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Mid-spring is probably the best time to fish for fanged rogue. At this time of the year, he comes close to the shore, where the water has warmed up. Presence of a food base near the coastal zone also attracts a predator, but it is worth remembering that the April pikeperch is looking for places for spawning and building nests. During this period, you can count on excellent fishing, acting on the principle of “catch and release”.
Where to look for pike perch in April
Even without violating the rules of fishing, the best thing to do with a caught caviar trophy is to give it life, and a large offspring of “fanged ones” to the reservoir. In the spring, you can count on the capture of a large specimen, so you need to be ready to meet him, after loosening the friction brake.
Spawning takes place when the water temperature reaches 12 ° C, the fish picks up quiet sections of rivers and closed reservoirs with a large number of stones at the bottom, snags and other objects. The depth can vary from 0,5 to 5-6 m. The spawning period falls just in the middle of April-May, depending on the year.
In April, the fish often leave their usual fishing areas. Pike-perch leaves holes in search of food, nails to flocks of scavengers and roaches, pursues them along coastal edges. At night, the fanged inhabitant of the depths returns to the pits, where it awaits the morning.
Promising areas for spinning fishing:
- zones with steep banks and reverse flow;
- dumps, their upper and lower steps;
- coastal edges with moderate water flow;
- places with a lot of snags and other obstacles.
Spring zander resembles an ambush predator, it does not move much, because the water has not yet reached the required levels for a comfortable life. In the spring you should look for fish. They start fishing by checking the coastal edges, shallow waters and exits from deep holes. Pike perch can stand right on the dump, especially if it consists of bivalve mollusks.
Driftwood at depths of 1 to 5 m should not be passed by. Fish often keep in large flocks along the coast, under trees that have fallen into the water. In such places, the predator finds shelter, spawning nests and a food base in the form of rudd and bleak.
In the spring, pike perch does not disdain molting cancer. Experienced anglers say that a predator cannot swim past such cancer, so experts and spinning masters always have crustacean silicone in blue, green and red colors in their boxes.
The best conditions for fishing
There is no optimal weather for walleye fishing. In April, the predator is perfectly caught during periods without sudden pressure drops or changes in the atmospheric front. In the rain, the fish “closes its mouth” and goes to the bottom, it will not work to get it with any bait. Strong winds are bad for fishing. Spring is characterized by sharp air gusts, but for fishing, days with moderate wind speeds should be selected.
Negative factors that reduce the activity of zander:
- a significant decrease in air temperature;
- water level fluctuations;
- ingress of dirty coastal runoff into the water area;
- rain, strong wind, pressure drops.
Water fluctuations, like the weather, can affect the success of fishing. Pike perch is sensitive to the composition of water masses and if it changes, the fish goes to another place. Pike perch can be considered a litmus test of a reservoir. When harmful substances enter the water, acidity and hardness increase or decrease, the predator is one of the first to react. In severe cases, pike perch dies, which means that fishing in such a reservoir is unsafe.
Photo: moscanella.ru
On cloudy warm days, the fish are more active. In such weather, pike perch bites beautifully near the shore in a quiet and middle course. In clear weather, the predator should be looked for in shallow waters, sandy rifts, shell rock and in snags at a depth of up to 2-3 m.
Fishing on a river and standing water is different. The flowing water area is more predictable, where the activity of fish is much higher due to the high level of oxygen in the water. Ponds and lakes remain muddy for a long time. Poor visibility allows zander to come close to the shore, but to catch it you will need an arsenal of acid-bright lures with a noisy effect so that the fish somehow notice the prey in the input.
Spinning Fishing Tactics
For zander fishing, you will need several rods with different characteristics. In April, anglers spin from the shore, so the first thing you should pay attention to is the length of the blank. On large rivers and reservoirs, where the success of fishing largely depends on the casting distance, appropriate rods are selected. For small rivers, a short stick is sufficient.
Rods are distinguished according to the following criteria:
- blank growth;
- test range;
- build and material;
- handle, its shape and composition;
- spinning tip type.
For April zander fishing in shallow areas of water bodies, a rod up to 30-40 g is suitable. Different models of rods are used for different types of baits. For fishing with wobblers, tubular “sticks” of medium action are suitable, with which you can tweak large baits. The shape of the handle is a personal matter for every angler. The handle is monolithic and spaced, may differ in material and length. The main materials that are popular in the market are cork wood and EVA polymer.
