Summer fishing for pike. Catching pike on mugs: do-it-yourself tackle and its equipment

When using such gear, fishing is very productive, as large areas are fished. The main condition for the use of circles is the presence of a boat, as the main attribute of a fisherman, and, of course, the presence of circles and live bait. To get the desired result, you need to correctly set the mugs and bait the bait correctly.

The basis of this tackle is a foam (or wooden) disk, 2.5-3 cm thick and 13-15 cm in diameter. at the end of the disk, along its circumference, there is a groove in which the fishing line is stored. Slots should be provided in the upper part of the disk for fixing the fishing line both during storage and after the circle is installed. A hole should be made in the center of the disk for installing the stick. In order for the circle to be seen far away, it is painted in two different colors: one part of the circle (upper) is painted red, and the other is white. Since the foam is mainly white in color, then lower part may or may not be painted.

A stick, about 14 mm in diameter and a length equal to the diameter of the disk, is made of a suitable material. The shape of the stick resembles the shape of a pin, but has a much larger diameter. At the end of the stick there is a spherical head (as in a pin), and the other end tends to be thinner, on which a corresponding slot is made.

The wand can be made:

  • From plastic.
  • From wood (linden, pine, spruce, etc.).

The stick should be colored accordingly: the thin part in white, and the spherical head in red. After a bite, the circle will begin to rotate and, in order to be able to determine this, vertical lines of black or white color are applied on the head around the entire circumference (you can dots with a diameter of about 5 mm).

Mounting the mug

To collect a circle, you need to have a fishing line, 0.3-0.5 mm thick and about 20-30 meters long, depending on the depth of the reservoir. If the reservoir is known, then its depths are also known. You can attach the fishing line to the mug using a double loop. For a sinker, you can take a load in the form of an olive. As a rule, the load is not fixed deafly, but a sliding version is used. To prevent the sinker from knocking down the leash, it is fixed closer to the leash rubber shock absorber. The weight of the sinker is selected depending on the conditions of fishing, but a weight of 10-15g is quite enough. Next comes the leash, which must be metal so that the pike cannot bite it. The length of such a leash can be in the range of 20cm-1m. A tee No. 3-5 or a single hook of the appropriate size is attached to the end of the leash. It is preferable to use a tee, as there will be fewer gatherings.

Pike fishing in spring

Immediately after spawning, you can start hunting for pike, including using circles. Pike starts spawning when the water temperature reaches 7-10ºС. She spawns in her favorite places, which are burrowed places and places with rough aquatic vegetation. In these places, the pike lays eggs, and also feeds on small fish, which are not averse to eating pike caviar. After the end of spawning, after a couple of weeks, the pike will begin to move to their places, where they spend the bulk of their lives.

During the spring zhora, the pike bites throughout the day and does not refuse any live bait.

How to catch pike in summer?

In the summer, the pike actively feeds, as it behaves quite actively, which means that food is digested very quickly. At this time, she is in places where it is possible to ambush her potential victim. These are thickets of reeds or blockages of trees, and possibly some kind of artificial congestion or structures. If in the water area of ​​the reservoir, in some place, a small fish periodically jumps out of the water, then the pike hunts in this place and, it is quite possible that this is a promising place.

Pike in autumn on mugs

As soon as the water begins to noticeably cool, the pike begins to take the bait more actively. The closer to winter, the more active the predator becomes. During this period, the autumn zhor of pike begins, and it begins to stock up on nutrients before entering the dead of winter. At this time, pike can be found in traditional places: on rifts, in snags, among algae, as well as on the borders of clear water and thickets. Here she waits and here she attacks her prey.

Pike on mugs — Video

Many who used this method of fishing know that circles are the simplest, most durable and catchy gear. The advantage is the optional knowledge of the location of the pike (another predator), rafting downstream is fishing for a vast territory, thereby increasing the chances of catching. It is worth noting that live bait plays a big role, but first things first.

What you need to know before fishing

If fishing is carried out in a reservoir where you often fish, then the type of bottom is already known: muddy, rocky or sandy. Otherwise, we recommend using either an echo sounder or using a fishing line with a load. This step can be skipped.

Be sure to have a boat. The presence of a bogra and a landing net is highly desirable, do not forget that the pike has sharp teeth, use the extractor when removing the hook from the mouth of the fish. Transport the purchased or caught live bait in a special cane - a box with water. live bait - the simplest and easiest way. Or catch it right on the spot, for example, using float rod or screen.

