December is the height of winter pike fishing. Winter spinners for vertical lures, balancers and girders are used. The spinning rods are already lying in garages, pantries or closets and are waiting for the open water season, when their owner will pick them up again and send them to work again with an uncertain wave, forgotten over the winter. Of course, there are reservoirs that do not freeze all winter and spinning rods work on them all year round, but we will not take such into account, since the topic of our article today is fishing for pike in December from ice.
There is one peculiarity in pike fishing
Some fishermen prefer to catch pike (or rather, they don’t prefer, but the situation has developed that a person fishes where he lives, in rare cases going fishing, say, 200-500 kilometers from home) on large rivers and lakes, Then he fishes on small rivers. Some fishermen are fans of pike fishing from a boat, while others fish from the shore. This is a huge topic, we’ll talk about it later. Well, now I would like to continue the series of short notes about pike fishing throughout the year, so to speak, to “go through” the months. This is really interesting, as it opens up for the fisherman not only an understanding of how to catch pike, say, in the fall or summer, but also reveals the world of its habits and way of life. Thus, after some time, a person visiting an unknown body of water at any time of the year can already guess where the pike is, “guess” its behavior, desires, and, well, start fishing properly.
Choosing a fishing spot
The success of fishing as a whole largely depends on the right choice of place. Many experienced fishermen know the places where pike prefer to be in the first days, when the first ice has hardened. She loves to visit places that are familiar to her, where she swam before the freeze-up. For about the first 3 weeks she remains in her favorite places. As a result of this, it is better to wait for this predator in:
- In reservoirs with natural and artificial shelters.
- In places where rivers and streams flow into the main body of water.
- Edges with changes in relief.
These are common sites for pike.
So, how to catch pike in December?
In general, at first glance, you can’t say much about pike fishing in winter, and we have written about this in a number of articles. On the other hand, winter is a very flexible concept (in some regions the ice sets in late November - early December and remains strong until the end of April), and such a wide range implies different fishing variations.
To make it easier, let’s assume that it was in December or at the end of November that the rivers and lakes were frozen with ice. How to catch pike and does it bite in December? It bites, and how.
Search for a promising location
When planning to go fishing in December using a spinning rod from the shore, it is important to find a place where a predator may be located. As a rule, the preferences of individuals up to 3 kilograms remain the same as in November, so you need to look for pike in the following points:
- Among reed and reed thickets, the depth of which does not exceed two meters.
- In places with abundant snags.
- In shallow river and lake backwaters.
- At the edges and in places with a sharp difference in depth.
- In areas where there are many bottom obstacles.
If an angler has had to fish in any body of water before, then finding the habitats of pike will not be difficult, since they practically do not change. But it is very problematic to catch large representatives of the species in shallow water, especially in winter, when the fish loses its former activity and rarely goes out hunting . Most often, large individuals keep:
- dumps;
- pit;
- whirlpools;
- sudden changes in depth;
- exits from the pits.
The fish prefers deep areas, and this tendency is noticeable not only in winter, but also in summer and autumn. Nevertheless, there are exceptions when fishermen manage to catch quite a large catch right off the coast.
When fishing on a small lake or artificial reservoir, it is much easier to find pike, since in such water areas the fish prefers to stay in central areas with impressive depths, as well as the coastal zone. One thing needs to be taken into account: if you managed to catch one pike at a specific point, most likely others will follow it, since in winter small specimens lead a schooling lifestyle. The same thing happens when fishing for perch in December using a spinning rod.
What to fish for in the first weeks of December
For the most part, during this period of time, pike are caught with several tackles: with girders (flags), vertical spoons from the ice, spinning rods in open water (we will talk about this topic more than once, since open areas of water in winter are quite suitable for ordinary spinning fishing).
Sites for installing vents on the first ice are selected according to the following principle: closer to grass thickets, in shallow places, near dumps, in slow currents, in creeks (until they freeze). At the same time, we adhere to the following rule: we place approximately 90% of our girders along the shore near the grass, and 10% are placed in deeper areas. This is done for just one single purpose: there are cases when the first ice is not a guarantee that the pike feeds in shallow areas, sometimes the fry, for various reasons, goes deeper, and these 10% of the holes close this issue. Most often, there are no bites on them, but in terms of reinsurance and understanding the true situation on a particular body of water at a particular time, this is a good way, in our opinion.
We do not describe the structure of the tackle, since we talked about this earlier, but let us remind you that the optimal live bait is the one that lives in a given body of water. Where can I get it? There are two ways: either catch it with a jig right there, but it will take time, and there may also be no bite, or prepare live bait in advance (catch, buy, etc.), but storage issues will arise. In general, this is not an idle moment for a novice pike fisherman. It happened to us that it was not possible to catch live bait in a reservoir, and every fish caught was “worth its weight in gold . You need to be prepared for this. Pike on the first ice are quite active, when fishing they strongly resist, so the hole should be of normal diameter, and a hook would not be superfluous.
