Pike spinners are still the most popular bait among spinners for catching this predatory fish. It is from fishing with rotating and oscillating spoons that a novice spinner most often begins to master spinning. Wobblers and silicone baits, in recent years, are gradually pushing spoons out of the first places in popularity, but spoons remain the same catchy baits, in certain fishing conditions irreplaceable, in terms of their working properties and characteristics.
In the article we will talk about what types of spinners there are, how to choose a spinner, depending on the time of year and other fishing conditions, and we will list the 10 best spinners for pike fishing.
Types of pike lures
A modern spinning angler has a large selection of baits that he can use to catch pike. This includes wobblers, soft silicone baits, and of course spinners.
Spoons for pike are divided into two large classes:
- Oscillating spoons
- Spinners
Oscillating spoons are made of a metal plate that is curved in the transverse or longitudinal direction. When casting, the oscillating spoon moves from side to side, rolls from side to side or trembles slightly, in a word, it oscillates, hence the name oscillating spoons. Oscillating spoons can be used both in still water and in currents. Oscillating spoons are versatile, easy to use and inexpensive, which is why they are very popular among anglers.
Spinner baits consist of a wire rod on which is attached a metal petal and a treble hook. When the spoon moves in the water, the petal rotates around the rod, creating high-frequency vibrations in the water that attract predators. Rotating spoons are easy to use and catchy; as a rule, rotating spoons are the first bait with which a novice spinner begins to master spinning fishing.
There is a special class of spinners, which are especially often used when fishing for pike, these are the so-called non-hooking ones. The non-hooking hooks are designed in such a way that during retrieving the hooks are hidden and come out only when a predator bites. Non-hook baits do not hook a predator well, but with their help it becomes possible to fish in hard-to-reach places: in shallow waters overgrown with underwater and surface vegetation, in wetlands, in snags.
Homemade spoons for pike
A certain mass of spinning players are extremely rarely tempted by purchased oscillating spoons, and even if they purchase them, it is only for the purpose of close study for further modification and refinement. Basically, they make good catching lures on their own, taking into account their rich fishing experience and good knowledge of the habits of pike.
A homemade spoon should be shiny, heavy enough to provide a complex trajectory of movement (sparkle), and imitate the shape of a prey fish. Therefore, the best material for its manufacture will be waterproof, polished metals (copper, brass, stainless steel, tin, lead). Vibrators are made from curved metal plates, shiny or painted, with a hook attached to them (movable or fixed).
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Choosing a spinner for pike depending on the time of year
When choosing a spinner for pike fishing, you should take into account the fishing season, since each of them has its own specifics.
Summer
Summer is a good time for pike fishing. In the summer, you can fish with both rotating and oscillating spoons, but preference should still be given to rotating spoons. To catch pike in summer, you should use spinners number 2 and 3, as well as spinners with a length of 80 to 120 mm. In very hot weather, you should use rotators slightly smaller in size No. 1 and No. 2 and vibrators 70-80 mm long. In summer, a lot of pike stay in grassy areas, where fishing with unhooked spoons will be most effective.
Autumn
Autumn is the best time for pike fishing. In the fall, pike tries to gain weight before the long winter, so they feed actively; anglers call this time the autumn pike glutton. In autumn, you can catch pike using any type of spoon; the size of the spoon should be increased compared to summer. The optimal size of a rotating spoon for catching pike in the fall is No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4. The optimal size of a spoon for pike in autumn is from 70 to 150 mm.
The rotating spoon should be driven at a slow, even retrieve; sometimes you can try accelerating and decelerating the speed of reeling in the fishing line. The oscillator should be driven slowly, evenly or in steps, making pauses of varying lengths during the drive.
Winter
Winter is a difficult period in the life of pike. With the exception of the periods of the first and last ice, pike leads a passive lifestyle, eats little and rarely hunts. Most of the reservoirs in our country are covered with ice, but winter fishermen continue to hunt for pike, including using spoons. During periods of pike activity, good results can be shown by oscillating vertical spinners 50-100 mm long, gold and silver colors.
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Spring
Spring is a period of increased activity for pike, which begins to prepare for spawning. Slow retrieval of the spinner will be more effective; in the spring, the pike is not in very good condition to actively pursue the spinner. In the spring, it is better for the fisherman not to use rotating spoons; their too intense vibrations during this period of the year do not attract, but rather repel pike. The best results when catching pike in the spring are shown by small oscillating spoons 50-80 mm long, the color of the spoon is gold or silver.