Almost any fish can act as live bait, the difference is which species will remain alive and moving longer, an extremely important point when fishing with circles. We recommend using carp, minnows, or use what you catch. We do not recommend using large and heavy bait, the optimal size and weight of the live bait is 100 grams and 10 cm in length.

Device and equipment

Let's move on to the stage -. The tackle is similar to vents, they have the same method: put the bait on the hook and wait for the bite of a predatory fish.

Let's talk superficially about their design:

  • Circle. It is made of wood, plywood, or expanded polystyrene (foam insulation boards are known to many). The diameter is about 30 mm, a groove is made on the edge, where it is convenient to wind the fishing line, with a hole in the center for attaching the antenna. For better visibility on the water, we recommend using red (for example, polystyrene with its own color does not need to be painted), it is better to paint the reverse side white.
  • Antenna. It is inserted into the hole of the mug, it has slots for the fishing line on top, the height is adjusted depending on the wind. Usually 15-20 mm.
  • fishing line. A monofilament line with a diameter of 0.3-0.5 is used, winding 15 meters is enough. We advise you to use a monofilament fishing line, braided line can cut your hands when playing a large pike.
  • Cargo weight in gr 15-20, 1 hook or tee, leash up to 30 cm, made from a guitar string or purchased, 0.3 thick, connected with a swivel to the main fishing line.

Fishing technique or where to put circles

If fishing is carried out in the spring, after the ice has melted, then it is worth looking for pike in grassy and snarled places where the fish spawn. After 2 weeks, predators change their location and move into pits and rifts. Zhor begins, you can catch all day.

In the summer, the pike is in search of food, swims near the reeds, snags, in any place where it is possible to ambush. Water lilies grow - this is a plus, the pike will take the installed mugs for water lily leaves, thereby not being afraid. In autumn, when the water temperature drops noticeably and the cold comes, the fish needs to lead a mobile lifestyle, later it goes into the pits becoming gluttonous. Keeps in ambush places.

The first step is to measure the average depth at the place of fishing, lowering the fishing line with a sinker to the bottom. After baiting the fish on the hook, we lower the live bait into the water, to a depth of about 1 meter from the bottom. If you are fishing in the current, we advise you to start circles with a distance of 5-10 m. , it’s smarter to equip an anchor holding a circle. Tie a piece of fishing line to the antenna and to a snag or reed.

When there is no one suitable for tying, find a stick, tie a fishing line with a load to 1 end, and tie a circle from the other end. Try to launch the tackle in such a way that when moving it passes the favorite places of predators. up, the predator will begin to go into cover along with the circle.

The task is to swim up to the triggered gear and start reeling in the line if the pike allows, otherwise you can play off the line and try again to bring the pike to the boat. Depending on the size of the individual, the fish quickly or slowly gets tired, making it possible to freely bring itself to the fisherman, and this is where it comes in handy hook. When hooking a pike, you should make a sharp jerk, use high-quality tees and there will be no problems.

Do not start 20 circles at once:

  • There are gear norms for 1 angler.
  • It's hard to keep track of all the gear.

To be successful you need:

  • Choose places where pike can ambush as a place to catch.
  • Take into account the behavior, quality and vitality of the live bait. Remember: a dead live bait attracts a predator worse.
  • Do not be greedy, do not use too much gear.
  • Use quality hooks and rigging in general, the sharpness of the hooks and the strength of the line are of no small importance.

After reading the article, the question arises of how many circles can be used for a fisherman - the answer is 5 pieces, it is not forbidden and easy to follow. Buy ready-made tackle, make it yourself and rather try your luck in this exciting method of catching predatory fish.

One of the most rational and at the same time the simplest fishing equipment is mugs. It is worth noting that catching pike on circles is quite successful not only in closed-type reservoirs (lakes or reservoirs), but also in those reservoirs where there is a current. Mugs are, perhaps, one of the few gears that, with the help of such factors as wind, current, and also due to the active actions of the live bait, independently without the intervention of the fisherman, move around the reservoir.

