Surely every fisherman, regardless of his passion for this or that way of fishing, noticed that with the approach of autumn on the surface of water bodies appears more and more splashes, for small fish are not the best times, the predator becomes more active, preparing for winter. And one of the main creators of circles on the water at this time is the pike – the most perfect and dangerous predator of fresh waters. It lives almost everywhere, so there are enough fans of hunting for pike in all regions, and a special place it occupies in the soul of spinningists. Therefore, let’s try to understand what is better to offer pike at the onset of fall. There are quite a lot of options.
Content:
1.Wobblers
2.Jerks
3.Jig baits
1.Wobblers
I will start with wobblers, as the most interesting baits in spinning, but also not less productive in the fall than other types. This topic is very extensive, so I will try to divide wobblers into groups and highlight the most colorful representatives among them.
Group #1. Large wobblers minnow 130 mm~.
This is a fairly popular class of wobblers, which is simply always called “large wobblers”, if suddenly on the forum slips this aphorism, it is just understood as minnow 130 +.
This group has several obvious advantages:
- they are voluminous, large and are a good prey for the fall pike, which eats away before wintering;
- they produce a good vibration and many of them are also noisy, which attracts pike from afar;
- pike rarely swallow them, is caught more often from above the mouth and it is easier to release (for those who follow the principle of catch-release especially).
The most prominent representatives of this group are:
OSP Asura Rudra Jerkbait 130SP, also its more budget analogs, such as Kosadaka Flash 130SP, Strike Pro Montero 130SP and Tsuoki Chance 130SP. There are others, but these 4 models in my conditions are the most demanded in the fall when catching pike. On the neutral buoyancy indicated not accidentally, in the fall, especially late, the pike often likes long pauses, so hanging in the thick wobblers often help. All of them have a beautiful and in their own way individual game, retain residual oscillations on pauses, prefer jerk wiring, which is stable trotting on the sides. Working horizon from 1 to 2 meters.
Jackall Mag Squad 128SP. There are copies of it, although they are less, but with the original I do not compare them. It is the owner of the clearest “herringbone” among the 130s, it is easily wound up and is always stable in wiring. Also suspender, perfectly hangs after stopping and beautifully wiggles sides. Inside there is a noise capsule, which additionally lures pike. The main horizon of wiring from 1 to 1.5 meters.
Renegade Riddle 128SP. This is a copy of the well-known to many Lucky Craft Pointer 128SP, but I have it, unlike its much more budgetary counterpart, did not go. First of all, because it required a more rigid rod and powerful wiring. Riddle winds up much easier, otherwise repeating its famous colleague: beautiful turns and wiggling sides will not leave the pike indifferent!
Megabass Kanata. This wobbler is 130+++ size and in this section it is not by chance. The 16-centimeter minnow from Megabass is a perfect “big-wobbler”, it has a gorgeous game on both even and jerk wiring. It is difficult for pike not to notice and hear! Also bright representatives of the series are Deps Balisong 130SP, Megabass Oneten Magnum 130SP and others.
Group #2. “Rolling kings
Rolling in the wobbler theme is associated with the oscillations of these baits in the water. They are several types, but we will not dwell on each separately, because we are interested in only one. Rolling – oscillation of the wobbler around its longitudinal horizontal axis. Most often this word is used to describe the behavior of the wobbler after stopping – if it wobbles sides, then the foreign word will be in place. So the more of these oscillations and the more distinct and longer they remain on the pause, the better for the pike. Not always, but in the fall such oscillations are very useful, especially when it is passive and we use long pauses. Regardless of the size of the wobbler, this behavior has a positive effect on the fall pike fishing.
The brightest “rolling” wobblers are:
Nories Laydown Minnow 110SP – one of the best in the manner of behavior on the pause. He turns around on the spot and makes after stopping a whole series of fading oscillations. Pike are just crazy about this wobbler! It works perfectly at a depth of up to one and a half meters, collecting all living things. Pontoon 21 Greedy Guts is not one wobbler, but a whole series from 44 to 111 mm long with a lot of buoyancy, but in the fall the most effective are also suspenders, starting from 77th length and larger.
