Winter fishing for the devil: tactics and fishing techniques, top best models

No-bait baits have firmly entered the arsenal of winter fishermen. Their main advantage is the absence of a bloodworm on the hook, which is so difficult and unpleasant to plant in frosty windy weather. Thanks to this, the revolver is in great demand among fans of catching perch, roach and bream. A bait equipped with a triple hook is called a “devil”. The mormyshka got its name due to the similarity of hooks with the horns of a mythical character.

Construction devil

A devil is a mormyshka with an elongated body with a hook soldered or hung on a ring. Both the first and second type of models perfectly catch fish, but differ in the type of animation.

The body of the bait is made of metal and alloys:

• lead;
• copper and brass connections;
• technical silver;
• tungsten.

Each material has its own specific gravity and density. Tungsten is considered the heaviest metal of the listed ones, it is more often used for fishing at great depths, where it is necessary to maintain the minimum size of the bait. At shallow depths, products made of lead alloys with a lower weight work best. Lead mormyshkas in shallow waters behave more naturally, while tungsten models have too aggressive action.

Also as materials for the manufacture of devils use:

• wire;
• plastic;
• isolation;
• beads and beads.

Often you can find combined baits, consisting of several materials. The fishing market offers both dark models and products painted in bright colors. Also come across metal devils with a characteristic luster of brass, copper or tungsten.

Hooks suspended by a loop create additional noise during animation, but have a significant drawback: in the cold it is difficult to pull the tee out of the prey’s mouth, because it is too small and mobile. Hooks located in the body of the bait are more popular among winter anglers. Their hookiness depends not only on the sharpness, but also on the bend or protrusion beyond the calf.

Photo: sazanya-bukhta.ru

Hooks can be painted to match the color of the bait or have a metallic sheen. As a rule, the light or dark tone of the hook does not affect the bite, however, it is better to have both products in the box.

All devils are divided by shape and size. There are curved products, narrow or teardrop-shaped models. It is necessary to select a specific mormyshka according to the conditions and the object of fishing. The perch prefers a “pot-bellied” shape of the bait, bream and roach respond better to narrow elongated products. The size of the bait is an important factor affecting the number of bites, comfort of fishing, the size of the catch and sale. The deeper the fishing takes place, the larger the devil will be needed, which will effectively “dance” under a layer of water.

Tackle and fishing methods

The devil is fished with a comfortable but light rod. You can assemble the rod yourself, but it is easier to purchase a quality model at the nearest fishing store.

The following parameters are typical for a winter rod:

1. Short handle. The rod should be as comfortable as possible and easy to lie in your hand. As a rule, the angler closes the handle with his palm behind and the rod, as it were, serves as an extension of the brush. Handles come in several types: straight and curved. They are made from EVA polymer, cork, foam and plastic. A product should be selected that does not transmit the cold of the palm, does not crumble and does not deform from time to time.
2. Wide reel. A large reel makes it possible to quickly reel in a line or assemble a rod in a matter of seconds. The speed of fishing processes is especially important in ice angling, where every second in a frosty wind can cause discomfort to the hands.
3. Long whip. The baitless mormyshka does not require additional bait, has a high-frequency game and plays perfectly even on a long rod. If catching bream with an ordinary mormyshka with a long fishing rod is problematic, then the devil allows you to use such tackle without bending your back over the hole. As a rule, such fishing is more comfortable and suitable for people with back problems.
4. Light weight. The lower the mass of the tackle, the easier it is to manage. Since the rod lies in the hand all day, every gram of it is felt at the end of fishing with fatigue in the hand.

As a nod to the devil, a piece of a colored nipple is used – a weightless material that does not burden the tackle. Also suitable are light lavsan products that have an appropriate attachment to the whip.

Photo: www.ribalkaforum.com

The devil is mounted directly to the fishing line. Many baits have a special access ring, others have a hole in the body. It is better to choose tungsten artificial nozzles with a ring, since dense metal easily cuts soft winter nylon.

Fishing tactics are as follows:

• the search for fish begins either from a certain depth or from the shore;
• holes are drilled in figured order;
• over each hole, carry out no more than 5-7 lifts of the bait;
• lucky holes are marked with a flag or other landmark.

Before you fish for the devil, you should prepare for search fishing. A drill with a minimum auger diameter drills through thick ice more easily if fishing is carried out in the middle of winter. When fishing for bream, the search begins with the entrance to the pit, reaming the beginning of the stall. Holes are drilled in a semicircle or circle, in a straight line, in a checkerboard pattern. As for the search for perch with the little devil, drilling with envelopes is considered the best way. Thus, you can cover the largest part of the water area without missing the place with the highest concentration of fish.

Posting incorporated several key movements:

• high frequency vibrations;
• throws from the bottom;
• bottom strikes;
• stops in the thick;
• reverse animation.

Devil seduces fish only with his appearance and animation, so his game is always bright, regardless of the object of catching. If a bream is caught with a nozzle jig with slow swaying, then the devil seduces the representative of the depths with an amplitude game.