The best non-hooking hooks for pike
We will present the 10 best non-hooking spinners for pike in the form of a rating, which will give an idea of the effectiveness of the accessory and its catchability, as well as price rank and availability for sale. These types of spinners, without a doubt, are worth purchasing for the arsenal of a pike hunting enthusiast, because summer fishing strategies without fishing overgrown areas of the reservoir cannot be considered complete. Well, this kind of bait will help you successfully and comfortably fish promising places.
We confidently put forward the representative from Blue Fox, the Lucius Weedless . The manufacturer produces two varieties of spinners, a lighter one, 9 cm and 27 g, and a powerful one, 12 cm and 36 g. The durability of the coating, the reliability of the hook and the well-functioning pressure of the protective mustache will leave this model among your fishing favorites for a long time. Due to the mass, the bait's long-range and ram-type maneuverability are ensured. The price is average.
Lucius Weedless
The domestic company Russian Spinner, with its brainchild Atom-N, is quite worthy of the second line. The extraordinary play of the spoon and convenient standard sizes of 7-10-18 grams provide ample opportunities for using the spoon for various fishing conditions. The budget price parameter is also in favor of this best non-hooking line for pike.
XPS Stomper Weedless , with its creative acoustic qualities, firmly holds third place. Even if its price is high, but the high-quality fastening of the hook assembly - a protective mustache and the indelible surface more than pay for the investment in the long-term use of the accessory.
Fourth place went to the classic unhooked one - Kuusamo Viiksi . The advantages of this tool are the stable amplitude of oscillations at different wiring speeds. A powerful hook made of thick wire, with a rigid protective bracket, knocks off both hard snags and dense vegetation. The disadvantage is that it can only be used in shallow areas of the reservoir. Price – budget rank.
Kuusamo Viiksi
Gator Plain non-snaking spinner rounds out the top five in the rating. Designed for fast retrieves in cramped conditions and having the ability to equip the body and hook with additional elements for replanting baits. This bait works in both deep and shallow waters. The thing is expensive, but catchable in the summer months, when the heat makes the predator passive and capricious in its preferences for prey.
Sixth line for Johnson Silver Minnow . A classic universal non-snacking line for shallow waters with dense growth. Slow oscillating movements, even with accelerated reeling, allow you to lure a low-active pike out of an ambush. The catches are dominated by medium-sized predators. Sometimes the quality of soldering of hooks and protective wires suffers, which requires constant checks of their condition. Otherwise, it’s a budget-friendly item that’s popular among beginner pikemen.
Johnson Silver Minnow
The seventh in rank is the Croatian egg from KIRA Fishing . A glider with a durable paint coating, a balanced stroke during dynamic pulls and a reliable, monolithic hook fastening. The non-hooking wobbler is available in a wide variety of colors. The best option for catching catfish is in toad beds. The disadvantages are the specificity of the wiring technique, which limits the widespread use of the popper by spinning fishing beginners.
KIRA Fishing
Eighth place goes to Marsh 012 Mystic . Miniature oscillating spinner with a protective whisker. With a low weight it has high tunneling qualities. The catches bring a small pike, but with enviable stability. Cost in average parameters. The most catchy fish are in tiger coloring with green shades.
Marsh 012 Mystic
A little lower in the top is the Live Forage . An unusual holographic coating on the body and a reinforced V-shaped breaker are the main advantages of this tool. Disadvantages - the primitiveness of your own game and the required high skills in animation techniques. Average price factor.
Live Forage
The Acara Aver model, popular among beginners, closes the top ten . For fishing in coastal thickets, seven-centimeter spinners of yellow-green colors are used. The quality of the spinners is mediocre, but its own active animation smooths out these nuances. A low-budget bait can easily be considered a consumable by a fisherman, especially when fishing in promising snags.
How to choose a lure for pike
The behavior of pike and its attitude towards bait varies depending on the time of year, habitat conditions and characteristics of the reservoir. When choosing a lure for pike, several important factors should be taken into account:
- Spinner size
- the optimal size of a spinner for pike would be a spinner with blades No. 2 and No. 3. The best size of oscillating spoon for pike will be a spoon 7-9 cm long. When choosing the size of the spoon, keep in mind that the larger the pike, the larger the bait for it should be. When fishing for pike, you should not be afraid to use large-sized baits. - The color of the spoon
depends on the weather and the reservoir. In cloudy, cloudy weather, or in low light, you should use a silver-colored spinner. In clear, sunny weather and bright lighting, it is better to use a copper and golden-colored spoon. Good results are obtained by using spinners of a variety of colors. - Lure surface
- when choosing a lure for pike, preference should be given to lures with a corrugated surface. Such baits create a lot of sunlight while moving the spoon, thereby increasing its attractiveness to pike.