Unlike many jerk wobblers Greedy Guts prefers softer rods and does not require jerks with cord recoil. But it does something unimaginable on pauses! Its “pontoon” colleague Crackjack, which in all sizes, which are not less, makes even the most passive predator fly out of hiding and pick its teeth. Deps Balisong will also not leave autumn pikes indifferent to its bright oscillations on pause. It allows you to make very long wiring with pauses of up to several tens of seconds. You could already drink a cup of tea during this time, you stand with a spinning rod in your hands, suddenly “bam”! Balisongs are also very noisy, so cool raise pike from a great depth.
It is impossible not to mention the bright representatives of Tsuribito brand – Jerkbait and Minnow. The first belong to the class of “shad” and in the factory version are floating. Even in this version, they have a very active game and bright vibrations, but if you load them to neutral buoyancy, they will give a head start to many in “rolling” endeavors, and in the fall catching of pike. In this rating wobblers among the best! On luring pike out of snags, he will have few competitors.
Their counterpart model Minnow in pike size 130 also goes in floating version, but on cold fall water with a metal leash almost hangs in place, and if you glue a little lead on it, will be an ideal suspender. It catches on more shallow areas, but also performs great. He is also noisy, which sometimes additionally pisses off the pike.
Of course, such wobblers are almost every known manufacturer. For example, at Lucky Craft all series Pointer has a cool rolling and great catches pike in the fall. Megabass can boast of its legendary Vision, which in neutral buoyancy give heat to fall pike. Zip Baits has a whole range of wobblers with a pronounced rolling, which will not give a pass to pike at any time of the year. These are Rigge, Orbit and of course Khamsin series.
Not for nothing they have so many analogs. It is impossible not to mention and rare, but very catching beast from Imakatsu – Riprizer. His “rolling” can be safely attributed to the reference, so and with pike he meets on a regular basis. Among the more inexpensive are also enough really cool wobblers with the described property. Strike Pro has a successful series of Bold, Jumper, Inquisitor, and so almost every brand! Kosadaka is represented by a lot of such wobblers, like Mirage, Mystic, Flash and others.
Group #3. Composites
This is about wobblers that have 2 or more constituent parts of mostly neutral buoyancy and jerk direction. In the fall, this type of bait in my practice helps much more often than at other times of the year. Largely due to its funky game. Among the leaders among the fall lineups are Jackall Magallon and its younger counterpart marked Tiny. The latter did not take root at my place, and the 105th on the contrary for a long time stirred the minds of all the local pikes. It is endowed with its own active game, but maximally effective on slow wiring with large pauses as jerk character, and stop & go. This is a simple and clear wobbler, with which it is difficult not to catch fall pike. I even in the moment after the cut of the last one decided not to renew it and to polovat more budget versions.
And I can say that Strike Pro Glider inboth versions and Kosadaka Cord-R performed no worse than the original and caught a lot of pike. Savage Gear 4Play Herring Liplure – another trouble-free unit from the regiment of compound wobblers. It has many sizes, many of which are close to jerkbaits, so they often bring the most interesting results in the fall. The 4Play itself is slow-sinking, which allows for different horizons to be wired. Unlike most two-piece wobblers, the snake from Savage Gear has 4 parts at once, which at jerk wiring write out something unimaginable! Single short jerks turn the wobbler on the spot, pirouettes are still those! On the fall passive pike he is one of the best. Jackall Giron and its Baby version, as well as their various replicas. I, for example, like the Renegade …
It is impossible not to mention and more rare “beast” Gan Craft Jointed Claw – one of the most unpredictable compound wobblers, writing out in the water something absolutely incredible, sometimes even the pike does not know what to do with it. And almost always it attacks! Incredible wobbler, the only disadvantage of which is its price. These types of wobblers are much smaller, but almost every brand has a few.
