Pike, like other predatory fish, prefers to wait for its prey at the bottom. Therefore, a good catch can be achieved by jig fishing. Silicone baits are often used, but fishing with foam fish will make fishing no less productive.
Fishermen can be proud of this Russian invention, and all thanks to spinning player Sergei Pavlov.
Peculiarities
A foam fish or foam rubber is a bait most often used for fishing for predators. Resembles the shape of a small fish. It is made of foam rubber, thanks to its porous structure, the fish does not sink and retains its buoyancy in the water, which distinguishes it from other baits and attracts the attention of toothy predators.
Most often pike perch bite, but of course pike and perch. The foam rubber is easily saturated with water, so it must be wrung out periodically.
Foam rubber is a fairly inexpensive material and can be easily processed, so making a foam rubber fish with your own hands is not difficult.
Making fish from foam rubber
The method for making a batch of foam rubber fish having approximately the same size and shape is described on the previous page. The link is given above in the text.
Perhaps some fishermen will be interested in another, simpler method for making soft bait from foam rubber, the drawings for which were copied from an old printed publication.
In this topic, each homemade foam fish can be given an individual shape and size during the self-production process.
What you need to make a fish
To make a foam fish you will need:
A thin sheet of foam rubber, selected according to the thickness of your homemade bait you need. Then the outline of each homemade foam fish during the manufacturing process will be cut from a sheet of foam rubber only in one side plane, for which scissors will be needed.
To make small fish from soft foam rubber yourself, it is better to use a set of nail scissors with straight and curved blades.
In addition to scissors, to make foam fish you will need: a fresh blade from a safety razor, waterproof glue, small pliers, pliers, and side cutters.
If we have the above tools in our household, then let’s try to independently cut out a small test batch of fish from a sheet of foam rubber, which are “famous” among fishermen for their fragility.
How to cut a fish from foam rubber
First, on a sheet of foam rubber 8-10 mm thick, using a ballpoint pen or a fresh marker, draw the outline of a foam rubber 80-100 mm long (Figure 1).
We cut the resulting drawing from a sheet of foam rubber (2). Here you can use ordinary household scissors.
At the penultimate stage of manufacturing the body of an artificial foam fish, we cut out the workpiece along the contour marked with a marker on the foam rubber (3).
Cutting off the fish ribs protruding from the foam rubber
At the last stage of self-production of foam rubber, we cut off all the ribs protruding at right angles along the perimeter of the workpiece (4). For these purposes, it is better to use curved nail scissors.
Using a similar method, the body of the manufactured foam fish is brought to an oval shape in cross section.
If your first self-made foam rubber turned out to be somewhat clumsy, make a second, third soft bait until you achieve a positive result.
In any case, such a recommendation is present in the manual associated with the method of cutting out the outline of a soft fish from foam rubber. But personally, I have a different opinion on this matter.
Appearance of a fish made of foam rubber
The fishermen of our company, once upon a time, considered their first homemade foam rubber to be a one-time, short-lived consumable. Therefore, the least attention was paid to the appearance of foam rubber lures.
Moreover, beauty is more needed by fishermen (and even then not all) than by fish, who are more interested in the size and flexible contour of the foam rubber.
How to cut foam rubber according to a template
For those fishermen who are planning to make a relatively large batch of foam fish on their own, I would advise first cutting out a template from cardboard that is slightly smaller than the size of the bait.
Then, using a template on a sheet of foam rubber, I would trace the contours of the future foam rubber fish with a marker or a wetted chemical pencil, after which I would start cutting them out and further manufacturing them.
By the way, about the outline of a homemade foam fish.
If you are interested in making foam fish with thin fins, then I advise you to refer to the material Foam rubber fish without snagging.
Application of attractants
Due to the irreplaceable ability of sponges to absorb liquids, attractants can be successfully used for fishing. An attractant is a substance that attracts predators to the source of an odor.
One of the most effective is to soak the fish in blood by cutting the gills and letting the blood flow. But many do not consider this method humane and are inclined to other options, for example, garlic, anise or even fish oil.
You can make the attractant effect last longer by mixing fish blood with salt and silicone. To make the fish more noticeable, glitter is added. Attractants can be found in a specialty store.
