Winter fishing is a great pastime. Despite the frost, the caught fish will always bring you a lot of pleasure. In order not to sit at the “empty” hole, we recommend that you read this article, because in winter fishing is much more difficult than in summer. This applies primarily to the equipment of a winter fishing rod, which must be selected separately for different types of fish, as well as for places of fishing.
Features of winter fishing
Winter fishing has many features. Its main difference from summer is the behavior of fish, which in winter becomes less mobile and extremely cautious. This is especially true of non-predatory species, which are mainly hunted in winter. To make the fish better peck, thin and inconspicuous tackles are selected for the fishing rod.
Another unpleasant feature is the cold. Choose such tackle so that it is convenient for you to work with them, for example, plant bait, because hands wet from fish will quickly freeze.
Float or nod fishing rod
A fishing rod with a float is an indispensable tool for many bream fishers. Floating equipment for a roach and other fish species is also a good idea, but there is a nod for it.
The choice between these two options depends entirely on your preferences, however, professional fish often use a float rod, as it is the key to successful winter fishing.
Among the advantages of a nodding tackle you can highlight the convenience: it is much more convenient to search for a school of fish with it, however, having found a "gold mine", many fishermen return to the float again.
Fishing rods for winter fishing
When preparing for winter fishing, you must first select the appropriate fishing rod. There are many types of them, but they do not affect the result, so again start from your own preferences. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the whip of the fishing rod. It should be flexible enough so that when you bite, you can easily hook the fish and loosen it.
All fishing rods for winter fishing are divided into two types:
- Sports, in which the handle and reel are combined to make the construction as light as possible. Such fishing rods have plastic legs, which are also lightweight, so even with a slight wind they may not hold the rod.
- The amateur version is made as convenient as possible, for example, they lie better in the hand, and the legs withstand gusts of wind and make it easy to pick up a fishing rod during biting. Another difference from the sports option is more weight, but this is not so important when fishing "for yourself."
We recommend that you focus on the amateur version, which can be represented by various "fillies", "tripods", etc. Among them, the “easiest” is the simplest, cheapest, but most reliable option, the difference of which is in a reel - a plastic device for manually winding fishing lines. Some people find this inconvenient, so they use fishing rods with a reel or a “balalaika”.
Fishing line for winter fishing rod
Buying fishing line is an important step in equipping a winter fishing rod. Using a float, you need to take a fishing line of about 0.1 mm. It will be inconvenient to work with it, but with practice you will achieve the necessary skills.
Going fishing for large fish, do not rush to take a thick fishing line, because in winter the fish is quieter, which allows you to catch it on a thin fishing line. In order not to tear it during biting, keep calm and take your time. It is better to exhaust fish for a long time than to tear fishing line and miss prey.
Let's talk about the size of the fishing line in more detail. If you want to fish up to 1.5 kilograms, then choose a fishing line with a thickness of 0.12-0.14 mm. When fishing at depths below 10 m, you can take fishing line thicker, for example, 0.16-0.18 mm. Also do not forget about the right choice of length. It should be 10-15 m more than the depth of the reservoir.
Float Fishing Hooks
It is necessary to choose a hook with special attention, because the success of your fishing depends on its quality. First of all, it should be thin and elastic, have an elongated forend and a shoulder blade for binding.
Choosing a hook number is more difficult, because it all depends on the fish that lives in the pond. For example, choosing the equipment of a winter float rod for roach or scavenger, you should take hooks No. 18-20, and for larger individuals - No. 14-18.
Mormyshka is also allowed, but their effectiveness in winter fishing is often called into question. Despite this, you can try them. We recommend using a combination: fix the jigsaw on the end of the leash, and hook the hook on the fishing line 20-30 cm higher.
Winter fishing rod
Choosing a float is much easier than the rest of the equipment for a winter fishing rod, however, there are subtleties here.
The float should be bright in color so that it can be easily tracked through the water, because its working position is in it. In the store you can find a huge number of floats of various colors, but the fishermen do not really like them.
