When does a pike bite on a spinning rod?

general information

When going in search of pike, it is important to understand how it behaves at different times of the year. Since the toothy predator is an ambush predator and rarely swims into open spaces, the fisherman must know how to provoke it to attack from cover.

Each promising point should be fished several times, moving the bait along the thickets and snags using different techniques. If after a couple of casts there are no bites, it is better to change the water area and not waste time.

When choosing a location, you should pay attention to the following areas:

1. Reed thickets near the shore.
2. Thickets of water lilies.
3. Snag.
4. Pits.
5. Whirlpools.
6. Brovki.

Often, a pike gives itself away when chasing small fish when it jumps out of the water and makes loud splashes. In reed thickets, near snags and in other hard-to-reach spots, it is possible to catch prey weighing up to 3 kg.

And although pike remains active throughout the year, you can catch it with a spinning rod only in open water, starting from the first days of spring and ending with autumn frosts. To successfully fish at any time of the year, you should familiarize yourself with the seasonal characteristics of the choice of bait and the behavior of the fish.

Pike in the spring on a spinning rod - where to catch

The main place on a large body of water where pike can be more or less guaranteed to be caught in the spring using a spinning rod is changes in the bottom topography.

In March or April, when you are preparing to go to any large body of water, place in front of you a pilot site for the section of the river you need.

The navigation guide shows all the interesting places, all changes in depth, channel edges, exits and entrances to pits, underwater islands, shallows, flooded forest and the mouths of small tributaries.

All these places are potentially interesting points where pike can be caught in the spring using a spinning rod. The sailing directions for any navigable river are freely available on the Internet. Using it, any angler, even a beginner, has at his disposal information about hundreds of potential glue points along a section of the river.

The main task when catching pike in the spring with a spinning rod is to find an interesting place on the reservoir.

Print out the sheets of directions and go to the river or lake. On these same sheets you put points where you had bites and mark them in the navigator. For your next fishing trip, you will have a set of fishing spots ready.

On the river, good ambush spots are never empty. It’s worth catching one predator from a specific point, and by your next fishing trip, the next “spotted crocodile” of approximately the same size will move in there.

Spring

The spring season is considered the most favorable time to search for toothy predators. After the water bodies are cleared of ice, the pike begins to feed heavily, trying to stock up on strength before the upcoming spawning. During this period, it needs to be attracted with small baits, because There is a lot of caviar in the belly of the fish.

The spawning period occurs in the first days of April, when the water is not yet sufficiently warmed up, and the remaining representatives of the aquatic world are just preparing for spawning. And as soon as the eggs hatch, the adults will return to their previous lifestyle and hunt again.

Moreover, during spawning and 1-2 weeks after it, the pike completely refuses to respond to the offered bait and remains passive. However, then the toothy hunter begins a post-spawning glutton, lasting up to 2 weeks, when she behaves greedily and aggressively. The chances of catching a trophy specimen are rapidly increasing, so even an inexperienced beginner can try his luck.

Since after spawning the pike tries to stick to coastal areas, there is no need to make long casts. As a technique for holding the bait, a uniform retrieve with a slow or medium pace is used. It can also be diluted with weak twitches of the rod tip.

Depending on the month, anglers choose the following lures for pike fishing:

1. March. At the beginning of spring, many reservoirs are covered with ice, so the angler cannot yet use summer gear. When the water becomes open, the use of spinning rods with deep wobblers is allowed. The best baits for this time are the Kosadaka Mascot XL 80F or Zip Baits Orbit 80 SP-DR. The main requirement for wobblers is the ability to dive to 1.5-2 m.
2. April. In mid-spring after spawning, you can catch pike with jig baits, spoons and medium spinners. Experienced fishermen also practice feeding promising water areas by scattering fresh frozen sprat or anchovy. For a 5-10 m2 reservoir you will need 1-2 kg of bait. The bait mixture remains effective for 2 days.
3. May. In May, spinning anglers have a chance to catch trophy prey, which is due to the beginning of spawning of peaceful representatives of the aquatic world, which arouse extraordinary interest in pike. During this period, you can fish with spoons and wobblers.