The most acceptable place where the most successful pike fishing on mugs in summer or autumn is possible is such a place in a reservoir as a reach. It should be noted that the reach should be wide and straight, and the circle descending onto the reach should be able to maneuver and move over a distance of about 300 meters. Otherwise, when the reach is not wide enough, the circle, for example, in windy weather, may get tangled in the thickets.

In order to increase the catch of pike and increase the number of bites, circles must be placed in those parts of the reservoir where there are pits or depressions at the bottom. A great place to install a mug will be those areas on the pond where there are snags and snags. However, when fishing with the help of circles in the twisted sections of the reservoir, it is necessary to show care and skill, because it is in such sections of the reservoir that, although there is a high probability of getting a good catch, the threat of hooking the circle is also quite large.

The best periods of the year, during which the mugs are most successful, are several seasons:

  1. Start summer season(May June).
  2. With the onset of the so-called Indian summer and before the arrival of severe frosts (All autumn - September, October, November).

Catching pike on mugs in the summer

As previously noted in the summer, put mugs for catching pike, preferably near the barred sections of the reservoir. This is due to the fact that this predator during the summer is highly active and is in constant motion. As a place for an ambush, she chooses pits, areas in the reservoir, which are abundantly overgrown with reeds or bushes.

Catching pike on mugs in autumn in September, October, November

With the onset of autumn, pike activity increases significantly. She tries to catch more food before the arrival of frost. Therefore, during this period of the year, it is first of all necessary to look for it at great depths or near shelters of natural origin that are present in the reservoir.

It should be noted that not all anglers know how to catch pike on circles correctly. The distance between the equipment to be placed should not be less than 5 meters. Before installing the circle, a cord should be wound from it, the length of which would allow the live bait to sink to a distance equal to 1.5 meters from the bottom. A small float must be attached to its end, and the cord itself must be inserted through an incision placed on outside snap.

After autumn comes winter period pike fishing. We advise you to read:

The classic device for pike fishing is reminiscent of a disk made of wood or foam. Its thickness can vary between 25-30 millimeters, and its diameter is usually 130-150 millimeters. A special groove is made on the circumference of this equipment. With its help, a supply of fishing line is stored. There are two cuts on the top of the disk. They are necessary in order to hold the fishing line after the live bait has been hooked and released into the water. The center of the disk has a hole, which is necessary to place a float on it.

Regarding the color, it is worth noting that for the most convenient visual observation of this equipment, its lower part is painted white. The top of the circle is colored red accordingly.

How to equip a circle for pike fishing

It is worth noting that in its structure, the circle is very similar to a familiar one, probably for every angler. As with the use of a vent, fishing for pike circles involves putting a live bait on the hook and its subsequent unhindered movement throughout the reservoir. However, the circle differs from the zherlitsa in that it must be pulled out after the first bite by hooking the prey caught on it. In addition, a circle for pike fishing consists of such elements as:

  • disk;
  • fishing line and sinker;
  • pin;
  • hook and leash made of metal.

It is recommended to use a sinker as a load sliding type, whose weight is from 5 to 15 grams. The diameter of the fishing line used in the mug should not be less than 0.3 millimeters. For the equipment of this equipment it is best to use a monofilament. This is due to the fact that when using a braided fishing line, it is harder to fish the fish, since such a fishing line cuts the hands a lot.

We make circles for catching pike with our own hands

Some anglers prefer to make their own pike circles. In order to make a circle at home, it will be necessary to use fine-grained type foam, the thickness of which is 15, maximum 20 millimeters. First of all, on a sheet of foam, before making a circle, it is necessary to make markings. Marking is applied using an ordinary compass and a pencil. The resulting blanks of this tooling are cut with a scalpel or jigsaw. In extreme cases, you can use a sharp knife.

The diameter of a mug made at home is recommended to be 5 times larger than its thickness. That is, if the thickness of the circle for catching pike is 30 millimeters, then it is best to make a disc of such a circle with a diameter of 150 millimeters.

It is worth noting that during the manufacture of mugs at home, not only polystyrene can be used. Also perfect material such as:

  1. Wood (it is best to use linden, since it is this type of wood that is easiest to process);
  2. Foam.

The end surface of the circle, in order for it to be smooth, must be pre-treated using sandpaper for this. Then you need to cut or carefully carve an even groove on it, the depth of which is 10 millimeters. Directly in the very center of the circle, you need to make a hole, the diameter of which is 6 or 8 millimeters. Also, two not wide slots should be made on the disk, which should be exactly located against each other.

