How to catch pike in October using a spinning rod

Where to catch pike in October

Pike is a flexible fish. In October, it can be caught at a depth of 2-3 meters, and in holes of more than 10 meters. On the river, pike, unlike pike perch, stands not under schools of fish, but above them. Therefore, it is effective to fish from a boat not so much the bottom of a reservoir as its middle layers. Read also: Biting calendar in October

Juvenile fish leave shallow places, the water becomes clear, algae sink to the bottom, thereby depriving the fry of natural shelter from the insatiable gaze of the pike - all this and much more is the reason for the senseless search for the toothy predator near the shore in shallow water. She simply has nothing to do there.

Pike should be looked for closer to the riverbed, where all the fish were heading. Its main locations are considered to be:

• at the coastal edge there are whirlpools and return streams;
• at the riverbed;
• on deep edges;
• if at medium depths there are snags and sunken trees, then it is worth staying in such a place longer;
• on vast stretches with an uneven bottom;
• in holes and ditches.

Small pike can still be caught in the coastal zone in good sunny weather, when the water warms up high enough to attract small fish here in search of food. However, fishing from the shore is becoming less and less productive every day. Occasionally, however, trophy specimens come to feeding places, chasing schools of fry, but only if there is an opportunity to hide behind some natural or artificial shelter - a drift, a pile, a support, and so on. But it’s still better to get a boat and go look for the predator closer to the middle of the reservoir. Read also: Catching pike with a wobbler

Fish Search Tactics

Active search

Experienced spinning anglers prefer active search tactics. Used to search for an active predator that is looking for bait itself. To cover a significant area from one place, use heavy spinners and wobblers for long casts.

If the reservoir is unknown, it takes time to study the bottom topography and choose the best spoon or wobbler. An active fisherman does not have such time. Fishing one point after another, the spinner moves along the shore with enviable tenacity in search of a glue spot.

An active fisherman's arsenal should consist of:

• oscillators;
• silicone baits;
• foam rubber;
• heavy wobblers.

With the help of such baits, reaches, pools, and edges are explored. When actively fishing, you should not rush to move to a new place without catching the previous one. An experienced fisherman will not make such a mistake.

A beginner, in a hurry, loses sight of places where the water moves in the opposite direction, deep areas with a slow flow, and snags sticking out of the water. In October, a predator can be in any part of the reservoir: on the shallows or at depth. If you don’t fish any area, you can deprive yourself of your catch.

Stationary method

Used by both beginners and experienced fishermen. It consists of painstakingly selecting a catchable bait and an effective way to control it.

This type of fishing has two disadvantages:

• staying in cold water for a long time;
• staying in one position for a long time is accompanied by numbness in certain parts of the body.

Let's celebrate! Finding a deep spot on the river is not difficult. Fishing begins from the boundaries of the pit. This is a favorite place for concentration of an active predator. Usually they use silicone bait with a jig or foam fish. They select different wiring methods and settle on the one that worked.

Spinning for October pike

Due to the frequent October wind, it is best to stock up on a spinning rod with a fast action so that it can penetrate it without much difficulty. A rod for fishing from the shore should usually not be shorter than 2.5 m, and for fishing from a boat a “stick” 2.2 m long is also suitable. The fishing line is monofilament (at least 0.25 mm in diameter) or braided (0.15-0.2 mm). This is interesting: Top jig spinning rods

But since the casting distance in windy weather depends on the thickness of the fishing line, it is better to use “braid” - it will not sail so much. In addition, you should not forget about a steel leash, without which you can lose your favorite bait, as well as a landing net (you cannot do without it when fishing for large prey from the shore). Read also: Choosing a spinning rod for pike fishing

Reviews from fishermen about pike fishing in autumn

Autumn passed, I didn’t take any large pike. All up to 2 kg. There was a derailment only once, but before that I pulled along with the boat. The 15 cm leash didn’t help, she broke it off. Grade:

Alexander

As the water temperature drops, the predator moves into the pits. If the algae is still visible, it may bite there too. The workers are oscillating spinners and minou wobblers. The wiring is calm, but can be jerky. Grade:

Michael

Temperatures drop, pike activity increases. Preference is cloudy weather. Knowledge of the reservoir helps and the catch is guaranteed. Grade:

Ruslan

The toothy one is everywhere and is always voracious. The main point is to choose the right bait and determine the required wiring. Grade:

Nikolai

Retrieving should be fast in warm water. Don't make mistakes with the size and weight of baits. The bait should be large and light. Approach the place where the predator is caught in swamp boats or a boat. Grade:

Anton

The fish takes a yellow lure. The reason is unknown. Air temperature doesn't matter. Grade:

Petrovich

The end of autumn is the most trophy. In shallow water, in the reeds. Depth up to 1 meter. Paradox. Grade:

Alexei

Autumn fishing with spinning is a very exciting process. If you take into account all the nuances and choose the right gear, it will be difficult to remain without a catch.

What to use to catch pike in October

October is the time for big baits. If at the beginning of autumn it was still possible to interest pike with ultralight tackle, then in mid-autumn it prefers to attack a larger bait. Even small squirrels enthusiastically chase after prey that is almost the same size as them. Read also: The best lures for pike - TOP 10

The oscillating spinners of 10-12 cm showed themselves best - the old time-tested “atom”, “spoon”, “cascade” and others. Large wobblers that can dive to great depths also work well. Due to the transparency of the water, you should not use bright baits in good weather, and it is better not to polish the spoon to a mirror shine. Read also: The best wobblers for pike

Despite the fact that pike are ready to attack anything that moves in October, the unusual color of the wobbler or too bright glare reflected from the spoon can scare off the predator. In shallow water, floating wobblers should be used. Read also: The best budget wobblers for pike

If neither spinners nor wobblers bring any noticeable results, then it makes sense to try fishing with large silicone baits. Among their diversity, there is sure to be that same “vibrating tail” or “twister” that can interest the toothy one, and provoke it to leave its home and try to catch an appetizing “fish” swimming within sight.

Features of pike fishing in other autumn months

September

If the month is warm, the fish does not take it willingly. Activity increases with cold weather, which usually comes after the twentieth. Practice shows that in September preference should be given to edges and places with quiet currents. No need to ignore snags and areas with water lilies.

November

During this period, the predator prefers to stand in holes and reliable shelters - in snags. You need to have gear that allows you to make long casts. To get to the depths they use a boat. The bite continues until the first frost.

Tips and interesting facts

Trolling is considered one of the most effective ways of catching pike in the fall - a large wobbler or spoon is attached to a fishing line, and the place where the predator is supposed to be is fished at a slow speed. True, trolling is only suitable for those fishermen who are the proud owners of a boat with a motor. What should the rest, ordinary spinners do? As usual, hit the water with time-tested baits. At the same time, spinners fishing from the shore and fishermen with boats have no less chance of leaving fishing with a catch. Indeed, due to its unpredictability, pike can sit both at great depths in a hole and in shallow water, among bushes in the water, remnants of vegetation, etc. Read also: We marinate caught pike deliciously, Dry pike at home, How to fry pike caviar

The wiring is uniform and unhurried. There is no point in conducting a large “oscillation” otherwise. After all, its main duty is to slowly waddle from side to side, imitating a wounded fish. When fishing from a boat, you can use large balancers, which work great when trolling vertically.

Advice! It would not be a bad idea to tie a piece of bright thread - red or orange - to the tee. During inactive biting, such “know-how” can encourage the pike to attack your bait.

Don't discount the jig either. Its undeniable advantage over other types of fishing is its low cost - a “twister” or “vibrating tail” caught on a snag is not as bad to leave at the bottom of the reservoir as, for example, an expensive wobbler or a high-quality spinner. In addition, with the help of a jig you can catch promising edges at great depths, which even the most catchy wobbler cannot reach. Read also: Choosing a jig spinning rod - Top 10 rating

Unlike medium and small pike, trophy predators rarely perform their famous acrobatic “candle” trick. They prefer to act with brute force, trying to get the fishing line behind any obstacle and not allow the angler to pull them ashore. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the friction on the reel, thanks to which you can release the required amount of fishing line in time, thereby preventing the offensive loss of fish.