Time to catch pike in the spring using a spinning rod

Well, let's get back to the fishing process. It has already been noted earlier that in spring there is no such obvious division between morning and evening bites. The time for catching pike in the spring with a spinning rod is all daylight hours, from dawn to dusk.

Immediately after the ice melts in the spring, pike can be caught on spinning rods almost all daylight hours.

The bite is a little better in the first half of the day and there is a more pronounced appearance of the predator at 14-16 hours. True, sometimes the bite subsides after 18-19 hours. However, it usually bites both during the day and in the evening.

The main difference between the evening bite in spring and summer is that it doesn’t bite at all at dusk. If in the summer 21-23 hours is the hottest time, then in the spring, in March and April, after 20 hours there is usually nothing to do on the pond. Although there are exceptional days. That's what fishing is all about, not mathematics.

In the very early morning there is also nothing to do on the spring pond. You can come to the reservoir and go out on the water at 9-10 am. The same applies to coastal spinning.

The further into the summer it gets, the more obvious the division between evening and morning bites becomes, and the earlier you have to come to the reservoir and leave the reservoir. This will reach its peak in July, when in the summer heat the pike will bite only before sunrise and long after sunset.

Summer

With the arrival of the summer season, pike activity decreases, because it spreads across the pond and stops in shelters. Large individuals go into the depths, while small ones try to stick to coastal areas, reed thickets and snags.

Catching pike in the summer is more difficult than in the spring, but this does not mean that it stops biting. At the beginning of summer, the toothy predator responds well to baits with bright colors, even “screaming” colors.

When air and water temperatures become unbearably high, fish activity decreases. Now she is not interested in large products that require a lot of effort. It is better to choose small baits that imitate the behavior of wounded prey and are easily accessible to pike.

The July predator is attracted to products with natural colors that closely resemble live fish. It is no longer advisable to use bright models.

In August, the pike resumes activity and begins intensive preparation for the upcoming meal. Now she does not refuse any available food and shows a strong appetite.

When choosing bait for the summer season, you should be guided by the following principles:

1. June. At the beginning of summer, in many regions there is a spawning ban, but it ends on the 10th-15th of the month. It is problematic to predict the behavior of pike during this period, so experienced spinners recommend using several different baits. To increase your chances of productive fishing, you should use a flotation device. You can also fish from the shore, choosing the following types of spinning baits: poppers, walkers, silicone products without weight, spinners.
2. July. In July, air temperatures rise to record levels, and they may not drop even at night. Due to such climatic conditions, the level of oxygen in the water decreases, and the fish stop biting. The only chance to catch a pike appears in the morning or after sunset. Rattlin type baits work well on still waters. On rivers, surface wobblers and jig products are more in demand.
3. August. With the arrival of August, the heat begins to gradually decrease, and the pike’s natural instinct awakens, forcing it to prepare for winter. As the temperature of water and air decreases, the appetite of the toothy predator increases. In August, anglers use small and shallow baits with little diving.

What bait should you use?

To lure predators out of thickets and deep holes, use the following types of bait:

• spinnerbaits;
• surface type baits;
• heavy wobblers and bucktails;
• big jerkbaits.

The “bucktail” type bait has earned special love among fishermen. This universal invention is not at all difficult to use while fishing. It’s easy to throw it into a pond, even if the fishing spot has large thickets.

Wobblers are also popular. They imitate sick and exhausted fish, which are sure to interest predators. The body of this bait is 12-15 cm long and is made of plastic or wood. The basis of such a product is a special blade or “tongue”. It is made of plastic or metal.

In the store you will find many varieties of wobblers.

Their popular varieties are listed below:

1. Fast or slow sinking.
2. Weak swimmers.
3. Suspenders.
4. Floating.

Spinnerbaits seem to bewitch the fish. Despite the fact that they have been used for more than a century, they are not overshadowed by new developments by specialists. They attract attention by blinking different colors or making annoying sounds.