Group #4. Pike cranks
It is in the fall that this type of wobblers helps out most often compared to other seasons. For a couple of seasons I had them in general as the best fall wobblers. Among them there are both classic models, working on a uniform wiring, and jerk, which perfectly lend themselves to animation. The most vivid impression on me made a crank from the company Liberty and later Itumo with the name Samba 100F, although the predecessor had and SP version models. This is a 6-centimeter pike crank with an active game and depth up to 1 meter. But its main advantage is an excellent game on jerk wiring. The wobbler is also noisy, on jerks it can be heard from afar, it coolly turns around on the spot, being in the field of vision of pikes for a long time. This is undoubtedly the best jerk crank and for the fall it is just perfect!
Of course, it has competitors among the jerkbaits. For example, excellent catches fall pike Strike Pro Cranky X-50 and Megabass Griffon 6CC. They also play beautifully on the jerks, roll from side to side and coolly provoke fall pike to attack. The company Lucky Craft also has a lot of interesting crankbaits for catching pike – it is a famous series of Clutch and less known LC. They also work both on the even and on jerks. Good pike wobblers! But the best among the even is a rare beast Tsunekichi Nanko Crank 59SR. More sprawling game among the cranks I have not seen anyone, so pikes and can not miss it.
2. Jerks
Initially I wanted to continue with the second popular type of spinning baits – rubber, but jerks are closer to wobblers in many aspects and fall is the best time for them, so let’s give the word to these large baits. And the word of his word in the fall pike fishing jerky unambiguously say! Not once got into situations where I went after other fishermen with jerkbaits and collected pike, while they had no nibbles at all or were isolated. This is certainly not a panacea, but large baits in the fall often give a head start to smaller counterparts.
Speaking of jerkbaits, it is impossible not to mention the most popular jerk brand Strike Pro, which can cover a lot of needs. Plus, many of them are very easy to operate:
TheStrike Pro Buster Jerk is the company’s most famous jerk, available in a multitude of sizes and buoyancies. But when it comes to “jerk” size, this is a true 15-centimeter Original, a big piece for good pike! It has the most beautiful game on jerks, coolly trotting on the sides and gives the angler different variants of wiring. If it is conducted with light jerks, the jerk will turn almost 180 degrees, drawing a perfect “herringbone”. But if you yank harder, it will go wide to the side and will have more pronounced oscillations.
Strike Pro Big Bandit – a larger counterpart of Buster slightly modified shape. It is more difficult to control, but due to its size and wider “tack” chic provokes pike on the bite. Strike Pro Guppie is one of the most successful jerkbaits in recent years. It also has many different modifications. It stands out against the background of its spectacular appearance and the presence of a pair of interchangeable tails. The game – just super! The sideways retreats of perfect accuracy with bright fluctuations of the silicone tails. This is one of the best fall pike fighters.
Salmo Slider is a classic of jerk fishing. Good old wooden glider bait. Very easy to master and wiring, with a bright and clear game and high catchability. It is also available in many versions and sizes, so there is a lot to choose from. Salmo Sweeper – the most interesting jerk “minnow”, the owner of one of the widest spreads. It is great for catching fall pike in the near-surface layer, but also raises from depth not bad. Savage Gear 3D Bleak Glide Swimmer is a slow-drowning compound swimbait, which could be included in one of the wobbler groups, but it catches most effectively in my large size 16.5 cm weighing under 50 gr. Although there is a size in the catalog and more …
Very interesting model with beautiful care on the sides, wide and calibrated. Cool works on pike at a depth of up to 2 meters. Of course, this list can go on and on, jerks really a lot of successful both factory and handmade.
3. Jig baits
Of course, without silicone baits in this list is simply impossible to do without, they fall pike catch on the hurrah, also in the fall I would separately highlight mandula.
If we are talking about fall fishing, I would note its two stages: active and passive.
1. The first most often refers to early fall and warmer water, as well as thaws, in periods of stable atmospheric pressure and with a slight decrease within the norm. This period many people call pike fever and not for nothing – to active baits toothy often refers positively.
At this time, according to my experience with the size of jig baits can not be trifled with and put representatives with an active sprawling game.