You don’t have to stop at one hole. In winter, the fish is passive and it is easier to find it on your own than to wait. Some anglers use bait, but in this case, the whole point of the fishing devil is lost.

How to choose a devil for ice fishing

To date, there are many options for catchy baits. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the material. You can identify tungsten products by the price tag, which is usually 3-4 times higher than for similar products. Tungsten is used in the case of bream fishing from a depth, for spring fishing for crucian carp or silver bream in the dead of winter. At depths up to 4 m, it is better to give preference to larger lead structures.

Despite the fact that the game of the devil requires high speed, heavy metal behaves too actively at shallow depths, which often scares away the fish. Tungsten imps can be used to catch perch. The striped brethren are usually picky, if it is present in the reservoir in normal numbers.

Photo: activefisher.net

Also, tungsten products are used in the course. The high density of the metal makes it possible to use small models with a lower mass than analogues made from an alloy of lead, brass and copper. At the moment, you can find combined devils on the market, the core of which consists of tungsten covered with a copper braid. Due to their design, such baits emit a special noise effect.

Technical silver products are not very popular, but they work great on perch in clear weather. As a rule, such mormyshkas are made with their own hands. Finding silver models in the lines of popular manufacturers is problematic.

The size of the devil is selected according to the conditions of fishing and prey. At depths, devils weighing up to 1 g are used. These baits perfectly hold the vertical in strong currents, are able to work at depths of up to 12 m, and seduce both bream and pike perch, which is often caught in the catch.

When choosing a bait, you need to pay attention to the hook:

1. It should not be directed into the body of the lure. Usually, the correct location of the tee involves slightly unbent stings, which guarantee a high percentage of implementation. If the hook is bent inward, it will not catch a pecked bream or bream. In the process of fishing, it is important to monitor the condition of the tee. It often breaks off or unbends during active fishing or hooks on a frozen ice edge.
2. The color of the hook often speaks of the alloy. Light gray models made of thick wire indicate a low quality tee. Such baits do not last long, so they constantly have to be changed. Manufacturers may not save on material, but install a bad tee, so the choice of bait should be approached thoroughly.
3. The hanging hook must not get stuck or bent. Many budget models have an ill-conceived design and other errors in appearance. The eye should be wide enough so that the tee slides freely over it with intense vibrations. If the hook gets stuck, the game of the bait gets lost, and the fish moves away.
4. The thickness of the wire should be moderate. Not always thick tees remain the most reliable, since their quality is more influenced by the type of metal alloy. Unfortunately, it is more often possible to find out about the quality of tees only by fishing. The strongest baits are selected by trial and error.

The color or coloration of the lure is the attraction of eye contact with the fish. Many anglers argue that the color of the bait does not matter, and only the activity of the fish plays a role. Fishing practice and numerous experiments prove the opposite. Color is perceived differently in shallow waters and depths, on sunny and cloudy days. At the same time, passive fish, which is affected by atmospheric pressure, oxygen starvation or any other factors, painfully perceives bright provocative shades.

In clear weather and on crystal clear winter water, it is better to use dark models. The devil, painted black, resembles a lot of underwater insects, the color shades of which are close to the dark range. Perch and bream bite perfectly on the black devil; it is considered one of the best baits for fishing for roach.

Painted baits in bright colors are recommended for use on the last ice, when melt water mixes with the ground and the water area becomes cloudy. At this time of the year, the bite is actively increasing, since the flow of oxygen dissolved in it comes with melt water.

The classic colors of devils are natural metallic luster:

• silver;
• gold;
• copper;
• brass.

Silver is used in clear weather, just like copper. Brass and gold work great on cloudy days. Precipitation also influences the choice of mormyshka color. In thick snow, golden baits are used for bream, black and brown for roach, silver, gold or reddish models for perch. Some devils have a double color, imitating an insect or its larva. Also closer to the tee, a peephole can be mounted or a bright spot is drawn for an accentuated fish attack.

Lure classification

All products can be divided into models according to the types of fish, fishing depth, colors and shape.

For fishing for small prey, such as perch, silver bream or roach, miniature devils with a mass of 0,2 to 0,35 g are used. 0,4 y.

The streamlined shape with a vertical position in the water allows the lure to sit exactly under the hole, even with small currents and depths. For fishing on a stream of such fish as a chub, devils weighing up to 1 g are used. They perfectly find the bottom and maintain the amplitude of oscillations with a strong flow of water.

The shape of the artificial nozzle may be streamlined or have some design features. Wire devils are a great example of models with a non-streamlined shape. The center of gravity of the bait can be shifted down, up or in the middle. The game of the lure depends on this parameter. Models with a center of gravity at the bottom of the structure have more dynamic and aggressive animation. For their wiring, it is necessary to perform amplitude oscillations with a rod.