Artificial baits such as prollers, buzzbaits and poppers use wire to position the rig on the surface of the pond. This method is called aggressive, since the pike, lured by a fisherman, tends to literally jump out of the water.

The heaviest baits are jerkbaits. They reach a length of 30 cm and weigh about 0.2 kg. They are used only for hunting large game that hides deep in the water.

To acquire the necessary skills for successful pike hunting, you will need to experiment for a long time with the selection of baits. To get started, purchase several varieties of such gear to try and evaluate the effectiveness of each of them.

Autumn

Autumn is a favorite time for many anglers. After all, along with the colder weather, the activity of the pike resumes, which is trying to stock up on strength and fat before the upcoming winter. In autumn, you can catch fish with the largest baits, and the probability of catching a trophy specimen becomes maximum.

If the autumn is warm, the pike continues to stay in shallow water areas. When the cold weather begins, it gradually goes deeper and builds shelters in pits. At the same time, if you manage to find such a hole, you should not leave it after catching one individual - perhaps there are other representatives of the species there.

In October, spinning anglers catch pike both in the surface layers and at the very bottom. The best bait for this time is a large oscillating spoon or wobbler.

With the arrival of November, the toothy hunter goes after small fish for the winter. Now it can be caught with large jig baits using classic stepped fishing.

The choice of bait depending on the month is carried out according to the following principles:

1. September. In mid-latitudes, the beginning of autumn is quite warm, so the spinner can continue fishing with spoons, spinners, minnow wobblers and silicone vibrotails.
2. October. In October, it is better to fish with silicone products, oscillating or rotating spoons.
3. November. In November, it is allowed to use the same baits as in the previous month.

Clothes for winter fishing

And in conclusion, I’ll tell you that don’t be afraid of the cold when winter fishing. The main thing is to dress warmly, there is a wide choice of clothes now. Clothes should be light and warm. When fishing with a spinning rod, the angler moves actively, so clothing should not interfere or restrict movement. You also need to wear thermal underwear made of fleece or Polartek, so as not to run along the shore to keep warm.

Shoes should also be light and waterproof so that water cannot get into the boot. And the stronger the frost, the less the braid will be covered with ice. Moreover, cold weather does not affect fish in any way. Even now you can meet fishermen on the pond dressed in chemical suits. Of course, they look strange, but when worn over warm clothes they warm well, but you can also have a more expensive option, insulated waders. They are easy and comfortable. But don’t forget about safety precautions, don’t go close to cliffs and holes. Do not walk on the pond without checking the bottom.

Also watch a video about spinning fishing in winter:

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The best universal wobblers

Since the wobbler is a universal bait for catching pike, it can be used throughout the whole year, provided that the reservoir remains open. A wide variety of wobblers are offered for sale, which differ in color, shape, play and ability to create a characteristic sound. The most catchy models that work in spring, summer and autumn include:

1. Megabass Vision Oneten Jr. The bait is called a “pike killer”, but it can be used to catch other predators, including pike perch and pike perch. It is equally effective on a bright sunny day and in cloudy weather. The best results are seen when using stepwise wiring with long pauses (up to 15 seconds). If there are no bites, the pauses can be shortened. The bait is not cheap, but this is justified by its catchability.
2. Jackall Tiny Magallon. The product is a “classic of the genre” and can attract trophy specimens weighing up to 5 kg or more. To provoke the fish to attack, it is necessary to use a leisurely retrieve using the method of light twitching or moving in place. Even movements with short pauses and twitches also work well. The wobbler is effective when pike activity is low after spawning or in bad weather.

