As avid fishermen sometimes say, pike and October in the Central Russian strip are very similar to each other, probably due to their unpredictability and moodiness. Often the second month of autumn is cool and rainy, the air temperature drops below 10 degrees (and, accordingly, the degree of water drops), and sometimes it will take and give a whole sunny week, almost like in summer, when it is so warm that you can even sunbathe and swim ! And fishing in pike in October is sometimes not entirely predictable, especially for unprepared beginner anglers. But nobody has yet succeeded in calculating everything. And experienced people are preparing ahead of time for possible changes in the nature of weather and fish.
Meet the pike fully armed
Sometimes fishing experience presupposes certain baggage and incidents, and various surprises (not always pleasant) that occurred during fishing. Therefore, if fishing in pike is due in October, an experienced fisherman will never take the first tackle that comes to hand, as can be done, for example, in the summer. He will stop on the thought over optimal variant. In fact, many inveterate comrades advise, if, of course, they allow the means and opportunities, to have several (a couple of) spinning rods with them on fishing at once. But even with a simpler set, you can effectively carry out fishing in the fall. Many people consider the jig spinning to be about 2.7 m long as the best weapon. Some say that the rod should not be shorter than 2.4 m, and the dough fork should be from 10 to 40 g. By and large, there is a dependence on how large the water You are going to catch a predator if you are to fish in October for pike. On a reel for tackle, one should also not save much, it should be inertialess and of high quality, with good length reception and hitchhiking. As a fishing line, 0.25 monofilament or 0.12-0.20 braid of good manufacturing firms are suitable.
River fishing in October: things to consider
October is a special autumn month. It seems to be not summer, but frost is still far away. And ice is expected - and even longer. But with all this, many species of freshwater fish are already leaving their summer habitats and are in the process of migration from shallow water to depth. As a rule, pike accompanies these herds (bream or roach, for example). Therefore, it makes no sense to look for a predator in shallow water, in the usual places for summer feeding. In October, pike fishing for spinning takes place in rivers already closer to the channel, compared, for example, with September. Shifts and priority in choosing gear.
From the boat
Pike fishing in October on large rivers becomes possible only from a boat. So, if in August-September from the coast a spotted predator could be reached with wobblers and long-range gear, then fishing for pike in October for spinning is carried out mainly from boats. An exception is if the channel passes directly under the coastal zone, and the casting range limit is not more than 100-120 meters. Here again, jig and heavy baubles are used.
From the boat, in October, fishing on the rivers is carried out according to the spring schedule. Typical techniques: combing of dumps, punching of the upper brow, courting the snag of channel and other places (in large ponds). They use the same jig, heavier wobblers (7-8 meters deep), oscillators and turntables with loads and silicone.
On small ponds
Here fishing in October differs along its course from large rivers and lakes. For mid-autumn, the most relish is characteristic for an experienced fisherman. The fish is not dispersed throughout the body of water, but is concentrated in strictly defined places that can be calculated with luck and skills. There is a process of moving it to the places of wintering. For this reason, in small ponds, productive fishing in October for pike is possible at least every day. It is only necessary to determine the place of fishing - a sufficient concentration of fodder fish. An active spotted predator will also be located there.
Trolling as a way of extraction
October, when the pike actively hunts in the upper edge of channel dumps, is the optimal time for trolling to try out the entire range of available lures. So, on large ponds, you can use the echo sounder, or you can just go on your own spring routes (late March - early April), if you are not a beginner in fishing. Then fishing in pike in October will bring the best result, and you can probably catch a good trophy that you did not catch in the spring. However, some conventions must be observed. For example, a trolling ship should go at not too high speed - do not drive in catchy places, like a hydrofoil boat. Many fishermen consider 2-3 km / h or just a little bit faster as the optimal speed for wobbler or spinners for trolling. The closer the set speed is, the more often, you will see, bites will happen.
Combine fishing methods
You can use the following combination: trolling along the channel edges, then - anchoring in interesting places and fishing by jigging exits from the pits and snag, accumulations of bottom stones. Sometimes for trolling from a boat up to 5 rods can be used. A special glider spreads the bait on different sides of the vessel to a large width (usually up to 7-8 meters). This allows you to catch a larger area, but, of course, requires certain financial investments and skill of an experienced fisherman.
From a boat to a plumb line
Sometimes they use the plummet method. In this case, large winter baubles and balancers are used. In this way, moving along the course of the channel edge, you can catch a real fishing trophy! Use a short spinning rod or side rod for these purposes. And as baits - winter wobblers, large and shear spinners, rattlins.
Irrelevant lures
Put aside, going fishing in October, poppers, small wobblers, walkers, gliders, small turntables and oscillators. According to the general opinion of many fishermen, they are of little use to you. Although there are exceptions when the pike refuses to peck at large toys. Nevertheless, fishing is not mathematics, and it is not possible to calculate everything.
Fishing at the end of October
Due to a rather sharp cooling in late October - early November, in the middle lane the pike begins to lose its former activity, stops hunting so well and, accordingly, nibbles. In general, late autumn is considered a turning point for many fish in life, since these creatures are still cold-blooded, and their viability depends on the temperature of the surrounding water. In addition (in shallow reservoirs this happens earlier, and in large - later) the predator eats up and accumulates the main fat for wintering. Pike begins to prepare for the winter routine in rather deep and therefore non-freezing pits. However, even at this time, when it is already quite cold, you can catch this predatory fish if you use trolling from a boat for example. The predator responds well to silicone fish, large in size - up to 15 cm and above! So your fishing at the end of October may well be very productive and trophy. A big plus in late autumn, many inveterate pike believe that a truly trophy specimen - from 3 kg or more! Experienced fishermen say that trolling works well until the extinction of algae (November). But the pike that has already left for the winter hut is caught with a jig until ice is formed on the river.
In outskirts of Moscow
Fishing in October in the suburbs for pike has its own nuances. There are many reservoirs in the Moscow Region, and even very! This type of fishing is a favorite pastime of Muscovites. In open water, the predator is mainly caught for spinning as an accessible and proven type of gear. Different species are used here, depending on the preferences of the fisherman himself and his material capabilities. In the cold season, before leaving for the winter hut, the pike takes on bright spinning spinners, wobblers and silicone fish of exotic colors. Fishing in October in the suburbs can be carried out on paid reservoirs, which is also very common among residents of the capital. There, for a moderate fee, the instructors will provide you with the minimum necessary amenities, tell and advise on what bait is best to catch a pike today, show the posting and fishing technique, which is very useful for beginners who decide to catch a good trophy.
In the Leningrad region
Fishing in the Leningrad region in October for pike also has a number of features that cannot be ignored, especially for beginners. Water bodies are represented by the Gulf of Finland (where, by the way, the so-called sea pike is caught ), Lake Ladoga and Onega, rivers, canals, and swamps. It is estimated that in this territory there are more than 40 thousand different reservoirs of various sizes. Many predatory fish are found, including pike. Fishing in the Leningrad Region in October is often associated with an earlier cooling in the localities, and therefore the schedules and methods are somewhat shifted to an earlier date. But in general, the principles of pike fishing in October remain the same: spinning, trolling, wobblers, big baubles, and, of course, indispensable fishing luck!