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There are many different modifications of artificial baits designed for angling pike perch in open water and from ice. To successfully catch a fanged predator, you need to be able to quickly select a working model of a spinner, twister or wobbler for zander, as well as correctly present it to the fish.
Jig class lures
When fishing for pike perch on spinning, the vast majority of anglers use jig lures. This is due to several reasons:
- “jigs” allow you to quickly determine the nature of the bottom relief and find the most promising places for the predator;
- jig baits imitate zander food objects well and work stably on various types of water bodies;
- they are relatively inexpensive, which is very important when fishing in snags, when more than a dozen baits can be torn off in one fishing day.
The weight of the jig lure is easy to change by equipping it with a heavier or lighter load. This makes it possible to quickly change the depth of fishing and the style of wiring.
Mandulas
The mandula is a spinning bait, for the manufacture of which polyurethane foam is used. It consists of several floating segments, which provides it with an active game when retrieving.
For angling pike perch, mandulas are used, consisting of three to four segments and having a length of 8–13 cm. This bait is usually equipped with two triple hooks, one of which is located in the head and the other in the tail.
When fishing pike perch, the most effective are mandulas, individual segments of which are painted in contrasting colors:
- yellow and black;
- red and yellow;
- black and orange;
- purple and yellow.
The rear tee is also equipped with colored synthetic plumage or lurex – this often makes zander bites more confident.
When fishing on a mandala, it is better to use classic stepped wiring. A passive predator often reacts to a polyurethane foam bait, which, after the next toss, lies motionless on the bottom ground for several seconds.
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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Vibrotails and twisters
Twisters and vibrotails work well for zander feeding in the bottom layers. The best way to feed them is the classic stepped wiring, which is 1-3 quick turns of the reel handle followed by a pause, during which the bait sinks to the bottom. Bites usually occur at the moment of free fall of the silicone imitation.
Photo: www.mnogokleva.ru
When the predator is active, the wiring can be diversified by making 2 sharp, short jerks with the tip of the spinning rod while winding the cord. This technique will create additional vibrations in the water, which will attract fish from a greater distance.
If fishing takes place on a stagnant reservoir, it is better to complete a twister or vibrotail with a classic jig head with a single hook. When fishing on a river, a silicone bait of this type should be equipped with a twin mounted on a Cheburashka sinker.
The color of the bait is selected empirically in the process of fishing. This parameter is not decisive, but it can affect the quantity and quality of bites of a fanged predator. Pike perch responds better to twisters and vibrotails of the following colors:
- carrot;
- light green;
- white;
- natural (imitating the color of any kind of small fish);
- yellow;
- “machine oil”.
This type of bait can be made from regular and “edible” silicone. The first option is used when the pike perch shows increased feeding activity, the second option is used if the predator is passive and immediately spits out the vibrotail after the attack.
Photo: www.rybalka.online
To catch trophy zander, vibrotails and twisters 20–25 cm long are used. If it is planned to catch specimens weighing no more than 3 kg, baits 10–15 cm in size are used.
Foam fish
Foam rubber lures in the form of a small fish work great for passive zander. They practically do not have their own game, and only thanks to the swivel connection with the “cheburashka” load, they sway slightly on the “step” wiring. Their main benefits include:
- low cost;
- ease of self-production;
- Possibility of application in spiky areas.
For catching zander, “foam rubber” is more often used, equipped with a double hook, the stings of which are tightly pressed to the body of the bait. It is thanks to this that good permeability of the artificial bait through the snag is achieved.
The optimal length of zander “foam rubber” is 8–12 cm. The working color is selected experimentally in the process of fishing.
silicone creature
Spinning baits belonging to the class of silicone creatures are designed to imitate crustaceans and large nymphs. They work best in combination with the following equipment options:
- on a classic jig head;
- with jig-rig installation;
- with “Texas” equipment.
This type of silicone imitations is usually mounted on an offset hook, which allows the bait to be used in heavily hooked places.
Creatura is very effective when pike perch feeds in the bottom layer or collects food objects from the ground. When fishing on a flat bottom, jerky stepped wiring shows the best results. If fishing takes place on deep-sea dumps, the bait should be slowly dragged along the very bottom, slightly shaking the tip of the spinning rod and making short pauses every 30–50 cm.
The fanged predator reacts better to a creature of dark colors. When fishing pike perch, the length of silicone imitations of this species should be 6–10 cm.
Wobblers
In summer, in the evening and at night, pike perch often come out to feed on shallow areas. In such conditions, it is well caught on small wobblers of the “shad” class 5–10 cm long and up to 1 m deep.
At night, “shads” of a natural color work better. They should be carried out at an average pace with uniform wiring.
Small “shades” with a depth of up to 2,5 m are very effective in the summer heat, when the so-called “thermocline” occurs and flocks of fanged predators concentrate in the middle layers of water. Large wobblers of this class are used to catch trophy zander by trolling.
Ratlins (“vibes”)
Ratlins have proven themselves excellently when fishing pike perch with spinning gear. They have an active game and are good at attracting a predator from a long distance. “Vibs” are especially effective when fishing in muddy waters, when the predator mainly relies on the organs of the lateral line to search for prey.
When fishing with spinning “vibes”, you should lead the classic “step” or slow uniform wiring at the very bottom. Since ratlins are equipped with 2-3 triple hooks, it is better not to use them for fishing in snarled areas of the reservoir.
Ratlins can also be used as winter baits. When fishing from ice, they are presented to fish as follows:
- Ratlin is lowered to the bottom;
- Raise the “vib” 5-15 cm above the bottom soil;
- They make a swing with a fishing rod with an amplitude of 20–35 cm (the width of the amplitude depends on the activity of the predator and the design features of the ratlin);
- Quickly return the tip of the fishing rod to the starting point;
- They are waiting for the “vib” to come to rest.
When angling zander, ratlins 7–13 cm in size show themselves better. On rivers, a fanged predator more readily takes bright-colored vibes. When fishing on lakes with clear water, natural-colored models work well.
Vertical spinners
Vertical spinners 9–12 cm long have also proven themselves well in ice fishing for zander. The game with this bait is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Spinner hit the bottom soil several times;
- Raise the lure 5-15 cm from the bottom;
- Make a sharp swing with a fishing rod with an amplitude of 20–40 cm;
- Return the tip of the rod to its original position;
- Waiting for the spinner to be in a vertical plane.
During a free fall, the spinner, sinking to the bottom, sways in a horizontal plane. It is at this point that the bite usually occurs.
Balancers
Balancers perfectly catch zander in the winter. When posting, they move in a horizontal plane and quickly attract fish standing at a considerable distance from the hole. The optimal size of this bait for catching a fanged predator is 8–10 cm.
Photo: www.na-rybalke.ru
Balancers are presented to the predator in the same way as ratlins. These baits are characterized by a wide game and the presence of several hooks, so it is not recommended to use them in snags.