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Balda, she is a bomb, has long been known to anglers. This type of bait is used exclusively for fishing perch from under the ice. It is especially effective during the period of active zhor of the striped robber: in the first ice and at the end of winter. The simple design and simple fishing technique captivates most ice fishing enthusiasts, so the bulldozer is present in almost every perch hunter’s arsenal.
What does tackle and bait look like?
Balda for fishing was invented in the last century. She quickly showed her effectiveness and pressed the sheer baubles.
The design of the bait consists of several elements:
- metal sinker;
- two hooks with snags;
- ring made of fishing line;
- additional hook.
The metal weight fulfills the simple role of attracting fish from afar. When falling to the bottom, lead raises a cloud of turbidity, imitating the swarming of some bug or insect. The food base of the perch includes benthic invertebrate organisms, water beetles and their larvae, which often dig in the bottom layer, so such movements are very attractive for the “striped” one.
The weight of the sinker depends on the depth and current. As a rule, a product with a mass of 5-7 g is enough. Sinkers come in different shapes: elongated with a flat base or oval. Regardless of the configuration of the lead, in the upper part there is a hole through which a ring of dense nylon is threaded, with a diameter of 0,2-0,25 mm. The section of the ring is no more than 5-7 cm, hooks with snags move along it.
The hooks are arranged in such a way that the stings look in different directions from the lead base. Tie the bastard directly to the main line. An additional hook is attached above the mount, which often helps anglers in tight spots.
You can use as cheats:
- multi-colored beads;
- edible silicone;
- lurex and tinsel;
- rubber cambric.
Most often on the shelves of fishing stores there are models with hooks on which beads are strung. There are classic color combinations such as bloodworm or bee, as well as original shades and combinations of green and red, blue and black, purple.
Photo: activefisher.net
Hooks with beads do not deteriorate over time. The perch does not rip off the beads because they are clamped by a cambric or a piece of insulation. Lurex, silicone and other similar tricks work just as well, but they quickly become unusable and the tackle has to be tied up.
An additional hook can be radically different from the main tricks, provoking a perch to attack. Bombs with snags of natural colors such as “bloodworm” are used in clear water, baits with “bee” hooks work best at the end of winter, when the water area becomes cloudy.
An important element of the bulldozer for perch fishing is the hook. It has a slightly combed beard, as well as a long forearm, thanks to which it is easy to free the decoy from the mouth of a predator. Combed beards are on inexpensive hooks, they are “improved” in order to thread beads. A large number of gatherings indicates the absence of a notch on the hook, which you should pay attention to when buying.
In each region, the balda is called differently. The following names are known for the bait: witch, bomb and, of course, eggs. Despite the differences in names, the design is always the same, as is the principle of catching.
For fishing on the bulldozer, specialized winter rods with a comfortable handle and a long whip are used. Many older anglers have back problems, so bald fishing is a great solution for them. The baitless bait does not require constant contact with the bait, and the long rod allows you to fish without bending over the hole, keeping your back straight.
The growth of such rods reaches 1 m. The handle is made of cork, plastic or EVA polymer. The rod is equipped with an inertial reel and a powerful nod, with which you can determine the bite. The thickness of the main line corresponds to 018-0,25 mm.
Fishing technique and search for perch
Bomb ice fishing is a constant movement in search of active fish. For successful fishing, you need to drill more than a dozen holes. For fishing, a drill with a small auger diameter is used, which passes the frozen layer much faster. A diameter of 80-100 mm is sufficient for fast drilling even in thick ice.
Wells are drilled according to several principles:
- squares;
- envelopes;
- line;
- in a checkerboard pattern.
You should start drilling right from the shore, because the striped robber can stand at a depth of 30-50 cm. First of all, holes are drilled in a line or in a checkerboard pattern in order to calculate all the bottom irregularities: depth differences, edge location, etc. When a promising area or the first bites are found, the zone is drilled with a square or an envelope. In this way it is possible to localize the center of the school with the highest density of fish.
Photo: Yandex Zen channel “Rybolov NN”
When fishing for a bomb, you do not need to stay too long on one hole. Even if there are fish in the zone, they may not be active. 7-10 strokes per hole is enough to assess the situation.