Choosing a spinning rod for pike fishing

In early October, pike can be easily caught using spinning rods. Ideally, you need to have several spinning rods for different fishing conditions and for different baits. But if finances do not allow, then one rod will be enough. There is no point in novice fishermen spending money on an expensive spinning rod, since without experience they will not understand what they need from the gear.

The most universal length of a spinning rod is 2.40 m. With a rod of this length you can make fairly long casts, and also conveniently fish from a boat. For twitching, shorter rods with a length of 1.90-2.10 m are suitable. And for long casts from the shore, rods with a length of 2.7 meters are good.

The spinning rod should be fast or medium-fast. This system will not only allow you to fish with all types of baits, but will also effectively dampen the jerks of the pike when fishing. After all, you often have to force the landing and drag the fish through the grass or snags. A softer action will not allow this to happen, but a harder action will make fish catches more frequent.

The spinning test should be in the region of 5-25 degrees , when fishing on a pond or lake, or 10-30 degrees . Most pike fishing lures fall into this range. For trolling and strong currents, more powerful spinning rods with a test weight of 10-40 g or 15-60 g .

Recommended spinning rods:

1. Ayashi Kegon;
2. Aiko Cyclone;
3. Daiwa Exceler-AR;
4. Norstream Partner;
5. Black Hole Classic;
6. Norstream Rooky;
7. Team Salmo Treno.

Approximate price 2500 rubles (as of October 2018). Test 5-24. Station wagon. Build Fast. Manufacturer Korea.

Price about 4800 rubles (October 2018). Weight 188g. Test 7-28g. Class medium, material – carbon.

Starting price from 4100 rubles (as of October 2018).
Length from 2.13m to 2.9m with test 5-28. Remember, the manufacturer of the spinning rod is not as important as the ability to use it. However, the manufacturer can guarantee the durability and convenience of the product.

Choosing a reel and line

The coil must be the correct size. Size 2500-3000 according to dive classification is the best option. The main requirements for a reel are smooth running and even laying of the line. If the laying is uneven, tangling of the fishing line and “beard” cannot be avoided. The required minimum for a spinning reel is 4 bearings, and preferably 5-7. On good reels, the side of the spool is coated with titanium nitride, which reduces line friction and increases casting distance. Our rating of the best cheap spinning reels.

Recommended reels:

• Ryobi Ecusima;
• Ryobi Excia;
• Salmo Confidence;
• Okuma Ceymar;
• Stinger Priority;
• Stinger ForceAge XW;
• Daiwa Exceller-X.

Ryobi Ecusima – price from 1950 rub. Gear ratio 5:1, 5.1:1. Front clutch

Ryobi excia. The average price for October 2021 is 3950 rubles. Aluminum housing. Front clutch. Size 200. Weight 285g. Gear ratio 4.9:1.

SALMO Confidence price from 8200 rub.
Number of bearings 11+1. Weight 242 g. Front clutch. Braided fishing line is preferable to monofilament when fishing with spinning rods. It is not only more durable, but also has no memory, which is important when controlling the bait and for timely hooking. The optimal choice would be a braided line with a breaking load of 7-12 kg or a diameter of 0.13-0.16 mm.

Recommended braided lines:

• Power Pro Super 8 Slick;
• Sunline Super PE;
• Sufix Matrix Pro.

Power Pro Super 8 Slick.

Sufix Matrix Pro

Sunline Super PE

Jig fishing

It is better to fish unfamiliar places with jig baits Such baits are several times cheaper than wobblers or spinners, and you don’t mind losing them when caught on snags. And if you use offset hooks, then the risk of snagging can be minimized.
In October, it is better to use vibrating tails rather than twisters, as they have a more sweeping game. There is no need to go small with the size; 10-12 centimeters is the optimal size of bait for pike.

In the fall, not only stepped wiring works well, but also regular uniform wiring.

For fishing on small rivers and ponds, a set of weights from 4 to 16 grams will be quite enough. On large bodies of water you should take larger weights - up to 40 or even up to 50 grams.