Tackle and accessories
Before choosing the right gear for winter fishing, you need to clarify a number of points. Modern anglers use two winter methods for catching pike:
- Flashing.
- Zherlitsy.
If we are talking about fishing in open water, then summer gear, including spinning, is also used.
If you want to start spinning pike fishing at the beginning of winter, it is important to prepare good equipment in advance. In most cases, the classic “Moscow” version or “drop shot” is used. In fact, they are not much different from each other, but in the second case, the hook is fixed on the main line just above the sinker, and in the first case, on a retractable leash.
It is not difficult to make “Moscow” equipment with your own hands, and there are simply no special financial investments when choosing a form, reel and bait.
You can fish from the shore with any spinning rod that meets the following parameters:
- Length - 2.4−2.7 m.
- Test range - 5−10, 20−30 g.
As a reel, it is advisable to use a model with the number 2000-2500, preferably a traction one, because the speed of rotation of the spool does not play a special role. It’s up to you to use braid or monofilament; the first option provides higher sensitivity of the equipment, but is subject to freezing. If you prefer braids, then you should pay attention to models that are pre-treated with a special anti-freezing compound.
You can do this type of impregnation yourself by taking an aerosol package with silicone. In this case, the lace on the bobbin should be sprayed with this solution, which will allow it to retain its water-repellent properties for about 2-3 hours. Rod rings are also treated to prevent the formation of ice.
To avoid such difficulties, it is advisable to use a monofilament line, although with a slight frost, ice will appear on the rings, which can cut the fishing line. It is important to clean it in time so as not to lose your gear.
But when fishing for pike perch in December with a spinning rod, it is wiser to use a braided cord, since the bites of this fish are unnoticeable, and the cord provides the highest sensitivity.
Shore fishing with jig
Among other types of spinning pike fishing, the jig method is considered the most difficult. In winter, it is customary to equip a fishing rod with medium-weight jig baits, since heavy models are only suitable for fishing from a boat. In addition, when using such products, the likelihood of accidentally throwing the equipment into a blind snag is reduced, because you can independently change the casting trajectory.
Excessively heavy jig baits constantly catch various bottom debris, so they are ineffective. In addition, in winter, a wide strip of ice fast ice often stretches along the coastline, which is difficult to get around with a heavy jig head.
Ideally, the selected bait should weigh no more than 5-10 grams.
When planning to fish with jig, you initially need to examine those areas that bore good fruit in the summer. If you know them, start carefully tapping the bottom looking for holes and edges. As a rule, they remain in the same place, but the level of the reservoir drops slightly.
In winter, there is no need to make long casts, because the fish does not go further than sixty meters from the shore. Nevertheless, the aerodynamic properties of the bait must be good, because it must be delivered to the exact location indicated.
Using weights that are too heavy will cause the silicone product to sink into the water too quickly as it passes the perspective horizon. In turn, weights that are too light are not able to hold the rig in the current, so they are useless on rivers.
If you want to engage in jig fishing, it is important to pay special attention to the color of the bait used. Do not forget that the retrieve is done slowly in winter, because the water at this time is very clean, and the fish will be able to detect the movements of the proposed bait and then react to it.
When passively fishing for pike perch in December using a spinning rod, it is better to use a rigid attachment of equipment. This is due to the quick bites of the fish, which attack the bait with a high vibration frequency.
Application of wobblers
Despite the great popularity of winter spinners, wobblers are also used for open water fishing with spinning rods. It is no secret that recently winters in many regions have become very warm, so reservoirs do not freeze until the January frosts. Therefore, the use of all kinds of wobblers is in special demand.
However, not every wobbler is suitable for searching for predatory fish in winter. For such fishing, it is necessary to choose suitable shapes, colors and sizes, because winter fish can be capricious.
Considering the transparency and purity of the water, it is better to use natural shades to catch pike, since bright acidic colors only scare it away. However, when the water begins to warm up, for example, before the spring thaw, this option may well be justified. The main thing is to choose the right size, taking into account the size of the expected prey and its preferences in a particular body of water.
As for catching pike in December with a vertical spoon
This is running fishing, the first one gives good results. As a spinner, both special winter spinners for vertical play (white and yellow) and some summer spinners and non-hooking spinners can be used, the latter “glides” very well in the water. In addition, do not forget about the balancer.
When fishing for pike in December from the ice, it is important to pay attention to the line (we use a line no thinner than 0.25-0.30 mm), and a leash won’t hurt.
