For successful pike fishing in winter, when a river or lake is covered with a thick layer of ice, anglers use girders. The predator is most active in November and December on the first ice and at the end of freeze-up, however, in water bodies with the current, the pike bites well throughout the winter. When going on a fishing trip, it is important to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of catching predatory fish and decide on the type of live bait. Fishing on a backside involves the use of a live bait fish, which is the best provocateur for pike. For pike fishing, various types of girders and their equipment are used, as well as the tactics of placement and fishing – it all depends on the type of reservoir (there is a current, or standing, depth, type of bottom, etc.), the stage in which the winter is, the activity of the predator. A flag is one of the most popular types of winter girders [/ caption]
To catch a predator in the winter months, fishermen can use 2 types of girders. Each type of live bait tackle is endowed with its own advantages and disadvantages.
On the platform
Installation of this type of girdle is made on a flat base. The platform can be made in the form of a circle, rectangle, square. It is made from plastic and wood. The zerlitsa on the platform is placed directly on the hole. Among the main advantages of this tackle, it is worth highlighting:
protection of the hole from sunlight;
slowing down the freezing process of the water surface in the hole due to the base of the bait tackle (the fishing line will unwind and unwind freely).
Zherlitsa on the platform prevents the hole from freezing [/ caption] The disadvantages of this design for catching a toothy are much more than advantages. These include:
unreliability of the unit for fixing the coil to the base;
the emergence of difficulties when removing the platform in the event of its freezing into the ice;
the need to use signal poles in snowy weather (due to the low height of the structure, snow falls quickly).
After installing live bait, the signal flag is charged with an emphasis on the coil. When biting, he straightens, giving a signal to the angler.
Zherlitsa on the counter
The rack of this type of vents can be made of aluminum, plastic or wood. The main advantages of the design are:
small size, which makes it easy to transport live bait;
secure attachment of the line spool to the stand;
sufficient height of the structure, allowing to refuse the use of signal flags during snowfall.
The disadvantages of girders on the stand include freezing of the fishing line to the reel and frequent freezing into the ice. An overview of different types of supplies for fishing pike and other predatory fish: https://youtu.be/bgmlXj2f8tc
Pike gutter equipment
The equipment of the pike gutter for winter fishing is mounted in the same way, regardless of what type of bait tackle construction the angler uses. The correct rigging of the vents should consist of:
main line, the diameter of which is in the range of 0.3-0.4 mm;
sliding weight (olive);
triple or double hook;
corkscrew;
flexible metal leash.
For catching toothed in the cold season, anglers most often use double hooks. They must be of good quality and the sting must be sharp. Otherwise, they will bend and break. It is recommended to take a set of leashes with you on a fishing trip, which are fixed to the rig using the loop-to-loop method. This allows you to quickly change the leash in the event that the fish deeply swallows the bait or there is a cut. Depending on the depth of the reservoir, the length of the leash is selected. As a rule, the distance from the sinker to the hook is in the range of 50-100 cm.
Note! To adjust the length of the leash, the sinker is moved along the line.
The weight of the sinker depends on the presence of a current in the reservoir, the depth and size of the live bait. Most often, anglers use weights, the weight of which reaches 10-15 grams. This weight keeps the live bait at the required depth, but at the same time does not prevent it from moving relatively freely under water. Zerlitsa with a reel [/ caption] They can be painted in a dark green and brown palette. It should be borne in mind that heavier weights are used at great depths. For pike fishing, you need good quality elastic fishing line, the diameter of which reaches 0.3-0.4 mm. One spool is usually wound 15-25 meters, depending on the depth at which fishing is carried out. The hooks are used to bait crucian carp, ruff silt and small roach (these are the best live bait, but it is worth starting from what is available). In the case of fishing in shallow water, you can attach a rudd or bleak to the hook behind the back (in front of the dorsal fin). Pike baits [/ caption] BlueTipz and its analogues are some of the best bite alarms that can be connected to any kind of winter bait. As soon as the tackle flag starts to rise in response to the bite, the electronic device system sends a notification to the fisherman’s mobile phone. However, most often the signal flags are enough for the angler, which also signal a bite. Pike gutter rig for winter fishing on a single, double and tee: https://youtu.be/PoWL839BanY Tip! Do not forget that to catch a toothy predator in winter you will need an ice drill with a diameter of 150 mm. Do-it-yourself winter pike vents:
A sliding weight is put on the line.
A swivel with a clasp is tied with a Palomar knot.
The excess part of the fishing line is cut off.
A leash is attached to a swivel with a clasp and equipped with a double or triple hook.
Below the sliding sinker, a corkscrew is fixed, which must move freely along the line and not injure it.
