Pike is a voracious predatory fish that lives in freshwater bodies of water. The chances of catching a large specimen increase in the fall, since during this period the seasonal glutton begins and the predator goes hunting. Active and aggressive behavior of fish has a positive effect on the quality of the bite. The preferred option for spinning fishing is pike fishing in the fall.
Autumn on the river
When does pike bite in the fall?
The predator begins to hunt and eat immediately after the summer heat has subsided. The autumn feeding period of pike is long and stable. The activity of the individual remains until the first frost, and is reduced to a minimum after the onset of freeze-up.
The biting time varies depending on the month.
- September. A massive flight of leaves from a birch tree is the beginning of the hunting season for large pike. Bite time is morning and evening dawns.
- October is the high season. The predator moves to depth, and the biting time also shifts - no earlier than the 11th day.
- November. The bite doesn't start until noon. Suitable times for fishing are afternoons and evenings.
To catch a trophy specimen, you need to come to the reservoir in “pike weather” - drizzling rain, light wind, ripples on the water, fresh and cool. The chances increase significantly if such weather persists for several days.
Looking for big pike
The minimum size of pike allowed for catching is 35 cm. Such individuals are called “pencils” or “shurogags”. Predators are considered large, with body size starting from 1 m and weight starting from 7 kg. To reach this size, a pike needs to live 7-10 years.
Reference! The largest specimen in our country was caught in 1930 in the waters of Lake Ilmen (Novgorod region). The pike weighed 34 kg.
Fall is the perfect time to find big fish. Such individuals are selective in their habitat and feeding habitat. Trophy specimens are solitary: they do not live or feed with “pencils” or young fish.
It is unlikely to encounter a large pike in shallow water. Such predators prefer deep-sea areas:
- deep holes at the bottom, whirlpools;
- channel channels on the river;
- places where tributaries flow;
- crevices and gorges at the bottom;
- deep creeks;
- sunken trees, snags.
There are high chances of catching a large pike in a large and deep area - a river, a reservoir, a lake. In small ponds or settling tanks (maximum depth no more than 3 m), it is difficult to catch a predator of decent size. There is a small food supply and a lack of places for shelter or hunting. The maximum possible weight of individuals is no more than 5 kg.
About
Gear selection
Autumn fishing begins when there is still vegetation in the reservoir. Long casts in this case are ineffective. The optimal fishing rod at this time is a spinning rod, the length of which does not exceed 240 cm. The action is medium-fast with a dough of no more than 25 g. A regular spinning rod of the middle price category will do. Further cooling and the disappearance of plant elements from the surface also entail a change in suitable gear. Since October, the best option is a spinning rod with a rod length of 270-300 cm for long casts.
Pike fishing in autumn
The thickness of the fishing line varies: for monofilament - 0.22-0.35, braided - 0.15-0.3 mm. In general, the chosen fishing line should be designed for a weight of 8 to 15 kg. The sharp teeth of a predator can bite through the fishing line. For protection, the tackle is equipped with a metal leash, length – 20-50 cm.
Reels must correspond to the structure and purpose of the gear. Don't save money and buy Chinese counterfeits. The basic options are inertia-free models or multipliers. Suitable capacity is 2500-3000.
What gear should I use to catch pike in the fall?
Of course, the most successful tackle will be a spinning rod. For the beginning of autumn with even more vegetation, a medium-class form with a length of up to 240 cm and a dough of up to 25 g is suitable.
At the end of October and November, all vegetation disappears, then long-distance casts will be the most successful. Here you need a fast action spinning rod up to 270 cm long.
The reel must be of high quality, because it is very possible to hit a large specimen. A fishing line of 0.25 mm is suitable.
Choosing bait for pike fishing in autumn
In autumn, pike are voracious and attack everything that at least in some way resembles food. You can use any bait. The main parameters for choosing them are large sizes, bright colors and good play.
Spinner: rotating and oscillating
Used in reservoirs free of vegetation. What lures to use to catch pike in the fall: rotating models (spinners) are suitable for fishing in September. The recommended size is 2 and 3. Since October, only small individuals have been biting on the turntables. Therefore, at this time they switch to oscillators (oscillating spoons). These are large and heavy baits that attract large predators.
