Fishing for walleye in winter

For many anglers, trolling for walleye in winter is a sporty and interesting fishing. In addition, this fish can be caught all year round, and trolling adds even more excitement to this activity. The power of this striped predator and its large size attract, in addition to beginners, also professionals, due to the high activity of this fish.

The specifics of fishing for zander with a spoon in winter

It is always easier to find a walleye on an open water body than to look for it under a thick layer of ice. Therefore, the angler should decide in advance on the place of fishing, so that in a harsh winter he does not look for dubious places and check for fish there. After all, a good catch will be only if the right place for fishing in winter for pike perch on a spoon is chosen.

Since this predator always leads an active lifestyle, it has to migrate through the reservoir in search of food. In winter, his behavior becomes uncertain, and everything depends on:

• fish exit on elevated areas of a body of water or shallow waterwhere the average depth should be about 4 meters;
• in the wilderness he becomes sluggish, and he has to sit out in pits where there is oxygen in the water;
• goes out to hunt in the evening, so you can catch him all night;
• zhor fish it becomes more active at the end of winter, and it swims from one riverbed into a reservoir of streams, where there is melt water.

Features of the rig for luring walleye in winter

Equipping the bait follows from those features, which fish will have to be caught. For example, a pike perch weighs about 3 kg. (in rare cases more), and the choice of tackle must be selected responsibly, so that later you do not regret that the fish was missed.

Alarm clock. It should be about 80 cm long with a stiff whip capable of supporting the weight of the fish. The handle should not be cold in the cold, so it should be selected from cork material.

Coil. Must be strong and can handle fast line winding. The type is not important here, and if there is a multiplier, then this will allow you to pull out the predator without any problems while playing.

Fishing line. It shouldn't be made of braided cord that freezes in the cold and gets tangled. It is better to select the diameter from 0.2 to 0.35 mm. - it all depends on the size of the fish that the angler intends to catch. Monofilament is a great choice. In addition, it prevents the line from stretching when the predator jerks during the bite.

By the way! Thick line often scares fish away when biting.

Nod. In principle, zander can be caught with or without a nod. If, nevertheless, someone decided to use a nod, then it should be picked up about 5 cm from a metal plate. It will be needed if fishing takes place in shallow areas of the reservoir so that the game seems natural. The main thing is that the nod should be elastic.

How to choose a lure for catching walleye in winter

Today, the choice of lures is not difficult. Fishing shops are rich in their availability in various shapes and sizes. In addition, nowadays it is not uncommon for anglers to find pike perch fishing with home-made spinners in winter with no less success than with purchased spinners.

Various types of bait may be suitable for fishing winter zander with a spoon. But if we come from the period sAs far as pike perch is caught, it is preferable to choose the most catchy spoons that contain the following characteristics:

The size should be about 10 cm long for large fish and 5 cm for medium fish. In the middle of winter, it is better to use a lure length of 5 cm, since everything is connected with the low activity of the pike perch. If fishing takes place at a depth of 5 meters, then the size of the spinner is taken about 8 cm, because they quickly sink into the water to the required level.

Weight should not exceed 25 g. However, if there is a strong current on the pond, the weight of the bait must be selected based on the fishing conditions.

Best suited for such a predatory fish bait, having a narrow and elongated shape.

Manufactured spoon of brass, copper and other materials... They also use an alloy of metals or simply connect two plates, and add lead to make it heavier.

Colour important for winter zander... Fish activity during fishing will depend on dull or bright colors. It is best to have a different range of lures on hand, so winter lures for zander in winter should be in the following colors:

• white;
• silver;
• golden;
• yellow.

Bright or acidic colors work well for night fishing, and can be dimmed during the day.

Hook triple will do. It is used to make sure that the caught fish will not come off, as is often the case with a single hook. The size must be selected based on the size of the bait.

Important! The hooks should be sharp and not break. It often happens that they are made of fragile material. Therefore, when buying, you need to check them in the store.

Video: lure for pike perch in winter for ice fishing

Based on the technical characteristics, you can safely pick up a spoon for zander in winter. Which ones will be better described below.

Fishing with lures for zander in winter is primarily intended for vertical guidance. Each of the lures is suitable for a specific type of fishing. Of the many models, fishermen use such as:

• Uchinskaya. It is used in a reservoir where there is a strong current. The size of the bait is 9 cm, it has a lead weighting agent. Mass - 25 g. It descends along a curved trajectory. It is one of the best lures for zander in winter.
• Gossip. It can imitate the movements of a fish well, thereby attracting a predator to itself. The shape is concave with sharp edges, at the end there is a weight, with the help of which the bait quickly drops to the desired distance. In a pond, it moves along a winding trajectory. With each fall, her movements change, thereby, resembling a fish. Attaches to both one hook and tee. The length of the bait is 6.5 cm, and the weight is 7 g.
• Nurse. It is a large spoon and quickly drops to the desired distance in the water. Made of brass, it is 9 cm long and weighs 17 g. The shape is narrow with bends. It is used for fishing for zander with clear water. When it reaches the bottom of the reservoir, the bait waddles from side to side, resembling with its movements a fish that a striped predator is used to eating.
• Vlasovskaya. Made of brass and shaped like a ski. It has a length of 8 cm and a weight of 15 g. When it sinks into the water, it makes oscillatory movements. But you need to adapt to it, since during the game it behaves unpredictably. Having got used to it, you can easily attract a predator who will not be indifferent to this spoon.

