Ratlins for perch in winter - choice of baits and wiring technique

What is a wobbler

A wobbler is an artificial bait that looks like a small fish, amphibian or insect, which is the food of predatory fish. These three-dimensional lures look natural, no matter what angle a predator sees them from. The movement of the wobbler in the water imitates the movement of the fry, which attracts predatory fish.

The materials used to make wobblers are wood, plastic, sometimes cork, and more recently also silicone. The most reliable and durable are plastic one-piece baits without glued parts.

A wobbler consists of a body with a blade attached to it, which serves to deepen and create intense vibrations. From one to three hooks are attached to the body, usually tees, but can be double or single. The body also has an eyelet for attaching fishing line.

The best wobblers for pike 2021, ratings and reviews

• The best wobblers for pike 2021, ratings and reviews 1. Ima Flit 120
• 2. ZipBaits Khamsin SR
• 3. Megabass Vision 110
• 4. Owner Cultiva Rip'n Minnow 112 SP
• 5. Lucky Craft Pointer 100 SP
• 6. Jackall Squad Minnow 80 SP
• 7. Jackall Tiny Magallon
• 8. ZipBaits Orbit 110 SP
• 9. Yo-Zuri L Minnow 66
• 10. Rapala X-Rap 10
• 11. OSP Rudra Jerkbait
• 12. Deps Balisong
• 13. FLT Chad Crank
• 14. ZipBaits Orbit 80
• 15. OSP VARUNA 110 F
• 16. Strike Pro Inquisitor 110SP
• 17. Imakatsu Riprizer
• 18. OSP VARUNA 110 SP
• 19. ZipBaits Khamsin-SR 70
• 20. Chinese wobbler Imakatsu POWER BILL MINNOW 115SP
• 21. Tsuribito Hard Minnow 95F
• 22. Megabass Flap Slap
• 23. Jackall Squad Shad
• 24. Salmo Hornet
• 25. A-elita Shad 75F

Ima Flit 120

The ideal bait has an oblong shape, three tees and metal balls inside. It is also famous for its degree of buoyancy - suspender.

This wobbler is capable of diving approximately two meters under water with twitching wiring, and also three meters with a uniform one.

ZipBaits Khamsin SR

The attractive bait differs from its competitors not only in this advantage, but also in other features.

These include: two high-quality tees, equipped with a tungsten weight, and a suspender (its length can be selected upon purchase).

Megabass Vision 110

The wobbler, not too large in size and weight, is famous not only for its luxurious coating colors, but also for its three good sharp tees.

In addition, buyers love that this option slowly rises to the surface of the water and is controlled by tungsten balls that fit discreetly into the body.

Owner Cultiva Rip'n Minnow 112 SP

A suspended wobbler is usually purchased by fishermen for catching large-sized pike.

It is distinguished by its appearance, as it resembles a small inhabitant of shallow waters.

The main advantage of the bait is its excellent balancing, thanks to which even a beginner can quickly get used to it and make a sufficient number of accurate casts.

Lucky Craft Pointer 100 SP

This wobbler is recommended for use within reservoirs where a lot of pike live.

As for the best choice of wiring, there is no secret here, since most specialists choose twitching.

This bait does its job perfectly and provokes fish to attack, even if they are at an impressive distance from each other.

Jackall Squad Minnow 80 SP

A high-quality suspender will be an ideal solution for people who are just about to get acquainted with twitching.

This option quite actively dives under water to a sufficient depth and can continuously remain on its surface throughout the entire wiring.

Jackall Tiny Magallon

A good wobbler for beginners and experienced fishermen is liked by buyers for the opportunity to catch predators in shallow water.

It belongs to the category of two-part, which is also considered a significant advantage. This model has a pair of tees, as well as a silicone tail.

ZipBaits Orbit 110 SP

The bait with an elongated body is famous for its three tees and the ability to quickly go under water to the depth specified by the manufacturer - 1.2 meters.

Twitching is considered the most profitable option for eyeliner.

Yo-Zuri L Minnow 66

A creative version with minimal weight has very good flight characteristics, as well as intense play.

Inside this bait there is a cylinder-shaped weight, thanks to which the predator is more attracted to it.

Rapala X-Rap 10

One of the real “pike killers” will be an indispensable device for every spinning angler.

It is famous for its catchability, as well as increased sensitivity.

Thoughtfully selected colors, holographic body with 3D eyes and lateral line act as a beacon, attracting fish.