In order to make a mast for a circle, you can use a wooden lath as a starting material. One side of the rail is sharpened in the shape of a cone, and on the other side you need to make a cut, the depth of which is 10 millimeters and the width is 3 millimeters. At the final stage, the disk and the mast are painted, and after the paint has dried, a tool for the circle is made.

It is worth noting that immediately before painting, the mug disk itself should be impregnated several times using drying oil for this. This is necessary so that during a long stay in the water, the disk is not saturated with it. When painting the mug, you need to use waterproof paints. Otherwise, after several uses, cracks may appear on the disc, and it may also be deformed during the pike fishing process.

Tactics for catching pike on circles

It is worth noting that the mugs are perfect for catching not only large pike, but also grass grass, the mass of which does not exceed two kilograms. To catch large pike on a circle, first of all, you need to choose the right place to install this equipment. In this case, the ideal place would be tonya. Tonya is a fairly wide and very long river reach, on which there is no strong current. In addition, there are no sharp drops in depth in this section of the reservoir.

Circles should be placed on those parts of the reservoir that are an excellent place for pike to ambush. These can be rocks, holes, bushes or flooded trees. It is also worth noting that sinking for catching pike on circles must be selected in advance, examining its bottom with the help of or the most ordinary depth gauge lot.

During the installation of circles, you must adhere to certain rules:

  1. Keep a distance between them.
  2. During the installation of the mug, one should take into account the strength of the wind and the characteristics of the reservoir (the presence of snags, currents, algae, etc.).
  3. When using mugs during pike fishing, use a live bait, the length of which does not exceed the mark of 10 centimeters.

As an indicator that signals the angler about the successful pike bite, the circle is turned over. That is, the circle, which previously floated with the red side to the surface of the reservoir, suddenly turns over to white. This signal indicates that the pike attacked the bait.

In the case of a successful bite, when the circle signals the presence of prey, you need to swim up to it carefully without making much noise. In addition, it is necessary to swim up to the circle for catching pike and in no case try to swim up to the circle against its course. Then you need to take the cord and with a sharp movement to cut. It is worth noting that during cutting, the circle must remain in the water.

Catching pike on mugs video

Summer pike fishing on mugs video

PIKE ON MUGS AND BIG PERCH!

Watch video pike fishing on mugs in autumn

Fishing. Catching Pike on Mugs (Stands) The most catchy Tackle.

Catching pike on mugs on the lake video

Pike on mugs. "Our Fishing" film No. 13. Video courtesy of Boris Saxonov. The film was shot as part of the Our Fishing project and is dedicated to catching pike with circles. Filmed at the end of November. Filming took place on the Dnieper, in the area of ​​​​a high dam.

How to equip a circle for pike fishing video

Pike circle (correct equipment)

The use of circles helps not to be left without a catch in the "deaf" season, when the pike is practically not interested in various spinning lures, as a result of which the effectiveness of spinning tackle is close to zero.

The design of the mug for pike fishing

Structurally, a circle is a disk made of lightweight non-sinking material with a diameter of 100 to 200 mm and a thickness of 20-35 mm. Typically, mugs are made from hard foam, some woods, and plastics. A groove was made along the edge of the mug for laying the necessary piece of fishing line, in the middle a signal pin was threaded, which is a key element of the tackle. The thickness of the pin usually does not exceed 10-12 mm, the optimal length is 13-15 cm. The pins are usually made with a slight taper, which makes their fastening easier and more reliable. The lower part of the pin is thickened or made in the form of a ball, the main thing is that in the working design, in an inverted form, the lower part protrudes minimally above the base of the circle. Top part the mug is usually painted bright red, the bottom one white. If foam is used, the lower part is left unpainted.

In the upper part of the circle on opposite sides there are two small slots for fishing line, another slot is made in the upper part of the pin. Slots are needed to fix the fishing line in working order, before placing the circles on the water in the fishing grounds.

Equipment for pike fishing circles

When catching pike, two types of equipment are usually used: classic and with a retractable leash.

