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The fanged lord of the depths is one of the few winter predators that remain active during the freezing period. In the cold season, pike perch keeps in large flocks, due to which its capture may indicate additional bites. They catch a predator both on rivers and on reservoirs. Often, pike perch is launched into private fisheries, closed ponds, and it can also inhabit large lakes.
Pike perch and its activity in winter
This type of perch family is demanding on the composition of water. Pike perch does not tolerate too soft or hard water area with high acidity. The fish tries to occupy areas of water bodies with currents or springs gushing from under the ground. The transparency of the water area and the presence of oxygen ensure the activity of the fish, so it is rarely seen in stagnant pits.
The bite of a fanged predator is affected by:
- seasonality;
- weather;
- change in atmospheric pressure;
- ice thickness;
- nuances of the waters.
At the beginning of winter, when the ice thickness reaches 5-7 cm, the deep predator responds well to both artificial and live baits. At this time of the year, it is most active, but often it is not possible to get close to the channel or pit due to thin ice. In order not to take risks, it is better to wait until the hard water surface gets stronger at least up to 10 cm. It is easiest to catch zander on thin ice (up to 10 cm). Since this is search fishing, the result directly depends on the number of holes.
Closer to January, the thickness of the ice reaches its maximum values, it becomes more difficult to drill holes, but now you can get to the most distant promising zones. In the middle of winter, the activity of the “fanged” decreases. If the ice is thick and the water area is small, it is useless to wait for the predator to leave. In small water bodies, the activity of fish depends on the oxygen balance. As the ice builds up, the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water decreases.
In the second trimester of winter, you should look for a predator in large reservoirs, on old channels of reservoirs, rivers with a moderate course. A constant flow mixes the water masses, saturating them with oxygen. Pike perch often comes to the junctions with tributaries, deltas. Also, fish can be found in places with beating springs, however, the ice in such areas can be unsafe. The water flow washes away the solid layer from below, forming gullies.
Photo: ryba-lka.ru
The bite is activated at the end of winter, when the ice begins to melt, water comes out from under it and mixes with the melted liquid. At the end of the winter trimester, the water area becomes cloudy, but it is saturated with oxygen, which increases the chances of catching a fanged robber.
In addition to seasonality, the quality of fishing is affected by weather changes:
- precipitation in the form of snow and rain, cereals;
- cloudy and sun;
- strong wind;
- low temperatures and thaws.
Pike perch is well caught in the snow. During this time, atmospheric pressure drops and air temperature rises. In severe frost, you can also count on success, provided that the weather has been stable for at least the last three days. Pike perch is sensitive to sudden changes in the atmospheric front; it stops biting when climatic conditions change. The only thing that can “turn on” a bite is a sudden supply of water, which is typical for large rivers limited by dams.
Many anglers wait for the moment of water supply. At this time, all the fish are activated and you can count on an excellent catch. If you know in advance when the floodgates on the dam open, you can guess the activity of a predator and whitefish.
Not the last important phenomenon affecting the biting of pike perch is the thermocline. It can be located closer to the surface, in the middle of the water column, or almost at the bottom. The zone with a thermocline can only be determined by an echo sounder. If it is present in this area, you can try to catch “fanged” under this line, where the water should be warmer. The thermocline is nothing more than the boundary of water masses with different temperatures. It is formed if the water area is not mixed for a long time.
Where to look for pike perch in winter
Everyone knows that the “fanged” lives at a depth, but not every angler knows about the separation of the recreation and food areas by pike perch. In the deepest sections of the channel with calm water and high oxygen levels, the predator can rest and not take the offered baits. This explains the large accumulations of pike perch on the display of echo sounders, which ignore both live bait fish, and balancers, and rattlins.
Elevations in the pits usually serve as a dining table. You can find them either with the help of an electronic depth gauge, or in the old fashioned way: a rod with a lure. All depth differences are marked with flags or sticks stuck next to the holes.
Sudak chooses a parking area according to the following principles:
- depth from 6 m;
- the presence of shelters (snags, drops, etc.);
- feed base;
- small current;
- hard bottom.