The wobbler can be used for both aggressive and classic wiring. Possessing neutral buoyancy, it can stay in the stern zone for a long time.

OSP Rudra Jerkbait

An excellent lure for pike pleases anglers with its ideal design. It can be used for slow winding and still work quite well. Proven to perform well in shallow water

The only drawback of the wobbler is the fact that its surface peels off quickly.

Deps Balisong

This model is considered one of the most catchy.

It attracts the attention of anglers because it can lure pike from a long distance and quite quickly pull it to the surface of the water.

In this case, the best wiring option would be a jerking one, although a uniform one will also allow you to get a good catch.

FLT Chad Crank

A wobbler, designed for smooth retrieving, does its job perfectly and allows owners to catch a lot of heavy pike.

There are particles inside it that knock against each other during the game, thereby provoking the fish to attack. And thanks to its elastic tail, the bait creates special noises that also attract the predator.

ZipBaits Orbit 80

The "minu" class variant is good for its hooks. This wobbler can be bought on Ali Express

They are famous for their highest quality, as well as their ability to cut fish at the moment of its contact with the sharp end.

In addition, buyers speak positively about the spring type of bait, which pleases the eye of every owner.

OSP VARUNA 110 F

A wobbler with a positive degree of buoyancy makes it possible to get a great catch even in shallow water.

Moreover, people call its advantage a leisurely climb to the top with breaks.

Strike Pro Inquisitor 110SP

This professional bait differs from its competitors in its neutral buoyancy and excellent action.

It starts up quite quickly and makes a sound that attracts predators. It can be used for uniform wiring or twitching.

Imakatsu Riprizer

A high-quality wobbler has an elongated shape and belongs to the category of suspenders.

It appeals to both beginners and experienced anglers. As for the use case, you can choose any twitching here.

OSP VARUNA 110 SP

The bait, capable of diving under water to a distance of about 2.1 meters, is a suspender.

It attracts the attention of both buyers and potential catches with its voluminous, flat and bright design, as well as tungsten balls to maintain balance.

ZipBaits Khamsin-SR 70

A fairly catchy bait is primarily good because it allows its owner to make the most accurate casts.

It can be used in still or current water.

Chinese wobbler Imakatsu POWER BILL MINNOW 115SP

The wobbler is quite light in weight and is ideal for use with uneven wiring.

It has a rather interesting shape and makes a strong characteristic sound, so it forces the predator to attack almost instantly.

Tsuribito Hard Minnow 95F

The bait, specially designed for the middle layers of water, is famous for its interesting game, as well as its ability to force any predator to attack.

It copes with pike very quickly and even gives the owner a chance to become the owner of a record catch.

Megabass Flap Slap

The bait, which looks like a small crucian carp, submerges 1.5 meters under water. It can go a whole meter deep if twitching is carried out.

In addition, this model plays beautifully and smoothly, luring the predator.

Jackall Squad Shad

A balanced suspender-type wobbler sinks to a depth of up to two meters and does its job perfectly.

Its main advantage is the long-distance casting system.

Salmo Hornet

A catchable model for use in summer, it is good for fishing in reservoirs and lakes.

This bait does its job perfectly, regardless of the current and other factors that could interfere with it. The most important thing is to choose a sensitive and not too heavy spinning rod for it.

A-elita Shad 75F

A good option for beginners and experienced fishermen, it is famous for its depth of 2 meters, as well as the opportunity to catch absolutely all the predators that are found in reservoirs.

In addition, its advantage is the quick provocation of pike, which is waiting for prey on the deep bottom, but the wobbler does not make sudden movements so as not to spook the fish.

Types of wobblers

Currently, there are a huge variety of wobblers that differ in body shape, weight, blade size, buoyancy and color. Any fisherman can choose bait depending on the tasks he sets for himself and the conditions in which these tasks must be solved.

The main criteria when choosing a wobbler is

• Buoyancy. Depending on how the bait behaves in the water, they are all divided into floating (remain on the surface), sinking (go to the bottom) and suspenders (remain in the water column at an average depth, as if in a “suspended” state).
• Immersion depth. According to the degree of maximum depth, these baits are classified as surface, medium and deep.
• According to body shape. Lures are produced in a wide variety of shapes - long and short, spindle-shaped and almost round, pot-bellied and blunt-nosed. Not only the nature of its “game” in the water, but also other operational parameters depend on the shape of the bait.

