Winter pike fishing is a special excitement. This predator is one of the few fish leading an active lifestyle even in severe frosts. However, getting a pike out of the hole is not so simple. Firstly, it needs to be found, and secondly, only correctly selected tackle and bait will be able to make the predator react properly.
What is a balancer and how does it differ from spinners
Among the variety of attachments for winter pike hunting, balancers occupy a special place. They came to us from Scandinavia in the 1980s. This is a bait made of metal (steel, lead, tin, various alloys), made in the form of a small fish with the corresponding coloring. It differs from the spinner by the presence of hooks, both from the side of the head of the bait and from the side of the tail. In addition, the balancers on the pike are equipped with an additional tee from the bottom.
The bait got its name from the French word balance (balance), literally translated as scales. The fact is that the balancer, unlike the spinner, has not a front attachment to the gear, but a top one. It is fixed to a leash by a loop located on the back of an artificial fish. Suspended in this state, the bait maintains a horizontal balance even when posting under water. Winter fishing on the balancer implies an exclusively vertical nozzle game with minimal lateral amplitude. The tail unit (rudder) of the bait is made in such a way that when it falls freely to the bottom it, playfully, resembles the natural behavior of a wounded fish.
The advantages of the balancer over other winter lures
When fishing for pike in winter, anglers very often use various vertical spinners, silicone baits, or bait fish. And if the catching ability of “silicones” at this time of year is a big question, then luring or fishing for live bait are considered the most effective ways for winter fishing for predators.
However, some fishermen are convinced that only catching pike on the balancer can bring a good catch. And there is a great deal of truth to this.
If the spinners are effective in fishing, bait fish and balancers are approximately the same, then the following indicators can be attributed to the advantages of the latter:
- maximum similarity to fish, which is a natural feed for pike;
- a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, which makes it possible to choose bait for fishing conditions;
- the presence of hooks on three sides of the nozzle, which minimizes the likelihood of a predator coming down;
- winter balancers for pike can be successfully used for fishing in spring, summer and autumn.
The choice of balancer
When catching a predator in winter, it is very important to choose the right bait. If it is a balancer, the first thing when buying is to check its balance. In a fish suspended by a loop in the back, the head and tail should be on the same horizontal line parallel to the ground. Any manifestation of imbalance is unacceptable.
As for the size of the bait, the balancers on the pike should begin with at least 6 cm. The optimal length of such a nozzle is considered to be 6-14 cm.
The material of the lures can be any, especially since today, in addition to the classic ones, both plastic and their silicone models are on sale. All of them equally well attract a predator. Balancers for pike should have a delicious color. Presence of red imitating blood is desirable.
Also, when choosing a color, it is worth giving preference to the classic yellow and green colors, as well as their combinations. It is believed that the most catchy lures are red-headed balancers. Reviews of the work of such attachments are the most flattering, especially when fishing for pike.
In the ranking of popularity, the leading places are occupied by world-famous lure manufacturers Rapalla with the Jigging Rap model, Kuusamo - Tasapaino 75 ”- and Nils Master - Jigger. All of them have different sizes and are designed for catching not only pike, but also perch and pike perch.
Non-branded winter balancers on the pike often have problems with the steering wheel - a kind of stabilizer located in the tail of the bait. Imbalance leads to a deterioration in the quality of the game, which is why they often have to be corrected or altered altogether. Therefore, it is better to give preference to models of trusted manufacturers.
Types of Pike Fishing Balancers
All balancers, regardless of manufacturer, are divided into five main types:
- with an enlarged head;
- narrow-nosed;
- with classic tail;
- with fur tail;
- silicone.
Balancers on a pike with an enlarged head, when lowering to the bottom, are first immersed with the head part down, and then turned over, as a result of which the tail and head change places. About the same thing happens when the bait rises sharply. Such a game is very reminiscent of a wounded victim's convulsion predator.
Narrow-nosed balancers in the absence of flow have the ability to slow down the speed at the upper and lower points in vertical wiring. This behavior of the bait attracts a predator in stagnant water.
Balancers with classic tail plumage maintain a horizontal balance both when lowering the bait and when raising it.
Nozzles with furry tail feathers are usually used for fishing at shallow depths at shallow predators, but large pike never disdain them. Such balancers are rarely used in winter, since the plumage is subject to icing, which leads to an imbalance of the bait.
Silicone tips have not yet gained sufficient popularity among winter fishing enthusiasts, however, when fishing for an inactive predator, they have shown the greatest efficiency.
All of these lures are suitable for pike fishing at any time of the year.
Tackle for pike fishing
To catch a predator in the winter and pull it onto the ice, you will need not only a catchy bait. Winter fishing on the balancer should be carried out with reliable gear, capable of providing excellent nozzle play and withstand the resistance of a predator when fighting.
An ordinary fishing rod for fishing from ice is not suitable here - a pike, after all. It is better to use a small special rod equipped with an inertia - free reel. Its length should be 30-50 cm. No longer needed. The fishing rod itself can be bought ready-made or made yourself from the old Bologna form or a quivertype of a feeder rod. In order for him to lie well in his hand, you need a convenient handle, which can be made from corks made from champagne or other improvised materials.
When choosing a fishing rod in a store or making it yourself, you should not save. Cheap Asian plastic, when exposed to subzero temperatures, easily breaks at the slightest load.
The coil will fit even the cheapest, but with a friction brake. Experienced anglers manage to hook and pluck a predator manually for the fishing line, however, without sufficient experience, it is better to perform these procedures using a fishing rod and reel.