The predator often picks up food from the bottom, so it chooses places with hard ground, where it is easiest to do this. Sandy, rocky, or better, a shell bottom is perfect for catching it. Fish, in addition to relatives, perfectly eats mollusks and crustaceans. The predator has sharp eyesight, so even in pitch darkness it is able to distinguish colors. Vision and hearing are perfectly complemented by a developed lateral line, with the help of which pike perch determines movement in the water.
The food base of the predator includes:
- young and molting crayfish;
- benthic invertebrates;
- juvenile fish, caviar;
- barley, mussels and other bivalves;
- beetles, insects and their larvae.
In open water at night, pike perch can pursue waterfowl rodents, frogs and tadpoles, leeches and even small ducks. In winter, its food supply is noticeably reduced, and the pike perch is forced to walk near the flocks of bream. Instincts are attracted to the whiteness of a predator. Often, a fanged robber is not able to swallow a large scavenger, but periodically leaves traces of large fangs on it.
Photo: pbs.twimg.com by Nikolay Rudenko
The zander’s mouth is designed in such a way as to feed on narrow-bodied fish: bleak, roach, rudd, gudgeon and tuber. The predator attacks the prey from the head without turning it around, as the pike does.
Popular habitats for zander in winter:
- channel edges;
- elevations and irregularities in the pits;
- shell and stony dumps;
- exits from the pits;
- zones with a reverse flow under a steep bank.
Prospective sites on stagnant reservoirs and rivers are slightly different. Pike perch does not choose rapids as a parking lot, it is attracted by zones with a moderate current. On the rivers, the fish keeps under the rubble of trees, snags, on turns with a depth of 5 m. As a rule, pike perch stays locally and moves mainly at night. A group can contain up to 50 fish of the same size. In rare cases, different-sized trophies are found in a flock.
Tactics asked
Fishing on small rivers should begin with bank edges and sharp drops. Often, the predator makes itself felt already at the beginning of the dump, where, in addition to pike perch, there is perch, roach and various trifles. On small flowing reservoirs, it is impossible to bypass fallen trees, sharp turns and pits, where fish are kept most often. You also need to take into account that the “fanged” can ambush near the beaches, in places with piles and bridges.
Secrets of the search for zander:
- A series of holes should be drilled in one run so as not to frighten the fish every 5 minutes. Holes are drilled in a straight line, in a checkerboard and random order. Also, many anglers ream the water area with a cross, hoping to find differences in depths and any ambushes.
- It is not worth staying on the hole for a long time. If there is an active walleye in the zone, it will detect itself with a bite on the first five strokes of the rod. There are days when the fish need to be given more time to approach, take a closer look and make a decision. This happens in the wilderness.
- A variety of postings is the key to successful fishing. The more often the angler changes the animation, the more likely it is that any action of the lure will attract fish. The wiring should be changed and selected in the case when the pike perch showed itself, but the bite turned out to be weak. An inactive fish simply hits the bait without opening its mouth, and it is extremely difficult to detect it.
- The impact of pauses and slow postings should not be underestimated. In the middle of winter, when zander are passive, you need to give the used nozzle more time to stop. It is also necessary to modify the game by adding small wiggles and making it smoother.
Wiring for zander should be selected for fishing. As a rule, these are single strokes, alternating with pauses. It is important to raise the bait by 5-10 cm with each stroke, in this case the fish reacts more actively to the artificial bait. Changing the fishing horizon allows you to quickly examine the water column. If there is no echo sounder among the equipment, then you have to manually search for the depth at which the fanged robber is kept. Most often, pike perch stays near the bottom, but there are times when the fish stands 2-3 m higher and the bait simply plays in the wrong place.
Photo: breedfish.ru
Between strokes and stops, you can use the “dribbling” technique. He came to zander fishing from angling with a mormyshka. The main thing to remember is that dribbling should be smooth. Pike perch, especially the passive one, often picks up a hook that is twitching in the thick by inertia.
Tapping on the bottom works great in any winter season. The technique is effective when fishing with any bait: balancer, lure, rattlin, etc. Among the many artificial baits, there is a specialized large-sized mormyshka, called a “stalker”. It is not difficult to guess what kind of wiring is used to catch it.