Also, when fishing for zander in winter, spinners show themselves very well. Vyatskaya and Crooked knife.

Video: catching bait for zander in winter

Where and when to bait walleye in winter

It has already been mentioned in the article that pike perch actively moves through the reservoir in search of food, and the angler is faced with the task of finding its habitat. First of all, you should pay attention to such places, as:

• deep pits;
• eyebrows;
• places with depth differences;
• snag;
• blockages of stones.

If you have not been able to find fish there, you can still look in the old river beds. It would also not hurt to look at the seamount. Zander prefers such places at the beginning of winter.

Worth knowing! The striped predator tries to avoid a place where there is a muddy bottom, since it is not possible for it to find food there.

Features of fishing for walleye with a spoon in winter by months

IN December zander can be trolled throughout the day. In the morning, active time for fish is observed from 6 to 9 hours, and in the evening - from 18 to 21 hours. It is best to be patient and not despair, especially if a bite is not expected for a long time. Fishing in one place is not recommended, and it is worth changing the site in search of fish. As a result, you can get a good example of this striped robber.

Note! During the day, pike perch behaves sluggishly, especially in the wilderness, and the best time to catch it is the evening, when the predator comes out of its hiding place to hunt in search of food.

If you come across an unfamiliar body of water, you can ask local fishermen where the fish is observed. You always need to be prepared for the fact that you have to go through more than a dozen holes and a considerable distance in order to get a good trophy.

When the first ice appeared and there was still a lot of oxygen in the water, this striped robber leads an active lifestyle, but gradually the oxygen level decreases, and the fish has to hide in deep holes.

Important!Weather conditions affect fishing. If the wind is north, then fishing should be rescheduled for another day.

Where to catch zander with a spoon in January?

In the middle of winter they try to look for fish in pools, and the best hours for fishing are after midnight. And before the ice melts, they look for fish in the mouths of rivers and streams. It is not worth looking for fish in muddy waters, especially if there is a sandy bottom.It is difficult to find a walleye alone, so it is better to go fishing in a company in order to fish most of the reservoir.

With less active fish, the angler will have to be quicker. It is better to choose spoons of different sizes, and if it did not work out to catch on one, then it will work out on the other. And then the question immediately arises: which spoons for pike perch in winter have proven themselves best:

• falling;
• with a displaced center of gravity;
• scandinavian;
• balancers?

February. This last winter month is famous for its sunny weather and active biting of fish. In February, pike perch tries to find different fry for food and during this period captures the victim in jerks.

The predator tries not to change its usual places, and it should be looked for where it was observed in December and January. If the place is chosen correctly and there is a bite, then its activity will continue within a radius of up to 200 meters. The bait should be played smoothly. Only the nod changes during this period - it must be rigid and made of metal. The angle of its deflection should not be higher than 40 degrees. Thanks to this, you can track the bite.

How to lure: tactics and technique of fishing for walleye with a lure in winter

In winter, catching a predator can be complicated not only by weather conditions, but also by ignorance of fishing technique. The game with the bait during this period should be of high quality, so it is not suitable for every type of fisherman. Therefore, how to fish for walleye in winter with a spoon will be described below with the given tips and tricks.

• Zander is a cautious fish, and the extra noise will be a deterrent sign for it.
• Each angler has his own preferences for active biting, as well as his own tactics of frequency of sweeps and pauses.
• You must always be ready for a bite, even if it happened at an unexpected time.
• Many people use bait fishing from the bottom by 30 cm and descent with a short five-second pause.
• At great depths, you can use a bottom pull. To do this, when lowering the lure, release the spool brake. After a half-minute pause, you need to wind up the line on the reel, and do it smoothly and guide the bait along the bottom.
• Depending on the bite, the bait can be jerked.
• In severe frost, it is recommended to throw the bait 10 cm up.
• Tapping the spoon on the ground of the reservoir can attract a predator and provoke it to attack.
• If the bite is active, then the number of pauses should be reduced.
• During pauses, bites often occur, and if you alternate them in a different sequence, this can alert the fish, and it will lose all interest in the bait.
• The movements of the angler when catching a striped predator should be smooth and fast.
• To search for fish, holes are drilled starting from shallow water and gradually moving to the middle of the reservoir. The distance from each hole should be about 15-20 meters.

Typical mistakes in fishing for walleye with a spoon in winter

Each angler catches fish in his own way, and knows certain secrets. But also everyone can make common mistakes. In order not to constantly step on the same rake, it is worth listening to the advice of experienced anglers and not committing the following failures when fishing for walleye with a spoon:

• in winter, the fish does not like unnecessary noise, so caution is needed, first of all;
• too frequent twitching of the bait can scare off the predator;
• if the line sags, and does not reach the bottom, it is better to make a sweep. This is suitable for deep-bottom pond areas;
• weather conditions affect fishing changes. With a north wind, it is better not to go out on the ice;
• you should not go out on the ice alone in winter, as there will be a small chance of fishing a large section of the reservoir, and there is a chance to go under the ice;
• the sun's rays should not penetrate into the hole, so it should be covered with a small layer of snow.

Fishing for walleye in winter has long received interest among anglers. This activity is considered interesting and at the same time difficult.Only by mastering the technique of playing with fish and gaining a significant store of knowledge in winter fishing, you can achieve good results, thereby enjoying fishing. Therefore, this fishing is more suitable for those anglers who strive for active fishing, and for beginners it is better to study more literature on this topic.