The “chamomile” drilling method is also known. It is recommended to use it on flat areas where the perch has nothing to catch on. The angler chooses the center and drills the first row of holes in the amount of 7-10 pieces. Then he goes around the arc, drilling the same number of holes in the opposite direction. Each time you need to move 3-4 m from the last series of holes. Thus, a kind of opened bud comes out. The method is unpopular, but allows you to explore the entire zone in detail. At the end of the “chamomile”, you can check the holes again, since the perch sometimes shifts, new flocks of “striped” appear on the site. Successful holes can be marked with small flags, some anglers use them from vents.
The wiring consists of several elements:
- short single strokes;
- tapped on the bottom;
- slight hanging in the thickness;
- long climbs.
When fishing for perch, you need to find the bottom and set the rod in such a way that when you swing, the bulldozer falls and creates turbidity. Raise the bait in the thickness should be no more than half a meter. High swings are recommended after checking the hole with short tosses. The fish may notice movement in the thickness from afar and approach the hole. After the swing, it is necessary to pull the fishing line, but do not raise the bulldozer from the bottom. A bite is determined by a nod. Active perch often attack hooks from a different angle, causing anglers to encounter banded robbers with a mouth full of mud.
Stirring on the bottom is just as effective as short strokes. When falling, the sinker falls on its side, and the hooks gradually descend along the ring of fishing line, imitating bloodworms and other larvae.
Rules for the selection of bulldozers for perch
The base of the bait is always made of metal. Most often, manufacturers take lead, because it has a low melting point and an affordable price. However, other products made of brass, bronze, copper and heavy alloys can be found on the market. They tend to be more expensive, but the high density of the metal molecules allows the use of a smaller sinker with more weight.
Heavy metal produces a more sonorous sound when falling, which is necessary when fishing in muddy areas. In addition, brass and bronze products are used at great depths and strong currents, which is typical for small rivers. In winter, in such places, under the steep banks, there are flocks of “striped” ones and it is problematic to get them with a small mormyshka.
A few nuances of choosing a bait:
- The sinker should be picked up under the nod. Under the weight of the metal, the nod should not bend too much so that the angler can see the bite on the signaling device. The perch does not always actively attack the bait, more often it carefully picks up decoy hooks.
- A short ring of fishing line is ineffective. The material of the ring is rigid nylon or fluorocarbon. Otherwise, the tricks can be confused with each other. It is better to pick up baits with a large ring, on which the hooks will fall longer.
- Expensive is not always good. Budget models have a low cost due to the use of lead. This material perfectly behaves in water and is not inferior to analogues.
As a rule, hooks come with the bait, but they can be purchased separately. With intensive fishing, the hook becomes blunt or breaks, so their stock in the box will not be superfluous.
Photo: activefisher.net
First of all, a sinker is put on a fishing line ring, then hooks are installed. Beads should be on both sides of the eye of the hook. It is needed so that the hook does not get stuck and does not break the knot. Beads, like a hook, must be sliding.
The size of decoys that do not match the sinker will only scare away the fish. Tackle must be proportional. You should not hang a lot of additional tricks on the main fishing line – this will only bring inconvenience in fishing.
The size of the bait depends not only on the depth and current, but also on the size of the intended prey. For catching a small perch of “bait” size in lake shallow waters, sinkers with a mass of up to 2 g are often used. On large rivers, lures with a weight of up to 15 g are used.
Classification and do-it-yourself production
In a fishing box, it is worth keeping several options for lures for different occasions. When choosing a bulldozer, the conditions on the reservoir and the preferences of the local predator are taken into account.
The box should contain baits that differ in the main features:
- weight;
- form;
- color;
- material.
It is also important to have a supply of multi-colored tricks. On cloudy days, brighter colors work, on clear days, darker shades work.
According to the configuration, the sinkers are:
- in the form of a pyramid with a flat bottom;
- elongated to the top, rounded with a flat bottom;
- high with a sharp bottom;
- high with a faceted bottom;
- short “pot-bellied” with a rounded bottom.
The type of sinker affects the attraction of fish. Faceted variations play in the sunlight, emitting glare, similar to the reflection of the scales of a fry. The sharp bottom allows the bait to go deeper into the mud. In some cases this helps raise more turbidity to attract fish.
