Among Russian fishermen, especially those who do not live in big cities, few have heard that there is a "Croatian egg" bait on pike. But sophisticated catchers of this predator know that the author and executor of the idea of this tackle is a spinning player from Zagreb. She appeared in Russia at the beginning of 2007 and immediately became the center of attention.
Unfortunately, it’s not very easy to find “Croatian eggs” on store shelves, although they are ranked as actual bait. This type of bait differs from others in its open hook. Actually, this is precisely the secret of what it does not cling to, representing something like a tumbler toy: it is always crocheted. And in its range it surpasses its analogues: it flies precisely and far. Nevertheless, the main advantage of this pike bait is its cross-country ability, especially in conditions of grass or duckweed ponds.
“Croatian eggs” look like bright oval elements made of various materials and floating on the surface with a large hook and a built-in sinker, which gives the bait always a certain position in the water - hook up to completely eliminate hooks.
The difference between this bait and its analogue - popper - is that the latter works perfectly in conditions when the pond is free of vegetation, including tall grass, which rises almost to the very top. Whereas otherwise only fishing on a “croat” will be effective.
And since spinningists mainly catch pike in shallow waters and bays overgrown with duckweed or other greenery, one can guess why this bait does not linger on the shelves.
Catching on a “Croatian egg” involves strong jerking, monotonous or accelerating posting, pauses, etc. The advantage of this bait is that even with just two centimeters of “clean” water and plantations of water lilies, fishing will be very effective.
And biting is a very interesting process: a pike, catching up with a “Croatian egg”, rushes at it, and everything happens almost on the surface, so the fisherman, watching this spectacle, knows what needs to be done the next minute. The greatest effect with this bait has, as a rule, the wiring at an average or slightly higher speed, as well as short light jerks.
And since the hooks equipped with “Croatian eggs” have only the upper direction, the predator is quickly and very reliable, practically without descents.
Since it is not so easy to buy this bait today, many people prefer to make it on their own. The material for it, as a rule, is a cork from wine or champagne, honed on a grinder to an oval shape. For the hook, a knitting wire is used, which is threaded into the incision on the egg and secured with waterproof glue.
Many anglers know that in the arsenal of a fan of catching a toothy predator - pike - there must be “Croatian eggs”, at least one, since this bait is useful in overgrown ponds or in areas where it is impossible to catch popper.