Despite the very unpleasant smell of the substance, fishing can please you with a large catch.
Fishing technique
Foam fish are used when fishing with jigs and spinning rods. For installation, the foam fish itself and a weight with ears are used. If you use a Cheburashka, you need to add a couple of winding rings.
Very often, stepped wiring is used, since it is convenient to make several turns of the reel and then stop so that the bait sinks to the bottom. Russian fishermen use this method.
The American method of jig-spinning is also common: sharply pulling the bait from the bottom, pick up the slack in the reel cord. Using various installation methods, you can fish with a foam fish in hard-to-reach places.
Foam rubber baits for pike perch
It is not unreasonable for spinning anglers to have the opinion that catching pike perch with foam rubber is considered the main purpose of this type of bait. Pike-perch willingly takes a fish that is inert in its game with an aggressive and sharp jig. For pike-perch hunting, simulator options similar in shape to the body of the bleak are selected, the length of which does not exceed 70 mm.
Due to fishing at significant depths and bodies of water with currents, color design is not of fundamental importance. The spinning angler should pay more attention to the style of retrieving and, if possible, saturate the foam with an aroma that attracts predators.
Equipment
The size of the fish is also important, it depends on the size of the hook on which it is planned to be mounted.
Foam rubber fish can be equipped with: a regular single hook, offset, double or triple. For easier rigging, it is better to cut the fish on the back.
Invariably, the best sinker was and will be the Cheburashka, although modern collapsible weights can be very convenient if you need to quickly change the bait. The shape is not particularly important, however, it is better to use a streamlined one.
To get better acquainted with this Russian fishing invention, look at the photographs of foam fish.
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Additional equipment for fish
You can often find unequipped foam rubber fish on sale. This is a formed piece of colored material that does not have hooks. They must be selected and installed separately. Hooks are placed on pre-prepared baits. Often fishermen use doubles or trebles. Using a sharp blade, you need to cut the body of the finished fish lengthwise and carefully place the desired hook into the cut, with its shank facing forward and the sting pointing upward. The bait ring is pulled out through the fish’s head. The place where the cut was made is carefully sealed with Moment glue: it will not get wet from moisture and will reliably hold the two parts of the foam together.
Jig hook (HS-JG-29-3/0) Helios 17 for 1 pc. Triple hook (HS-ST-36-12) Helios 24 for 1 pc. Double hook No. 2/0 (21520-2/0BN) Condor 19 for 1 pc. Offset hook (HS-B-93-8/0) Helios 255 for 1 pack. Offset hook (HS-B-91-04) Helios 90 for 1 pack. Hooks AJI (AJ-BLN-14) METSUI 44 for 1 pack. Offset hook (HS-B-94-1/0) Helios 110 for 1 pack. Jig hook (HS-JG-02-4/0) Helios 20 for 1 pc. Hooks FISH GAME No. 10 METSUI 70 for 1 pack. Hook Tanago KH-10003-04 Saikyo 57 for 1 pack. Pint hook (HS-PH-10) Helios 38 for 1 pack. Hook Worm19 #10 DECOY 290 for 1 pack. Hook Worm25 #3/0 DECOY 260 for 1 pack. Jig hook (HS-JG-02-5/0) Helios 20 for 1 pc. Triple hook (HS-ST-36-5) Helios 21 for 1 pc. Hooks WIDE RANGE