Pike in March: is it possible to catch?

The weather is not a hindrance for real anglers, they go to their favorite pastime in any weather. Spring outings with gear often bring good fishing results, but the complete absence of a bite is not uncommon. Pike fishing in March can bring different results and in most cases it depends not on the skills of the angler and not on the gear used. Capricious weather at the very beginning of spring often makes its own adjustments to the plans of fishing enthusiasts, and certain fishing bans on reservoirs can play into their hands. Is it allowed to catch pike on rivers and lakes in March and how to do it better we will find out further.

Features of catching pike in March

Before you go to the reservoir for pike fishing in March, it is worth studying some legal acts. A general ban on catching toothy predators in the Russian Federation is valid from January 15 to February 28, and spawning begins from late March to early April. But there are also bans that apply only in certain regions.

It should be understood that ignorance of the law does not exempt from liability.

Depending on the vagaries of the weather, pike fishing in March can take place:

• on open water;
• from ice.

In this case, the gear used is completely different. The result of fishing at the beginning of March and at the end in most cases also depends on whether the predator has spawned or not.

Where to look for pike in March on water bodies? It depends on whether the ice has come off or not:

• if the ice is still standing on the reservoirs, but has already begun to melt a little, it is worth going to the thawed patches to catch a predator. Near the old holes in the sun you can find more than one pike, they will come here in search of oxygen.
• In open water, it is better to fish near the coastline in the shallows, where the pike will bask and look for food. In the high water at the end of March, the pike will choose quiet places, she will go to the backwaters.

It is during this period, namely in March, that pike spawn. Most often, females just before this period and immediately after it do not respond to any bait. At the same time, large fish immediately carry out spawning, after which medium-sized individuals complete this process with small pikes. The pike caught on the hook at the end of March is most often male.

Tackle for pike in March

How the pike behaves in March, we found out where to look for the predator, too. But what gear is used to capture her during this period? What does he take in March on the river and on the lakes? It all depends on the weather conditions, or rather on whether the ice has melted or not.

Tackle from the ice

Pike fishing in March from the ice takes place in two ways, each of which can bring good results. Some anglers use two methods at once and get better results. Pike are caught from the ice:

• on vents, this method of catching is referred to as passive fishing. The fisherman drills a sufficient number of holes at a distance of 8-10 m from one another. A pre-prepared live bait is put on the hook and vents are set. The operation of the flag will show a bite, while it is not worth hooking right away, let the pike swallow the proposed bait better.
• Lure fishing is also carried out from the hole, for this, 5-8 holes are made with a drill at a distance of 6-8 m. After 15-25 minutes of active fishing, they move on to the next one, if it was not possible to interest the predator, it is worth changing the place of fishing.

Gear is collected independently, for each type of fishing they will be individual.

To equip a vent, everyone chooses their own components, however, the general indicators can be presented in the form of the following table.

Additional fittings are of good quality, because it is during the spring thaw that trophy specimens of pike are often caught on the vents.

Equipping a fishing rod is also not difficult, for this you need no more than 15 m of fishing line, its thickness should not exceed 0,2 mm. Most anglers do not put a leash on this type of winter tackle, they knit the lure directly to the base using an additional carabiner with a small swivel.

Additionally, a nod is installed on the whip, with the help of which they play with the bait with the desired amplitude.

Tackle for fishing in open water

Pike at the end of March, in most cases, is already caught in open water, for this they use several types of gear. For capture use:

• spinning gear, usually at such a time they use light and ultralight rods with thin delicate snaps. Fishing is carried out from the coastline, but forms larger than 2,4 m should not be used. Equipped with thin cords, no more than 0,1 mm. A leash is a must, the best way to recommend yourself is the fluorocarbon version.
• Pike at the end of March can also be caught on the bottom, for this short forms with a hard whip are used. The equipment is standard: a strong fishing line, a leash and a reliable hook.
• Float tackle will also work on the lake, a sufficient amount of fishing line and a powerful reel will help you even trophy pike.

Other types of equipment in the spring in open water are less effective.

Lures for pike in March

Biting pike in March depends on many indicators, baits will be in the top five root causes. Do not neglect the choice, the selection of baits should be taken responsibly. Depending on the type of fishing and the place of its holding, preference should be given to the following options:

• For fishing on vents from ice, on the bottom and on float gear in open water, only live bait is suitable as bait. It is desirable to pre-catch it in the same reservoir, and the most active and less damaged ones are selected for bait.
• Various baits are used for spinning; in the spring, small-sized options are suitable for catching. From silicone, twisters, worms and insect larvae up to 2 inches in size are preferred. Spinners will also attract the attention of a predator, and the size is also minimal, maximum 2. Oscillating lures are not used for pike at the end of March, but a small wobbler can tease even a large individual. According to the color scheme, baits for spinning fishing are chosen according to weather indicators and water transparency. In sunny weather and with relatively clear water, preference should be given to turntables with a dark petal, silicone is suitable for both acidic and more natural, wobblers can also be varied. When the sky is cloudy, it is better to take silver versions of spinners, and take artificial lures made of silicone and a wobbler in brighter colors.

Sometimes even a worm can attract the attention of a pike to a float, but this is more an exception than a rule.

The subtleties of fishing in early spring

Where to catch pike in March became known, popular baits were also studied. Now let’s open the veil of the intricacies of fishing, they are known only to experienced anglers.

Whether a pike wants to try the bait offered to it in March depends on many factors, its behavior is influenced by:

• Moon phases;
• Atmosphere pressure;
• temperature regime;
• magnetic storms.

In addition, the place of fishing is also important. To always be with a catch, you should know the following subtleties:

• Carefully choose the place of fishing, small and medium pike at the end of March will seek food among the reeds and aquatic vegetation, large individuals will remain at a depth.
• Why doesn’t pike bite in March at lunchtime? During this period, she tries to stay away from the coast, she is looking for prey 1,5 hours before dawn and closer to sunset.
• On a sunny day, it will be difficult to catch pike, the predator prefers rain, cloudy skies and a slight breeze.
• The temperature regime for fishing is also important, optimal in March are 8-20 degrees Celsius.
• It is also worth looking at the readings of the mercury column, low pressure will be the most promising for catching trophies, but high pressure will drive the predator to the bottom.

It is not always possible to strictly comply with all the desired indicators, but you should not be afraid of this. Nobody forbids experimenting, sometimes a non-standard approach can bring a very good catch.

You can catch pike in March, but not everywhere. Before you go fishing, you should take an interest in the prohibitions and restrictions in the chosen region for a hobby.