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Pike spawning is an amazing phenomenon in which these fish gather in flocks and frolic near the shore. It is important for any angler to know when and how this process takes place in order to ensure a good catch and not break the law.
When the pike goes to spawn
In spring, pikes are among the first to spawn. This biological feature gives them an advantage over other species. After all, by the time when the pike become real predators and switch to food from small fish, the rest of the spawning is just beginning. This allows you to protect your eggs, as well as attack other fish during the period when they are busy breeding. But even despite this feature, only 10% of the offspring survive.
When pike spawns in central Russia
The first zhor of the predator begins in February or early March, when she gains strength after the winter. At this time, the fish usually comes to the mouths and absorbs all living things that it meets on the way.
In the spring, closer to April, when the ice in the rivers melts and the water warms up to 4-7? C, the pike spawning period begins.
In closed reservoirs, where ice melts more slowly, pike spawn 3-4 weeks later. But it all depends on weather conditions: in the case when winter is delayed, it can begin to spawn under the ice.
Under normal conditions, that is, in the absence of weather disasters, the pike spawning time lasts about three weeks. For a single individual, this period is 2-3 days.
How many times a year do pike spawn
Pike goes to spawn, as a rule, in the spring. This process takes place once a year.
At what age do pike spawn
Females reach sexual maturity by the fourth year of life. In the case when there is a good food base in the reservoir and the fish is able to quickly gain weight – by the third. In males, this period occurs only by the age of five. Young females are the first to spawn, the largest are waiting for their turn at the end of spawning.
By the age of 3-4, the pike weighs about 400 g. Females are usually larger than males.
Throughout the year, pikes live alone, but at this time they unite in groups and stop hunting. There are 4 to 8 males per female. Fish lay their eggs on rocks, bottom, bushes or grass. Depending on the size and age of the female, the number of eggs can reach up to 220000. Under favorable conditions, fry appear in about a week. Initially, they feed on microorganisms, larvae, and insects. But in less than a month they are already able to attack small fish.
In terms of the number of eggs, pike is second only to perch and crucian carp.
Where do pike spawn
At the time of spawning, pikes swim away into small rivers, streams, rims or backwaters. They choose places with a depth of 5 cm to 1 meter, so you can often see a picture when the fish rub their stomachs along the bottom, and their backs are visible on the surface. This is due to the fact that water in shallow water warms up faster. The spawning area should be thick, overgrown with reeds, covered with leaves at the bottom.
Fish swim to the place of mating and spawning at night, but pike spawning itself takes place in the morning and lasts until the end of the day. At the same time, a group of pike constantly moves around the spawning ground. The fish rubs against algae, roots and bushes, leaving eggs on them.
The end of the process can be determined by characteristic bursts – males rush in different directions. This happens due to the fact that not very large individuals can become victims of a hungry female if they do not have time to sail to a safe distance. After that, she goes to the bottom, and the males remain to attack other females for mating.
Catching pike during spawning
The best time for pike hunting is the pre-spawning and post-spawning period, when the fish begins to eat. But do not forget that the size of its population directly depends on this period. Therefore, if you suddenly caught a pike at the end of winter or early spring, it is better to release it.
Penalty for catching pike during spawning
During the spawning period, the predator is very vulnerable – the fish loses its vigilance and can be caught with almost bare hands. But the law imposes a ban on fishing from February to early April (depending on the country and region). This is important to know in order not to get caught by unintentional poaching. Any decision regarding fishing at this time is made only by local authorities that are responsible for fisheries. They also set fines and impose penalties. Therefore, depending on the region, sanctions vary.
The fine can be up to 300 rubles. If you refuse to pay it, the violator will face an additional 000 days of administrative arrest.
There are rules that are introduced on reservoirs for the spawning period:
- a ban on moving around the reservoir on a regular or motor boat;
- a ban on approaching the coastline by vehicles at a distance of less than 200 meters;
- a ban on fishing in spawning areas.
It’s important: Be sure to check the ban dates for your area before you go fishing.
A bit of history: pike fishing for spawning
Ostrog was known in ancient Rus’. Pike fishing for spawning often took place using this simple tool. This device is a stick with a pitchfork at the end and is used for fishing on the principle of a spear. Although, to be more precise, it was used, because today it belongs to prohibited weapons.
Fishing in this way began much earlier than with a hook or other gear.
Fishing with a spear was more like hunting. The most difficult thing in this process was to guess the distance from which the throw would be accurate, fast and not frighten away the prey. They tried to strike obliquely, aiming under the dorsal fin. Moreover, it was necessary to hit across the fish – this increased the probability of hitting. The spear was also used for beaming, the meaning of which is that at night shallow water was illuminated with the help of fire, and later with a lantern, and they were looking for large fish. In this case, she was either asleep or blinded. After finding a suitable individual, it was slaughtered.
When pike starts pecking after spawning
During spawning, the fish does not feed. Accordingly, it is useless to catch her. But even at the end of this process, you should not immediately go for prey. After spawning, the pike needs to recover. It takes from 3-4 days to a week.
At this time, the fish is exhausted, often its body is covered with wounds and parasites (leeches and carp-eaters). After a hunger strike and excessive activity, it weighs little, regardless of size. Due to its exhaustion, it resists weakly, so it is better not to take coarse tackle and large baits with you. But after a couple of weeks, the fish will recover, and then it will begin the same zhor that avid fishermen sing about. At the same time, you can catch pike after spawning on almost anything.
Usually pike fishing starts in mid-May. But choosing the right moment for spring fishing is not as easy as it seems. After all, the fish goes to spawn unevenly and is also restored at different times. Moreover, large individuals go hunting last.
With the end of spawning, pikes do not leave the spawning grounds. They simply swim away from each other to a safe distance. This is due to the beginning of the breeding season in roach, which the pike hunts. And since the victim chooses the same places for spawning as the hunter, it makes no sense for the predator to leave her festive table.
It is best to look for large individuals in the riverbeds, not far from the gently sloping coast at a sharp turn. You can also check the sites at the entrance to the backwaters, oxbow lakes and old rivers. That is, places where there is a slight current; depth that allows the water to warm up well and the color of the bottom is close to the color.
Videos pike spawning
You can see how the pike behaves during spawning and what happens in this video.
Pike is a popular trophy among anglers. But it is better to postpone its capture until the end of spawning. And if suddenly you find fry in a drying puddle, then try to transfer them to the nearest body of water, because only a small part of them will survive until the end of the first year.