When lowering the bait to the bottom, a cloud of turbidity rises. If fishing is carried out on shell rock or rocky ground, tapping is accompanied by a characteristic sound.
Tackle and lures for ice fishing
For zander fishing, a rod up to a meter long is used. There are several types of blanks: carbon fiber or graphite, fiberglass, composite. The first option is more sensitive and suitable for professionals. Carbon fiber allows you to quickly find the bottom with the lightest bait, it perfectly conveys the slightest pokes of a predator.
Fiberglass is a budget gear material used by novice anglers. To start in zander fishing, it is recommended to buy inexpensive equipment to see if you like this method of fishing. If the angler is interested in hunting for zander, it’s time to switch to a rod made of a composite of graphite and fiberglass. These models have medium flexibility and sensitivity, they can be fully used for catching zander in a plumb line.
Photo: activefisher.net
A winter fishing rod is equipped with an inertial or inertialess reel. The first option involves the transfer of gear from hole to hole “on hand”. The spinning reel does not require this, which is convenient when fishing at great depths and strong winds. The fight with the trophy in the first case goes “according to the classics”: the angler carefully pulls the fish out, fingering the line with his fingers. The spinning reel completely repeats spinning fishing with the only difference: fishing is carried out in a plumb line.
For sheer fishing, a strong winter fishing line is used with the following parameters:
- length not less than 50 m;
- diameter within 0,25-0,3 mm;
- breaking load – 7-9 kg;
- soft structure;
- abrasive resistance;
- transparent color;
- lack of memory.
Sometimes the depth in promising areas reaches 15-16 m. For fishing in such areas, a supply of fishing line is needed in order to quickly retie the bait in case of a break and stay in the ranks. 50-100 m is enough for a rod reel. High-quality fishing line lasts up to 3 years, then it begins to dry out, loses elasticity, extensibility and strength. Winter fishing line is made of nylon fibers, it should not have memory, twist and tangle. In winter, monofilaments are much more demanding, as difficult fishing conditions affect rigging and fishing comfort.
Soft line with high abrasion resistance is less deformed by the sharp edges of the hole or pieces of frozen ice on top. For catching zander, steel leashes are not used. The predator has sharp fangs that fluorocarbon can withstand with confidence. In places where pike are likely to be encountered, titanium or tungsten twists are used.
Fishing on balancers
One of the most popular baits for sheer fishing is the balancer. Its sweeping game attracts fish from afar, which is important when fishing at great depths. Sudach balancers are large in size. To search for “fanged” use models from 7 to 20 g.
Balancers have a long body, equipped with three hooks. The bottom tee typically has a colored blob of epoxy that serves as a target for attack. The amplitude of the game is achieved using a plastic tail. On a swing, the balancer flies up a meter and a half from the initial point, after which it turns around and plans back. Thus, the bait writes out the “eight”, flying up in one direction or the other.
The balancer is not recommended for use in snags. The amplitude game of the bait catches all the obstacles that are nearby, so it is easy to lose it.
To search for “fanged” they recommend high strokes, when a pike perch is found, they switch to short ascents. Passive fish are frightened by sudden movements of the balancer, therefore, for fishing in the dead of winter, short swings and dribbling with a change in the fishing horizon are used.
Photo: activefisher.net
Among anglers, both provocative and natural bait colors are popular. In sunny weather and clear water, it is recommended to use dark colors, in cloudy weather – bright and acid colors.
As a search model, a medium-sized balancer in a bright shade is suitable, which will be visible from afar and attacked by an active predator. If fishing starts from a zone where there are definitely fish, tactics are selected based on the conditions in the reservoir: seasonality, air temperature, cloudiness and time of day.
Popular balancers for zander:
- Lucky John Fin 5.
- Rapala Jigging Rap W 05.
- Scorana Ice Crystal Mark 2.
- Kuusamo Balance 75 mm.
- Nils Master Jigger 1.5.
You should have a supply of the same nozzles and different colors of the same model with you. Budget models often “lose” their tail when attacked by a fanged robber, even if they are catchy.