The flag in the winter period will signal a pike bite, which will enable the angler to react in time and move to the triggered hole. Therefore, this piece of equipment must be made visible from afar and sensitive to bite. Zherlitsa with a signaling flag [/ caption]
Do-it-yourself winter pike pike trays
Below you can find the best options for live bait pike tackle that you can do yourself.
Zherlitsa-changeling
Before starting work, you will need to prepare the following materials:
a plastic tube (length – 40 cm);
wire;
insulating tape of blue or red color.
Step-by-step manufacturing process:
A pair of through holes is drilled in the central part of the tube.
Wire is inserted into them.
A slot is left at the front end of the tube.
A fishing line with a rig is wound on the front area of the tube.
The back is rewound with a layer of electrical tape.
https://youtu.be/ENAR71ZY4ZU This construction is used as follows:
Having measured the required amount of fishing line, the angler clamps it in the cut.
A carp or roach is put on the hook and the bait is released under the water.
The tackle is set over the hole.
The predator, seizing the prey, will pull on the fishing line, and the girder will turn over into a hole in the ice. In this case, it will lean on the wire legs.
This type of live bait tackle can be used on days with little snow.
Pike supply from a plastic bottle
For the construction of the structure, you will need to prepare a 1.5 liter plastic bottle – the best option. You will also need a rubber band, a stick, and a cord. Step-by-step manufacturing process:
A pair of holes are made in the surface of the bottom of the container. A cord is threaded through them.
After that, it is fixed on a stick, which is frozen over the hole.
The fishing line with the rig is wound on the side area of the container.
A crucian carp or other fish is strung on the hook. Live bait tackle is lowered into the hole.
An elastic band is put on the neck of the container. It must be fixed under the line loop.
https://youtu.be/vNLhtVvB2go During bites, the loop will pop out and the line will start to come off the container. A swinging bottle will indicate a bite.
Secrets of catching pike on girders in winter: how to find a predator and how to set girders
Going fishing, you need to familiarize yourself with the information on where to look for a predator.
Search for pike sites in winter
In winter, the toothed fish lives in pits and areas near them, at a depth of 1-2 meters. Most of the time she moves, trying to find food. Often, fish are kept in areas with a higher water temperature (places where glades form on the ice). The thicker the ice, the deeper the predator goes. Only by the beginning of spring will the fish again approach the coastal zone. Clearly in the photo, where it is better to put girders on the pike in winter: near and far edges, coastal ridges of stones, hills and hollows at the bottom, relative to the main plateau [/ caption]
Predatory habits
The pike remains active on the first ice. She strives to stock up on nutrients. At this time, fish can be found in almost any part of the reservoir. It is necessary to move carefully on transparent ice, because the predator immediately goes to a safe distance in case of noise and flickering shadows. In January, the pike goes deep and behaves passively. The fish only occasionally seeks food for itself and acts slowly. Towards the end of winter, the predator becomes active again and it can be found not only at depth, but also in shallow water.
How to search
Going in search of pike, you must first of all pay attention to areas of the reservoir with a high oxygen content. Such zones include the following places:
confluence of rivers;
underwater springs;
areas of the reservoir in which there is no rotting mud.
Pike sites on the river [/ caption] It is also important to pay attention to the pond areas with flooded snags, lone logs under the dump. It is here that the toothy prefers to live. Here’s what happens if you place the girders correctly – pike fishing in the winter of 2021: https://youtu.be/HiWKiIyl1PU
How to place the girders correctly
The installation of the girders on the pike in winter is carried out in different places. It is advisable to put the tackle in a line or in a checkerboard pattern, starting from the coastal area and ending with deeper places of the reservoir. The recommended distance between the vents is 15-20 meters. This will make it possible to quickly determine the place where the predator is. In the case when there are no bites for 2 hours, but the neighboring fishermen have them, it is worth changing the place of installation of the girders. It is important to maintain silence while installing live bait. Even the slightest noise scares away the pike. Tackle installation scheme:
First of all, anglers determine the depth in the area of the reservoir chosen for fishing.
The rig is lowered under the ice and fixed at the required depth at the bottom by charging the signal flag.
After a couple of seconds, they lift it up and plant a crucian carp or other fish for bait.
The bait fish is lowered to the bottom and live bait is installed over the hole.
After that, the depression in the ice surface is covered with a layer of snow. This will avoid freezing of the fishing line, pull the catch to the hole without sudden jerks and lull the vigilance of the predator. How to properly set girders for pike in winter on water bodies without flow [/ caption]
What is the correct way to catch pike in the winter on the girders on the river?
Catching pike on girders in winter is quite an exciting process. Before fishing, it is important to learn fishing tactics and strategies. Catching toothy fish on the river is not so easy. You have to quickly fish out all the holes installed in the chosen place and drill more and more depressions, if the result has not been achieved. When fishing on the river, it is recommended to use live bait previously caught in the same reservoir. For pike bait you can use:
crucian carp;
minnows;
loach;
perch.