WORM (WRW-BLN-2/0) METSUI 90 for 1 pack. Metsui CHINU hooks color bln, size No. 6 (CH-BLN-06) METSUI 55 for 1 pack. Hooks FISH GAME No. 8 METSUI 75 for 1 pack. Hook Normal Double Hook KH-11041-2/0 Saikyo 23 for 1 pc. Double hook (HS-TW-01-5/0) Helios 43 for 1 pc. Double hook Double Hook Long BC No. 1/0 (Harbor) 8 for 1 pc. Offset hook (5316 K) No. 2/0 (575-016) Cannelle 15 for 1 pc. Offset hook (HS-B-93-3/0) Helios 150 for 1 pack. Jig hook (HS-JG-29-4/0) Helios 19 for 1 pc. Offset hook (5316 K) No. 3/0 (575-014) Cannelle 17 for 1 pc. Double hooks Double Hook art. KH11040-3/0/1 Rubicon 605 for 1 pack. Offset hook (HS-B-93-6/0) Helios 215 for 1 pack. Metsui ROUND hooks color red, size No. 10 (RO-RED-10) METSUI 60 for 1 pack. Hooks 115 VIKING 02NSB Cobra 63 for 1 pack. Offset hook (HS-B-93-5/0) Helios 180 for 1 pack. Tee ST36BN-№6 FORMIX 20 for 1 pc. Jig hook (HS-JG-29-1/0) Helios 11 for 1 pc. Hooks 106 HANNA 04NBS Cobra 64 for 1 pack. Double hook (HS-SD-36-1) Helios 34 for 1 pc. Jig hook JG-29 No. 2/0 color BC (HS-JG-29-2/0) Helios 13 for 1 pc. Double bait hook, multi-level, solderless No. 1/0, BN coating (8 pcs) FISH SEASONS 110 for 1 pack. Hooks FISH GAME No. 4 METSUI 81 for 1 pack. Triple hooks Round Treble art. KH11030-10/1 Rubicon 430 for 1 pack. Tee ST36BN-No. 5 FORMIX 20 for 1 pc. Double hook (HS-SD-36-6) Helios 29 for 1 pc. Triple hook 13-10-10-386 /ST-36BC-18 OWNER 360 for 1 pack. Hook Maru kaizu (HS-MK-16) Helios 114 for 1 pack. Offset hook No. 3/0 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-3/0) Helios 110 for 1 pack. Offset hook No. 10 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-10) Helios 93 for 1 pack. Tee hooks (2082-001) Cobra 1,200 per pack. Hook WRM951 #1/0 Hayabusa 180 for 1 pc. Hooks COLMIC NUCLEAR B.2000 n.18 220 for 1 pack. Metsui hooks LONG PLAINSHANK color bln, size No. 10 (LP-BLN-10) METSUI 55 for 1 pack. Double hook (HS-SD-36-2/0) Helios 37 for 1 pc. Triple hook EAGLE CLAW 974 No. 12 EAGLE CLAW 14 for 1 pc. Single hook 13-10-10-161 /50922-04 OWNER 105 for 1 pack. Doubles Cannelle (2205 N) No. 5 pack nickel, 90 degree rotation (305-020)_ 1,000 for 1 pack. Offset hook No. 4/0 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-4/0) Helios 120 for 1 pack. Double hook (HS-SD-36-4) Helios 32 for 1 pc. Offset hook (HS-B-93-7/0) Helios 250 for 1 pack. Offset hook No. 5/0 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-5/0) Helios 120 for 1 pack. Double hooks Cobra gray. 2080 size 001/0 (50pcs) (2080-K010) (pieces) Cobra 25 for 1 pc. Tee No. 1 15 for 1 piece. Aberdeen hook with ring No. 1/0 color BN (10 pcs) Helios (HS-AB-BN-9968-1/0) Helios 31 for 1 pack. Double V-Double (BN) No. 6 Kosadaka 12 for 1 pc. Tee 3981BN Kosadaka No. 12 Kosadaka 14 for 1 pc. Triple hook (HS-ST-36-20) Helios 46 for 1 pc. Aberdeen hook with ring No. 4 color BN (10 pcs) Helios (HS-AB-BN-9968-4) Helios 31 for 1 pack. Double hook (HS-SD-36-3/0) Helios 41 for 1 pc. Offset hook No. 12 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-12) Helios 93 for 1 pack. Tee No. 8 15 for 1 piece. Single hook OWNER 53101-10 OWNER 105 for 1 pack. Hook Maru kaizu (HS-MK-18) Helios 122 for 1 pack. Tee hooks (2082-008) Cobra 910 for 1 pack. Offset hook (HS-B-93-4/0) Helios 170 for 1 pack. Triple hook Treble Hooks No. 10 AIKO 30 for 1 pc. Triple hook EAGLE CLAW 974 No. 1 EAGLE CLAW 14 for 1 pc. Tee hooks (2081-010) Cobra 1,100 per pack. Triple hooks Round Treble art. KH11030-2/0/1 Rubicon 680 for 1 