The game with bait is the most varied. As a rule, we lower the tackle to the bottom, then raise it about 1-2 centimeters, and then begin jerking movements. It is important to understand that there is no specific catchy game - you need to select it and look for it. Pay attention to pauses, length (width) of the jerk, sharpness of the swing and other points. If the pike doesn’t bite, it makes sense to fish on other water levels, and… experiment with baits.
Ice fishing for pike in December is exciting, you have to walk a lot and drill holes. It wouldn’t hurt to go fishing in those holes where you were an hour or two ago (here the situation is similar with perch fishing).
Other fishing methods
Pike fishing is truly diverse. In addition to jigs, many fishermen also prefer to use both a spoon and a balancer. At this time of year, in the majority of cases it remains active, as a result, if you do not notice bites for 5-10 minutes, then you should change the place of fishing. And you can return to this place later, when you go around the other holes, because... It should be remembered that pike also moves around the reservoir.
Fishing with live bait
What kind of live bait should I choose for fishing? Popular species for catching this predator are gudgeon, perch or roach. The fact is that, unlike perch or roach, it does not particularly like to hide, preferring open places. Also a common choice for fishing is small carp.
It is characterized by active play, which attracts predators. It is important to remember that pike are quite wary of prickly fish, for example, perch or ruffe, as well as unfamiliar fish species that do not live in this body of water. However, if perch is found in predominant numbers in reservoirs, then pike bite well on it. Many anglers prefer to cut off the spines of perch for fishing.
You need to hook the live bait by the back not far from the dorsal fin, as in the picture.
How to choose the best silicone lures for pike fishing:
Lure fishing
The predominant number of winter spinners have an oval shape. Fishing is done with a spoon, which has a tee, on which there is plumage with red hairs. Practice shows that this design provides good bite and hooking. It is not recommended to use a spinner with a tee that is too large, because this may scare off a predator. Do not forget that the spoon also requires a strong leash, otherwise the pike will simply bite it. Whether steel or fishing line - depends on your preferences.
To the balancer
The balance beam is also a common bait for predators. It is a small fish that plays quite actively when caught, which attracts the attention of the pike. In the first winter month, fish are caught quite well with it. The most suitable baits are sizes from 2 to 9. The balancer can also be improved with various beads and flies of bright colors, which can attract predators.
Pike at the end of December
About 2-3 weeks after the ice has stopped, the pike bite begins to slowly weaken . This is almost unnoticeable, since the pike is still actively grabbing live bait and bait, but it is already beginning to show its activity more and more often from deeper places. By the end of December, we are installing the vents according to the scheme: 50 to 50, that is, part of the vents is at a depth of 1-2 meters, and the second part is even deeper. Well, depending on the bite, we will make adjustments in the future.
Pike on the first ice
Many people can’t wait to go to the nearest body of water with the first ice. And rightly so! But, it is important to know how to disguise yourself correctly. Try to catch pike in a place where the ice is heterogeneous (transparent in some places, dusted with snow in others). Tip: to make yourself invisible to the watchful eye of a predator, drill a hole and let the spilled water harden a little. Darkening will make you inconspicuous. Remember that pike is a very sensitive fish to sound and various types of vibrations.
Fishing is interesting in December and in open water, if there are such places
At this time we were fishing with a jig, and foam rubber served as bait. Fishing was carried out only from the bottom, with step-by-step retrieval. Let us note on our own that we fished with both braid and monofilament. In both cases, especially if there is a “good frost”, the rings freeze over, because the cord drags water along with it. To some extent, various impregnations help, but this is not a panacea. Well, with braid you feel the bite better, but the fishing line is cheaper, and if it gets ruined over the winter, it’s not such a shame for the amount spent on it.
December is an interesting time for pike fishing; you can approach the most interesting places from the ice, the main thing is that the ice holds, do not forget about safety precautions. Sometimes, in the excitement of the first ice, you want a lot, but...
The first ice for a fisherman is a lot of pleasant emotions, and pike responds very well to both live bait and artificial bait (though it will have to do). Well, winter is slowly coming into its own, and it’s already January...
Conclusions about spinning fishing in December
December is a very problematic month for spinning players. It’s already winter everywhere, and even in the south it’s almost here.
What to do? Or wait until the frost weakens and jump out onto an ice-free body of water for a record-breaking pike? Or take a risk: take a spinning rod (and winter gear, just in case) and head to the lower reaches of the Volga?
Or maybe read a good book?
Fishing tactics
Actually, the tactics for placing flags depend on the degree to which winter has taken hold. If at the time of fishing there is the beginning of freeze-up, then the pike is most likely active now. The piers need to be placed from the coastal grass inwards, covering the edge. If the bite is already subsiding, we focus more on deep-water areas, not forgetting to check the middle depths.