Sheer lure fishing
Perhaps the most classic bait for fishing a fanged inhabitant of fresh waters is a spinner. Sudach models were known 100 years ago. Some products have a solid body with a soldered hook (single, double and even tee), others have a winding ring that serves as a hook hook with a spinner.
The following differences are characteristic of zander baubles:
- narrow but long body;
- bright red dots on the bait;
- weight from 10 to 25 g;
- metallic, less often painted color.
Since pike perch has a narrow mouth, appropriate baits are selected for catching it. Spinners occupy a vertical position in the water, which is why they got their name.
Among the popular models, there are several forms:
- carnations;
- tubes;
- planners;
- tridents.
Each model has its own center of gravity, thanks to which its game changes. The secret of many spinners is that they can be used upside down by rehooking the hook. Thus, the same sheer bait can have a different game.
Photo: sazanya-bukhta.ru
Carnations, trihedrals and tubes, when lifted, quickly fall back, sway a little and stop. Gliding gliders are characterized by vibrations from side to side when falling. Gliders are great for finding a fanged robber, other types of spinners are for spot fishing.
Winter vertical spinners are made of brass, copper, stainless steel and other materials. Lead is often added to the alloy for shipment. Classic spinners have a metallic color, although many well-known manufacturers produce models in bright colors.
For fishing with a sheer lure, the same tactics are used as when fishing with a balancer. The main type of wiring is considered to be a rod swing with slow swings in the thickness. The spinner can be allowed to lie down on the bottom – this also effectively acts on the predator.
One of the most popular models for sheer fishing is the “tube”. Depending on the angle of the cuts, it has one or another game. At the bottom there is a triple hook, at the top there is a hole for attaching to a fishing line. A product called “Swedish pimple” is also popular. Roughnesses on the model of the planning type emit a shine in different directions, attracting pike perch from a long distance.
Unlike other baits, sheer spinners can be used with a piece of fish or salted sprat. An edible particle on the hook significantly improves the bite.
Angling on rattlins
The third, but not the least popular type of zander bait is rattlin. This type of artificial bait is referred to as bladeless wobblers. Initially, rattlins were used only for sheer fishing, but later they began to be used when fishing from a boat into a cast.
Unlike balancers and metal spinners for rattlins, they use the most smooth wiring, reminiscent of the movements of a real fish. In addition, this type of artificial fish completely imitates underwater inhabitants. Rattlins have an anatomically similar body: gill covers, fins, eyes, scales and, of course, colors.
On sharp strokes, the rattlin flies up, after which it smoothly falls back. Gentle wiggles give good results, but they are effective if you know for sure that the walleye is under the hole. The smooth rise with the dribbling of the rattlin attracts the fish the best. It seems to pike perch that a wounded fish is running away from him and the instincts of a predator do not allow him to pass by.
Photo: activefisher.net
For zander fishing, models weighing from 7 g are used. The higher the depth, the larger the bait is needed for plumb fishing. Also, rattlins cope well with the current characteristic of small and large rivers. Artificial fish are equipped with tees in the amount of 1-2 pieces.
Top Rattles for Ice Fishing:
- Smith Bay Blue.
- THE MEANING OF GAMAUJI.
- Usami Vertigo.
- Rapala Rattlin’ Rapala.
- Yoshi Onyx Primula Vibe.
- ECOPRO VIB Sharkey.
- Lucky John Soft Vib.
Rattlin from the company Rapala became the pioneers and the very bait from which the fashion for catching these vibes went. Winter models are most often quiet, they do not have capsules with a rattle and a magnet for casting distance. This distinguishes them from rattlins used in liquid water.
Mormyshka “stukalka”
In many regions, the most popular winter bait for ice fishing for “toothy” is still mormyshka. The brass product looks like a bullet with a flat bottom, it occupies a horizontal position in the water and, in addition to pike perch, is also used for fishing for burbot.
Photo: klevoclub.com
The product is made of brass, it makes a characteristic sonorous sound when it hits the bottom. A sharp hook perfectly breaks through a dense zander’s mouth.
As a nozzle use:
- pieces of fish;
- salted sprat or sprat;
- liver, kidneys and other offal;
- creeps, a bunch of worms;
- mussel meat, trimmings, sometimes lard.
