DIY winter cicada spinner. Do-it-yourself cicada spinner, dimensions, manufacturing technology. Cicada bait - what is it?

Cicada (or Blade Bait, which literally means “blade bait”) remained on the sidelines for some time. Despite the fact that it appeared on the American continent back in 1957, in our country the cicada, so different from the usual baits, became a secret weapon for catching perch and pike for more enthusiastic spinning anglers, and something unusual for ordinary fishing enthusiasts , suspicious and “not ours.”

Of course, in fishing periodicals there were sometimes notices about the appearance of an effective “transverse” spoon with two tees, however, according to ordinary spinners, imported strangers did not inspire confidence.

Now this is a thing of the past. Today, cicadas can be seen not only in the fishing boxes of athletes, but also in those starting to master spinning. The thing is that the bait created by the American Heddon turned out to be incredibly versatile. It can catch our “domestic” predators in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs during the period of open water and, as it turned out, in winter from a hole to a plumb line.

Appearance of a cicada

The shape of the cicada has some correspondence with insects and fish.

However, I cannot admit that external resemblance to the natural food of pike and perch is a guarantee of success. But I can say positively that he turned out to be an excellent provocateur.

By creating high-amplitude vibrations when retrieved, bladebaits produce powerful hydroacoustic waves, in which a predator rarely fails to try to test the “author.”

To enhance the “sound”, in addition to two tees or double hooks, petals are hung from the cicada.

All cicadas are equipped with one, two or three mounting holes, which allows you to change the angle of inclination when guiding and obtain different vibrations.

When hooked to the first hole, the cicada creates high-frequency vibrations that the perch like so much. To get the most aggressive game, we focus on the latter. It is useless to give recommendations here - you have to select the attachment point while fishing.

Among the advantages we can also note:

• Thanks to the correct weight, the cicada is a good flyer and you can make a long cast and place the bait at the desired point even in windy weather.
• The specificity of cicadas makes it possible to fish in still water bodies and in the current, in shallow water and deep holes.
• If compared with the outwardly similar rattlins, then the cicada. With the same size, the spinning rod is less annoying.

How to catch a cicada

Friends, the technique of fishing with a cicada, as with other spinning baits, can hardly be described in words. Here the reason is not even the wiring nuances.

For some, this bladebait catches on a banal uniform and the angler doesn’t bother. I threw it to a point, gave it time to dive to the required depth, or started retrieving immediately upon splashdown.

An angler who prefers twitching will definitely make it a rule to play along with the cicada in the manner of a minnow.

If you would like to jig along the bottom, please do so. By replacing tees with double or single hooks, reducing hooks to a minimum, you can provoke an attack from a predator feeding at the bottom.

The wiring can be selected according to the mood of the fish, the reservoir is sufficient, but what should be done is to take pauses. Even at a short stop, the spinner begins to sink with a mesmerizing vibration reverberating into the spinner’s hand.

As for the gear, you can fish with a cicada using the same rod on which you use a spinner and a wobbler. There may be some discomfort, since the water resistance is higher, but not critical. We selected the weight according to the characteristics of the spinning rod and off we went. Experiments are welcome.

Is it possible to make a cicada with your own hands?

Can. Why not? You get quite working baits. I don't do this myself. I got to work a couple of times. I sawed out blanks from a copper plate, turned them, measured the dimensions, and soldered additional weights. Enough troubles.

The cicadas worked successfully on perch, but after losing the hooks, I learned that it was easier to buy.

If you have the material to make and decide to make a cicada with your own hands, then I’ll warn you right away - you shouldn’t do it “by eye.” Every extra millimeter must be removed (ground off), the holes for attaching to the fastener must be in place. The spinner is simple at first glance.

For those who want to take up the tool, below I will provide a size chart and diagram.

No tail, no scales. Regards, Oleg

Cicada-type spoons (or Bladebaits) have been sold in stores for more than ten years. However, our fishermen underestimate it. But in vain. Indeed, in some states of America it was even banned due to the high catch. Those fishermen who tried its capabilities began to call the cicada spoon a “killer for perch.” But so far it is not popular with us.

Cicada bait - what is it?

The cicada spinner is easy to remember in appearance. She looks like a ratlin. And not only in appearance, but also in the nature of the game. A significant difference is the absence of a rattle inside and the possibility of long casting, which allows you to cover a large area while fishing.