In the classic version, a sliding “olive” sinker weighing from 5 to 10 g is used (as a rule, this range is enough), a carabiner with which the leash is attached and a rubber (silicone) stopper or bead to protect the knot. A rubber stopper is preferable as it allows the lead to be fixed higher, giving the bait bait more freedom. The use of a carabiner is mandatory, because often when fishing on circles, a predator swallows the live bait offered to him deeply, it is easier to unhook the leash and put on a new one. In the case of using lung leashes, a swivel can be used by attaching the leash to the rig using the loop-to-loop method.

The second option looks like this. An end sinker is attached to the main line, and the leash is tied higher. You can use a triple swivel, make a loop, or tie the leash directly to the main line with a special knot. The latter option is preferable, since it is less bulky, in addition, the leash can be moved with effort along the main line, and therefore the required fishing horizon can be selected depending on the reservoir and the intended predator. More precisely, it is not the leash itself that is tied, but a piece of fishing line of a slightly smaller or similar diameter with a carbine (clasp), and the leash is already attached to it.

The weight of the sinker is selected according to the conditions of fishing. The main purpose of such equipment is to "attach" the circle to a specific place. On a “standing” pond, 10 g is enough, the shape does not play a special role, and 20-50 g should already be used in the course, and preferably with a flat bottom side. However, it should be understood that fishing in this way is possible only in a weak current, since a stronger one will simply turn the circle over.

The thickness of the main fishing line for pike fishing varies from 0.3 to 0.5 mm. In summer, the predator is not so picky about the thickness of the fishing line and, as a rule, seeing the live bait, grabs it without problems. You can also use braid. The stock of fishing line should be 10-15 m, and in particularly deep waters up to 20-30 m. There were cases when a circle with a small supply of fishing line was simply pulled into snags by a pike, as a result of which, the tackle was lost, since the moment of bite was not visible, but , therefore, the place of his drowning remained unnoticed.

Leads for rigging fishing circles

First of all, leashes differ in the type of material. The easiest to manufacture are leashes made of thick fishing line with a diameter of 0.6-0.8 mm, they are made single-core. With such a thickness, they quite tolerably resist pike teeth, however, we prefer to use double leashes from thinner fishing line with a diameter of 0.25-0.4 mm. The fact is that they are more flexible, which gives an advantage in case of a poor bite of a cautious fish. This leash is not 100% insured against a bite, however, despite the fact that the predator sometimes frays one of the veins, it, as a rule, manages to be brought to the second. IN last years more wear-resistant fluorocarbon, which is also less visible to fish, makes this installation more reliable. The cost of this material, of course, is higher than simple nylon, but it also lasts longer. The only thing to remember is that there are leash and “spinning” fluorocarbon. It is more difficult for a lead pike to bite, but it is also more rigid. Spinning is softer, and in the version of a two-core leash it can be used no less successfully.

Making your own harness is easy. We fold the fishing line of the required length (40-60 cm) in half and knit 3-4 ordinary knots along the entire length, and the first knot should be 5-10 mm from the eye of the hook so that a possible snack falls on the next segment, thereby leaving the possibility of playing on one of the two woods. The last knot is made double or even triple to avoid spontaneous untying. The live bait "under the gills" is planted: the free end starts with inside gills and is removed through the mouth, after which a double is inserted into the extreme loop.

Previously, in conditions of scarcity and the absence of other options, leashes were made from thin steel wire for aircraft modeling or guitar string. Their manufacture requires more time, soldering is necessary for reliable fastening. The leash is inserted into the live bait's mouth and removed either through the gills or through the anus.

These leashes were replaced by tungsten leashes. The planting of live bait is carried out in the same way as with a double line. A pike will not bite such a leash with all the desire, but tungsten has a well-known minus - the memory of the material. Often, after the first bite, it curls into a spiral and becomes unsuitable for further fishing. You can straighten it, for this you need to take the leash with two pliers and, stretching it over the flame of a gas burner, warm it up, as they say, red hot. At this point, it is important not to overdo it, because a heated thin leash can be torn. After such a simple procedure, it becomes perfectly straight again. However, it can be used with one leash no more than 3-4 times, since the material inevitably loses strength and can fail at the most inopportune moment.

Nylon-coated spinning steel leashes are good to use. They are quite cheap and durable, and the neutral color of the shell masks them well. Before use, we remove all accessories, we catch a double, and we plant the live bait in a manner similar to the previous one.

Currently, in fishing stores there is a huge amount of all kinds of leader materials: from simple steel to expensive titanium, single and multi-strand. All of them are suitable for use. The best ones will be those in which the end loops are fixed with a winding, since it is more difficult to put the live bait with crimped tubes, and they injure the gills more.

