Tactics for catching the devil. Fishing for "devil" in winter: technique and tips. Now only I have a bite

A winter jig with three hooks, reminiscent of dragonfly larvae, is deservedly popular among fishermen. Since lures are found almost everywhere, baits similar to them attract the attention of almost all fish in our reservoirs. In fishing circles, such a jig is called “devil”.

The structure of the "devil"

The “devil” consists of a vertically located elongated sinker with a loop for tying fishing line at one end and a soldered tee at the other. Often, to enhance the bite when fishing for devils, beads, beads or pieces of cambric of various colors are put on the hooks. Most often black and white, although many fishermen also use beads of other colors: yellow, orange, green, red. A combination of black cambric and brightly colored cambric is also used. The body of the “devil” itself is usually painted black.

Jig weight

The weight of the “devils” is different. From tenths of a gram to several grams. It all depends on the task set by the fisherman in front of the bait: small “devils” (size from 5 to 10 mm and weighing up to 1.5 grams) are used to catch white bream, roach and silver bream, and large jigs (from 10 mm long and weighing more than 1 .5 grams) - perch and bream.

Optimal hooks

Pay attention to the “devil” hooks. When purchasing, it is better to take “devils” with hooks that have a round bend. They are more catchy, especially when catching bream, which takes the bait not in a horizontal position, but “head down”.

Line thickness

When fishing for small devils, use a fishing line of 0.11-0.13 mm. This thickness does not negatively affect the performance of the jig, but it will help to pull out fish weighing 300-500 grams, which are caught on such small baits. For “devils” weighing 1.5 grams or more, it is better to use a fishing line of 0.15-0.18 mm, since both bream and a decent perch can take such a bait.

They say that such baits were once invented by sea fishermen, who learned to catch fish on bare hooks, covered with some bright feathers and tassels of wool, without the hassle of getting bait. However, this fishing still exists today in the form of tyrants, stakes and other tackle with a garland of hooks. Apparently, these experiments led to no-attachment jigs, which are now used in central Russia.

So, about the “devils”... These reelless baits with an exotic-infernal name are often very successfully used in the winter season along with the same frightening “witches”... They are very diverse in appearance, body shape of the bait and in the number of hooks used per bait, that is with tees or even four hooks welded together in a bundle. Often fishermen themselves make such baits. Typically these baits come in ball, teardrop and cigar shapes. It is believed that oblong “devils” with four hooks are more stable when playing in thick water, have good grip, and do not get tangled or overlap with the fishing line. In addition, the elongated shape makes it easy and hassle-free to pull the hooks out of the fish’s mouth.

Although it is believed that in most cases the color of the bait does not affect the effectiveness of fishing, and the jig is just a weight that helps sink to the bottom, it has been noticed that the fish take the black ones with sparkles or with a golden mirror more enthusiastically and surely. Although there is a possibility that this is a purely subjective factor and the fisherman himself prefers beautiful baits...

But various beads, pieces of cambric or soft rubber of light tones and a color closer to an orange shade, placed on the hook, significantly improve the fish’s bite. Moving planted elements, in particular beads, work especially well. In addition to movements that are attractive to fish, these baits also create an additional sound background.

For fishing with reelless baits, the role of its game is very important. And this is understandable, because if a jig with a bloodworm attracts fish by several factors at once - movement, the bait itself with its appearance and smell, then for a jig without a bloodworm there is only an appearance reminiscent of strange insects or generally something of a fantasy nature, and a quick game that hypnotizes the fish . And in order to create such a game, you need to use some techniques for working with a fishing rod, which differ from the usual game with a jig with a nozzle. Firstly, the fishing rod itself should be as lightweight as possible.

Fishing rod for devil fishing

Often the weight of a fishing rod for reelless fishing reaches only 4 grams, while standard factory fishing rods weigh at least 15 grams. These lightweight fishing rods are held with literally two fingers and in an almost vertical position. This allows you to create not even high-frequency vibrations with the bait, but rather a kind of trembling. This is also facilitated by other elements of the equipment of a reelless fishing rod, for example, a nod. Its difference from the classic flexible elastic nod is that it is clearly much more rigid than the structure of the tackle requires. But he does not need to work on bending, as when fishing with a regular jig. Its vertical position together with the fishing rod gives only barely visible vibrations, but the moment of biting shows such a nod quite clearly.

