Budget wobblers for pike: TOP catchy models at an affordable price

Active spinning fishing is the most lucrative option for catching pike in rivers, reservoirs, lakes, streams and any other freshwater reservoirs inhabited by predators. All that an angler needs is inexpensive, but good tackle, a little knowledge for their correct selection, a good choice of fishing location, a suitable fishing technique that will allow you to catch even an inactive predator in bad weather.

Gear Selection Criteria

The basic element of equipment for catching a predator is spinning. The presence of a reliable and comfortable rod largely determines the overall success of a fishing trip. The selection criteria for pike spinning include:

• Construction type;
• Material, build, blank length;
• Test (casting) rods;
• The design of the reel seat and handle.

Now about everything in more detail.

The most reliable type of spinning for pike is a plug of two or three knees. The construction material is high modulus graphite (IMS) or composite. The latter combines the strength of fiberglass and the lightness of carbon. The length of the blank is small 2-3,2 meters, such dimensions are suitable both for accurate casts from the shore and for convenient fishing from a boat.

We approach the choice of a spinning test more carefully. Here you need to understand that ultra light (ultra light) and light (light) rods have serious restrictions on the weight of the baits used (usually up to 7-14 grams) and are of little use for pike fishing. If you constantly overload the blank with an excess load of a heavier bait, expect imminent breakdowns.

Although experienced anglers like to hunt large predators with ultralight in order to fully feel the opponent’s power through thin tackle, they also do not risk setting heavy baits, but try to lure big fish with small lures, silicones, foam rubber. Sometimes such a risk is justified and allows you to get the desired trophy in conditions where heavy baits simply do not work.

Spinning rods with medium and medium casting (medium light, medium test up to 20-28 gr.) are the best option for pike fishing, such rods are adapted for most pike baits, have good blank sensitivity and a significant margin of safety. If you are looking for a budget pike spinning rod with good performance, you should consider purchasing the Maximus Wild Power-X pole rod, which is available in heights from 1,8 to 3m with a test weight of 3-15…7-35g.

The fast action of the blank (fast) does an excellent job of instantly transferring the blow to the angler’s hand and leaving the necessary fraction of a second for a successful hooking.

The ergonomic handle made of finely porous neoprene does not slip in a wet palm, provides a secure grip when casting, and absorbs jerky loads. The wear-resistant reel seat has an upper mounting nut with a reinforcing insert made of a steel ring.

The South Korean manufacturer has provided for the possibility of using high-speed inertial-free reels that combine fast winding and excellent traction. For example, Penn Battle reels, which have a metal spool, large line capacity, and a huge service life, are suitable for both braided line and monofilament 0,28-0,4mm and thicker. The time-honored Penn Battle II is smooth-running and holds up to 250 meters of 0,28mm line.

Catchable baits for pike

The pike diet is almost 100% animal protein. The predator mainly feeds on other fish. Among the favorite delicacies: minnow, crucian carp, carp, roach, silver bream, bream, perch, bleak. With a weight of 1 kg, the pike reaches a length of half a meter, which allows it to successfully hunt large waterfowl, including adult ducks. But, nevertheless, the pike is an ambush predator that patiently waits for smaller fish, and then ruthlessly attacks the prey, making a swift throw at a distance of 4-5 body lengths.

The secretive manner of hunting and attachment to a fish diet determines the specifics of pike fishing for live bait or a realistic imitation of a live fish, often a fry, in order to cover the entire weight spectrum of potential prey. For this use:

• oscillating and spinning baubles;
• silicone baits (twisters and vibrotails);
• wobblers (volumetric imitations of fish with a built-in frontal blade made of a transparent polymer for deepening the bait into the water column).

Lure fishing for pike is becoming more and more popular due to the autonomy and catchability of the lure. Even a novice spinner can easily catch a pike on a wobbler using only uniform wiring. The bait does everything else by itself, exactly imitating the behavior of a darting, sick or injured fish. Even a passive and well-fed predator cannot resist such an “offer” and takes off from the spot to greedily cling to a plastic or wooden fish with its teeth, forgetting about its own safety.

But, nevertheless, for successful pike fishing on a wobbler, it is better to use a special wiring technique – twitching, which combines moderately sharp jerks of the bait and horizontal twitching of the rod. This causes the wobbler to move briskly from side to side, like a panicked fish in a hurry looking for a place to hide.