Photo: activefisher.net
The color of the bomb also affects its effectiveness. Some models are painted in dark shades, they are used by anglers on clear days, when a lot of sunlight penetrates under the ice. Black color is the main color of underwater organisms, which should also be taken into account. In addition to natural baits, there are purely metallic shades that give shine in the thickness.
Patinated metal works best because it has a moderate sheen. New polished items are best left in the box for a while until they fade. Experienced anglers recommend cleaning only a small part of the bottom, so that when it rises into the thickness, it emits a faint sheen.
To make a balda with your own hands, you will need:
- lead;
- mold for casting;
- fishing line;
- two hooks with a long forearm 5-6 numbers;
- colored beads;
- insulation of thin wires.
The melting point of lead is 327,5°C. Metal can be melted in a special iron mold on a gas burner. The form can be purchased at the store or made with your own hands from plaster or alabaster.
After pouring, it is necessary to make a hole in the upper part of the sinker, nylon will be attached to it. Hooks No. 5-6 are suitable for most products weighing 5-7 g. If the beads do not enter due to the groove, it must be filed a little with a needle file. The classic snag imitates a bloodworm. For its production, 7-8 dark red beads and 1-2 black beads are used. Closes the beads with a piece of insulation, matched to the size of the hook. Beads should not walk freely on the hook so that the snag does not crumble.
Before catching on a new bulldozer, it must be tested at home. Any clear plastic container will work for this.
Top models rating
The top lures are based on tests carried out during ice fishing for perch. Among the best products, configurations of different sizes, shapes, and materials were singled out.
Balda Lucky John “Load”, 10 g
Not quite a classic bait, which exactly repeats the anatomical features of the beetle. Artificial nozzle got into this rating due to its high efficiency. It is made in black and red colors, but the lineup also represents other shades of the insect. There are curved hooks on the loops on both sides. At the bottom there is a metal tip, thanks to which the bait remains in a vertical position when falling. A small eye in the upper part is necessary for mounting to the fishing line. The weight of the product is sufficient for catching perch at depths up to 5-6 m.
Balda neon, 3 g
This model is painted black, has a small neon insert at the bottom of the design in red or light green. The small size of the bait allows you to explore sandy shallow waters, muddy backwaters with shallow depth and no current.
The lure is equipped with two quality Kumho hooks. They have a long forearm and several beads to attract perch. The shape of the sinker is elongated in the form of a bullet with a hole in the upper part.
brass paillette
The bait is made of brass, has a ringing impact when touching the bottom. In the lower part there are edges, the bottom is flat. The shape of the bulldozer resembles a bullet with a hole for mounting the fishing line in the upper part. On both sides there are high-quality hooks with large beads, which give them buoyancy and serve as a target for perch attacks. The weight of the sinker is 5,6 g. The bait is used at depths from 0,5 to 6 m, mainly in stagnant water bodies or in a weak current.
YAMAN “Mace-1” with floating hooks
Among the line are models of metallic tone and painted products in bright shades of green, yellow, red. The shape of the sinker is rounded in the form of an egg. The bait is equipped with high-quality floating hooks, which are equipped with cambric.
The artificial bait catches perch at depths up to 5 m, perfectly holds the vertical in strong currents, and can be used for angling zander.
Lead bulldozer “eggs”
A classic model made of fusible material. The weight of the bait is 6 g, the design is suitable for fishing at depths up to 5-7 m, in the middle course and in still water. There is a wide loop on top, on two sides there are snags in the form of hooks with red beads imitating bloodworms. The product is made in metallic silver color, patinated.
Balda lead Mildaz Dragonfly
Non-standard bait for catching a striped robber. The design in the form of a dragonfly has a relief body, two hooks on different sides and an additional one at the bottom. Balda is equipped with a lurex tail imitating insect wings. The product is painted in yellow-green colors. The method of fishing is no different from the classic fishing on the bulldozer. The bait is recommended to be used in stagnant water bodies at depths up to 3 m.
Balda grananaya, brass
A small bait with a convex bottom works great for perch at depths of 0,5-4 m. The brass product has a narrowing in the upper part, as well as a through hole. The bomb is equipped with two sharp hooks strung with red and white beads. The long handguard makes it easy to release prey in severe frost.