Fishing in the winter for pike involves the use of fishing lines with a thickness of at least 0.25 mm, and with a probability of biting a trophy specimen, at least 0.3 mm. This rule should not be neglected. Anyway, the fishing line near the bait will not be noticeable - you will need to use a steel or tungsten leash, because a pike is able to bite anything but metal.
As a bite signaling device, a gatehouse (nod) taken from a winter fishing rod is used. Some anglers do not use it, arguing that if they take a pike, everything will be noticeable. However, this does not always work. In some situations, even a pike pecks carefully, so much so that you can’t even notice the bite. Therefore, the use of a nod is desirable.
Mounting gear
The tackle for winter fishing for pike on the balance beam is mounted in the usual way. The fishing line will need twice the maximum depth at which fishing will be carried out. This length will ensure the repair of gear in case of breakage. The line, previously threaded through a nod and through-rings, is wound around a reel. At its end, a normal loop in two knots is made. A steel or tungsten lead is fixed to it through the carabiner, to which the balancer will be attached. But its mount may be different. This is best done with a non-retractable buttonhole or with a mini fastener. The latter is more in demand, because it makes it possible to easily change the bait. Everything, the tackle is ready, you can go fishing.
Where in winter to catch a pike on a balancer
Fishing for pike balancers in winter can only be successful if you determine its exact location. Toothy predator in this sense is very different from zander or perch. She does not gather in packs with the first cold snap, but always keeps herself separate from her relatives. Pikes in their own way divide the pond into hunting grounds, which are controlled by them around the clock.
The location of the predator depends on the time of year. At the beginning of winter, pike can be found in the coastal zone, in particular, near thickets of reeds or reeds. In these places, peaceful fish still feed, so the predator often visits there.
In January and February, when frost piles the pond with thick ice, the pike goes deep. Now the places of her parking and hunting are close to the edge of the pits, bottom tables and dumps. But don't go too deep. Experienced anglers argue that the winter horizons of pike lie between the depths of habitat of zander and perch.
We catch pike on the balancer in the winter
Arriving in the winter on an unfamiliar reservoir behind a pike, it is necessary to determine the places of its possible movement, because this predator never stands still. Its winter fairway, unlike deep pike perch and surface perch, lies in the water column. After counting a distance of at least 10 m from the shore and making sure that the depth is more than 3 m, you can start drilling holes.
Usually do it parallel to the coastline. To catch a place, you need to make at least 5-6 holes. If there are reeds overgrown or a tree falling into the water, go there - if not a pike, then zander or perch will certainly respond to your initiative. These predators often hunt nearby, so the likelihood of an unpredictable bite is quite high. Small balancers on pike in winter perfectly provoke large perch and pike perch, because their culinary preferences during this period are very similar.
After drilling the holes, you can begin to catch the selected territory. This procedure is usually performed while standing. This solution allows better wiring.
For fishing it is better to use large balancers, reaching sizes of 12-14 cm. This will allow the perch to be cut off at the initial stage. The tackle with the bait is lowered to the bottom, held for 2-3 seconds, after which a sharp swing is made to “take off” the balancer up. In this case, the bait should not be raised by a meter or two, but only by 10-15 cm. More sharp movements will frighten off the predator. Next, the balancer is lowered in free fall to the bottom. So repeat 7-8 times.
When lowering the bait, you can make several taps on the bottom. Additional vibration often attracts a predator. Similar wiring is used when fishing for zander or perch.
If there is a pike, it will definitely respond. Most often, bite occurs while lowering the bait. The first pike bite determines the type of balancer that was used to apply it in the future. But even with point fishing, a smaller bait is used.
Catching pikes on the balancer in the summer
Many consider the balancer to be an exclusively winter bait, designed to work under the ice. This is far from the case. These baits are successfully used for catching predators in open water.
In the summer, pike fishing on the balancer is carried out in the same way as in winter. But to find a pike parking, you need a boat. With its help, you can get close to the predator.
Looking for a pike in the summer is away from the coast. In the hot period, she rarely goes to the shallows, preferring to sit out and hunt in depth. Particular attention should be paid to places where there are differences in depths, reverse flow, as well as to shortened sections of the reservoir.
As a rod, a purchased or home-made onboard fishing rod with a length of not more than 50-60 cm is ideal. A larger size is not required, as the lashing will be carried out strictly vertically, as in winter. A small but reliable inertialess reel is also required. The requirements for fishing line and leash are the same as for a winter fishing rod.
Posting during summer fishing for pike on the balancer begins with lowering the bait to the bottom and keeping 3-4 s. Then a sharp rise of 15-20 cm is made with the same pause, after which the bait again sinks to the bottom.
As for the size and color of the nozzle, the balancer on the pike in the summer should not be large (no longer than 10 cm). It is better if the bait will remind the predator of its natural food: roach, bleak or perch. This also applies to colors. The ideal color for summer fishing is natural. The balancers of yellow and silver colors work with a small splash of red.
Catching pikes on a balancer in the fall
In the fall, when the pike is activated, the balancer can also be an excellent bait for catching this predator. Beginning in September, it should be sought in the middle water horizons. Often, pike stand in the thickets of water lilies, where flocks of roach gather. And here the balancer is the only bait that allows you to extract a predator through a boat and vertical gait. To do this, you will need the above-described tackle, consisting of an onboard fishing rod, fishing line with a cross section of 0.25-0.3 mm and a steel leash.
The size of the balancer for autumn fishing should start from 7 cm. The advantage should be given to baits with bright colors: red, yellow and green. The wiring method is standard: lowering to the bottom, a sharp rise with exposure and again immersion.
In autumn, pike attacks the bait much more sharply than in winter or summer, so you need to be constantly prepared for a strong jerk of gear.