Zherlitsa is the oldest and very reliable tackle for fishing predatory fish. Over the centuries, our ancestors used it for both summer fishing and winter fishing. The simple and trouble-free construction, excellent catchability and versatility made this tackle the most popular tool for hunting aquatic predators.
Unfortunately, today’s summer lanterns are less and less used by anglers to hunt predatory fish due to the emergence of newer and improved types of gear. But their winter options for their popularity have not lost at all. It is about them that we will talk, and also consider questions about where to find and how to plant live bait fish on the vents.
What is a winter girl
Probably every curious person, seeing fishermen on the ice of a pond, wondered what red flags were set there. These are the girders. In winter, they are not used only by the lazy. On winter fishing, you often have to watch how one person rushes between the flags, checking hole by hole. So usually fishing happens with the use of this simple device. So what is it?
Zherlitsa winter is a simple mechanical device designed for fishing on predatory fish from ice. The essence of the fishing method is to capture a predator on live bait, lowered into a hole to a certain depth. In the process of fishing, the fisherman, having determined the right place, drills several holes (5-15 pcs.), Sets girders over each of them. After installation, all that remains for him is what to observe, check and pull out the next catch.
Fishing for girders can be carried out both in the daytime and at night. Usually during day fishing, a bright color flag is used as a bite signaling device. Night fishing involves the installation of girders in the evening and checking them in the morning.
Types of winter lanterns
For winter, two zerglits are used: ice and ice. The latter are used for the most part for predator fishing at night.
Their design is quite simple and consists of a wooden or plastic platform with a stag and fishing line fixed on it, which is lowered into the water so that the base covers the hole. This is necessary so that the water under it does not freeze. If the water from above still freezes, then this will not affect the tackle located at the bottom. With such a design, not even a harsh winter is scary. Fishing for stag beetles can be carried out in the daytime, however, the ice construction is preferable for this. Thanks to timely signaling, the number of gatherings is significantly reduced.
There are three types of icy girders:
- with a flat base;
- with a vertical rack;
- type of "hookah".
All of them work on the same principle, but differ in the device and appearance.
Flat winter zerkva for pike and perch consist of a platform and a reel located on it with gear. The coil can be fixed both horizontally and vertically. The main thing is that the fishing line can be unwound with minimal effort when biting. A signal flag is also fixed on the platform. Most often it is made from a clock spring with a bright patch in the upper part. When installing the ventilator, the flag is bent and set so that with the slightest rotation of the coil it can straighten and thus give a signal to the fisherman.
Vertical models represent a similar design with the same principle of operation, but with the exception that the coil with a flag is mounted not on a horizontal platform, but on a cylindrical metal stand. However, such vents are rarely used, as they have one drawback - they can only be used on dense snow. It is impossible to set them on bare ice.
Models such as "hookahs" have a folding aluminum or plastic frame that resembles a tripod. They are mobile and easy to use, but ineffective in strong winds. They are simply blowing away.
Winter lantern accessories
Regardless of the model of the used female vents, there are several simple rules that must be observed when preparing equipment for this type of fishing.
Let's start with the coil. Its diameter for catching pike and perch should not be less than 50 mm. For pike perch and burbot - not less than 70 mm.
As the main fishing line, it is recommended to use only high-quality monofilament with a cross section of 0.3-0.4 mm. This thickness will be enough to catch the catch up to 2 kg. If you plan to catch trophy fish, it is better to use a fishing line with a cross section of 0.5 mm. Using braids in extreme cold is highly undesirable. At least 20 m of fishing line should be wound on the reel, ideally 30-40 m. This length is quite enough to restore the gear in case of breakage.
When fishing at a depth of more than 5 m, as well as on the course, the use of cargo in the snap-in of the lantern is mandatory. Its weight is determined by the conditions of fishing and the behavior of live bait. Usually this is a lead olive, which has a sliding type of attachment to the main fishing line, weighing 6-10 g. For strong currents and deep-water sections of the reservoir, a weight of up to 20 g can be used.
If fishing is carried out in shallow areas with stagnant water, the sinker may not be used.
The use of a steel or tungsten leash in the equipment of the vents is also not necessary, unless it is a trophy pike. Very often, anglers use fluorocarbon thread for this purpose, which, of course, is less durable than steel, but much stronger than ordinary fishing line.