Criteria for choosing spoons for pike fishing in autumn
Among the impressive variety of oscillating spoons, it is very difficult to choose the optimal spoon for catching pike in the autumn. It is important to know the characteristic features of the reservoir and the fishing location, take into account weather conditions, take into account the fishing season, understand the classification of spinners and the features of their choice for specific conditions. In addition, you need to have the skill to use these baits.
To catch pike, as a rule, medium or large size spoons are used due to the activity of the predator.
The color scheme varies depending on weather conditions. Gold and silver colors are suitable for cloudy weather. Acidic colors are most effective in turbid water.
In addition, of course, any oscillating spinner must have a bright game of its own.
Mepps Aglia
The Mepps Aglia spinner is perhaps the most famous spinner in the world. Aglia is good at catching any predatory fish, including pike. The spinner has a wide blade that rotates at an angle of 60 degrees to the axis of the spinner, thanks to which Mepps Aglia has high drag and creates powerful vibrations in the water.
The Mepps Aglia spinner is best suited for pike fishing in still water. The petal of the spoon rotates very easily; it starts working as soon as the spoon hits the water.
Mepps Aglia No. 2 and No. 3 spoons are well suited for catching small and medium-sized pike. To catch large pike, you can use even larger size spoons No. 4 and No. 5. Colors run the gamut from simple metallic to bright fluorescent.
Mepps Syclops
The Mepps company produces not only spinners, but also has an oscillating spinner called Mepps Syclops.
The Mepps Syclops spinner has an S-shape; there is an additional longitudinal bend in the lower part of the spinner. Due to its shape, when cast, the spinner creates smooth writhing movements that attract pike well. The Mepps Syclops spoon has an ideal ratio between the length and width of the spoon for an oscillating spoon. The Mepps Syclops spinner is quite elongated and looks like a small, fast-moving fish; it plays well in the current and at the same time is wide enough to play attractively when falling on a pause.
Spoons No. 2 and No. 3 are best suited for catching pike. Of all the variety of colors in which spinners are produced, bright orange spinners are best suited for catching pike.
When fishing for pike with a Mepps Syclops spinner, use a slow, even retrieve. If the pike is in a passive state and refuses to take your bait, you can diversify the retrieve of the spinner by accelerating and decelerating the speed of reeling in the line, as well as pauses in reeling, during which the spinner will slowly fall to the bottom, rolling from side to side, which provokes the pike to attack bait.
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Blue Fox Super Vibrax
The Super Vibrax spinner from the famous Blue Fox company is an excellent bait for catching a wide variety of predatory fish, including pike. The spoon has good catchability even in the most difficult waters to fish.
A distinctive feature of the spinner is the shape of the spinner's core, which is a cone-shaped bell. Thanks to this core, the spoon creates stronger acoustic vibrations and thereby becomes more noticeable to the predator when fishing. The front part of the spinner's core is bullet-shaped, which provides optimal drag when retrieving, adding a high degree of intensity to the spinner's rotation. When the spinner hits the water, the spinner is immediately put into play.
The spoon is available in different sizes from No. 0 to No. 6. Spoons No. 1 and No. 2 are well suited for catching small and medium-sized pike. For catching large pike, the most effective spoons are sizes No. 3 and No. 4.
The Blue Fox Super Vibrax spinner is quite heavy for its size, so it has good flight characteristics. The Blue Fox Super Vibrax outperforms Mepps Aglia spoons of comparable size. Another advantage of the spinner is that when cast, it goes deeper than other similar spinners, which in certain conditions provides better catchability.
Mepps Comet
The Mepps Comet spinner occupies an intermediate position between the Mepps Aglia and Mepps Aglia Long spinners. The angle of rotation of the petal of the Mepps Comet spinner is 45 degrees. In the water, the Mepps Comet spinner, due to its smaller rotation angle, creates less drag. The spoon can be used for catching pike both in still water and in weak currents. Mepps Comet No. 2 and No. 3 spoons are best suited for pike fishing.
