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Despite the relative simplicity, catching pike on vents in winter is especially popular among fishermen. And this is not surprising, because the method is quite catchy and extremely effective. Zherlitsy are used both at the beginning and in the middle of the season. Tellingly, in the dead of winter, equipment with live fish helps to achieve better results than artificial baubles, rattlin or a balancer.
The device and equipment of the girders
To begin with, let’s consider the principle of operation of the vent, learn how to properly rig, and how to plant the live bait.
Video: Catching pike on vents in winter, how to collect a vent
Essential elements
The zherlitsa has many forms and manufacturing options, whether it is purchased or home-made. However, the main elements (see photo) in it, as a rule, remain unchanged. It:
- base with flag;
- coil;
- fishing line;
- sinker;
- swivel;
- leash;
- hook.
The main elements of the girders
Principle of operation
A feature of the girders is its very simple principle of operation. It functions like this:
- The depth is measured by lowering the sinker to the bottom.
- The spool with fishing line is fixed by bending the flag and resting on the spool of the reel.
- The live bait falls into the hole.
- Cover the hole with a platform so that sunlight does not enter.
- The zherlitsa is sprinkled with snow, creating a snowdrift that protects from freezing.
- When a bite occurs, the pike tries to drag the live bait to the side.
- The line begins to unwind from the reel.
- The signal part of the vent is released and rises, signaling to the angler about the bite.
By setting the vents to different depths (near the bottom, at half-water, closer to the surface), you can significantly expand the horizon for searching for pike.
As a rule, the pike is in the lower water horizon, therefore, when the sinker finds the bottom, the equipment is raised by 2-3 turns of the coil. In shallow waters, you can not use lead as a load, allowing the fish to move freely along the entire length of the fishing line. Also, at depths up to 2 meters, you can install live bait in different horizons. in clear water, visibility can reach several tens of meters, so the predator reacts perfectly to the bait twitching under the ice.
Tackle on a high rack is preferable to a low vent. The fact is that the stand allows you to fill the hole with a snowdrift, while leaving the coil and flag on top. This design does not freeze at low temperatures, and is always in working condition. When buying tackle, you need to check the free play of the reel. A bite from a pike often knocks a long piece of line off the reel, resulting in loops. Experienced anglers have come across a situation where the fish went off because of the loop formed on the reel. By slightly tightening the nut that tightens the reel, you can make the move free, but not so much that the coil scrolls with sharp jerks.
There are also bites that the flag does not signal. This is attributed to excessive bending of the spring behind the coil. Before installing on the hole, you should check each tackle by filling the flag and pulling the fishing line. If the signaling device does not shoot, it’s a bend. By slightly straightening the end of the stainless steel, you can correct the situation.
How to equip a winter zherlitsa for pike
The rigging of the chute is extremely simple. It consists of several basic elements, which may vary depending on the place of fishing. Installation is affected by depth, current in the fishing area, the presence of hooks and the size of the predator. Anglers can lengthen the leash, increase the sinker or hook, shorten the main line.
If fishing is carried out in the immediate vicinity of hooks in the form of snags, cattail walls or platforms, it is necessary to shorten the main line and increase its diameter. This will keep the pecking predator from hiding in snags. However, here it must be remembered that the fish is located directly under the vent and it is impossible to approach it too early. Otherwise, the pike will drop the live bait and the bite will remain unrealized.
Pike swallows prey from the head, but takes it across. When biting, you need to wait for the time (up to 5-7 minutes), during which the predator will unfold the prey and begin to swallow.
Installation and equipment of a winter vent for a pike is as follows:
- the required amount of fishing line is wound on the reel;
- a sinker is attached (it can be both fixed and sliding);
- a winding ring or carabiner (swivel) is tied to attach the leash. Instead, you can simply tie the end loop. Some anglers prefer to attach the leader directly to the working line.
- a leash is mounted;
- hook is attached.
Thus, there are practically no special difficulties in rigging a winter vent for a pike. This work can be handled not only by a professional with significant experience, but also by a beginner who for the first time decided to test his strength in this type of activity.