When setting a live bait on a tee under the dorsal fin, in contrast to winter fishing on vents, there are many idle bites, so I prefer special double hooks that the predator swallows without problems, without noticing the catch.

What is the best live bait for pike fishing

For catching pike on mugs, crucian carp is considered the best live bait. Catching him is not difficult. It is found in almost all ponds and quarries, pecks actively, does not disdain most of the baits offered to it. The baited crucian behaves briskly, directing the circle in one direction or the other, thereby attracting the attention of the predator.

In general, almost any small fish is suitable as a live bait, but sometimes you have to take into account the tastes of pike in a particular reservoir. In some places, she prefers roach and minnows, bypassing perches, in others she actively takes on ruff. There are also things that are not paradoxical. With active bite special problems it usually doesn’t happen with live bait, you have to adapt if the pike starts to act up. Usually it is the middle of summer.

It happens that the live bait is too large, and it is not possible to put it in the usual way, because every now and then he strives to turn the circle over. In this case, there is one trick: to pass the fishing line not through the tip of the pin, but by wrapping it closer to the base. The lever in this case will be minimal, and it is more difficult for a large live bait to make a false bite. The predator, at the moment of the grip, will turn the circle over without any problems.

Choosing a place on the pond to install circles

Reservoirs can be conditionally divided into closed (lakes and ponds) and open (rivers and reservoirs). It is quite easy to “read” the ponds, the greatest depths are located near the dam and along the channel, and the upper reaches are shallow. First of all, you should pay attention to areas with vegetation. The predator loves to lie in wait for prey in such places, as they have both shelter and a good food base.

The fishing scheme is simple. You can put circles both along the border of the grass at some distance, and in the "windows", in which case they will not float away on their own. Near the grass, the predator is especially active in the morning and evening hours, often large specimens come out at this time, however, during the day the same pike is not averse to hiding in the thickets.

Deep places should not be ignored, because in the vast expanses and predators are very diverse, and real trophies can be caught. The main thing to keep in mind is that a thermocline forms in summer, and the fish prefer to stay in the upper, although warmer, but much more oxygen-rich layer, and not at the bottom, despite the fact that the temperature there is more comfortable. Often, on a site with a depth of 4-5 m, it is enough to set a descent of 1-1.5 m, and bites will not be long in coming.

The lakes have a more intricate shape and relief, but they are generally easy to study. First of all, we notice aquatic vegetation and snags; open places, as in the previous case, are not bypassed. Of course, you can measure the depths using an echo sounder or even a simple depth gauge, but it’s better to either select a specific area and put gear on it, or place them pointwise throughout the pond in the places you like the most. A circle is not a vent and will not stand in one place, but knowing the direction of the wind, you can predict the movement of gear and set the desired trajectory. It should be borne in mind that if the circle moves from depth to aground, then the live bait, having reached the bottom, will try to hide in the grass, becoming inaccessible to the predator.

During summer pike fishing in circles, late in the evening, as well as before and immediately after sunrise, there is usually a calm, and the circles do not float far from the installation site. At other times, even a light breeze carries them along. In terms of fishing a larger area, this is good, but in the end, all the gear can get lost in one area, and also get tangled in the grass. In this case, several anchored circles with a branch leash are used, and the classically equipped ones are arranged in a special way. To do this, anglers use a rare lonely vegetation. Positioning the circle in such a way that part of its area lies on a water lily or other plants, or even put the stems on top, clinging to the pin. The vegetation should be sparse and, preferably, stretched by the wind over the surface, so that there is free space under it, and the live bait could not wrap the fishing line around the stem.

Catching pike on circles on the rivers

The use of circles on rivers has its own characteristics. For obvious reasons, places with a noticeable main jet and rifts are unsuitable. It is best to approach a stretch with a weak current.

In this case, there are two options for fishing. You can use moored circles, which essentially perform the functions of a live bait donk, or you can catch a section of the river, over and over again letting ordinary tackle down the stream. In the second option, it is more convenient to fish from two boats: one angler launches circles, the second controls them downstream. It is advisable to use 5 circles, it is quite troublesome to handle a large number of circles on the river, there is always a chance to overlook and lose the tackle that was carried away by the current.