A special variety of the Mepps Comet spinner can be called the Mepps Black Fury spinner, which is a spinner with a black Comet-type petal with yellow dots. The Mepps Black Fury spinner No. 2 and No. 3 can show amazing efficiency in certain fishing conditions; the angler should have it in his arsenal of spinning lures.
Tips for using non-snagging lures
It should be understood that no bait, even the highest quality, guarantees a catch if you do not have the proper knowledge and understanding of how to use it.
So, our recommendations:
- A non-hooking bait or equipment does not give one hundred percent guarantees, so there is a fight for madness. You should not throw bait into very difficult places.
- When re-equipping spinners and, especially, wobblers for non-hooking, you need to take into account that the game of baits may change.
- The hook should be sharper and more biting than when fishing with conventional bait.
- The stronger the fishing spot, the stronger the protection wire.
- The selection of a specific bait depends on the fishing conditions and the intended catch, as in normal conditions.
Kuusamo Professor
The Kuusamo Professor spinner was created by the Finnish company Kuusamo specifically for catching large trophy pike both using spinning and trolling.
Kuusamo Professor spinners are available in 5 sizes, ranging in length from 50 to 180 mm. For catching small and medium-sized pike, spinners with a length of 75 and 90 mm are well suited. To catch large pike, spinners with lengths of 115, 130 and 180 mm are used.
The best retrieve for the Kuusamo Professor spinner is one with slow pulls and long pauses, during which the spinner will sink to the bottom, slowly rolling from side to side.
Mepps Lusox
The Mepps Lusox spinner is, unlike other Mepps spinners, a front-loaded spinner. The Mepps Lusox spinner is designed specifically for pike fishing. There is a special weight directly in front of the spoon; the angler can fish with or without it. The Mepps Lusox spinner works not only with a slow, even retrieve, but also with a classic jig retrieve. Both of these types of wiring bring very good results when fishing for pike. Experienced spinners who constantly catch pike strongly recommend having this spoon in their arsenal.
Mepps Aglia Long
The Mepps Aglia Long Spinner is another spinner made by Mepps. The petal of the spinner has an elongated shape, reminiscent of the shape of a willow leaf; thanks to this shape, the petal has a rotation angle of 30 degrees relative to the rod of the spinner.
Thanks to the small angle of rotation, the spinner has little drag, so it is perfect for fishing on rivers, including those with strong currents. The spoon works no less effectively on reservoirs with standing water. The Mepps Aglia Long spinner works even on the slowest retrieve, which provokes even a passive pike to attack. The Mepps Aglia Long No. 3 spoon is best suited for pike fishing.
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There is a version of the Mepps Aglia Long Heavy spoon, which is heavier and can be used for catching pike in deep water.
Unhooked oscillators
You can also catch pike with a spoon in the grass. Why fall for advertising and buy some strange type of special spinners. We simply put a tee with antennae on a known working favorite spoon - and we also fish, together with surface Croatians, an unloaded jig or spinnerbaits. How to make a non-hooking hook from a oscillator is in a special article.
Catching pike with unhooked hooks
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Rapala Minnow Spoon
The Rapala Minnow Spoon is produced by Rapala, a company known to anglers all over the world. At the bottom of the Rapala Minnow Spoon there is a soldered single hook and a special metal tendril that protects it from snags. By its design, the Rapala Minnow Spoon is a non-snagging spinner designed for catching pike in grassy and snag-filled areas.
The Rapala Minnow Spoon is available in different sizes from 50 to 100 mm, with a weight from 7 to 32 grams. The spinner is produced in a large number of both natural and provocative colors.
The Rapala Minnow Spoon can be called a long-range bait, thanks to its compact shape and heavy weight, it has good flight qualities and throwing it over a long distance is not a problem.
The two best types of retrieve for this spinner are: slow steady and steady retrieve with pauses, during which the spinner sinks to the bottom, slowly rolling from side to side. Both of these movements are good at provoking the pike to attack.
The disadvantage of the spinner, which many anglers complain about, is the poor detection of pike when attacking the bait. In order to eliminate this drawback, you can attach a small twister to the hook of a spoon.