pack. Tee No. 6 15 for 1 piece. Hooks COLMIC NUCLEAR B.2000 n.20 220 for 1 pack. Double hook No. 4/0, black nickel color (50 pcs/pack) Condor (21520-4/0BN) Condor 25 for 1 pc. Single hook OWNER 53118-08 (7 pcs) OWNER 145 for 1 pack. Tee hooks (2081-012) Cobra 1,100 per pack. Hooks AJI (AJ-BLN-09) METSUI 50 per 1 pack. Hook Mustad 94833 BLN No. 20 94833 BLN No. 20 Mustad 2 for 1 pc. Double hook TIN TW-01-01 OWNER 335 for 1 pack. Offset hook No. 1/0 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-1/0) Helios 110 for 1 pack. Double hook (HS-SD-36-1/0) Helios 36 for 1 pc. Hook WORM No. 1/0 BN FISH SEASONS 55 for 1 pack. Offset hook No. 1 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-1) Helios 105 for 1 pack. Triple hook 13-10-10-059 /ST-36BC-16 OWNER 360 for 1 pack. Triple hooks Round Treble art. KH11030-12/1 Rubicon 370 for 1 pack. Tee No. 2 15 for 1 piece. Offset hook No. 2/0 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-2/0) Helios 110 for 1 pack. Tee ST36BN-№2 FORMIX 25 for 1 pc. Double bait hook, multi-level, solderless No. 3/0, BN coating (6 pcs) FISH SEASONS 100 for 1 pack. Aberdeen hook with ring No. 10 color BN (10 pcs) Helios (HS-AB-BN-9968-10) Helios 31 for 1 pack. Hook Korda Wide Gape X-10 (KWGX10) 540 for 1 pack. Offset hook No. 4 color BN (5 pcs) Helios (HS-1205-4) Helios 93 for 1 pack. Double hook TW-01BC-02 OWNER 375 for 1 pack. Baitholder hook with ring No. 8 color BN (10 pcs) Helios (HS-BH-BN-9946-8) Helios 29 for 1 pack. Live Bait hooks art. KH11028-2/0 Rubicon 75 for 1 pack. Triple hook (HS-ST-36-4) Helios 21 for 1 pc. Offset hook (HS-B-93-10/0) Helios 270 for 1 pack.
If several hooks are used at once, then they must be placed one after another and firmly connected to each other with piano wire (it is quite strong and reliable). To avoid making a cut for the hook, the foam rubber can be burned with a pre-hot awl. The porous material will easily yield to this manipulation and the equipment can be securely fastened.
Cargo Collapsible bullet 24g Tonar 17 for 1 piece. Cargo Collapsible bullet 32g Tonar 20 per 1 piece. Weight Cheburashka unfolded ear 36 g (pack of 20 pcs) GOOD FISHING (21834) 11 per 1 pc. Cheburashka weight with fastener 18g Tonar 18 for 1 piece. Cargo Collapsible bullet 40g Tonar 22 for 1 piece. Load Cheburashka DO IT 24g unfolded ear Tonar 16 for 1 piece. Load Cheburashka collapsible 56g Tonar 34 for 1 piece. Load Cheburashka collapsible 52g Tonar 32 for 1 piece. Cargo Collapsible bullet 36g Tonar 22 for 1 piece. Load Cheburashka ear Do-it 36 g Tonar 26 for 1 piece. Cargo Collapsible bullet 20g Tonar 15 per 1 piece. Cargo Cheburashka ear Do-it 44 g Tonar 28 for 1 piece. Load Cheburashka ear Do-it 32 g Tonar 26 for 1 piece. Drop weight (2 rings) for snags bullet 42 g Tonar 34 for 1 pc. Load Cheburashka collapsible 48g Tonar 31 for 1 piece. Load Cheburashka ear Do-it 28 g Tonar 19 for 1 pc.
A foam fish must have a weight. The best option is considered to be a “Cheburashka” attached to a foam fish after three winding rings. The game of such bait becomes more realistic. The winding rings are easy to install using fishing pliers. However, today fishermen are increasingly using more modern collapsible weights, which also allow them to achieve good results. Their use allows you to quickly change bait. There are no special requirements for the shape, but it is desirable that it be streamlined.
Photo of a foam fish
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