For winter pike fishing, a soft fishing line with a cross section of 0,3-0,4 mm is used. Up to 10 m of monofilament is wound on one zherlitsa, and if there are many hooks nearby, nylon is reduced to 5 m. Since ice fishing has a quick play, many anglers use thick fluorocarbon as leashes. It gives a higher percentage of bites, but there will be much more cuts with it than with a steel counterpart. Titanium or tungsten leashes are too noticeable in the winter transparent water area, so the most active predator will come across this tackle, which is very rare in the wilderness.
In the middle of winter, when the ice reaches half a meter thickness, the water area begins to lose oxygen dissolved in water. This affects the biting, due to which the deaf winter is associated with low activity of the fish. Hungry pike remains only on the rivers, where the current mixes the water masses, saturating them with oxygen.
Live bait
For the nozzle, 4 types of hooks are used: singles, doubles, double models with a sting located at different lengths, tees. Roach, rudd, silver bream and crucian carp are used as bait. White fish attracts a spotted predator better than the same perch or ruff. If it was not possible to catch the linen, you will have to use a perch. To do this, he needs to cut off the upper fin, on which the pike pricks when biting. Otherwise, the predator can throw its prey.
You can catch live bait in shallow waters, sandy beaches and at the edge of the reeds. The crucian is recognized as the most active fish, but it is better to use the nozzle that the pike is used to. If roach prevails in the reservoir, then it should be planted on the hook.
There are several options for how you can put a live bait on a zherlitsa, such as:
- For nostrils. This method is considered one of the simplest. It implies a hook with a single hook of two nostrils of a live bait fish. In this case, you need to be as careful as possible. This is due to the fact that there is a possibility of damage to the nasal cavity of the fish. That is why, in order to avoid such a situation, one should choose those species that have a fairly strong anatomy of the head. It is best to put the live bait on the vents through its nostrils, if necessary, to fish in water bodies without a current.
- For lips. This method differs in that it requires a certain prudence. This is due to the fact that not every fish lips are durable. If the live bait is large enough, over time it can break off on its own. To hook the fish by the lips, it is imperative to use only a single hook. It performs its functions better in this case. If there is no current, you can hook the live bait only by the upper lip. Otherwise, it is recommended to pass the hook additionally through the nostril.
- For the gills. This method requires the angler to be extra careful. This is due to the fact that improper planting can provoke a quick death of the fish. If this happens, it will be impossible to interest the pike in it. In order for the process to go as correctly as possible, you need to unhook the leash or significantly loosen it. Otherwise, the live bait will be too constrained. This, in turn, can lead to the fact that the predator refuses to attack.
- Behind the back. This method is used by most anglers. This is due to the fact that the fish in such a situation has the ability to carry out quite natural movements. In order to ensure it, it is necessary to be extremely careful when planting. If this is not the case, the live bait will lose the ability to move. For the back, a hook can be made both between the fin and the ridge, and directly in the area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe spine. The first method is safe for the fish, while the second is considered more reliable. Therefore, most fishermen give their preference to the second option. The hook is usually a tee.
- For the tail. For pike fishing, the tail hook method is also used. Thus, the fish retains mobility, attracting a predator. If the live bait is planted by the tail, it is necessary to give the pike more time to swallow it. since the predator turns the prey head to the esophagus, the hook may simply not hook on his lip.
A properly planted live bait will allow you to avoid a lot of gatherings and idle bites, increasing the indicator of pike detection. Live bait can be stored in any large container (barrel from 50 liters) with an aerator. You can buy the device at any aquarium store. Most often, live bait dies from lack of air, so installing an aerator in a tank is the main task of the angler. You can feed the bait with a worm or bloodworm, the main thing is not to use food that gives turbidity. You need to feed as much as the fish eats in 5 minutes, so that the food does not remain and does not increase the level of nitrites and nitrates in the water.