Separately, it is necessary to highlight fishing in the backwaters and bays. In general, it is the same as on the ponds due to the lack of current, however, tackle should not be left close to the exit to the river, since both the wind and a lively predator that has fallen can drag the circle onto the main stream. If you do not notice this in time, then you will most likely have to say goodbye to him. In general, fishing on the river is more difficult, but the catch is more varied.

Fishing with the use of circles can be extremely interesting, despite the seeming passivity of this activity. Moreover, such pike fishing can be successfully combined with active methods of fishing, for example, hunting for a predator with spinning.

Fishing for pike in spring, summer and especially autumn is a popular activity for many fans. active rest. Pike on circles in early autumn, in September or October is caught almost everywhere. Reservoirs open during these seasons allow the use of numerous methods and the use of a variety of gear. Some tackle, give impressive results. It is to such catching devices that one of the varieties of girders for catching a predatory slave, called a circle, can be attributed. Pike on mugs, in the fall is caught even better than on spinning.

A circle made of foam, as a rule, is used when fishing with live bait. Small fish of low-value species are usually used as live bait. For example, Chebak,. In places rich in perch, small specimens of it can also act as bait. Pike, in the absence of “zhora”, as its autumn fattening before wintering is called, is a very fastidious predator, and does not prefer every bait. Fishing in circles has been popular for a long time and is described in Sabaneev's book. Let us consider in detail what kind of tackle circles, the principle of their work, and what tactics are used for their successful application.

The name, the fishing circle, was due to its original form. On this moment you can find a variation of this gear in the shape of a square. The device of the circle for pike fishing is not particularly complicated, everything is clear at a glance. The base is made of softwood or polystyrene and has the shape of a circle with a diameter of 15 to 20 cm. The thickness of the base can be from 2 to 3 cm, from the end the base of the mug has a conical recess designed for winding fishing line. In the center of the circle, a mast is installed, which has an oblong shape and a special cut for the passage of fishing line, its length, as a rule, is not more than 15 cm.

Photo 1. A circle on the water.

The mast is installed unevenly in the center of the circle, from the side of the slot for the fishing line it can protrude by 8 cm, and from the other by 4. The base disk has opposite serifs from the ends. They are designed to set the circle in the working position. One of the sides of the disc, can be painted in bright color. Red is mainly used, because it is the most visible, but this is no longer as important as its design. Mugs for pike sold in a fishing store can be fully equipped or sold without it, and there is always an instruction manual for the tackle in the kit.

rigging

The equipment of the circles consists of a fishing line, a sinker, a swivel, a leash and a tee or a double. The fishing line can be used up to 0.5, depending on the presence of snags in the place of fishing. Each angler has his own favorite type and size of line for this tackle. The sinker is used sliding. For example, you can use an olive-type sinker. A tee or double is used depending on the size of the planned trophy. The fishing line is attached to the groove of the disk, then, for ease of transportation, it is wound around it. The sinker is mounted on a fishing line in front of the swivel. The leash is mounted on a swivel, and a tee is already attached to it. Thus, it turns out that the swivel is a stopper for the sinker, which prevents it from falling to the tee. By installing leashes of different lengths, you can adjust the distance of the bait from the sinker. The right rig the mug is very important, because it depends on how inconspicuous and reliable the tackle will be.

The principle on which gear works

The principle of the circle is its independence. It can be completely autonomous and move depending on the current and wind in the reservoir, this allows you to explore parts of the reservoir and find a predator. The charged circle is released from the boat. In the bite waiting mode, it is located with the long end of the mast up, the fishing line passed through its slot is lowered due to the weight of the load to a depth that is set depending on the depth of the reservoir.

When attacking a live bait, the design of the tackle allows the predator not to notice resistance from the side of the circle, for the reason that when a slight effort is applied to the line in the water, the circle turns over and the line descends from the circle without any effort. Thus, the pike swallows the live bait, not noticing resistance, and calmly continues to move to the parking lot, it is at this moment that a sharp movement of the fishing line from the water, which is called hooking, is made, and the pike is securely hooked on the tee. You can learn how to catch pike without hooking by reading the article to the end.