For example, the most vivid representatives:
Lunker City Shaker – a voluminous vibrotail from a famous American brand with a huge tail fin. Hence the lively game and serious vibration of the lure at any depth. This is one of the most successful pike baits in the fall with a large selection of colors, sizes, durable rubber and stable game. Pontoon 21 Awaruna, as well as an equally successful analog from Kosadaka. Another legend of fall fishing. It is characterized by its unusual shape with a ribbed belly, high protection against snags and a choice of mounting options. Models in the catalog are also enough, as well as successful colors. In addition to its characteristics and catchability, Avaruna pleases the angler and price.
Sawamura OneUp Shad is one of the brightest representatives of the edible kingdom of active rubber. It is the softest and “crumbly” of the list, for pike on one tooth. It would seem to use it is not worth it for such fishing. But the main thing that bites sometimes only on it, it is one of the main pike baits designed to leave zero. If you don’t bite on Savamura, you can wind up your rods and go home!
Keitech Swing Impact Fat. Very good analogs are also from Lucky John – Tioga Fat and from Crazy Fish – Vibro Fat. Although the shape is so successful that there are almost every brand in one form or another. A direct competitor of Sawamura in all characteristics, but with a wider choice of models, especially large. Active game, a wide choice of colors, edibility, everything at her. Pike mows down packs.
Bass Assassin Die Dapper – also a solid vibrotail with a large flat tail and active game. Powerful fat body together with it provide stable work of the rubber in any horizons. It also resists pike teeth well. Relax Kopyto – one of the most famous inedible vibrotails. It is a decent prey for any pike regardless of size with an unkillable game. A true pike classic! There are many more such examples. The essence of such rubber – a thick voluminous body and an active fin, which create a large vibration.
2. The second refers to late autumn with its cold water, which brings more waggishness and selectivity in the behavior of pike. Often in such periods, the interests of pike are associated with narrower lures, with less bright and sprawling game, as well as slower wiring.
Such baits include such silicone lures as:
Keitech Easy Shiner – a narrow edible “bleak” with a live tail. Due to its softness, it behaves very naturally and catches great in cold water with low activity of pike. About this rubber has already talked so much that I do not want to repeat myself, it is a true legend! Lucky John Hogy Shrimp is probably the best passive rubber for cold water pike fishing. This is an unusual crustacean or shrimp with many lateral legs, naturally moving when wiring, while the rubber itself does not have its own game. Slow wiring, dragging it along the bottom, with pauses, jerks – this is almost a guarantee of successful catching of fall pike on this bait.
Keitech Swing Impact, analog from Kosadaka and Lucky John Tioga for these purposes will be no worse. These are ribbed vibrotails with a small flat tail and very stable behavior in the water. They cool catch pike throughout the fall. Gambler EZ, TZ and Co. In the catalog of this company several models of rubber with a different name, but the same shape, differing only in size. It is quite stiff and tenacious, with a passive game, which is especially revealed when fishing in the current. B Fish & Tackle Moxi Ringie- a solid ribbed blob of silicone. It is a twister with a long tail, wriggling when wiring. It is a great help when fishing in the current. Moreover, it does it in the no-tackle.
Another twister from this brand – Ringworm – is very good. On passive fall pike it shoots well! Also for them perfectly suitable slags. One of the most interesting is Tsuribito Toshiki – a long wriggling worm. It is excellent for jerk wiring and pauses. On cold water performs very well.
And, of course, the queen of fall – mandula. This is in case you finally despair of catching a pike. In cold water and lack of nibble – bait number 1. But due to its “hookiness” is not applicable everywhere.
One of the most successful factory mandulas – Flags from XXL Fish. But it is possible and on others, as well as on homemade. This bait itself is good in the fall, and with the final cooling of the water often alone gives the result!
This list could go on and on, considering other baits and their types, for example, various blades, but my experience of fishing with “iron” speaks about their effectiveness in other time intervals. Although there will always be those who will successfully catch a particular type of bait at any time, still the belief in them for the spinningist means quite a lot.
Autumn – the most interesting time to catch predators, so let’s all together apply their knowledge on the reservoirs and give this toothy pike heat! What I wish everyone!
Autor: Mgr: Bob Nudd je rybářský odborník s více než dvacetiletou praxí a vítěz mnoha soutěží.