Choosing the color of a bait is a subjective matter, but there are a number of rules that can guide you when fishing in different conditions:

• When fishing in clear water, place baits with a natural color (for roach, perch or any other food item for pike in a given body of water).
• When fishing in muddy water , at great depths and in cloudy weather, use bright acid colors (orange, green, yellow).
• In sunny weather, use soft colors (machine oil, brown).

The most catchy silicone baits in the fall:

1. Sawamura OneUp Shad 5 – Soft edible rubber. It works in any conditions and often catches trophy specimens. Catchable colors for pike are green and orange.
2. Keytech Easy Shiner 4.5 inches – Again, edible rubber. It has a special slot for mounting an offset hook.
3. Lucky John Tioga 3.9 inches - Budget and very catchy tires. Has an original game when wiring. The “machine oil” color will help out in any weather.

Video of catching autumn pike with a jig on the river:

Catching pike with wobblers

Today, wobblers are the most popular lures for catching pike. If you choose the right wobbler for the fishing conditions, then in its catchability it will surpass both jig baits and conventional spoons.

In autumn, there is only one requirement for pike wobblers - the more, the better. 10-12 centimeter baits are just right.

In autumn, both natural and various acid colors of baits work well.

It is effective to use twitching on small rivers and ponds, and trolling with deep-sea wobblers on large reservoirs.

When fishing by twitching, a rigid leash is needed in front of the bait in order to avoid the popper from tangling with the fishing line. An ordinary twisted guitar string 30 cm long and 0.4 mm thick will do.

The best twitching wobblers

1. OSP Asura Rudra 130 SP – Legendary pike killer. It has not only great catchability, but also good aerodynamics. Ideal wiring - easy twitching.
2. Zip Baits Orbit 110 SP – No less legendary and no less long-range wobbler. Has a wide game. It catches on any type of fishing line, so it is good for beginners. But still, the best wiring is short, light pokes with short pauses.
3. Jackall Tiny Magallon – An ideal wobbler for twitching in shallow rivers. It imitates a dying fish due to its articulated design and soft tail, which attracts pike. It catches where other baits do not work, and is good for catching passive pike. It is best to do leisurely wiring with short pauses.

OSP Asura Rudra 130 SP

Jackall Tiny Magallon

Zip Baits Orbit 110 SP

The best deep-sea wobblers

1. Bandit Deep Walleye – Good for both trolling and casting. One of the record holders for catching trophy pike.
2. Rapala Deep Tail Dancer – Has a sweeping action, which attracts bottom pike. An excellent wobbler for trolling. Thanks to the wide blade, it quickly reaches working depths.
3. Halco Sorcerer 125 XDD – Has a curved body shape and low-frequency play. The peculiarity of this wobbler is its replaceable blades, thanks to which you can fish at different depths.

We catch pike with spoons in the fall:

Catching pike with spoons

Although in recent years, spinners have faded into the shadows, giving way to wobblers and jig baits, but this has not made them any less catchy. Spinner baits and spinners are classics of the genre when catching autumn pike. They do not require special wiring techniques and are perfect for beginner fishermen. Our separate rating of the top 10 spinners for pike.

The most catchy oscillating spoons:

1. Kuusamo Professor Length Weight is an excellent spoon for catching lake pike. The best wiring is stepped, with pauses.
2. Dam Effzet - This lure is over a hundred years old, but it still does not lose popularity among anglers. Creates powerful vibrations in water. The main wiring is uniform. The best colors for pike are silver and gold.
3. Atom - The legendary Soviet spoon, caught pike already when many were still walking under the table. And he continues to catch to this day.

The most catchy spinners:

1. Mepps Aglia Long No. 3 – Veteran among spinners . Perfect for beginner anglers. Fishes well in reservoirs with weak or medium currents. The best wiring is slow and steady. The most catchy colors for pike are silver and gold.
2. Blue Fox Vibrax No. 3 – No. 5 – The famous Finnish spoon . Very long-range . It creates a strong vibration in the water, which attracts fish. A silver or gold petal with a red core is a great option for fall pike.
3. Mepps Lusox No. 2, No. 3 – The peculiarity of this spoon is that it has a replaceable weight head. Good for ponds with weak currents or standing water.