There are days when the fish does not take any baits or baits, and also avoids reelless jigs. During such periods, baits, which are also called “reverse devils,” can help out and bring success. Here the hook is not located at the bottom, as is customary in the classic scheme of any bait, but at the top. In this way, such jigs resemble bottom spinners with an additional hook in the tail of the bait. On such a “devil”, the hook with colored cambrics, beads, elastic bands, hairs, flies is not fixed motionless, but is freely suspended and moves with all these baits attractive to the fish, now playing on the hook, which in itself is already an active element of the bait. It is during a sluggish bite that such “devils in reverse” are able to arouse interest in apathetic fish. Lures with a rigidly fixed hook are unrivaled when it comes to actively biting fish. They catch fish faster, and the fixed hook is also removed from the fish’s mouth faster.

And it’s worth noting that reelless baits, in particular “devils,” catch larger fish. Small things shy away from these large and unusual creatures...

The first mention of a special jig with several hooks called a “devil” appeared in the late seventies of the last century. In a short time, the invention became very popular not only among fishermen from the Moscow region, but also among a wider circle of fishing fans. Fishing for devils is a particularly interesting activity that can give everyone a good catch.

History and general information

Who created such a product is still unknown, although it is generally accepted that it was brought from the Russian Far East. Perhaps the prototype of the bait was the famous “bug” of V. Zakharov, which was used since the 60s. There are also suggestions that the “devil” was invented by sea fishermen who successfully caught fish using inedible objects, including medical cotton wool and bird feathers.

Using a devil for winter fishing involves purchasing a special fishing rod, which depends on the classic fishing rod as it is understood by anglers. This is not due to personal preferences or capabilities, but to the characteristic wiring technique and the conditions in which fishing takes place.

Selected form pre-equipped with a coil, the diameter of which is 52.5-65 millimeters, which is quite enough to quickly reel in the gear when hungry fish are actively biting. As for the reel brake, it can be:

Deaf.
Frictional with adjustment support.

To choose the optimal option, you need to be guided by the depth of the area where fishing takes place: for depths of 2.3-5.2 meters, a friction brake will do, and for deeper points at 7-8 meters, it is advisable to use a blind lever option. The long active part of the fishing line will be able to cushion the tackle when making sweeps.

By the way, especially popular in the fishing world are fishing rods produced by the Finnish company TENO, which have an open reel, a sector-type lever brake, and a Duplon handle that does not allow snow to stick and withstands impacts on ice well. In addition, it is very convenient to work with it: it is not afraid of the effects of frost.

Craftsmen often create homemade fishing rods, equipping them with an ergonomic handle, which prevents the hand from quickly getting tired and allows for precise fishing.

If the fishing rod is long, this allows you to draw the bait directly “from the hole” without bending too much over it.

Nod selection

The main component of winter gear for catching devils is the nod. Experienced craftsmen prefer long products measuring 165.5–235.5 millimeters, which allows them to achieve a relatively low frequency (about two vibrations per second), as well as a large amplitude of vibration of the edge of the nod. The use of long nods ensures stable play of the bait regardless of the position of the hand, from the beginning of the retrieve to the end.

In this case, the swing of the nod is adjusted taking into account fishing conditions. For example, if there is a strong wind outside, and fishing takes place at great depths or strong currents, then it makes sense to shorten this element by 95-135 millimeters. If fishing takes place in a shallow area, then vice versa - it is extended to its maximum length in order to achieve a smooth, measured game. Otherwise, friction of the fishing line against the water column in shallow water will lead to various non-harmonic vibrations of the fishing rod, which will negatively affect the game of the bait.

Using a long nod with good rigidity allows you to dampen unexpected vibrations and possible shocks when there is a gust of wind. In addition, if you accidentally hit your clothes with the fishing rod, this will not affect the nature of the “devil’s” movement in any way. In essence, the nod is a continuation of the whip, which arches above its contour in a free state. At the same time, under the load of the “devil,” it bends plastically at a small angle. When fishing, the product is bent in the opposite direction, pinching its first third from the end with the thumb and forefinger.