The bait needs to be baited on the hook behind the back. It is recommended to make 10-20 holes, located in one line or in a checkerboard pattern, starting from shallow areas and ending with deeper areas of the reservoir. After that, you can start fishing the selected area. It is recommended to keep the distance between the holes within 10-15 m. [Caption id = “attachment_3975” align = “aligncenter” width = “707”] Installation of the gutter for pike in winter – installation diagram when fishing in the current on the river [/ caption]
Features of fishing on ponds without flow
On a body of water without a current, it is recommended to install girders in rows along the coastline. If the surface of the pond / lake bottom is relatively flat, the holes should be staggered. The distance between the holes should be up to 7-10 meters. Perch, crucian carp and loach should be used as live bait. If the bait fish is too small, a heavier weight can be used.
Fishing in December, January, February – what’s the difference
December is the optimal month for catching predatory fish. During this period, the pike is still actively looking for food, gradually moving to deeper places. Since the ice is still transparent, it is worth moving on it especially carefully so as not to frighten off the toothy one. In January, the fish is half asleep. It is very difficult to bait, so at this time you need to try different fishing methods and often change the bait. However, it is in January that fishermen most often catch trophy specimens. In the second half of February, as a rule, there is a thaw. The pike regains activity and moves around the reservoir in search of small fish. Experts recommend fishing in February early in the morning.
Experts advise how to lure a pike to a zerlitsa in winter and bring it out successfully
Going to catch pike on girders in winter, you should read the advice of experienced fishermen, which will help clarify the nuances of fishing in the cold season.
When to sweep and how to fish out
It is at least unreasonable to hook immediately upon a bite. It is worth waiting for phase 2, which occurs 10-40 seconds later from the moment the predator captured the live bait. Toothy first holds the prey across, as soon as it swallows it and starts to go for cover, you need to sweep. During this time, the pike will have time to wind up a couple of meters of line. When playing, do not rush. It is better to exhaust the fish well than to try to overpower the predator.
How to spot bites and check supplies
When biting, the predator pulls off the signal flag. He begins to straighten out on a springy plate. However, do not forget that you should not perform a sweep right away. You need to wait until the prey is swallowed.
Every 2 hours, you need to go around the girders and check the condition of the live bait. If the bait fish has become lethargic, it is better to change it.
The flag is on – we run to the zherlitsa, but we are not in a hurry to perform the sweep [/ caption]
How to enlarge the wells if necessary
If there is a need to increase the holes, you need to take an ice pick with a spatula and carefully chop off the ice around the circumference of the hole. This will widen the groove. You can also drill two holes end-to-end, and then punch the remaining edge with an ice pick.
When is it better to catch pike on girders in winter – day or night?
It is difficult to give an unambiguous answer to this question. At any time of the day, the fisherman can catch fish, but during the day it is still easier to do it, the predator is more actively looking for food. Going on night fishing for predatory fish, it should be borne in mind that the girders can be checked less often at night. As a live bait, you should not choose a crucian carp that is not mobile enough at this time of day. The best live bait for night supplies are:
loaches;
minnows.
In the dark, it is worth setting up vents near springs, where tributaries flow into. If you plan to fish during the day, it is still better to take crucian carp, perch and rudd as live bait. During the day, the girders are installed in enclosed places, in the zones of formation of glades on the ice.
Strategy for moving through an unfamiliar body of water
Arriving at an unfamiliar body of water, do not rush to set up a tent . You need to find the most promising place for fishing. To do this, you need to make 10-20 holes, located on one line, starting from shallow areas and ending with deeper areas of the reservoir. If after fishing these holes there is not a single bite, you should move to another place and do the same. Thus, time will be spent, but the fisherman will be able to find the place where the predatory fish is concentrated at the moment. On an unfamiliar pond we drill in the most non-trivial places – in something by eye, in something by experience [/ caption] Catching pike on gutters in winter – underwater shooting, video from an underwater video camera: https: // youtu. be / Waqi1kRK0LE
Features of fishing in severe frosts
Going to catch pike on frosty days, you should take care of creating comfortable conditions in advance. The first step is to put on warm clothes, thermal underwear, winter boots and mittens . Tackle alone is not enough for successful ice fishing. It is recommended to additionally purchase:
You will also need to purchase a tent that protects against strong gusts of wind and snow. Video from fishing for pike in winter on girders – how to put girder and components of successful fishing: https://youtu.be/NHg2U6PYLBY Catching pike in girder in winter is quite an exciting and sporting process that gives pleasure to the angler. Taking into account the behavior of the predatory fish and the recommended fishing technique, you can catch a trophy specimen of the predatory fish. Such fishing will certainly remain in the memory forever.