Read also: catching pike with spoons.

In the lakes

Once on large enclosed bodies of water, you should find dumps in holes, snags, areas with uneven bottom topography, where it is convenient for pike to camouflage and hunt for small fish. In this case, the catch is brought by baits working in the bottom horizon.

Less often, in early October, pike can be found near coastal algae. Here the fish stands on the edge, waiting for unwary prey. The predator also likes to stand in creeks and coves. The calm water attracts the fry here, and the spotted beast follows it, wanting to profit from easy prey.

Advice! If possible, it is advisable to fish on the lake from a boat, since many promising points are located at a considerable distance from the shore.

In October, special attention should be paid to coves and bays on lakes

When it comes to baits on lakes, good results are achieved with silicone baits. Broad-bodied vibrotails work better. When going to a pond, it is advisable to replenish your arsenal with spoons, minnows, crankbaits and spinners.

Best lures

October is the period when a rare tasty object will elude the pike's gaze. If a predator's parking spot is discovered, you still need to try to present the bait so that the fish does not react to it. The spotted beast behaves actively, tries not to miss its prey and certainly attacks it.

When does pike bite on a spinning rod in spring?

The specific choice of bait depends on the type of reservoir and fishing conditions on it. After all, not every spoon or wobbler can be used in shallow water or, conversely, can be used to fish in a deep hole. The most popular baits used for pike fishing in October are:

• oscillating spoons;
• silicone vibrating tails and twisters;
• front loaded spinners;
• deepwater cranks and shad;
• minnow;
• rattlins;
• foam fish.

Each bait is capable of showing impressive results. The main thing is to apply it at the right time in the right place.

Spinnerbait is a good bait for shallow water and weedy areas.

When choosing the color of bait for pike, you should take into account that the water in October has become cool and clear. Under such conditions, natural and neutral colors show the best results. Bright and provocative tones work less often, but they cannot be completely excluded from the arsenal.

Separately, it is worth noting white baits, especially in the case of fishing with rubber. This neutral color perfectly seduces pike in any situation, especially in cloudy weather.

On big rivers

Medium and large rivers in October are pike perch, pike perch, and marketable perch. You can also catch asp, catfish, burbot; in some regions during this period you can catch ide and chub, both of impressive size. They fish both from the shore and from a boat, but the second option is preferable, since it is possible to explore a large number of promising areas after finding a predator.

Pike perch is the main object of hunting on large rivers for many fishermen in the autumn.

It is necessary to catch a predator in October on large rivers in the area of ​​riverbed areas, on rifts and dumps, along steep bank edges and sharp changes in depth. The fish stands near the bottom, often behaves actively, and readily responds to the offered bait.

Snags stand apart. Ignoring strong spots in October is a crime. Here you can always count on a bite from a pike perch or a heavy perch; in extreme cases, the bait will be attacked by a pike, and if you’re lucky, by a catfish.

The main method of fishing on medium and large rivers in October is jig in all its manifestations. Depending on the situation, they fish with light baits and hunt with heavy baits. The basic one is a hinged mounting on an open or offset hook on an eared sinker weighing from 15 to 40 grams.

Good results, especially for passive predators, are shown by spaced rigs. On a clean bottom, a diverting leash is used, less often a jig rig and a drop shot. In strong places they fish with a Carolina or Texas rig, and in shallow water with a split shot.

When fishing deep holes and dumps with a clean bottom and there are no bites on the “rubber,” it is recommended to try narrow-bodied heavy jigs and front-loaded rotating spoons. The wiring is classic stepped along the bottom.

Advice! One of the best “pieces of iron” for fishing in October on large rivers near the bottom is the familiar Castmaster weighing 1 ounce.

A separate story is fishing in oxbow lakes and backwaters. Here the fishing of the predator is in many ways reminiscent of the situation on small rivers and toad grasses. Light jigs, classic oscillating spoons, minnow, shad, rattlin and crank wobblers work. You can only count on catching pike and perch; in some reservoirs, rudd takes ultralight bait.