Restrictions for recreational fishermen

Gulf of Finland Baltic Sea

Terms (periods) prohibited for the extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources:

• from May 20 to June 30 – pike perch and bream;
• from the melting of ice to June 15 - production (catch) in the bays of the Vyborg Bay: Seleznevskaya, Podberezovaya, Malaya Pikhtovaya, as well as in Lake Zaychikhino;
• from the melting of ice until June 30 in Lake Tikhoye and in the channel connecting the lake with the Rosson River, in Lake Lipovskoye and in the channel connecting the lake with the Gulf of Finland.

Tips for fisherman: What kind of balancers are for perch and pike - Let's take it step by step

Lake Ladoga with the basins of rivers flowing into it

Terms (periods) prohibited for the extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources:

• from melting ice to June 15 – pike perch and bream;
• from melting ice to May 31 – pike;

using all tools and methods of production (catch):

• from April 20 to November 1 - in the channel between lakes Läppäjärvi and Airane (Bolnichnoe), as well as in the channel between lakes Airane and Karmalanjärvi;

all fishing gear and methods, except for fishing (catching) with one float or bottom fishing rod from the shore with a total number of hooks of no more than 2 pieces on fishing gear (fishing) for one citizen:

• from melting ice until June 20 - in the northern part of Lake Ladoga in skerry areas and up to a 10-meter isobath in the open part;
• from melting ice until June 15 - in water bodies of fishery importance located on the territory of the Valaam Natural Park

archipelago"; in lakes Sisyajarvi (Inner Lake), Leshchevoye, Shchuchye Lake at the Cross, Konevetsky Lakes;

• from melting ice until June 20 - in Lake Janisjärvi.

Water bodies of fishery importance in the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg

Terms (periods) prohibited for the extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources:

• in rivers - from the melting of ice until May 20 - pike;
• in the Narva Reservoir - from the melting of the ice until May 15 - pike;
• in other water bodies of fishery importance - from the melting of ice to May 31 - pike;
• from melting ice to June 15 – pike perch, bream and grayling;
• from melting ice to July 15 - crayfish.

Water bodies of fishery importance in the Pskov region

Terms (periods) prohibited for the extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources:

a) in lakes Pskovskoye, Teploe and Chudskoye:

• from April 25 to June 15 – pike perch and bream
• from April 1 to May 15 – pike;

b) in other water bodies of fishery importance:

• from April 1 to May 10 – pike;
• from May 5 to June 15 – pike perch;
• from melting ice to July 15 - crayfish.

Water bodies of fishery importance in the Novgorod region

Terms (periods) prohibited for the extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources:

• from April 5 to June 1 – pike perch, bream and asp;
• from April 5 to May 15 – pike.

Republic of Karelia

Terms (periods) prohibited for the extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources:

• in lakes Varatskoye and Zabornoe - from April 20 to November 30;
• in the Shuya rivers (from the mouth, including Logmozero, to Lake Shotozero) with the Syapsya tributary - from April 25 to July 31;
• in the Volda River with its tributary Vama - from April 15 to June 10;
• in the Nizhma River and Lake Lisyem, fishing (catch) with nets within the boundaries from Lake Babie More to the Lisy Rapids - from April 15 to November 15;
• in Lake Tikshozero fishing (catch) with nets in the following areas:

parts of the lake within the boundaries up to the line: Cape Khlebnavolok - Kaigas Island - Cape Dedova Bay; in Dedova Bay (Unalaksha) and Vinchevskaya within the boundaries to the line: Cape Dedova Bay - Cape Varalaksha (with the exception of Stepanova and Varalaksha Bays); in Syargilaksha Bay within the boundaries to the line: river mouth cape - Syarginiemi Cape; in Khlebnaya Bay within the boundaries to the line: Cape Khlebnavolok - Cape Taibolgubsky - from April 1 to June 20;

Vologda Region

Amateur and sport fishing is prohibited (except for one float fishing rod from the shore with a total number of hooks of no more than 2 pieces per citizen):

• on all water bodies of fishery importance, with the exception of Lake Onega from April 20 to June 10 - bream (residential form), pike perch (residential form), pike; – in Lake Onega from May 1 to June 10 – bream (residential form), pike perch (residential form), pike.
• in all water bodies of fishery importance from the beginning of ice melting until June 15 – grayling.