How to catch pike in the winter on zherlitsy
Catching pike on vents in winter, vents placed on the pond
In order to ensure a good catch, you first need to choose the right place for fishing. Ideally, it would be to find the habitat of the pike. Having found a way out of the fish, in one day you can catch up to 5-7 individuals of these predators, and perhaps among them there will be a large pike. It’s normal for a slut. You can also fish at night if you wish.
Where to put vents?
In winter, pike are mainly found in a pond in ambush. From the same place, she constantly observes a number of passing fish. As soon as the prey approaches the required distance, the predator sharply attacks it.
It is necessary to make winter supplies and put vents in certain places, depending on the type of reservoir:
- On the rivers. In this case, it is better to choose deep bays, ravines under rifts, small whirlpools, or plants above capes.
- On ponds and lakes. In such a situation, you need to navigate along the boundaries of vegetation. You can also choose places in the channels between the island and the coast. You need to pay attention to snags, cliffs and bushes.
- On reservoirs. Here, shallow bays with a depth of up to 2-3 m are taken as a landmark. As a rule, in summer there is a lot of vegetation, which fades with the advent of autumn.
To survey the bottom of the reservoir, it is best to use an echo sounder. If the reservoir will be visited for fishing in the future, you can use a mormyshka or a lure instead. In the process of surveying the bottom, it is important to note for yourself a variety of depth differences or the presence of any obstacles. It will not be superfluous to analyze the behavior of local fishermen, since they must know exactly all the features of a particular reservoir.
You can set up gear near shelters: snags, platforms, logs sticking out of the water, etc. Every 30-50 minutes the tackle is removed and transferred to a new promising place. Thus, it is possible to quickly explore the reservoir and find a predator. Pike move little in winter, remaining in ambush for a long time. It is easier to find it on your own than to wait for the fish to approach.
How to put zherlitsy on a pike in winter?
Good, interesting and efficient fishing can be ensured by properly stopping the zherlitsa. To do this, you need to follow the following tips:
- it is worth choosing steep banks;
- the flow at the site of the hole should be slow and calm;
- the distance to the shore should not exceed 20 meters.
The distance between the vents should be such that the fisherman can move around without much difficulty, having time for a bite. The technique of setting the bait should take place directly on the reservoir – after the holes are drilled in the ice.
You can arrange the vents according to the system or in any order. Many anglers set gear in a row in a single line or in a checkerboard pattern. Professionals advise to follow a different tactic. Each vent must be installed next to the shelter. It may be visible (snag, cattail, etc.) or not (depth differences, underwater vegetation, etc.).
When a pike pecks at the vents in winter
In order for fishing to be as successful as possible, it is very important to understand when exactly in the winter period the pike bites on the vents. In this regard, there are the following features of the behavior of this predatory fish that must be taken into account:
- Catching pike on vents in winter in cloudy weather with no wind will be the most ideal. If it is snowing at this time, there is a high chance that pike will be caught in a particular area soon.
- On cold but very clear days, the fish are mostly at the bottom. It does not rise to the surface, as a result of which the probability of a significant catch is significantly reduced.
- If there is a strong north wind outside, the bite may not take place at all. On such days it is better not to go to the pond.
Thus, by fishing in accordance with the above tips, you can secure a significant winter pike catch.
Features of bait fishing
Winter fishing can be very diverse. It differs primarily in the climatic features of the period when the fisherman decided to go to the reservoir. That is why it is extremely important for both a beginner and a professional to understand what are the main nuances of pike fishing in early December, January, February or early March.
On the first ice
After the appearance of icing of the reservoir for about two weeks, the pike does not change its lifestyle. She does not swim away from her typical habitats, continuing to hunt in them for a certain time. This is due to the presence in this area of a relatively significant number of fry. Most often this applies to the edges – places in which there are significant differences in depth.
Catching pike on vents on the first ice can be quite effective, but being on the pond itself requires extreme caution. The predator pecks throughout the daylight hours, but you need to come to the reservoir at dawn. On the first ice, you need to go out on the ice at full dawn so that the angler can see everything around.
In the dead of winter
In the dead of winter, the danger of falling through the ice is usually minimal. That is why the precautionary rules in this period of time are less strict than when the first ice appears.
