In addition to the main method of using circles, when they float, driven by the wind, there is a method with stationary circles. In this case, the circles are fixed at a distance of 15-20 meters on a fishing line, which is stretched between two buoys anchored. The length of the fishing line is 100-200 meters or more, the diameter is 0.4-1.0 mm.

This river predator is often compared to a tiger. Indeed, their habits and method of hunting are very similar - both prefer to hunt at night, attack their prey with lightning speed from an ambush or by getting close, and both do not feed on carrion. This is important to consider when choosing bait with which you plan to catch pike perch. In other words, when fishing with live bait, you need to use exclusively live and active bait, otherwise the predator simply will not be interested in it.

A little about the tactics of catching pike on a float

Pike likes to hide near reaches, rifts, flooded trees, large stones, and is often found in coastal thickets. Any submerged object can be her hiding place/ambush. Arriving at a reservoir, you need to fish all potentially interesting points. In my opinion, there is no point in sitting in one place for a long time and waiting for a predator to bite, although there are exceptions. Usually I spend 10-20 minutes, maximum half an hour, if it doesn’t bite, I move to another place.

If the live bait is no longer alive, it’s okay, you can try playing with it - teasing the pike. This is done simply - smooth movements of the live bait up/down. You just have to pull the live bait closer to the shore, at a distance equal to the length of the rod. By the way, pike can also bite on a dead fish, even without playing. Therefore, when the bite is bad or there is none at all, you can fish with dead bait and wait longer for the bite - 40-50 minutes.

The specified pauses, time, and how long you need to wait may be different for you. Suddenly you come across an active feeding of pike, then 5-10 minutes will be enough to check whether there is a predator in this place or not. By the way, to find out the pike biting activity, see the article - Pike biting calendar - when the pike bites. Of course, the data is approximate, but you will know in which months to expect the best bite.

A very important point is hooking. When fishing for pike with live bait, you cannot immediately hook it after the float dives for the first time. First, the pike grabs the bait crosswise, moves a little to the side, turns it around and swallows it. Only after this does it leave the place where the prey was caught. In the eyes of the fisherman it looks like this. The float has sunk, now you need to create conditions for the line to flow as freely as possible, for example, when the fishing rod has a spinning reel, open the bow.

When fishing with blind tackle, if you feel that there is not enough free line, you can at this moment extend your hand forward (in the direction of the float movement). So, having grabbed the bait, the pike swims away to about two or three meters and stops. Now you need to wait for a more powerful pull, i.e. wait until the predator swallows the bait. You have to wait about one minute, or even two.

After waiting a pause, slowly pull the line until it makes soft contact with the fish.

Next, pay attention to the tip of the rod - if it trembles slightly, it means you were in a hurry, the bait is still being swallowed. If the rod is bent into an arc, we hook and pull out the fish

Waiting for this pause is the most nerve-wracking part. The main thing is not to rush, otherwise, instead of the long-awaited trophy, you will pull out the chewed bait directly from the predator’s mouth, and then you will scold yourself for rushing.

There are times when the fish reels in the line and doesn’t stop. Most likely, a large predator gobbled up the small bait fish entirely, and didn’t even notice. But even in these cases, before hooking, it is better not to rush and wait a pause. When fishing for fish up to 2-3 kg, you don’t have to stand on ceremony; after hooking, immediately drag the pike to the shore. This haste is necessary to reduce the likelihood of a bite when using monofilament as a leash, and also to prevent the pike from getting tangled in the line behind snags and bushes when fishing in such places.

When fishing, it would be a good idea to have with you a device (yawner, extractor) for removing tees from the mouth of a pike. The hook may end up deep in the predator’s mouth; unhooking it with your fingers is not very convenient, and it’s easy to get hurt on sharp teeth. For every firefighter, you can take a landing net. Also, don’t forget to take a supply of tees, leaders and sinkers. That's all, I wish you good fishing!

Published: April 19, 2021, 22:03

Fishing in summer with a zherlitsa

Another variation on the theme of live bait equipment is presented in the form of a girder.

The specifics of use are similar to the use of circles, but here the fishing line is stored on special reels attached to a bush or tree.

After installing the girder, the fishing line is secured in the split of the reel so that in case of a bite it would come off the reel without any problems and the pike would swallow the bait without feeling any danger.

summer bait for pike

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The gear used for catching pike with live bait is often not expensive, and even a beginner can easily install it. The main thing you need to pay attention to is a high-quality hook and a steel leash.

Catching pike with live bait is perhaps the most effective way of catching a spotted predator that currently exists. That is why it is so popular among experienced fishermen, who have more than one worthy “toothy” trophy in their collection. Even if you are new to fishing, don’t worry, in this article you will learn all the secrets of catching pike with live bait, and soon you will also be able to show off your winning catch to your friends and fellow fishermen.

1. How to choose the right place to catch pike with live bait?

2. Types of gear and the principle of their operation.

3. 3 main myths about live bait.

4. How to properly mount live bait.

5. 5 tips for beginners on the technique and tactics of catching pike with live bait.

How to choose the right place to catch pike with live bait ?

Large individuals of pike always hunt alone and have a certain territory in the reservoir for this. The main task of the fisherman is to determine such a place.