As for the hook, the choice of its size and type depends on the size of the live bait, its method of bait and fishing conditions. This can be either a single hook (No. 8-12), or a double or tee (No. 6-8).
What kind of fish is caught at the vents
You can catch any predatory fish on the vents:
- Pike
- zander;
- large perch;
- burbot.
Mostly they are used for fishing for pike. This toothy predator responds very well to bait fish, including snoot. It is her hunger and unpretentiousness in food, especially on the first ice, that zharchnik anglers use for their own purposes. Usually, winter pit and perch grunts are used in the daytime, but for zander and burbot the best time is night. Given the characteristics of the lifestyle and behavior of these predators, special designs are used to catch them. Zherlitsa for zander and burbot must have a limited supply of fishing line. Otherwise, the predator will simply pull the tackle into stones or driftwood, where it will easily break it.
Where to look for a predator in winter
With the onset of frost and the establishment of ice, pike is the first to activate. Her winter zhor begins. She is so hungry during this period that she rushes to everything that reminds one of the potential victim.
There is an erroneous opinion that in winter the pike lives exclusively at a depth, therefore it is necessary to look for it in the deepest parts of the reservoir. In fact, this predator really spends most of the time at the bottom of the pits, however, it hunts exclusively at their edges, where peaceful fish go to feed.
Pike fishing at the vents will be effective in such places. And you can determine their location, well knowing the topography of the bottom. Or with an echo sounder.
As for large perch, then the situation is the opposite. The striped robber leaves only in the rarest cases the deepest abode. Therefore, you need to look for him in the deepest places.
Zherlitsa for zander is also installed in deep water areas. If you know the coordinates of the deepest parts of the reservoir, and with a rocky or shortened bottom, there is no doubt that the pike perch is there.
Burbot almost never changes its location. For him there is not much difference, summer or winter. Fishing for the predator’s larvae is usually carried out along steep coasts, where the depth exceeds 3 m.
Where to find live bait in winter
Well, now is the time to talk about where to look for live bait in the winter. In the summer, this problem practically does not exist. He took a small one with him, threw a handful of bait, and then only manage to get the fish.
The easiest way to get bait in winter is to go to the market or to a decent fishing store. Malek there is a penny. You just have to make sure that he successfully survives fishing.
If there is no opportunity to buy live bait, there is only one way out - to catch it yourself. It is better to do this in the same pond where predator fishing will be carried out. Fishing in bait in the winter is no different from ordinary fishing from ice with a fishing rod. It is only necessary to determine the possible sites of peaceful fish and catch it.
What kind of fish is used as bait fish when fishing for zerkva?
Most often, they use:
- roach;
- rudd;
- small crucian carp;
- small perch;
- gudgeon.
Roach and rudd are the most common fish in the water bodies of our latitudes. In winter, they are as active as in summer, so catching them is not difficult. These are universal bait fish for catching any predator. However, they are inconvenient in that, being hooked, they try to rise from a depth closer to the surface, which often leads to tangling of the gear. Because of this, their use is justified only in shallow areas without flow.
Crucian carp is also very common, but - unlike rudd or roach - is not very mobile in winter. However, he has a huge advantage - he is very tenacious. In addition, crucian tolerates long transport.
Perch is also relatively tenacious. But the main thing is that mainly large pike take it.
As for the gudgeon, he cannot boast of his vitality, but for burbot and pike perch there is no better treat.
How to save live bait
But catching live bait in the winter is not the most difficult process. In addition to catching the fry, it must be kept alive for as long as possible. And this is not easy at all. A lack of oxygen, a drop in water temperature, as well as its constant fluctuations during transportation, very often lead to the fact that the future bait dies.
To avoid this, it is better to use canna - a special vessel with a wide neck, designed to store and transport live bait. It is arranged so that during transportation the water in it practically does not flutter, and thanks to the mesh container it is also saturated with oxygen.
In addition, high-quality cannons have a lining made of materials that allow maintaining a constant water temperature.
Methods of planting live bait
Now we will consider how to plant live bait on zergilsya. This question is rather complicated, since the incorrectly chosen method of baiting on a hook or the wrong movement when pushing will nullify all efforts to catch a live bait and store it.