Silicone jig baits
Regular and edible “rubber” is in demand for its price-quality ratio. The following species are suitable for autumn fishing.
- Vibrotail. The stronger the tail plays, the more worthy the catch.
- Twisters. The tail resembles a sickle. Characterized by active play when immersed.
- Lures in the form of worms, leeches, cuttlefish.
Silicone is useful when exploring new places. Such baits are inexpensive and you don’t mind losing them. Therefore, “rubber” is often thrown into muddy water, in areas where roots and snags are hidden under the water.
Video: Catching pike in the fall with a jig
Wobblers
Before and after vegetation settlement, minnow wobblers with a slight depth will be effective. They pass unhindered under the algae, reaching the pike’s hiding places.
About
Pike lures
Lures for catching pike in the fall can be varied. After all, at this time the predator is very active and can grab everything that swims near it.
The most widely used baits at this time are:
- oscillating spoons; is a metal plate bent in a different profile. Having low resistance, the spinner plays even with slow retrieval. Moreover, having a decent mass, it is thrown over an impressive distance;
- a rotating spinner (spinner) consists of an oval metal petal placed on a rod, its rotation creates sound vibrations;
- soft silicone baits - all kinds of fish, worms, twisters, vibrotails. These baits, unlike spinners and wobblers, are effective in any fishing conditions. This is explained not only by their great similarity with living organisms, but also by their behavior in water. Soft baits do not lose their constant play in any current and with any wiring.
- wobblers are baits very similar to live fish. They are expensive in price, but worth it.
The main factor in choosing baits in the fall is their larger size than in the summer. In accordance with this, a larger test of the rod is needed. When choosing a color, all bright shades are suitable; red color is especially attractive to pike.
Fishing for pike in the fall with a spinning rod, what is better to fish with?
There are no favorite baits for river predators. An effective option is to stock up on a variety of baits and alternate them periodically.
“Working” autumn baits:
- medium and large size spoon;
- wobblers;
- silicone baits.
These simulations show comparatively better results. The main condition is to select a bait that is at least 10-12 cm in length.
Catching pike in the fall with a spinning rod
Basic fishing for pike in autumn
The list of basic and popular ones includes uniform, twitching or jerking, ripping, aggressive, demolition or jumping. Each variety is characterized by a special execution technique.
How to do wiring correctly
Name | Peculiarities |
Uniform | Ineffective for pike. There are no active movements, wiring does not attract pike. Used to catch other white predators. |
Twitching, jerking |
The technique consists of light and smooth movements of the spinning rod horizontally. |
Riping | The rod is moved in a top-down direction. The advantage of this method is deeper penetration of the bait. |
Aggressive | The jerks resemble hooking, the bait imitates a fish that is trying to swim away quickly, then returns to its original position with oscillating movements. |
For demolition | The wiring is carried away by the current. It is important to choose the right weight of the bait so that it does not float up and plow the bottom. |
Jumping | Jumping movements - sharp twitching of the spinning rod, during which the bait comes off by 5-10 cm. |
Finding pike sites in autumn
Pike prefers to lead a solitary lifestyle and have less contact with its relatives. Each individual has its own territory where it hunts.
It often happens that a predator, in order to expand or change the hunting territory, can drive out or eat another pike.
It follows from this that these predators are distributed evenly over the entire area of the reservoir.
But there are exceptions: in a small area of water several individuals of this species can be found.
With the arrival of autumn colds and a drop in temperature, the pike wakes up with a greater appetite than it had in the summer.
This forces the predator to leave its shelter more often in search of food.
Lower water temperatures force fish to hide deeper. The pike follows. At this time, she is not very picky about food, so the size of the bait is more important than its type.
Changeable weather conditions have virtually no effect on the behavior of the toothy beauty, and therefore do not affect the amount of catch.