When choosing a nod, you need to pay attention to its end ring. For most conditions, a ring with a diameter of 1.8-2.35 millimeters is suitable, which will easily pass the fishing line. You can make this part yourself using nichrome wire with a thickness of 0.21-0.35 mm. To make a nod, it is customary to use lavsan or propylene tape with a cross-section of 3-4.5 mm.

Suitable fishing line

In winter, you can use almost any type of fishing line. To find the ideal solution, you should take into account the size of the expected production, as well as the depth of the current. But among the wide variety of existing models, it is preferable to choose hard and sinking options. The sinking one ensures maximum immersion of the “devil”, which is necessary for exploring great depths, where excessive buoyancy negatively affects the play of the bait, and the hard one - to detect bites at such a depth and prevent overwhelm when fishing.

It is not recommended to use multifilament fishing lines and braids instead of classic monofilament products. The only advantage of this variety is increased strength and reliability. But due to the lack of a special coating, they quickly become saturated with water, become covered with ice and freeze on the reel.

Varieties of devils

If you want to understand how to catch devils, the first thing you should pay attention to is the existing variety of shapes and sizes of such devices. By the way, some fishing publications mention the division into “witches” and “devils”, which is associated with the number of hooks. In the first option there are 3 hooks, and in the second - 4. At the same time, the fishing method and type of equipment remain the same.

There are several basic devil shape configurations available commercially, including:

Ball-shaped.
Drop-shaped.
Elongated cigar-shaped.

There are also more sophisticated options, which are determined by production technology. The most popular form of “devil” is the Mamontov device, which is equipped with 4 hooks. This product demonstrates stable game, minimal likelihood of snags, as well as the adoption of a horizontal position when the fishing line falls slightly. And the characteristic oblong shape allows you to easily remove the bait from the mouth of a hungry predator.

As for the color of the product, there are no special requirements for it. The number of bites remains similar when using different shades, but black is considered the most universal color.

Some anglers note the good effectiveness of red products covered with glitter.

Wiring technique

As for the optimal retrieving technique, it depends on the method of gripping the fishing rod (lower grip, or straight), as well as on the design features of the fishing rod itself.

The most universal technique is the slow rise of the bait from the bottom level to a height of 30-55 centimeters (sometimes up to one meter), with a steady rhythmic oscillation of the fishing rod with a relatively large amplitude and low frequency. In this configuration, the “devil” demonstrates a game similar to a “saw”: initially, it takes off to the height of the body, and then lowers it to 1/45-1/25 of this height, as well as an instant pause. Similar actions are carried out in cycles of 3–7 cycles per second.

Using a lower grip, movements are performed only with the wrist. The shoulders are only used when moving the devil from the bottom to the highest point. You can learn this technique in a short time, without any special skills or experience. Moreover, the method is not tedious and is suitable for right-handers and left-handers.

When using direct grip, it is necessary to have a general understanding of the technique of the game. In this case, the hands are practically in a relaxed state and only hold the fishing rod, changing the angle of its inclination when retrieving. In turn, performing oscillations involves the participation of the forearm. And although such movements are a little exhausting, hooking is performed as quietly and quickly as possible.

Fishing tactics

As for the promising tactics of catching the “devil” for fishing, it consists of constantly searching for the striped predator in its proven habitats. It is very good if the chosen body of water is familiar and you know where the fish may be. Among the most promising areas for fishing are:

Edges of flooded stream or river beds.
Hillocks.
Old hydraulic structures including bridges, dams and watermills, as well as remnants of roads.

If you manage to find such places, you should drill several holes there at once, maintaining a distance of 4-5 meters from each other. After this, you can proceed to surveying the water area, starting from deep places and moving to shallow water.

The most important wiring is the first one - it is done as follows: you need to lay the “devil” on the bottom, and then smoothly move it along the bottom. After this, the game begins to play at a slow pace. Very often the bite occurs on the first 12-15 cm of wiring. If it is missing, then the wiring speed can be increased.

It makes sense to pause for 0.5 seconds at the top point of the drive. After this, a quick short hook of the bait is performed with the tip of the rod. If after 8-12 trips there is still no bite, most likely you need to change the hole.

Very often, instead of perch, the “devil” is pecked by roach and bream, which like to live in places with a flat bottom and a depth of 5-10 meters. Avid floaters know about the location of such areas, so finding the optimal fishing point is not difficult for them.