The bait can be attached to the fishing line in several places. When wiring, the “cicada” moves with its nose down, so the vibration power and the angle of inclination depend on the connection point. It is necessary to attach the fishing line to the leading edge if a fast retrieve technique is used, to the middle - if medium, and to the rear - if slow, respectively. The bait is loaded from below in the front part.

Making a cicada spinner

You can make a cicada spinner at home. At the same time, keep costs to a minimum. That is, you can use a minimum amount of materials and tools located at home. Unless you have to spend money on plaster (if there is none on the farm) or ask neighbors who are doing repairs. In any case, this material is inexpensive and accessible.

Tools

You can make a cicada spinner with your own hands using the following tools:

• chisel;
• hacksaw;
• drill;
• small diameter drills;
• paste GOI;
• container for making plaster molds;
• file;
• marker;
• paper;
• utensils for mixing plaster.

To speed up the process, it is better to use a grinder than a hacksaw. If you don’t have a drill on the farm, you can use a dowel or sharpened twig to make holes for the fastener and hook. GOI paste is used to add shine to the product. To make a plaster mold, you can use any cardboard box, thin boards, or plywood. The material from which it will be made does not affect the quality of the bait. It is better to choose a soft plastic container for mixing gypsum. This will simplify and speed up the process of removing residues from it.

Materials

As for the material, for the cicada petals you will need sheet metal. Copper or brass are ideal. They are easier to process. The sheet thickness should be from 0.4 to 0.8 mm. A thicker petal will play poorly when wiring, and a thin one may not withstand the load. Galvanized sheet metal is also used, which fades over time, which is good for fishing in clear water. Very bright petals in this case can scare away the fish. It is important not to damage the galvanization during the manufacturing process of the “cicada”. If this happens, then you need to polish the petal very well, then it will practically not rust during use.

To make a load for future bait you will need lead. It is better to choose a soft one, with antimony in the composition. It will be easier to work with him. The cable sheath is made from this material. You can also take lead from the battery. It is important to observe basic safety precautions while working. You will also need any plasticine. An exact copy of the “cicada” will be made from it.

As for the gypsum, it will be used to make a mold for casting the future bait. You can use dry construction mixtures containing gypsum. They are more durable, although they take much longer to dry. A well-dried mold is enough to cast several dozen “cycads.”

Manufacturing process

The cicada spinner consists of petals. We draw them and transfer them to a sheet of metal. Cut it out. We process the edges with a file. This petal is used to make others. Then you take plasticine and mold it into a ball, in the middle of which you need to stick a petal and give it a shape. This is done with a knife and chisel. We are trying to achieve an exact copy of the “cicada”.

Now you need to make the form. To do this, pour diluted plaster into the prepared box. You need to fill exactly half. Place marks inside the container in advance with a marker or pencil. Gypsum is diluted to the consistency of thick sour cream. A copy of the “cicada” is greased with oil (vegetable oil is fine) and pressed halfway into the mixture. Equipping the mold with guides will make alignment easier. For this, protrusions made of the same material, balls or metal pins can be used.

We leave it to dry for several hours if plaster is used, but if it is a dry mixture, then the drying time will be much longer. Then the surface of the mold and the “cicada” is again greased with oil and the second half is poured. Now you need to dry the product completely. This will take several days. If the form has become light, white, and rings when struck, this means that it has completely dried.

Then we draw petals on the metal, cut them out, clamp several pieces in a vice and drill holes in them for weights, grind them, grind them with sandpaper (for this we move from coarse-grained to fine-grained paper), and polish them until shiny. You can use a hacksaw to cut through metal. This is necessary for reliable fastening of the load to the petal. We drill several holes for the carabiner (1-3 pieces), which will make it easy to change the angle of inclination and frequency of vibrations during wiring. Next, after the mold has dried, we separate it and use a knife to make a sprue and a channel so that the air can escape. It is needed to completely fill the mold with lead.

When everything is ready, we begin casting. It is advisable to warm up the mold before starting work. We insert the petal and fill it with lead. It's better to do this outside. You need to be extremely careful. A couple of minutes, and the “cicada” is ready. We take it out. You can move on to the next one.

Prepare all the petals, and then 20 baits can easily be cast in half an hour. After processing with a knife, the cicada spoon is ready for use. If desired, polish with GOI paste. Equip the double with the tips facing up. All. Now the product is finally ready. This bait practically does not catch. The result is a beautiful cicada spinner (photo provided). The operation of the bait can be checked in the bathroom. Now to the pond!