Non-snacking gliders and gliders for pike fishing: frog, Croatian egg and others
Gliders and gliders are definitely the best non-hooking gear for catching pike in the grass, which is close to the grass. Accordingly, they are used for surface fishing. In terms of colors, the situation is as follows - challenging colors work in muddy and cold water - yellow, tiger, red, black and yellow and the like. In light water during the summer they are more natural, although acidic ones should not be avoided.
Well-known and catchy ones include the following:
- Form factor Frog. Catching pike with an unhooked frog is always a fun and exciting activity (video below). But it’s worth mastering it without giving up at the first failures. Here it is important that all the stars come together - the bait, the reservoir, the mood of the fish and its attitude to the chosen animation. Specific Models:
- Swimming frog Kosadaka Target Frog. Silicone based bait. Weight 8.3 grams. Single offset hook. For overgrown toads, this is the best thing - it will pass through the grass, water lilies, and duckweed. It lures pike not only from the surface, but also from several meters, especially on a jerky, splashing retrieve. And what pike attacks directly on the surface are available to the spinning angler... Price from 200 rubles.
- Frog glider with legs from Kosadaka. Weight 10 grams. Silicone skirt on the double as an anti-catch. It works well on walking pike in water lilies, nettles, thistles, and also on chomping perch. Wiring - the easiest lazy twitch, stop-and-go, waves. Price from 250 rubles.
- Form factor Duck. In general, there are no special differences from frogs, except for the shape. But this factor in certain conditions can become decisive. Specific Models:
- Savage Gear 3D Hollow Duckling. A very original bait-toy for a child with removed hooks. With the rear tee removed, there is no snagging. When working correctly with the rod, it animates very coolly, either laying glides with smooth pulls with the rod, or imitating a wounded, disoriented duck with small jerks with the raised rod while simultaneously winding the cord. It collects even large pike well from long distances. Price from 600 rubles.
- Form factor Croatian egg. Specific Models:
- Bumble Lure. One of the most famous "eggs". Material: balsa. Lightweight, but catchy, extremely catchy and expensive. Works on duckweed and other vegetation directly on the surface. Popper wiring, pulls, gurgling uniformity. Prices from 200 rubles and above at flea markets, new ones can cost up to 1000 rubles and above.
It should be taken into account that there is a large number of China among non-catching gliders and gliders, but this does not mean that it will not catch. It's worth experimenting and believing in yourself.
Abu Garcia Atom
The Abu Garcia Atom spinner is an oscillating spinner produced by the Swedish company Abu Garcia.
The Atom spinner is very well suited for catching large trophy pike. The spoon works on all types of reservoirs, but it shows the best results when fishing for pike in the fall on deep, clean, unsnag-free lakes.
The Abu Garcia Atom spoon has the shape of a classic pike spoon, the upper part of the spoon is narrower than the lower one.
The spinner has a corrugated surface, which creates a lot of sun glare and additional acoustic noise while moving the spinner, making the bait more noticeable and attractive to a predator.
The Abu Garcia Atom spinner is produced in four weights: 20, 25, 35, 55 grams; there are spinners in both natural and bright provocative colors.
The spinner shows the best results on a slow, even retrieve with pauses, during which the spinner moves in the water with a wide amplitude and slight tremors. At the moment the spinner stops, on pause, the spinner floats in the water column, at this moment pike attacks most often occur.
Disadvantages of oscillating spinners
- Oscillating spoons do not allow you to effectively fish all water horizons in a reservoir. Oscillating spoons are designed for fishing in the water column. You cannot fish with a spoon on the surface of the water, like a popper, or in the area directly at the bottom, like with silicone baits on jig heads.
- Oscillating lures are cheaper than wobblers, but more expensive than silicone baits. For many anglers this is of significant importance.
- Oscillating lures without hooks allow you to fish in difficult places: among thickets of underwater vegetation and snags, but in such places the use of non-hooking rigs with silicone baits (Texas, Carolina, etc.) can be more effective.
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Myran Agat
The Myran Agat spinner is produced by the Swedish company Myran, which has been producing excellent fishing lures for more than half a century. The Myran Agat spinner is a spinner; it has a fairly heavy core, thanks to which it has excellent flight qualities. The narrow blade of the spoon allows it to be used both for fishing in still water and in the current. The spinner is available in several models with different weights and different petal sizes. Using spoons of different weights, an angler can fish at a certain depth level, which allows him to catch both small-sized pike in the coastal zone and large trophy pike at depth. To catch pike, you can use lures with petal colors of gold, silver, copper and black. All of them show good results.