Before you put the bait fish on the hook, you need to clearly determine the conditions of fishing (depth, current intensity), the type of fish that is supposed to catch, as well as the fishing method (bottom or surface). And, of course, the type and size of the hook plays a significant role.
There are several basic ways to plant live bait fish on the vents:
- behind the nostrils;
- for one lip;
- for both lips;
- for the gills;
- behind the back.
In addition, anglers use alternative options for planting: for the barrel, for the dorsal fin, for the tail, as well as by passing the leash through the mouth, gills or anus. There is no universal method here; all that matters is how long the bait can be mobile.
The method of planting live bait "behind the nostrils"
This method is used for a single hook. The process of planting is very simple. It is enough to hook the bait fish with a hook on both nostrils, and the bait is ready.
Fixation by the nostrils is not considered reliable, therefore, when fishing in conditions of intensive currents, it is almost never used. The reason is that with a more or less sharp movement of the bait, the hook breaks out “with meat”. Therefore, before planting live bait, it does not hurt to make sure that the bow of the bait’s head is not damaged.
The “nostrils” method is well suited for the most tenacious fish species: crucian carp and perch. In cases with rudd and roach baitfish very quickly “falls asleep” and loses its horizontal position.
How to put live bait on the vents by the lips
When sticking on one or both lips, exclusively fry are used. The greater the weight of the bait, the greater the chance of injuring it by breaking its lips. This also often happens when a predator attacks, when he cannot swallow the whole live bait.
This type of nozzle also involves the use of a single hook. Doubles and tees for fry are not used with this method.
Depending on the fishing conditions, here you need to think about how best to plant live bait: for one or two lips. If the current is not strong, you can limit yourself to a hook on the upper jaw. It is strong enough to withstand its own movements of the bait. If the flow is intense, you need to hook on both lips.
Here, only a single hook is applicable. They hook the bait, piercing from below the lower, then the upper jaw, removing the sting through the nostrils.
Planting live bait for the gills
This method is not very popular due to the large number of nuances that arise when using it. The main one is accuracy, because with the wrong hook the bait will die instantly. But if you plant it correctly, the fish will not only remain alive and mobile for a long time, but will never get off the hook.
By the way, here it is better to use models with several stings. But how to plant live bait on a double or tee for the gills without harming it?
And this is done quite simply. The leash with a hook comes unfastened from the main fishing line. Then its end is threaded through the oral cavity and is discharged through one of the gills. The most important thing here is not to hook it and not damage it. When the hook touches the live bait head with its stings, the leash can be fastened back to the tackle.
The use of a steel or tungsten leash for this method greatly simplifies the process of planting, but the bait in this case dies faster. Because of this, leashes of strong fluorocarbon fishing line or Kevlar thread are used more often, and homemade devices in the form of a thin wire with a hook at the end are used to simplify the process of planting.
How to put live bait behind the back
For fishing with the use of traps, this method is most suitable. Firstly, the bait is constantly in the usual horizontal position, and secondly, the fish, planted in this way, remains alive for a very long time. In addition, this method is most suitable for winter fishing specifically for a large predator. Therefore, the question of how to put live bait fish on a pike when fishing on vents, the answer is unequivocal - behind the back.
But here caution is very important. One wrong move, and the hook can touch the ridge of the bait, which will lead to its inevitable death. It is advisable to at least approximately know the anatomy of the fish. It does not hurt to train on a dead fish, as it is rather difficult to put a bait fish on a tee behind the back without harming it.
Usually, the bait is hooked under the dorsal fin by one of the hook tips. As for the puncture site, there can be two options: between the fin and the ridge and under the ridge. The first option is more preferable, since it minimizes the possibility of damage to the spine. But the second method, although more dangerous, is much more reliable in terms of the decay of the bait.
Tackle bait insurance
In some cases, live bait can have additional fixation using a second hook. This option is used in conditions of strong currents, when there is a likelihood that the water stream will simply pluck the bait.
An additional hook (single) fits on a leash just above the main one. Most often they hook it on the back or directly on the dorsal fin. It is also possible without a hook, when the leash is threaded into a hole made in the fin, or into a puncture of the skin in the upper back.