Photo: Yandex Zen channel “Cool Grandfather”

All models can be classified by price category. Even ordinary branded lead products have characteristic differences from the budget “Chinese”. Cheap mormyshkas have poor quality tees, an awkward shape with many defects, a poor coating that peels off on the very first trips. However, even a budget line for winter fishing can be catchy, although success largely depends on the line, fishing location and concentration of fish.

Beginning anglers often confuse a devil with a goat. The main difference is the number of hooks, however, the design features of the goat are also present.

TOP 10 catchy devils for ice fishing

This rating of lures includes both small models for perch and roach, as well as large products for catching bream. Devils differ in shape, color scheme, the location of the hooks and the material from which they are made. All parameters together affect the effectiveness and quality of the game of artificial bait.

Lucky John Hole 0,33g

This model is presented in metallic shades of silver, gold, copper and brass. The elongated body evenly distributes the weight. At the bottom is a plastic bead that serves as a target for fish. The devil is attached with a hole in the body. The hooks are large, significantly exceed the body of the bait, so a high-quality notch is guaranteed. This model is used for catching perch and roach at depths up to 4 m.

GRFish little devil

Tungsten imp, covered with a special coating that is not erased during prolonged use. The high column has an amplitude game, and special beads on the hooks create an additional noise effect. The tee is unbent from the body, which increases the effectiveness of cutting. This model uses a high-quality hook that can withstand heavy loads.

At the top of the structure is a small eyelet for attaching fishing line. This small element helps to prevent chafing of nylon on metal.

GRFish, Electroplating Devil Mormyshka, Tungsten, 1.5 mm, 0.18 g

Drop-shaped product with a shifted center of gravity to the top has a smoother game and works great at shallow depths. Both the body and the hook of the bait are painted in a metallic color: silver, gold, copper. On the tee there are several plastic beads and cambrics of different colors, which also attract fish with noise.

The stings are curved away from the bait, in the upper part there is a wide ring. Sharp hooks can withstand large fish, so accidentally pecking pike can be a great addition to the catch of “striped” or roach.

GRFish Devil with Chameleon Cube, Tungsten, 2 mm, 0.4 g

One of the most popular devils in this series. The idea of ​​combining a bait with a metal cube came about thanks to the appearance on the market and the huge hype around the “nail-cube” jig. The movable brass cube creates a certain vibration and noise effect, which attracts fish at depth.

The body of the bait is made of tungsten and has a black paintwork. Chameleon cube shimmers in sunlight. At the top there is a loop for mounting to the fishing line. Hooks move away from the body of the bait, providing an excellent serif. The center of gravity is shifted to the top, so the bait can be used for a smooth game when catching bream.

Lucky John 035

The most common bait of the classic type with an eyelet in the upper part of the structure. The devil does not have beads, cubes and other attracting elements on the hooks, it works only thanks to the game of the angler. The body can be painted in a dark color or in bright shades. Many color baits imitate insects and their larvae, fish fry.

A high-strength hook with a brilliant shade, the stings go far beyond the body of the bait, they detect the fish well when biting. This devil can be used for catching roach, perch and silver bream at depths up to 5 m.

Mikado 2,5 mm / 0,5 gr

The classic type of drop-shaped lure. A small devil is painted in a dark color with a waterproof coating. The model is perfect for catching perch and roach at depths of 0,5-4 m. The product is equipped with the sharpest high quality tee. The bait is completed with a colored bead, which serves as a target for attacking fish. Installation is carried out using a small eye at the top of the bait.

GRFish, Mormyshka “Devil with electroplating risks”, tungsten, 1.5 mm, 0.2 g

The bait has an elongated body in the form of a carnation with a slight expansion towards the top. In the middle there are three inserts made of colored material. The lure is made in traditional metallic colors, has multi-colored beads and cambrics on hooks. The sharp tee strongly protrudes beyond the body of the bait, providing high-quality hooking. This model can be used at depths up to 3-4 m, the main prey is roach, perch, silver bream.

W Spider Devil with hanging tee (Size 2,5; Weight (g) 0,7)

A good model with a hanging hook that creates a wonderful sound effect underwater. The devil has wide ears for hook hooking and mounting to the fishing line. It is also possible to use a miniature carabiner for a quick change of bait. This product is designed for bream fishing at depths up to 10-12 m. The elongated body of golden, silver and copper colors works great both in sunny and cloudy weather.

GRFish short jack with a crown, tungsten, 3 mm, 0.6 g

A small drop-shaped devil with tee tips sticking out in all directions, which is soldered inside the body. The product is painted black, has a metal soldering and an eyelet in the upper part. Beads with cambric of different colors are put on the hooks. A small bait attracts any fish, but roach, bream and perch remain the main specialization.

GRFish devil banana with a crown, tungsten, 1.5 mm, 0.2 g

This model differs from analogs in an unusual form. If most products have a vertical structure, then this devil fully justifies its name, having a curved top. The bait is made in black, has a metal soldering, a sharp tee, on which beads and colored cambric hang.