On some reservoirs, the use of a free-floating circle is impossible, due to the large number of snags, or due to the fact that the reservoir is overgrown with water lilies and other aquatic vegetation. In this case, in order to avoid numerous hooks, moored circles are used for fishing. They are also used on rivers with a fairly strong current. Having anchored the circle on a pike, you can not be afraid that it will swim far away or, in general, be lost. Anchoring can be replaced by setting circles using a buoy.

How to make a circle

Fishing for mugs does not require large expenditures. Making a do-it-yourself circle from the materials available to every self-respecting fisherman is a simple task. How to make mugs and equip them, you can see in the next video.

For manufacturing you will need:

  • A piece of extruded foam or a wooden board 3 cm thick.
  • A flat, wooden stick with a diameter no thicker than 1.5 cm and a length of 15. This will be the mast.
  • Fishing line 0.3–0.5 mm.
  • Sinker.
  • Leash
  • tee or double

The main thing is to correctly cut the base in the form of a circle. This will require a compass. Having drawn a circle with a compass, it is necessary to make a mark in its center and drill a hole there with a diameter slightly smaller than the thickness of the stick for the mast. It is convenient to cut an even circle with a construction jigsaw with a wood file. After the base is cut out, you can use emery to grind the end of the disk to obtain a conical recess in it.

For those who have a wood lathe and enough experience in operating it, you can make a completely monolithic circle on it.

On next step the mast is installed in the center of the circle and adjusted so that it protrudes more from the working side. Before painting, our fixture must be sanded with at least 100 grit sandpaper. Painting the mug will not cause problems, for the reason that it can be painted with any type of paint that is resistant to water. After the circle is assembled, it is necessary to equip it with a fishing line. The amount of fishing line directly depends on the depth of the reservoir where fishing is planned for circles, as a rule, it is no more than ten meters. Installation of a sinker, a leash and a double can be carried out immediately before fishing, this will allow you to choose their optimal sizes for exactly the reservoir on which you plan to fish. Making a mug with your own hands will allow you to save money and spend money with greater profit or to buy an additional fishing device that cannot be made by yourself. Homemade mugs can turn out even better than factory ones, because they are made with soul.

Mugs with anchor or stationary

Fishing for circles that constantly move around the reservoir is a rather laborious task and, moreover, not available in all places of fishing. For the stationary installation of the device, an anchoring system was invented. You need to anchor the circle in those places where the pike is most likely to stay. These are places near snags, the border of clear and overgrown water, as well as windows in the vegetation.

The system of a mug installed permanently practically does not differ from its classic design. The main difference is a larger sinker, which is attached to the end of the fishing line and sinks to the bottom. A leash made of fishing line is installed at a distance of half a meter from the load. The length of the leash can reach one meter, this is necessary for the free movement of the live bait. A swivel is installed at the end of the fishing line leash and a metal leash is attached, at the end of which a tee is fixed. Additionally, the fixed system can be equipped with a small float, which is mounted directly in front of the metal leash, to facilitate the movement of the live bait.

Ways and techniques of fishing on circles. Location selection

There are several ways to fish with circles, which should be chosen depending on the weather and the current on the reservoir.

Runs

This method consists in examining large areas of the reservoir for the presence of a predator. It is implemented with success when fishing in water bodies with a small current and standing water with little wind. The method is inconvenient because you have to move a lot, and keep track of all the established circles so as not to lose them.

Stationary

Photo 2. A variant of a stationary circle.

Used in currents or strong winds. For successful fishing, it is necessary to correctly analyze the places of the reservoir for the presence of a predator. Anchor circles in the places of the planned accumulation of pike. You can not be afraid to leave a circle for pike fishing permanently installed for a long time, it will not be lost anywhere.

Photo 3. An ordinary rural pond is a testing ground for circles.

fishing technique

Catching pike on circles is convenient because there is no need to be in close proximity to it all the time. When biting, the pike calmly swallows the bait and either continues to move and goes to the parking lot, dragging the circle behind it, or remains in the place where it caught the live bait. Thus, the angler does not need to rush to the circle where the bite occurred, the caught predator will not go anywhere anyway. Undercutting is also not used by everyone who uses mugs. Calm fishing out of the water into the boat will help to avoid injuries when fishing, because, as you know, the pike resists quite strongly, and you have to hold on to the fishing line with bare hands. There is no need to rush for successful fishing on circles, the caught trophy will definitely wait for you. Catching a predator on mugs has been used for a long time and is an interesting and productive activity.