The main feature of pike fishing in the dead of winter is that predatory fish at this time go hunting for only 20 or 30 minutes. If you do not fall into this period, the catch may be minimal. Often after fishing you can return home with nothing.
In order to catch a pike in the winter in severe frost, you need to try hard. At the same time, you should have restraint, correctly following all the rules regarding such fishing. In the middle of winter, the installation of girders for the night is becoming increasingly popular. Contrary to the general opinion that pike do not eat at night, bait fishing says the opposite. Sometimes the largest specimens come across at night.
At this time of day, anglers are rarely on the pond. usually the girders are checked only in the morning and it happens that each one works.
On the last ice
The main feature of catching pike on vents in early spring is the need to follow certain safety rules. This is due to the fact that during this period of time the ice is significantly thinner. That is why experts recommend fishing to adhere to such rules as:
- In no case should you go to the reservoir alone.
- You should always take a pawn with you.
- In addition to all other devices, it is desirable to have a rope in your inventory.
In early spring there is a high chance of catching trophy pike. As a rule, by this time they are gaining weight both in lakes and in rivers. To catch fish on the last ice, it is best to use small roach or rudd as live bait. Perch or ruff in the first days in March are of little interest to predators.
Secrets of catching pike on bait
To get a catch, it is extremely important to focus not only on the existing rules, but also on certain secrets that experienced fishermen have. They are as follows:
- If during the day the atmospheric pressure varies greatly, it is best not to go to the reservoir.
- The length of the fishing line must be at least 30 meters, and its thickness – from 0,3 to 0,4 millimeters.
- Every 15 minutes, you should check the vent for a height of about 40-50 centimeters, as this can help attract the attention of the fish.
- Before you start fishing, you must first check the reservoir. You need to start with reeds or other thickets. At the same time, you need to make sure that gear does not get tangled in reeds and other vegetation.
How much can you put zherlits per person in Russia?
According to the law in Russia, at the same time, no more than 5 or 10 zherlits can be placed on one angler, depending on the region of the Russian Federation. For fish farms or private ponds, these rules change. If fishing takes place on a private reservoir, you can check with the local administration for information on the number of acceptable gear.
Additional equipment for live bait fishing
In addition to the basic gear that most anglers use, there are also accessories that make it easier to be on the ice. The first thing a modern angler needs is a lipgrip. It was in winter that the instrument showed its strong side, because, unlike the gaff, the lipgrip does not injure the predator. A pike hunter only needs to bring the trophy into the hole, after which it is much easier to take it with a tool than in open water. The pike has many sharp teeth, so it will not work to take it by the mouth with bare hands.
Photo: maksileks.ru
On thick ice, a hook is also useful, because it has a long handle. Unfortunately, lipgrip can only be used when the fish managed to get into the hole. In other cases, if the pike does not pass, a hook is used to hook the trophy and hold it while fishing colleagues drill a hole.
Also, an echo sounder will not be superfluous, with which you can determine the depth, structure of the bottom, and most importantly, the relief. It is useless to look for a pike with a locator, but with its help you can accurately determine a promising place. For bloggers, the main tool will be an underwater camera. It allows you not to read information from the monitor, but to see with your own eyes what is happening under the ice.
Fishing on vents requires endurance, sometimes you have to wait for bites for hours. A tent with a heat exchanger increases the comfort of fishing by 100%, because in between raising the flags, the angler is warm. besides, in the tent you can also catch white fish, provide yourself with live bait.
Zherlitsy with Aliexpress
Many anglers are interested in how to order girdles from Aliexpress and save a little on their budget. However, it is not possible to do this, since they are not presented in the online store. Yes, alas, you can not buy them on Aliexpress. There are two options left: buy vents in a domestic fishing store, or make your own.
Almost everyone can cope with winter fishing for pike using zherlits. In this case, you need to be guided by those tips and recommendations that are given by experienced anglers who spend a long time on water bodies in order to obtain a significant catch. Adding to this your own practical experience and a little theory, you can achieve very significant results.