Features of pike fishing in autumn
The nights are cold, frequent rains and northern winds cool the water. At the end of September, all layers of water become the same temperature. The oxygen concentration is also equalized throughout the depth. In sexually mature pikes, the reproductive cells begin to mature, and the period of seasonal feeding begins.
Beginning of autumn
The summer fishing season continues. The zhor has not yet begun, the activity of the individuals is mediocre. In September, pike fishing also continues with live bait gear. There is still enough animal food in the reservoirs; fishing with spinning rods is not yet effective.
Middle
Peak pike bite. The water has already cooled down, the temperature has dropped. Pike need to build up a thick layer of subcutaneous fat for wintering. The predator becomes unselective in its choice of food; it reacts to most baits. Therefore, it is advisable to start fishing with spinning rods in October.
Late fall
Trophy large pike in November
The predator has already eaten enough, now she has become more careful and attentive. You can catch a large trophy in late autumn only at depth and using deep-sea baits. After the ice crust appears, the pike goes to the bottom and the season ends. However, in reservoirs where the water does not freeze, you can hunt for pike with a spinning rod even in winter.
Features of behavior in September
In the first half of September, many regions still experience stable warm weather. During the day the temperature can rise to 20 degrees, and at night drops to almost zero. At this time, the pike is in shallow areas, since small roach, rudd, silver bream, perch and other fry accumulate here in abundance.
You should look for pike in early September in the following places:
- shallow oxbow lakes, channels, branches, backwaters;
- the border of clear water with a coastal strip of algae;
- coastal pits and whirlpools;
- in the area of fallen trees;
- near the rubble.
Advice!
Experienced pikemen consider the beginning of the peak of the predator’s bite to be the massive fall of leaves from the birch tree. In the second half of the month, the predator moves to deep areas, as the fry moves away from the shore, and the pike follows it. Now the following places are becoming promising places:
- sharp slopes and edges;
- riffles;
- channel pits;
- whirlpools;
- wide reaches with return lines;
- snag
During this period, the pike does not lose activity. It often attacks small fish, ignoring outright small fish, which forces anglers to enlarge their baits. At the end of September you can count on catching a trophy predator.
In September, the most productive pike fishing occurs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the early morning, bites occur less frequently, mainly in the coastal zone. The same picture occurs in the evening hours. In cloudy weather, the activity of the spotted beast shifts closer to noon.
Photo 1. It’s better to fish near the shore at dawn
Video: Fishing for pike in the fall with a spinning rod
Catching pike in the fall with a spinning rod is a gambling and interesting activity. With the right selection of gear and bait, it is doomed to success. In autumn, pike strives to quickly gain weight and prepare for winter; it rushes at almost any prey. The largest individuals usually live at depth. To catch them you will need a watercraft.
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Pike in September on a spinning rod
Fishing for pike with a spinning rod in September is a favorite activity of many experienced fishermen. This method allows you to catch the desired prey anywhere. The main thing is to correctly detect fish habitats and choose the right bait.
Aggression, activity and accumulated fat of fish forces in the fall to switch to more durable and strong gear that can withstand strong resistance.
A universal pike equipment set in September looks like this:
- — fishing line with a maximum load of 7-9 kg;
- — spinning rod up to 2.5 meters long;
- - power coil with no inertia 3000 - 4000;
- - bait 35 - 40 g.
A rotating spoon will require a monofilament fishing line; a braided line will not suit the structure.
The line feed can be anything convenient for the fisherman. It is important to achieve the main goal - to bring the bait close to the fishing spot.
For fishing from the shore, it is better to take a longer spinning rod, while from a boat - a shorter one.
Special attention should be paid to the leash, since the safety of the rest of the equipment will largely depend on its reliability. The material must be durable, for example, carbon fishing line or guitar string, length - up to 20 cm
Features of baits
Let's look at the baits that are interesting to the toothy predator in September:
- - vibrators (at depth - narrow, in shallow water - wide);
- - spinners (at depth - posterior circumferential with a narrow petal, in shallow water - anterior circumferential with a wide petal, ideal size for September - 3-5);
- - silicone (twisters and vibrating tails 7 - 15 cm);
- — wobblers (extended, from 10 cm).