- You need to arrive at the reservoir while it’s still dark, the flags are set up so that by the time it’s already gray and visible without a flashlight, all the gear is already there. It is at dawn that the largest pike strike. By lunchtime the bite usually dies down, resuming for a couple of hours in the evening. On some reservoirs, pike come out to feed at strictly defined times, according to a schedule.
- The layout of the girders depends on the terrain and the desire of the fisherman. In open spaces you can place them in a checkerboard pattern, along the bushes - in two rows. We leave the distance between the vents approximately 5-10 meters. If it’s stranded and in the bushes, we set ourselves up in the windows. But for thickets you need to use a different equipment - more powerful, with a restriction on the reel so that the predator does not get the gear into a writhing state.
Search
- Fishing in early December on girders is essentially first ice. And here you need to look for an active predator. Overgrown areas with medium depth, the border of thickets with a fall into a hole, entrances and exits to pools, individual snags and solid snags are suitable for placement.
- On large bodies of water, any changes in depth, edges and slopes, colonies of shells among sand or stone - everything is the same as for pike perch, only at shallower depths. Promising points for vents are also any navels and elevations in the depths, especially with vegetation, underwater spits and any deviations from the average surrounding terrain.
- At the end of December, pike can also stand near overgrown areas. But to a greater extent, now we need to look for it deeper - under deep coastal cliffs, on dumps in holes, under the edges.
The right live bait
There are no trifles in zherlitsa - success from failure can be separated by a trifle that is insignificant at first glance. One of these factors is the right bait. In November or December, during the feeding period, the toothy one grabs everything that moves. However, you still need to get to the zhor. The rest of the time, the size of the live bait, its type, landing method, sleepiness or liveliness, affect the quantity and quality of the grip.
It is better to use fish that are the food supply for pike in this particular body of water. Most often these are roach, crucian carp, and perch. You can buy live bait in a store, but you can’t always find what you need. Some anglers catch bait with a jig. However, since you need to enter the reservoir in the dark and set out before dawn, you need to have with you the amount of belly for at least one charge, according to the number of gears.
Experienced garrison fishermen prepare live bait in advance, of the correct size and type, specifically for those bodies of water to which they plan to travel. It could be loach, gudgeon, ruffe, perch, crucian carp, roach. Live bait can be stored at home in the refrigerator or cellar. With certain efforts and opportunities, it is possible to keep live bait alive in winter for quite a long time.
At one time the pike takes better live bait, at another time it takes dead bait. Dormant does not mean dead. The fish must be alive, from time to time it will move and attract pike.
It is equally important to control the method of baiting the bait. You need to plant the fish purposefully by the back, or by the lip, and not spontaneously, as it happens. Throws it quickly after grabbing it - we put it under the gills. He takes it boldly and immediately - we use large tees and hook the bait onto the back. Read more about methods of attaching live bait to pike
Rearranging checkboxes
Even when there is first ice in December, catching pike with girders is far from a passive activity. For example, the flags are set, but in the morning it doesn’t work. Next you need to act depending on the situation. Either we wait for the exit (if its time is known), or we begin to gradually and consistently transfer the zherlitsa one by one to new places. You need to move it close so as not to lose sight of the others. In severe frost, if the live bait is not replaced during transfer, you need to take it with a glove so as not to freeze when carrying it, especially in the wind.
- Some of the girders can be installed in shallow water in the bushes, others - at depth. It is important to establish a trend and get at least one trigger.
- However, at the beginning of December, if it is known that the pike eats during outings, it makes sense to wait - the active toothy one will sense the vibrations of the baitfish from 10-15 meters away and, at a minimum, will come closer to inspect their source.
- In addition to transferring, in December you need to experiment with other things - change the size and type of live bait, plant live or dead ones, adjust the length of the descent. On the edges, it is better not to place the girder equipment at the bottom, but to raise it by a meter to one and a half, depending on the total depth. The pike does not see what is happening below its level of movement. She looks to the sides, forward and up. To see something below itself, the pike needs to tilt its body down.
- Therefore, a pike walking along the upper edge can miss a live bait standing at the lower edge, if at the moment of its passage the fish is motionless and does not emit any vibrations that the predator would feel along the lateral line.
Catching at night with supplies
If the reservoir is within walking distance and there are secluded places, you can expose the pike for the night. To do this, you can use both conventional girders of any design and under-ice supplies. Platform holes with flags are better - they can be covered with snow above the hole so that it does not freeze.
Deliveries can be of any design - wound on a tube, plastic bottle, slingshot. Such a reel is completely lowered into the water, a special loop is brought out and secured above the ice with a crossbar. You need to check such rates in the morning, at dawn.