The main tactic of pike hunting is to ambush its prey. Such cover can serve as:

A novice fisherman should fish such places, because this is where the probability of a good catch is high. Do not forget about such fishing points as holes and exits from them, depth differences and backwaters.

Types of gear for catching pike with live bait

The gear used for catching pike with live bait is often not expensive, and even a beginner can easily install it. The main thing you need to pay attention to is a high-quality hook and a steel leash.

You can catch pike with live bait using a float rod, girders, donks and circles.

Float rod

Choose a strong rod, because pike is a very strong fish and may well break the blank at the most crucial moment. The most optimal length is 6 meters. Use a fishing line of at least 0.4 mm, metal leaders and high-quality sharp hooks.

When float fishing for pike with live bait, it is best to use a double or tee. The float is selected taking into account the fishing conditions (in currents a heavier float is used than in reservoirs with standing water).

Zherlitsy

You can make this type of gear yourself right on the pond. To do this, you only need a stick 1-3 meters long, a thick fishing line, a leash, a hook and a sinker. Installation is very simple: you need to tie a fishing line to the end of the stick, attach a hook and a leash to the fishing line, and, if necessary, a sinker too. The tackle is fixed in a promising place.

Donka

This tackle is used for long casts, that is, for those promising fishing spots that cannot be reached with a float rod or jigging rods. Donka is both a converted spinning rod and a regular reel with fishing line. It is best to use a metal hook and single, very sharp hooks.

Mugs

The principle of fishing with mugs and girders is identical, they differ only in appearance. The circles are foam plastic (or any other material with positive buoyancy) of the appropriate shape with a small groove inside. A fishing line with a hook and sinker is wound around it.

In the right place in the reservoir, a hook with live bait and a sinker is lowered to the bottom, and the circle itself is left to float freely. As soon as the pike attacks the bait, the circle turns over and the fishing line begins to unwind, as the predator will try to leave with the prey to a safe place. The fisherman must not miss the moment when the mugs turn over, swim up to the tackle and make a sharp hook.

Of course, when using this equipment you need a boat, so take this point into account when fishing for pike.

3 main myths about live bait

Many anglers, especially beginners, think that there is nothing easier than putting live bait on a hook and throwing it into the water. At the same time, they can attribute the lack of bites to anything, but not to the fact that the choice of live bait itself was unsuccessful. Why doesn’t everyone, even an experienced fisherman, know how to use such bait? Here are 3 main myths about live bait:

1. The best way to get live bait is to buy it.

On the one hand, buying live bait greatly simplifies the entire process of preparing for fishing, but on the other hand, this kind of bait will not always be a priority for pike in a particular body of water. Remember, the best option will be the live bait that lives in the reservoir of your future fishing.

2. Why change live bait often? Throw it in - and wait until the winner!

Not only novice fishermen are guided by this principle. It happens that even experienced fishermen do not attach much importance to the survivability of bait. It is not right! The activity of live bait directly affects the frequency of bites, so this must be monitored. As soon as you see that the bait has become sluggish, change it immediately. Remember that pike is not burbot and the “trick” with “asleep” live bait will not work here.

3. The best live bait is roach, gudgeon, and ruff.

In fact, it is difficult to find a more stupid statement on the Internet. I repeat, firstly, the best live bait is the one that lives in the reservoir where you are going to fish, this is not necessarily a roach or a gudgeon.

The best or worst live bait can only be determined by the degree of survivability of the bait. For example, perch or crucian carp are much more tenacious than roach or topwater, and, therefore, they will remain active on the hook much longer.

Secondly, the ruffe is a bait fish for burbot, because burbot is the only fish that has an unusual mouth structure that is not susceptible to the spines of the ruffe. For other predators, including pike, the ruff is simply not suitable.

How to properly mount live bait

There are two points of view on how to properly attach live bait. Some anglers take into account the size of the fish, while others take into account the fishing method. In the first case, if the bait is small, then it is caught by the lip. If the fish is large, then it is best to thread the hook in the area of the dorsal fin.

Another point of view provides a completely different approach to the method of baiting bait. If you use a donkey as a tackle, then it is more advisable to hook the bait on the lip, regardless of its size, or in the tail area. If you are fishing with a float or circles, then you need to attach the live bait by the dorsal fin.

5 tips for beginners on techniques and tactics for catching pike with live bait

Pike with live bait is one of the types of fishing that requires not only good theoretical training, but also elaboration of fishing techniques and tactics.

If you do not have experience in catching pike with live bait, then these tips will definitely help you avoid making annoying mistakes:

Adviсe:

1. Be sure to examine the reservoir for promising places before you start fishing.

2. To prevent bait bait from getting tangled on the rig, if you are fishing near snags and in other hard-to-reach places, you need to lower it 20 cm above the bottom.

3. If the bite does not occur within the first 15 minutes, feel free to change the fishing spot;

4. There is no need to immediately hook the fish if a bite occurs. Remember that the pike does not swallow live bait immediately, but holds it in its teeth for some time. You need to wait until the predator swallows the bait and then act.

5. If you notice that the float began to move a little and floated to the side, but after a couple of seconds froze in place, this is a sure signal to hook. It is at this moment that the pike swallows the bait.

A pike caught with live bait is truly a source of pride for an angler of any skill level, especially when the caught predator is of impressive size.

A number of other fish are also suitable, as long as they are sufficiently active and can arouse the interest of such a toothy fish as a pike.