But it is useless to settle near fishermen on the reservoir. Instead, it is better to approximately determine the line of movement of the fish by carefully feeding the drilled holes. In this case, you can independently discover the “fish trail” and arrange effective fishing.

The more people visit the reservoir on weekends, the more bait compounds will get into the water. Starting fishing early in the week can yield incredible catches.

Using the “devil” on perch in winter always gives good results, but in order not to waste time and return home with a good catch, you need to pay attention to several valuable recommendations compiled by experienced fishing masters. So, it will be useful for a beginner to know the following:

When actively searching for fish and moving from one hole to another, it is necessary to constantly change the depth. By the way, in some cases, even a slight difference brings excellent results, turning into a key bite factor. In winter, the depth can be determined by the working section of the fishing line, which is immersed in water.
If fishing occurs from the knee, then it will not hurt to purchase high-quality knee pads made from branded fabric. Felt products made by yourself quickly become unusable. In turn, store-bought options do not get wet, demonstrate maximum strength, look elegant and beautiful
Winter fishing using a jig "devil" - this is very interesting and productive fishing direction. With the right approach, the process can give every angler an unforgettable experience and success in the form of a trophy catch.

In addition to the striped perch predator, other fish actively bite on such a jig, including:

Currently, this type of winter bait belongs to the category of the most catchy ones for ice fishing. With its help, you can catch almost any representative of the ichthyofauna that is present in a particular body of water. But the search for perch is always particularly effective, because the “minke whale” is attracted by the game of the “devil” much more often than other fish. By the way, the jig shows good efficiency in almost any weather and in any fishing conditions.

When fishing with a “locomotive” and at great depths, a very effective method of play is what I call “pumping” - it is somewhat reminiscent of rotating a well handle.

V. Strogoff

This bait for winter fishing once again confirms that it is not at all necessary to scrupulously imitate a specific aquatic creature that is appetizing to fish. True, meticulous fishermen still rack their brains, trying to explain the secret of success in catching a “devil” by its resemblance either to a cyclops, or to another booger, or, most likely, to the larva of a large dragonfly. An interesting version is that the tee hooks remind the fish of the antennae of a living moving creature. This is unlikely to be the case, but in any case, the three-horned “devil” attracts fish.

“Devil” is actually a small drop-shaped sinker equipped with a tee. His game is extremely limited: he does not plan to the side, does not somersault, does not spin. Capable only of “pulse” movement back and forth along one vertical line. This is how they carry it out - they “saw” it, lifting it quite high and lowering it to the bottom. True, when released into free fall, he immediately falls to one side and falls in a horizontal position. If you “raise” him every time, then in general he turns out to be an interesting game.

Of course, you can swing it this way with different rhythms and amplitudes, adding “small tremors” to it.

The lack of bite forces you to handle the “devil” more tenderly, for example, as Yu. Teplov recommends: “He shook it near the bottom and gently shook it upward. About a meter and a half. And then, also gently, down. To the very bottom. Freeze - and do it again."

A great and, perhaps, irreplaceable aid to the correct playing of the “devil” will be a good nod, which additionally sets the rhythm of his oscillations. Since the “devil” is heavier than the jig, the nod will be more rigid, made, for example, from a clock spring. The larger volume and weight of the “devil” compared to traditional jigs allows you to use thicker fishing line when fishing, which is always more convenient.

If a jig, especially a round “pellet,” can be called just a sinker with a hook on which the bait is located, then you won’t suspect a “devil” of this, because in most cases no additional attachment is provided for it. Just a few multi-colored beads or cambrics on the underside of the hook. Fish responds well to thin strips of thin elastic up to 7-8 mm long.

It hardly makes sense to make a “devil” yourself: it is not much more expensive than a high-quality tee. But an inquisitive fisherman is never satisfied with a “foreign” bait; at best, he will remake it, and more often, based on it, he will make it to his liking. And he will definitely try a variety of options. The simplest “devil” can be easily made by wrapping the forend of a small tee with tinned copper wire and soldering it.

There are more and more variants of the “devil”, as was once the case with jigs. They differ from each other by the presence of a “band” when it consists of two sections, size, and spots on the body. They are conventionally divided into “short” and “long” - based on the ratio of length to diameter. Some are asymmetrical, giving them some extra play.