Komi Republic

Amateur and sport fishing on the spawning grounds of bream (residential form) specified in Appendix No. 10 to the Fishery Rules “List of bream spawning grounds in the Vychegda, Luz, Mezen and Pechora river basins in the territory of the Komi Republic” is prohibited, with the exception of fishing (catching) with hand-held fishing gear. (catch) with a total number of single hooks of no more than 4 on a citizen’s fishing (catch) gear and the length of the line (cord) no more than 10 meters (including when using floating equipment):

a) the basins of the Vychegda and Luza rivers - from May 20 to June 20;

b) the basins of the Mezen and Pechora rivers - from June 10 to July 10;

in water bodies of fishery importance in the basins of the Vychegda, Luza and Letka rivers using net fishing gear (including traps of all types) from melting ice for 20 days;

No, the Rules define happy exceptions for fishing fans. Thus, recreational fishing is allowed, but with some restrictions.

In the spring, most species of fish spawn - this is how they reproduce. Successful spawning requires comfortable temperature conditions and minimal human intervention in the life cycle.

By his Decree of December 5, 2013, the President approved the latest edition of the Rules for Fisheries and Fishing: in order to preserve fish resources, this document provides for annual spring catch limits.

By the way, before I forget. There are very few websites and telegram channels dedicated to Finance in Belarus. Our channel @FinBel is included.

We publish interesting materials about everything related to money in Belarus: investments, real estate, business, individual entrepreneurs, taxes and a little accounting, financial life hacks. All articles are based on the personal experience of the authors.

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When introducing them, the specifics of fish spawning in different regions of the country were taken into account - therefore, the terms announced in the document are differentiated for each region.

The best spinners

There are a large number of catchy wobblers on the market, but classic spinners continue to be in demand and are actively used by many spinners. Oscillating and rotating models are effective at any time of the year, and in some conditions they have no competitors.

The best models of spinners include:

1. Kuusamo Professor. Despite the high cost, the bait is one of the most effective of all available on the market. It is equally good at any pace and any depth of the drive. If you need to explore deep points, it is better to stick to slow wiring with long stops. In the middle horizon you can move the lure faster, and in shallow water - as quickly as possible, without pauses. Due to the specific design, during intensive fishing the spinner rises upward. This allows you to use it in thick thickets without fear of losing your equipment.
2. Mepps Syclops. The spinner is produced by the French manufacturer Mepps and enjoys worldwide popularity. All versions of this spoon are universal and suitable for catching active and passive pike. The standard weight of the product is 12 grams, and the length is 6 cm. The product is made of high-quality materials and has a long service life. The well-thought-out shape provides better aerodynamics and allows for precise casting over long distances. In the group of spinners, the Syclops model is one of the best.

All-season silicone baits

Catching pike with silicone baits is not only cheap, but also effective. Based on this material, a huge variety of catchy twisters and vibrating tails are created, which are not inferior to the legendary wobblers and spinners. These include the following models:

1. Twister Rains Fat G-tail Grub. The bait belongs to the class of edible rubber and is distinguished by its unique action even when falling or weak reeling. Its tail makes graceful movements, causing the pike to become active. There are two versions - 3 and 4 inches. To catch a toothy predator, it is better to use the second option, because it's more versatile. To provide the twister to the fish, you should use a slow retrieve with long pauses. Rains Fat G-tail Grub is the best bait for beginner spinners who are just learning the basic principles of this fishing method.
2. Wooly Curltail Twister. The product is produced by the American brand YUM and is considered a legend in the edible rubber group. A specific ribbed body creates noise vibrations that attract the pike and force it to act.

The range of lures for pike fishing is very extensive. But not all of them are suitable for a specific time or fishing conditions. Therefore, in order not to miss your catch, it is important to study in advance the main nuances of choosing bait depending on seasonal characteristics.