What types of wobblers are suitable for winter fishing?

What is a winter wobbler?

Since the movement of the bait in a vertical position is important for winter fishing, all wobblers used for these purposes are usually called vertical. In Russian, they are given the slang name rattlin, which comes from the name of the Rapala Rattlin wobbler, which is very popular in Europe - a bladeless bait for vertical trolling.

Almost all wobblers for winter fishing are sinking type baits, only some of them are suspenders.

Vertical wobblers

What wobblers are most often used for winter ice fishing? By and large, all baits belong to the same class of wobblers, which does not yet have one common name. Some manufacturers call them vertical wobblers; in English-speaking countries the term “Lipless” in combination with “Vibrate” is used for these wobblers. Often such wobblers are marked with the inscription Vib (Vibration) - vibration. In Russia, most of these wobblers are called rattlins.

It should be noted that the name “rattlin” itself is a purely Russian slang word. Many anglers know that this name is a derivative of the name of one of the most common wobblers of this type in Europe - Rapala Rattlin. For a long time, this wobbler was one of a kind, and therefore its name became a household word for a whole class of baits. But this is not all the nuances. I think that not many fishermen know that this bait was invented and was originally used exclusively for winter vertical trolling. Yes Yes!

But as often happens, many baits are reclassified as all-season baits, and in the case of the “rattlin”, it has become mainly a summer wobbler. And here you can’t argue - in the summer, this bait is not only very catchy, but also has its advantages over many other wobblers due, first of all, to the possibility of stepwise retrieval with progressive deepening (this vertical action remains from the original winter orientation of the wobbler). According to the principle of play, spinners such as “cicada” or “sonar” are close to “rattlins”.

Wobblers for winter ice fishing have common characteristics.

1. All vertical wobblers are bladeless baits
2. All baits are sinking (although several suspender models have appeared in recent years).
3. The point (occasionally several points) for attaching the wobbler is located only at the top of the wobbler’s body.
4. As a rule, the bait is equipped with two hooks, most often tees. But doubles and single hooks are also used.
5. Most "rattlins" are equipped with various "rattles" (steel balls inside the body). None of the winter baits have this option!
6. And lastly: all these wobblers catch perfectly both in winter and summer. So investing money in these wobblers is optimal.

These are some general characteristics. But there are a number of other nuances. All vertical wobblers can be divided into two more classes: fast-sinking - baits weighing from 7-8 grams and heavier, and slow-sinking wobblers - respectively, weighing less than 7 grams.

Well, now let's talk in more detail. Let's start, perhaps, with the very first bait (wobbler) that gained wide popularity among Russian fishermen - this is the Polish wobbler from SALMO Chubby Darter.

It must be said that this company has not the only wobbler model for ice fishing. Poles classify such wobblers as vertical. These sinking wobblers are great for catching perch, pike and pike perch from a boat both in winter and summer. The only significant drawback of this bait is that, due to its wide body, it does not work well in the current (it simply dangles from side to side). In general, “rattlins” are very stable in the current, and most likely even the most stable of wobblers due to their narrow-width and at the same time high body.

Many vertical wobblers have a fin-type ledge on the body of the bait (most often at the top). These ledges are called balancers. Accordingly, they add certain shades to the action of the bait and better hold it in the current.

In recent years, many manufacturers have introduced baits with a transparent polyurethane body and a foil surface inside. This creates a complete imitation of a live fish. For example, the French company Sebile, specializing in such baits, has released a very worthy model. The low center of gravity and voluminous “belly” create powerful force waves that are attractive to fish. This wobbler sinks quickly and starts working almost instantly, and allows for both slow and fast play.

Features of the game of vertical wobblers depend on their balancing. If the weight is shifted towards the nose of the bait, then the wobbler will have a greater amplitude, but a lower oscillation frequency when stopping. Most wobblers have a high-frequency game, but some companies have begun to produce wobblers that initially have a low-frequency game. These wobblers have a narrow, “minnow”-shaped body.

Any predatory fish can be caught using vertical wobblers. It’s all about the size of the bait; naturally, small models 3-5 cm long are used for perch, although perch is often caught using the largest baits measuring almost 10 cm. In general, “rattlins” are quite specific. What I mean. The wobbler itself is a more complex bait in design than a spinner or a balancer, and much depends on the quality of the wobbler. Not all baits are, let’s say, of the same level.