Many people prefer to make it on their own, fixing it on the fishing line in a special way:
- To put on a fishing line a braid of a telephone wire.
- Fasten the float.
- Thread his keel into the braid.
Why is it important to keep the float under water? The fact is that the surface of the water in the hole can freeze at sub-zero temperatures, which significantly reduces the sensitivity of the float, which is extremely important in winter fishing. This is the only rule relating to the float, because its shape, color and fastening are a matter of taste.
Winter fishing rod
Being engaged in snap-in of a winter fishing rod, it is necessary to suspend at least two loads - the main one and the reserve. Professional fishermen can use more sinkers, but it will be difficult for a beginner to work out a balance, so we recommend staying on two.
It is necessary to choose a high-quality load in the form of balls or olives with a good centering to avoid pulling the equipment to the side when immersed in water. Here, many also make homemade weights, however, as a rule, they are obtained with the wrong center of gravity, so it is better to purchase them at a fishing store.
The weight of the main load should be 0.2 grams lower than the capacity of the float. Make the load better at home, for example in the bathroom. Set the main load, select a weight such that the float is 2 cm below the water level.
The weight of the sub-stick is usually between 0.3 g. up to 0.6 gr. It is hung at a distance of 3-4 cm from the hook, at the same time, the distance to the main load should not exceed 70 cm. When making a load, remember that insufficient weight of the cargo will cause the float to fluctuate in any direction, and, on the contrary, will make it too heavy bites less noticeable.
When fishing in the course for harnessing a winter fishing rod, heavier loads should be used, and olives are more often used. The sinker should slide between two beads, one of which is fixed in front of the leash, and the other 100 mm higher. This will allow you to set a special working position when the load is at the bottom, and the hook floats for a little higher.
Nodding snap
A nod is a worthy substitute for a float, which, with proper dexterity, allows the fisherman to play with the bait, “luring” the fish. The nod should be flexible and long enough so that the bait moves naturally, and when biting it immediately stretches down or up, depending on the type of equipment.
In general, the equipment of a winter fishing rod with a nod practically does not differ from the float version, however, there are subtleties here. Because the float is completely replaced with a nod, you will no longer need weights to immerse it. More often, fishermen use mormyshka as a load, which is enough for a nod to work properly.
Using weights, make sure that the nod does not go too far down, but this does not apply to the type of fishing when the load lies at the bottom, and the hook with the bait drifts during the course. Here, everything should be the other way around, because as soon as the fish lifts the load, the nod should straighten up immediately, and you should notice it.
Catching different fish
The main purpose of winter fishing in Russian reservoirs is roach, bream and perch. The behavior of these fish is very different, so the equipment of a winter fishing rod should vary.
Let's start with bream fishing. Usually it is caught on the first ice, because in severe frosts, the activity of this fish is greatly reduced due to a lack of oxygen. You can also try to catch during the thaw, but here everything will depend on good luck.
The equipment of a winter fishing rod for a bream must necessarily include a float and weights. A leash with a thickness of 0.08 mm and a length of 8-10 cm will also be useful. It is necessary to catch the bream at the bottom using a hook or mormyshka. You can also use the joint option, securing the hook above the mormyshki on a leash.
Roach behavior is very different from bream. This is a much calmer and weaker fish, so it is important not to miss the bite and watch the float.
The equipment of a winter fishing rod for roach fishing may be similar to the option for bream, however, it is better to use a nod, because it will allow better control of biting. The rest of the equipment is no different: you can use mormyshka in combination with a regular hook.
It is much easier to catch perch, because it is a predator. Its bite is quite tough, so here you do not have to finely balance the weight of the weights. Because of its grip, it is necessary to pick up a fishing line a little thicker - at least 0.15 mm, and the leash should be 0.12 mm thick. You can catch with a float or nod fishing rod - there will be no difference, however, the nod must be strong and less elastic.