Some believe that yellow is preferable. Others are in favor of red. This causes even greater “respect” for the catchy “sinker”, which, by the way, is good for fishing in currents and depths. And yet, fishermen often attach small bloodworms or burdock moth larvae to “devil” hooks in order to additionally attract fish with their scent.

The “devil” is often supplemented with another (“locomotive”) at a distance of about a meter from the bottom one or with a baited hook.

An identical bait, but with two hooks, is called a “goat” by fishermen. This is understandable: a goat definitely has two horns, but who the hell was counting them.

There are more and more variants of the “devil”, as was once the case with jigs. They differ from each other by the presence of a “band” when it consists of two sections, size, and spots on the stern. They are conventionally divided into “short” and “long” - based on the ratio of length to diameter. Some are asymmetrical, giving them some extra play.

They say that the “devil”, having lost one of its hooks and become asymmetrical, no longer attracts fish so well.

Watch also the video on this topic

Modern ice fishing is somewhat different from the fishing methods that fishermen have practiced for decades. Today, many of them have changed their qualifications - they abandoned natural baits and switched to so-called baitless fishing. This can be explained by an insatiable desire to use new, sometimes unusual materials in the fishing process.

☸️ Fishing with a reelless

Beads, rubber bands, cambrics and other things stimulate the ingenuity of winter fishing enthusiasts, who are completely indifferent to what the fish will be caught with, a live bait or a piece of inedible silicone. Although no, it’s not all the same. Such traditional bait as bloodworms still needs to be obtained and stored correctly, but with baitless jigs you can go to a pond at any time and not worry about whether there will be enough larvae until the end of fishing.

That’s why the rewinders find more and more fans with each new season. Even avid conservatives, looking at the successes of the moneyless people, are changing their views. They themselves begin to try to fish with a “bare hook”, fail, continue to experiment and, in the end, master the technique of fishing with small hooks, ants, droplets, bananas, oatmeal, goats and flies. In the list of catchable baitless jigs, the devil also takes pride of place. Why honorable? The answer is simple: fishing for devils in winter is very popular today.

☸️ Origins

The jig appeared on the fishing horizon at the turn of the 70s and 80s and immediately won many admirers. It is not known for certain who invented it and why they called it the devil. But there are serious reasons to assume that the devil jig, like the vertical spinner (now commonly called a balancer), came from the eastern regions of Russia. Its prototype was a bait called a “bug,” which was successfully used by fishermen on the Sea of Okhotsk in the middle of the last century. The marine origin of the devil is indirectly confirmed by the fact that it was sea fishermen who were the first to fool fish (deceive them with inedible fish).

☸️ Tackle for catching devils

It must be said right away that a jig is unlikely to work if you take a float rod, remove the bite alarm from it and tie a reelless bait instead of a hook. It would be too easy. A number of requirements are put forward for fishing tackle with such bait.

There are three main ones:

high sensitivity (provided by the softness of the nod);
the ability to create attractive low-frequency vibrations (achieved by adjusting the length of the nod);
reliability (must withstand large fish).

⚓️ Fishing rod

To assemble one, you will need a fairly long fishing rod (up to 450 mm), allowing you to do full wiring while sitting on the box, and not hanging over the hole, hunched over. It is advisable to equip it with an ergonomic handle, with which your hand will not get tired and it will be easier to work with this type of jig.

⚓️ Reel

The fishing rod must be equipped with a reel, open or closed. Thanks to this element, you can quickly reel in the tackle while actively searching for fishing spots, thereby saving precious time. The larger the diameter of the spool, the better, since the line wound on a small spool turns into a spiral. It will level out only after 5-6 wiring.

⚓️ Nod

The defining element of the tackle is the nod. For winter fishing with devils, experienced fishermen recommend using nods of at least 200 mm in length with the ability to adjust this parameter. Using an unusually long nod, you can force the bait to play at a low frequency (no more than 2 vibrations per second), while the amplitude will be quite high. That is, the jig will move smoothly, rhythmically and seductively. For fishing in fast currents, at significant depths and in windy weather, the length will have to be shortened; for such conditions a more stable nod is needed.