The second spinning set, which should be taken with you, should be lighter. It is used for jigging, so fast and medium-fast action is chosen for the spinning blank. The bend point of such models is closer to the last quarter of the blank, due to which the tip becomes more sensitive.
Approach the shore in the spring should be careful not to frighten away the predator. The muddy water area plays into the hands of large reservoirs, as the fish come out of the pits and are not afraid to approach the coastal zone.
The spring wiring technique consists of sharp twitching movements (short) and long stops. Even with poor visibility, pikeperch senses the movement of prey with the help of a lateral line. Animation with the help of explosions with a rod conveys the natural movements of aquatic creatures: fry, beetles and insects, their larvae.
Most often, a predator attacks during a pause. It is necessary to give the walleye extra seconds to approach the bait, evaluate its edibility and decide to bite.
April zander lures
Wobblers and edible silicone are especially popular among all models. All three types of artificial baits differ in play and design, so it is better to have a stock of different products in the spinning box from which you can choose.
Mandulas
Classic artificial bait for zander fishing. Many spinners undeservedly bypass the mandala, although the bait is able to make a result when other nozzles are “silent”.
The zander mandala is a product consisting of several parts. The more connecting elements in the structure, the more mobile the model. If products consisting of 4-6 body parts are used for pike, then 2-4 are enough to catch pike perch. The predator responds well to sharp bottom wiring. The advantage of the mandala is in its hanging. Positive buoyancy allows the lure to stay upright while the sinker is on the bottom. During the course, the mandula sways slightly, additionally seducing the predator.
Among the color compositions, it is difficult to single out the most catchy shade. In sunny weather, more natural tones work great, in cloudy weather – bright colors. There should be different products in the spinner’s box, differing in length, color schemes and the number of hooks. The mandula is classified as a hook bait, therefore, relatively clean areas of the reservoir are selected for its use.
We offer to purchase sets of author’s handmade mandulas in our online store. A wide range of shapes and colors allows you to choose the right bait for any predatory fish and season.
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Wobblers
Many anglers believe that wobblers are best for catching pike in shallow water, but this is not the case. The lure’s agility and natural fish-like appearance make it one of the best baits for fanged predators.
For catching zander, wobblers are used that meet certain parameters:
- elongated shape;
- long blade;
- neutral buoyancy;
- high quality paint finish.
Pike perch has a narrow mouth, so the bait for catching it should easily “fly” into the predator’s mouth. For spring, light models are selected with a bright spot on the body, which serves as a target for attack. If the water has cleared up by April, natural colors are used: silver, brown and green shades.
Photo: Yandex Zen channel “Tata Fisher”
In many cases, suspenders (baits with neutral buoyancy) come to the rescue. Their advantage is that the nozzle is in the working area for as long as the angler wants, it does not sink and does not float up, slightly swaying in the thickness. Slowly sinking models are also effective, they are used in the current, when the suspender carries away a strong stream of water. Two-piece products in shades of green showed the highest result in clear weather.
The long blade allows the wobbler to descend to the required depth. However, in spring, fish can stand on the shallows, so the bait should be selected for the fishing area.
Edible silicone
In the spring, with the help of a spinning rod with a fast action, you can actively set fire to it, dragging baits from the shallows into the pits. This approach provokes pike perch, makes him move and attack the bait.
For fishing, elongated models with a long tail are used. Rubber is divided into two types: active and passive. The first includes all products that have their own game: vibrotails, twisters, crayfish with active claws. Passive bait is distinguished by the fact that it does not play without the intervention of the angler.
For spring, a vibrotail with a small heel, moving in a step along the bottom, is perfect. Pike perch is a near-bottom predator, it comes to the surface only when feeding.
Types of spring postings for zander:
- single toss with pauses;
- classical stage;
- drag on the bottom;
- dribbling on spaced montages.
Silicone fish allows you to use many variations of equipment. Some anglers from sports principles use only a hinge, others use spaced rigs, such as a retractable leash, jig rig, caroline, etc. The spaced mounting separates the bait from the sinker, which makes it possible to increase the weight of the lead without affecting the bite. It also allows you to play with the bait in one place, for example, gradually pulling it along the shell rock or lifting it up.