I won’t give the names of companies, but I want to say that on “cool” days fish can be caught using any rattlin, but on other days low-quality baits are often not to the taste of the fish. In addition, cheap baits have other disadvantages. From time to time, during amplitude play, overlaps occur when the tees cling to the fishing line. With more thoughtful baits, such troubles do not happen. In general, vertical wobblers are a very promising class of bait, which already catches no worse than balancers, but purely technologically has great prospects for development.

How does a vertical wobbler play?

When lowered into a hole, the “Rattlin” goes to the bottom under its own weight and practically does not deviate to the side. Then, when you jerk the rod up, the wobbler, due to the beveled frontal plane, begins to vibrate and rise with a slight deviation to the side and up. The swing is completed - the wobbler falls to the starting point, and for some time it makes small swings, standing almost in one place.

In general, the game of a wobbler is similar to throwing a sick or wounded fish. The action of the rod when fishing with a “rattlin” is the same as when fishing with a balance beam, with one exception. All jerks should be smoother, with a “draw”. The most suitable rod lift when fishing with a wobbler is approximately 30-50 cm.

The advantages of rattlins over spinners and balancers are that, firstly, the wobbler is visually similar to a fry, and sometimes this is decisive. And secondly, rattlins “make noise” and thereby additionally attract fish.

Choosing the color of a wobbler is an intuitive matter and you can’t give any recommendations here. Most likely, you need to have both natural fry and rooster colors. Keep in mind one more nuance, “rattlin” is the most catchy winter bait and it is better not to fish in snags or scrape it along the bottom, since “rattlin” instantly catches old leaves and debris on its two tees.

And remember: you can successfully fish with wobblers of this series both in summer and winter. Good lures are expensive, but the versatility of rattlins is unparalleled.

Features of lures for winter fishing

Distinctive features of winter wobblers are:

• No blades. All rattlins move vertically under their own weight and do not deviate too much from this direction when pulled up and freely gliding.
• Holes for attaching fishing line (one or more) are located on the top of the back.
• Rattlins are equipped with two hooks, usually treble hooks. But double and single hooks can be used. Since the hooks are located below, under the belly, the bait should not be lowered to the very bottom, otherwise it will cling to any obstacles on it.

These baits are made of high-quality plastic and are hollow inside. The body of the “fish” contains a rattle - small balls that create noise that attracts a predator. As a rule, any winter wobbler performs well in summer fishing conditions.

In terms of weight, rattlins can be light or heavy. Light (slow-sinking) weighs up to seven grams, heavy (fast-sinking) - from seven grams and above.

Sinking winter wobbler Akara Vib-Master 70

The next acoustic sinking wobbler Akara Vib-Master 70 is different in that during summer fishing and horizontal fishing it often attracts such a popular predator among fishermen as pike. This bait also has a fastening on an improvised back, which corresponds to the parameters of baits of this class. And this arrangement contributes to the emergence of bright high-frequency play in the small-amplitude spectrum. In addition, this under-ice wobbler perfectly holds the fishing horizon, which contributes to the stable play of the bait. And this is an undoubted advantage of such baits. With this arrangement of the rattlin-vib mounting hole, Akara Vib-Master 70 effectively works as a winter bait, as a balancer, and this method of attaching an under-ice wobbler allows you to play with the bait using jig technique , that is, rocking the wobbler at the bottom, with oscillations and touching the hooks on the bottom soil, which usually attracts curious pike perch living on the bottom and in the near-bottom horizon.

The Akara Vib-Master 70 winter ice wobbler can be called a classic and effective bait of this type , working equally successfully both in the summer using horizontal wiring and in winter using a vertical method of play.

This bait is produced in two sizes - 70, 85 mm and weighs 16.19 grams . In addition to pike perch and pike perch, this rattlin also works well for large perch . But for perch, a 70 mm . A wobbler of this size universally catches perch, pike perch and pike. 85 mm bait is more often purposefully used for catching pike perch, since it is more suitable for deep fishing.

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Vertical bait game

When pulled upward, the rattlin produces small oscillatory movements in the water. After stopping at the top point, it begins to slowly descend, moving from side to side with fading oscillations. It is the slow movement of the bait that encourages the predator to take a bite. Raise the bait up to a height of up to half a meter, then it lowers almost vertically.

The purpose of these actions is, firstly, to attract potential prey. Therefore, when fishing a new hole, they make sudden movements with a large amplitude. And secondly, when the predator pays attention to the bait, you need to induce him to bite with careful smooth jerks, imitating the movement of a weakened, sluggish fish.