The principle of fishing is simple: the angler throws a mormyshka with a nozzle into the hole, finds the bottom and starts wiring. The main element of the animation is to periodically knock on the ground, raising the turbidity. The fish reacts to a cloud of turbidity, comes closer and picks up the bait from the bottom. If the predator does not take from the bottom, you should raise the mormyshka a little higher.
The size of the mormyshka ranges from 10-25 g. Lead models are quite rare, since they are less effective.
Catching pike perch
In addition to artificial lures, which are widely used in ice fishing, baits do not lose their popularity. Stationary tackle with live bait shows itself well in the wilderness, when pike perch can only be tempted with natural bait.
Advantages of a vent over artificial baits:
- fishing with several tackles at once;
- fishing without the participation of the fisherman;
- the ability to leave gear for the night;
- attracting a predator with an active live fish;
- fishing in severe frost in a comfortable tent.
With the help of zherlits you can diversify fishing. Having set 5 permitted gear, anglers switch to lure. Thus, the activity of the fish, its preferences can be traced. In severe frost, when the air temperature drops below -20°C, the vents allow for comfortable fishing in a tent. It is enough to set up the gear and you can return to a warm shelter, watching what is happening from the window.
It is necessary to arrange gear at least 15 m from each other. It is impossible to cover large water areas in one fishing trip, but it is quite possible to build a depth map in the area where the angler is located. It makes no sense to leave tackle for more than an hour on one hole. In winter, you need to look for fish by examining channel edges, slopes, exits from pits and other bottom irregularities, relief anomalies.
An echo sounder helps to correctly arrange the vents. With it, you can determine the depth, see the structure of the bottom, the presence of snags and changes in the relief. Putting tackle on a flat area is pointless, exactly the same as looking for pike perch on the display.
For fishing for fanged fish, several types of live bait are used:
- roach;
- small narrow-bodied crucian carp;
- rudd;
- Amur chebachok;
- minnow.
If it was not possible to get the necessary type of fish, you can always catch a perch, cut off its upper fin and use it as bait. Spiny perch is less attractive to a predator, nature has made it so, however, in a biteless situation, “striped” may turn out to be a good solution.
Live bait is planted with single hooks, doubles and tees. For catching zander, the method of replanting under the gills and by the upper lip is popular. The predator attacks the fish from the front, so the hook is immediately in his mouth. Some anglers, on the contrary, advise catching the fry by the tail, arguing that this way the live bait remains more mobile and attractive. It is worth noting that the triple hook is ineffective when catching zander on the vent. It is much more difficult for him to bite into the mouth than for a double and a single.
Photo: activefisher.net
In winter, pike perch are caught on zherlitsy both during the day and at night, but the peak of activity falls on the dark time of the day. If you leave the tackle at night, then they need to be checked every few hours. Pike perch often goes out to feed at a certain time and in half an hour all 5 vents can work. Night fishing on vents can be combined with bream fishing, since these two species of fish always stay close.
In order to level the poor visibility of gear at night, a bell is hung on the vent, which reacts to a bite. Since fishing is carried out at a depth of 6 m, the sound of the bell should not scare the “fanged one”, and the angler will be notified of the bite.
At night, it makes sense to set gear in smaller areas where there is linen, which can also be detected using an echo sounder. It is in such zones that the predator goes to feed at night. Tellingly, a larger pike perch comes across the vents precisely in the dark, even if there was no bite during the day. The peak of activity is at midnight and the time before dawn.
When catching pike perch on a zherlitsa, one should not forget about a fluorocarbon leash with a diameter of 0,5 mm, since a large pike often roams next to the fanged one. The channel spotted beauty sometimes reaches an impressive size and can be a nice bonus on any fishing trip.
As equipment for pike perch, a standard installation with an increased sinker up to 20-30 g is used, depending on the depth and current in the fishing area. The length of the leash varies within 30-50 cm.
Winter fishing for zander is always unpredictable. The first thing to do when entering a pond is to drill holes and look for fish. If you are not lazy, you can count on a decent catch even during the dead of winter, when only small perches come on the hook, which must be released back.