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Spring is a wonderful time of the year. Everything is blooming, awakening from winter sleep. Including fish. She begins to take an active interest in the bait, so the fishing season in spring is in full swing.
Today we will talk about catching pike on spinning. The hunting season for this aquatic predator can be opened as soon as the ice has melted from the river. However, the process must be approached competently, carefully preparing tackle, bait and finding out when and where the pike bites best. In all these subtleties and we will understand.
When does a pike start pecking at a spinning rod in spring?
With the advent of spring, the pike begins to eat. She seeks to replenish the reserves of energy lost during the cold season.
The stage of pre-spawning zhora in fish starts when reservoirs are still covered with ice crust in many places. It lasts until spawning, which the fish does not start immediately after the ice melts, but after a short time. Therefore, as soon as the water warms up to 7-10 degrees above zero, you can start fishing – you will be satisfied and surprised by the result. At this time, it is especially pleasant to go fishing, as annoying mosquitoes and flies are still absent, which makes the process extremely comfortable.
During spawning, biting and catch can be forgotten. Then the fish is still “sick” after it, restores strength and is not led to the bait. This lasts seven to ten days. But when the fish “gets sick”, the second stage of the spring zhora begins. It is at this time that fishermen can get the fattest catch of pike.
If we talk about the time of day, then in spring you can catch pike on spinning throughout the daylight hours, from morning to evening. In the morning, the chances of a good catch are slightly higher.
Catching pike at dusk in spring is useless (unlike summer). In March and April, after 8 pm there is nothing to do on the water, however, as well as very early in the morning. It is recommended to go out on the water at 9-10 am. However, there are exceptions to every rule, this is not mathematics with axioms!
The closer to summer, the division into morning and evening biting becomes more and more pronounced. With the onset of the hottest time of the year, fishermen have to come to the reservoirs earlier.
Spring pike fishing on spinning. Peculiarities
When catching a predator in the spring, you need to take into account certain points, which cannot be said about summer or autumn fishing.
- Fishing is best in shallow water – the fish prefers to live in places with stagnant water, where the depth does not exceed 1,5 meters.
- It is recommended to use baits of small dimensions, whose wiring speed is low. The predator at this time is still weak after spawning and will not be led to large prey, which, in addition, also moves quickly.
- In some regions there is a spawning ban on catching pike in the spring.
Catching pike in early spring on spinning
As mentioned above, in early spring in some regions it is forbidden to catch pike by any means (including spinning). In addition, if the harsh winter is behind, there is still ice in many reservoirs. So the fishing trip should be postponed.
If there is no spawning ban, and all the ice has disappeared, then it is better to hunt for pike in medium-sized rivers and creeks, as well as in the mouths of streams that flow into lakes.
In March, very changeable air pressure and temperature are observed, so it is not known when a chic bite will overtake you – in sunny or cloudy weather. The best time to fish this month is morning and evening.
In the pre-spawning period, pike attacks any bait, even the most primitive ones. Therefore, spinningists have a chance for a good catch.
Pike on spinning in April
In April, pike usually bite badly and are caught on spinning. The fish is either in the process of spawning, or has just finished it, so it is “sick”. In addition, floods are typical for April, when the pike stands in the coastal zone, among the thickets of reeds.
If during these periods the predator goes hunting, then only in shallow water, where you can profit from small fish. It is pointless to look for it at a depth at this time.
Another disadvantage of catching a predator for spinning in April is that the fish begins to sort out the bait. She will no longer rush into anything. Simply put, April is considered far from the best month for catching pike on a spinning rod – you will just waste your time and effort.
Catching pike in the spring on spinning from the shore
This is the most affordable and easiest option for the fisherman in the spring. It does not require any additional equipment like a boat. However, fishing from the shore has its own characteristics:
It is necessary to pay special attention to places where pike is most effectively caught on spinning in spring. These are shallow waters well warmed by the sun, areas with aquatic vegetation and flooded bushes.
Spring fishing from the shore involves the use of rods with a small test (up to 20 grams) and a length of not more than 2,7 meters.
Catching pike from the shore should be as active as possible – the location must be changed extremely quickly. If after 10-15 casts there is no result, go to a new point.
Pike on a jig in spring
Pike fishing on a jig is especially effective in early spring, as soon as the ice has melted from the reservoirs. At that time, a large number of predators are still at depth.
It is jig fishing that will become the best assistant when hunting for deep pike. Pick up small twisters and vibrotails, ideally their dimensions should be from 5 to 8 cm. The weight of the jig head depends on how rough the current in the river is. Often a device weighing 10-15 g is suitable.
When can I start catching pike on spinning in the spring?
In the spring it is important to guess not only with the place for fishing, but also with the time of day. The most fruitful will be morning and evening – from 9-10 am to 6-7 pm.
In the early morning, as well as in the late evening, the pike shows little activity (low water temperature is to blame) and almost does not hunt. If precipitation and cold weather begin with continuous low clouds, the pike bite ends altogether.
The best lures for pike in spring
Fishermen know the pike as a greedy fish that doesn’t really care about its safety and is led to a large number of baits (especially in spring, before spawning). Sometimes she is ready to grab an almost empty hook.
What to catch
However, it is better to use high-quality bait when hunting for pike. Among those that from year to year bring results to fishermen, it is worth noting:
- Swinging glitter. One of the favorite types of baits for experienced fishermen. Lures can attract pike with just one slow movement that captivates the fish. It is best to cast the bait a few meters from the probable location of the predator.
- Live fishing. As such a bait, it is best to choose medium-sized fish like small perch or roach. The freshness of the bait is important, it is best if it is still quite active. In this case, you are more likely to attract the attention of a pike.
- Wobblers. Well-proven type of baits. The people got the name “pike killer”, which already says a lot. Among them there are both surface models and deep water ones.
- Jig lures. Twisters and vibrotails come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but it is best to use silicone baits in the spring with a size of at least 5-7 cm.
- Poppers. It is best to catch pike with this bait in May, when the first vegetation is already on the surface of the water.
All of the above lures are extremely effective, so it is difficult to distinguish among them the best tackle for catching pike in the spring for spinning. Perhaps, fishermen give only a slight preference to spinners, in the arsenal of which there are probably the most catchy ones. Well, the best bait for pike in the spring is the one that is caught.
Catching an aquatic predator on a spinning rod is a dynamic and exciting process. Jumping out of the water, which is done by a hooked fish, makes the heart of any fisherman beat faster. Following all the recommendations received, you will be able to achieve a decent catch next spring.