⚓️ Fishing line

The fishing line is selected taking into account the same conditions plus the expected size of the prey. As a rule, this is a monofilament with a cross-section from 0.10 to 0.14 mm. The best choice would be a stiff sinking line, which is more suitable for those relatively deep depths where the devil is usually used. If it is soft and buoyant, this will greatly complicate the angler’s contact with the bait, and therefore will negatively affect its game. You can use braid, which adds confidence when fishing for large prey, but in this case you need to be prepared for the fact that in the cold it will first take on water, then become covered with an ice crust and freeze on the reel. This primarily applies to cheap braided cords without special coating.

☸️ Variety of “devils”

There were so many jigs of this type that they were divided into two groups: the devils themselves and another representative of the dark forces - witches. The main difference between a witch and a classic devil is the larger number of hooks. She has not three, but four. All this “evil spirits” is replete with different shapes, colors and additional elements or, as winter fishermen call them, replantings.

The shape of the jig is determined by the production technology. It can be drop-shaped, almost spherical or elongated (cigar-shaped). Each of them had its own adherents who fiercely defended their position. Fans of catching fish with round-shaped devils claim that they are more similar to the natural food of underwater inhabitants, namely bugs. Well, fans of long jigs put forward their arguments. The most significant is the relatively easy removal of bait from the fish’s mouth.

There is an opinion that the color of the devil does not have much influence on the number of bites. The classic black borer was and remains unrivaled, and attempts to make it more catchy with the help of bright colors or sparkles are rather subjective. To date, it has not been proven whether such deviations from the classics affect the fish’s bite, or whether they are able to stir it up. If it is not under the hole or it is in a state of suspended animation, even play with a gold-plated jig, you still won’t get a bite.

It is advisable to make refills from a soft material, for example, fine-pored rubber. Each jig hook is equipped with a miniature piece the size of a millet grain. But the use of hard cambrics has a bad effect on the grip of the bait. Often they slide towards the hook's sting and at the moment of hooking do not allow it to penetrate deeply into the soft tissues of the fish's mouth.

An interesting solution was proposed by fishermen from the Moscow region. On one of the devil's hooks they hang a narrow strip of thin rubber cut from an inflatable ball. Approximate size – 12 mm x 2 mm. A bait equipped with such a microtwister shows excellent results, including during periods of total lack of biting.

☸️Features of using the trait

The key to successful fishing with any reelless bait, in particular with the little devil, is a quick search for a school by fishing in promising places. We are talking about areas with anomalies of the bottom surface, such as slopes, edges and other significant and minor differences in depth. On the river, these are most often found on turns and sharp bends, and on an unfamiliar lake, numerous holes drilled by other anglers help determine a promising point. You can check ready-made ones or drill your own series across a river bend, arranging the holes in one line. The optimal distance between them is 5-6 meters. Fishing should begin from the deepest point, moving towards the shallows. You shouldn’t stay on one hole for a long time; after 7-8 runs you can move on to the next one.

The basic animation when fishing for devils in winter is two or three light blows of the bait on the bottom, followed by a smooth rise to a height of up to half a meter, accompanied by rhythmic oscillations of the nod. Usually the bite occurs in the first 10-15 cm. If the fish does not respond, it is advisable to speed up the pace of the next retrieve. In addition, at the top point it is recommended to make a short stop of no more than a second and perform a control sweep. Quite often, a passive fish simply accompanies the jig, pokes its nose at it, but does not want to take it. If the hook is successful, the hook will be in her lower lip.

Driven by hunger, silver bream and bream, as well as schools of large roach, often appear in areas that are absolutely flat as a board, where floaters love to fish. The latter generously feed their holes, so positioning themselves next to them and fishing nearby (even two meters away) would be a big mistake. It is better to try to determine from which side the fish are approaching their holes, find this path and get a decent catch for your efforts.

Many winter fishermen do not have the opportunity to go fishing on weekdays, so on weekends they have a blast. That is, they pour kilograms of bait into the water, thus hoping to attract more fish. If you walk through their holes on Monday, you can get fantastic pleasure from your favorite activity.
No-attachment jigs have long proven their effectiveness; they can be used to catch any fish - from rotan to whitefish. It is not surprising that fishing for devils in winter has become one of the most popular types of fishing today.