Another catchy jerky reel with uneven animation of the bait is jerking. The main difference from twitching is a more sweeping amplitude of the rod. Jerks are also performed in a vertical position so that the bait is upside down, it is on such pauses that a cunning pike often grabs a “calm down” and “defenseless” fish.

The price of a budget wobbler for pike

The market of artificial volumetric baits has long been a recognized leader, which has been given the status of a standard in the wobbler family. This is the legendary Vision Oneten from Megabass. The cost of original brand models reaches 2000-2500 rubles, which is considered to be a high price for a wobbler.

Inexpensive, but good replicas are half or even three times cheaper. It is the price of 300-1000 rubles for a wobbler that can be recognized as a budget one. If the bait has a more weighty price tag, the angler needs to think carefully about the appropriateness of such an acquisition. Catchable wobblers for pike in the majority belong to the minnow class (from the English – gudgeon, fry) and are distinguished by a running body, the length of which significantly exceeds the height. This shape and the built-in balancing system allow the bait to realistically imitate the movement of a live fish in horizontal and vertical layers of water, both in weak and strong currents, which determines the exceptional catchability of the minnow, regardless of the geographic location of the reservoir.

Rating of inexpensive pike wobblers

Several companies successfully produce inexpensive, but good copies of wobblers, proven many times in practice. The range of brands includes replicas of Megabass, DUO, ZIP BAITS. According to the results of visiting reservoirs with pike in 2021, the rating of lures looks like this

Zipbaits Rigge 90SP (copy)

OSP VARUNA 110SP (copy)

Megabass Vision Oneten Plus 1 Racing (copies)

Retained the animation features of the classic Vision Oneten model, but has a deeper working horizon, which allows you to successfully fish both shallow water and holes

Yo-Zuri 3DS Minnow 70SP

Suitable for various types of wiring, including twitching and jerking. Catchable wobbler for pike, zander and perch. It proved to be excellent when posting stop and go with long pauses of 3-5 seconds.

Jackall Mag Squad 115SP (copy)

It features improved flight characteristics for accurate long-range casting. Creates an attractive sound background for a predator due to two noise chambers. Adapted for twitching with pauses. It has a variety of animation effects, including swaying from side to side to provoke bites during pauses. Well solves the problem of the interest of a passive predator. Successfully works on large pike and zander.

LUCKY CRAFT POINTER 100 SP

Ideal in its simplicity and reliability. It has a special color with a detailed imitation of scales. Equipped with a system for long-distance casting. He has a varied game of his own, which is clearly revealed when twitching with a 1-2-1-2 jerking scheme. Thanks to noise effects, it attracts fish from deeper places.

DEPS BALISONG MINNOW 130 SP

The noisy and voluminous model of the aerodynamic shape is focused on the trophy predator. It has a well-placed center of gravity and quickly reaches working depth. When twitching, it retains the original inclined position to simplify the attack by the predator. Differs in range and controlled departure. Suitable for postings with short and long pauses. Responds immediately to movements with the tip of the rod. Well animates the movement of the fish both horizontally and vertically.

BANDIT B-SHAD 19

Suitable for various types of wiring. Resistant to mechanical damage. It features exceptional casting accuracy at a distance of 30-40 meters. Available in 6 solid and variegated colors.

Strike Pro Inquisitor 130 SP

Equipped with a long distance casting system. When posting, it requires hard jerks and intensive playing with the rod. At the same time, it gives good results on even wiring, which makes the bait a good acquisition for novice trophyists.

CHIMERA Bionic Aztec 90FL

Good for twitching from a boat. Attracts pike, perch, zander.

Available in 7 color variations for any weather and type of water. Due to the large blade, it easily goes to a considerable depth, which allows you to qualitatively catch various horizons of a river or lake. It flies well over long distances. Creates an attractive noise for the predator, luring him out of shelters and pits.

In conclusion

Inexpensive, but good pike wobblers are available in abundance in specialized stores and on online platforms. So that the acquisition does not turn out to be an empty addition to the main fishing equipment, you need to choose working wobblers with a proven reputation.

Inexpensive copies of such models will allow you to gain practical experience in twitching and jerking without any special financial investments, get a clear idea of ​​the catchability of a particular gear, and make an informed decision on the further purchase of branded lures. Budget wobblers are much cheaper than “pedigreed” analogues and are great for practicing professional skills.