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Useful information about pike fishing
The pike is one of the most successful predators in our latitudes. It inhabits most of the water bodies, and therefore is one of the most popular objects of fishing. When fighting, often, it behaves very aggressively and assertively, and therefore is considered a worthy “opponent”. There is a lot of information about huge pikes of incredible size. Note that at present, ichthyologists, for the most part, believe that the actual size of pikes can reach 35-40 kg. Most of the trophy specimens in the catches of amateur fishermen are in the range of 12-15 kg. The largest specimens are usually found in the mouths of large rivers. The fastest growing specimens are found in warm regions.
Ways to catch pike
Despite the fact that the pike is considered an “ambush” predator, it is caught in various ways, sometimes in “completely non-standard places.” In this case, both natural and artificial baits are used. To do this, they change various methods: starting from the simplest vents, baits, baits to special rods with complex rigging for attaching a “dead fish” and a live bait or just a “float”. The most popular way of catching this fish, for most anglers, is fishing with artificial lures, spinning rods. Although, for the same purpose, rods for plumb fishing or the most common “deaf” fishing rods can be used. Pike are caught, very successfully, and fly-fishing. Separately, it is worth pointing out that pike fishing for trolling (track) is popular in large reservoirs.
Spinning for pike
Pike, in its behavior, is a very “plastic” fish. It can survive in any reservoirs, even in the case when the main food is its own juveniles. It is at the top of the “food” pyramid, in almost all water bodies and can hunt in any environmental conditions. A huge number of baits are associated with this, including those for spinning. The main criteria for choosing a rod, in modern fishing, for spinning, is the fishing method: jig, twitching, and so on. Length, action and test are chosen according to the place of fishing, personal preferences and baits used. Do not forget that rods with a “medium” or “medium-fast” action “forgive” much more mistakes than a “fast” action. It is advisable to purchase reels and cords, respectively, for the selected rod. Practically, different leashes are required for catching fish of any size. Pike teeth cut any fishing line and cord. To protect yourself from losing baits and losing a trophy, there are various methods and types of leashes. Tackle with the use of multiplier reels, sometimes with the use of huge baits, such as jerk-bait, stand apart.
Catching pike on “live” and “dead fish”
Catching pike on “live bait” and “dead fish” has somewhat “faded” against the background of modern gear for spinning and trolling, but no less relevant. Catching on “trolling” and began with fishing on tackle with a “dead fish” – “on a troll.” Dragging “dead fish” was practiced behind a rowboat, but gave way to lure and other artificial lures. For live bait fishing, various tackles are used, some of which are very simple. Traditional “circles”, “strings”, “postavushki”, zherlitsy are used. Fishing “on live bait” can be carried out both on a slow current, and on reservoirs with “stagnant water”. Most gear implies the presence of a hook (single, double or tee), a metal leash, sinker. Quite exciting is fishing for circles or “setups”, when fishing is done from a boat, and gear is installed in a certain sector of the reservoir or slowly rafted along the river.
Trolling for pike
Catching trophy pike can be more successful if you use motor boats and search tools – various digital devices. For this, fishing by trolling is suitable. If you do not consider trolling as a special hobby, then you can catch using this method using ordinary spinning rods, rowing boats with a partner or motor boats at low speed, especially with the help of electric motors. Some special devices are not required, and the selection of baits is carried out depending on the fishing conditions.
Baits
Almost any pike actively reacts to natural baits: fish slices, dead fish and live bait. A small or “fatting” predator does not refuse a large worm – crawling out, mollusk meat and other things. Dozens of different types of artificial lures have been invented for pike fishing. Of the most famous, we will name various oscillating spinners for sheer lure, wobblers, poppers and their specialized subspecies. No less popular are baits made of silicone, foam rubber and other synthetic materials, various hybrid baits made up of several elements.
Places of fishing and habitat
Pike lives in Asia, Europe, North America. At the same time, in all these territories, there are separate regions or river basins where this fish is absent. As already noted, this type of fish is highly plastic. The pike is not demanding on the conditions of the reservoir, it is aggressive and voracious. The main criterion for the prosperity of the species is the availability of a food base. Basically, it is an ambush predator, but it can arrange ambushes almost anywhere. Often pike can be caught in the lake, just “walking” through the space of the reservoir, especially if there is a lot of food competition. In general, to search for fish, it is desirable to know the presence of edges, bottom drops, snags, stones, thickets of vegetation, and so on. On rivers, pike, among other things, can get up at the edge of the current or places of a sharp change in the speed of the stream. The trophy pike occupies the deepest holes, but comes out to feed and can be caught in the shallows. Especially during the seasonal season.
Spawning
Pike becomes sexually mature by 2-3 years. In northern and slow-growing populations, maturation can take up to 4 years. It spawns before most of the fish with which it lives in the reservoir. This happens immediately after the breakup of ice in the shallow water zone. The spawner is quite noisy. The main problem of shallow spawning is the drying of eggs and larvae due to flood water leaving. But the development of larvae is very fast compared to other fish.