On rivers with a fairly strong current during winter fishing, it is possible to make horizontal fishing with a rattlin. To do this, use a powerful fishing rod and reel. A triple swivel is attached to the line. A “Cheburashka” type sinker is attached to one of its loops, and a small floating wobbler on a one-meter-long leash is attached to the other.

Pike

Winter wobblers for pike should most reliably imitate the behavior of small fish at this time of year. Therefore, when fishing for pike, you should choose “calm” options with a small amplitude and frequency of oscillations. The optimal buoyancy of a wobbler in this case is a suspender, because it does not sink or float up when stopping.

Since pike is caught both in “pits” and in shallow places with a depth of no more than half a meter, you should have a supply of baits with different immersion depths so that you can catch all possible pike habitats as much as possible.

The size of the bait plays an important role in catching toothy predators. You should choose wobblers with a length of at least seven centimeters. If the purpose of fishing is specimens weighing more than a kilogram, the optimal bait will be eight to ten centimeters long.

Fishing for pike in January using a spinning rod

In January, fish activity is significantly lower than in December, however, the fish do not stop feeding, which means it can be caught.
Therefore, many fishing enthusiasts do not want to give up their hobby - fishing for pike with a spinning rod in January, and for this they go to ice-free reservoirs. In the middle of winter, many outings remain unsuccessful, but it also happens that you manage to take trophy specimens of pike with a spinning rod. This is interesting: The best lures for pike when fishing with a spinning rod

Where to look for pike in January

Although in January the toothy predator does not move much around the reservoir, there is still such a dependence: in severe frosts it is more often caught in deep places away from the shore, and with the onset of a thaw, the pike often goes out into shallow water, as if rehearsing its future spawning behavior .

Anglers who practice spinning fishing in January use vibrating tails and twisters, but don’t forget the rule that there are almost no baits that don’t work at all, today you can catch only with a twister, tomorrow with a spoon, the day after tomorrow with a spinner, on some day No matter what you tempt the predator, it won’t bite. In January, pike hunt more for small fish; baits should not be large either.

Posting bait in January

The January pike behaves even more “inhibited” than in December, so the bait should be retrieved very slowly, the retrieve step is one or two turns of the spinning reel, the pause can be three or four seconds. You shouldn’t speed up the pace of the retrieve, even if your nerves can’t stand it from the huge number of “idle” casts.

Watching January pike with a spinning rod in the thaw video

There's a thaw in mid-January and we immediately rush to the DWR to indulge our souls in spinning.

Pike on microjig. Winter spinning in January video

Zander

Winter wobblers for pike perch must meet the following requirements:

• The length of the bait is from six to ten centimeters.
• Since pike perch are caught in deep water, it is better to use heavy baits.
• You should choose baits with a muted acoustic effect. Silent rattlins will not attract the attention of a predator, but too loud and noisy models can scare him away.
• Preferable baits are painted in silver tones or acid-light green with scarlet attack points on the body.

The Saurus winter wobbler from the Japanese company Saurus VIVRA has proven itself to be excellent in pike perch fishing conditions. This sinking rattlin, six and a half centimeters long and weighing fifteen grams, has a fascinating game that invariably attracts the toothy predator.

Perch

There are no special winter wobblers for perch. These baits are universal and are used to catch any predatory fish. What is important here is the size of the rattlin and the selection of the diving depth, taking into account the fishing conditions.

Lures for winter fishing for perch are usually small and light, since fishing often has to be done in shallows or close to the shore. For this small predator, the action of the bait is important, so correct wiring is of great importance. Perch is attracted by various “decorations” in the form of multi-colored hairs or beads.

Winter tactics for catching perch with wobblers in winter

Perch fishing for ratlins is tactically no different from trolling. The main thing in winter is to actively search for fish in promising places. Important points when searching for winter perch. Initially, ratlins are positioned for catching large (medium) fish. When purposefully hunting for humpback whales, accordingly, deep-sea areas with uneven surfaces, dumps and snags, underwater banks and shallow water spots with vegetation among the holes are examined. Vibes also work in coastal waters for small and medium-sized perch. For normal operation of the ratlin, a depth of at least a meter is needed. Accordingly, ratlins are used at the depth for which they are intended. Deep water vibrations will not work well in shallow water. To successfully catch perch in winter with rattlins, it is important to choose the right bait and learn how to play.