One of the most effective and catchy artificial baits is the cicada spinner. In appearance and play, such products are radically different from the usual wobblers, spinners and spinners. The spoon is very popular among fishermen due to its versatility in use, catchability and efficiency.

The bait in question can be used for catching pike, as well as other predators using a spinning rod or winter tackle. To attract a large trophy specimen, you need to choose the right equipment, as well as learn how to play the bait beautifully and correctly.

It is known from history that the cicada bait first appeared in the United States of America in 1957. Its developer is considered to be James Haddon, who presented his invention as a “blade” or “metal vibe”. A little later, the name “cicada” was assigned to the artificial bait.

The product is made of a piece of flat metal that creates strong vibrations in the water during wiring. American fishermen who practice catching predatory fish with spinning rods soon forgot about the novelty, but after a while, when the main baits became boring, the cicada again gained the right to life. After developing the correct wiring, the spoon came out on top in terms of catchability.

Photo 1. Cicadas can be quite miniature.

In our country, “bladebaits” appeared relatively recently and were appreciated by experienced spinning players. In our reservoirs you can catch perch and pike perch using such bait. Catfish and asp respond well to the movement of the cicada in water. Simple observations have shown that the interest of a particular fish in the bait is caused by certain fluctuations, which allows the spinner to conduct his own experiments during the retrieve.

The spinner has a compact size and is equipped with two twins. The cicada is designed in a special way, which allows it to maintain a stable position during wiring. In turn, proper use of bait makes it possible to attract predatory fish. The fishing lure is selected by weight; during movement it must occupy a certain horizon in the water column.

Note! When using a cicada, a fisherman has the opportunity to fish reservoirs with a depth of 1 to 20 meters.

Varieties of spinners

As we have already said, the baits in question are used for catching pike and, with their help, other predators. Some fishermen consider the cicada to be the most catchy bait. The term spinner means a metal product with several hooks. Doubles or trebles are often hidden behind a plastic plate, they are camouflaged under feathers or a bunch of threads. The spoon can imitate a wounded fish or a leech.

To make the bait described, the following materials are used:

• bronze;
• stainless steel plates;
• plastic or plastic;
• aluminum;
• brass.

To attract the attention of predators, the surface of the product is coated with chrome, and in some cases, nickel. In addition, the wobbler material can imitate gold and silver. When fishing is carried out in clean, clear water, enamel-coated baits that do not have bright reflections are used to catch pike perch using cicadas. To imitate the movements of a wounded fry, the concave surface of the spoon is covered with red.

According to their design features, all spinners can be divided into several types:

• Oscillators made of metal plate. Such products have one side convex and the other concave. There is a hole in the front for attaching a hook (usually a tee). The action of such a bait occurs due to oscillations from side to side.
• Spinners or spinners have a wire axis with an additional weight. The metal plate is fixed in only one place, due to this the petal rotates around its axis. Spinner baits are smaller in size and weight than spinners, so this bait is effective for catching small predators, such as perch or trout. The rotating wobbler plays well even when moving slowly in the water. There may be resistance across the coil during wiring.
• One of the varieties of spinners, Devon, is shaped like a cigarette. In some cases, a flat body of this bait is made with several longitudinal holes. The petal is attached to a wire axis, which allows for rotational movements. The outer part of the Devon has blades to ensure proper play of the bait. This equipment is mainly used for asp fishing.

Important! Cicada models with three holes allow the fisherman to change the center of gravity of the spoon, which makes it possible to change the game and the speed at which the bait sinks into the water.

When using the tail hole, the wobbler plays wide. When suspended, the bait moves quickly horizontally. If you use the middle hole, you can attract fish as much as possible due to the balance in the fall and the uniform movement of the bait.

Photo 2. Varieties of cicadas.

Cicadas, which have one hole and are equipped with two tees, resemble a rocker in appearance. The spinner flies far, vibrates well, but only works vertically. Predatory fish are most often caught when fishing vertically from a boat.

How to catch a cicada with a spinning rod

According to experts, cicada fishing can occur using different fishing methods. This spoon is equally stable in the water, both when immersed and when rising. Despite this, professional fishermen have identified several rules, the observance of which will allow them to achieve a good catch.

One of the options for using a cicada is wiring with sinusoidal movements. In this case, the bait carries out a smooth trajectory of rises and falls. Even a novice spinning angler can master this fishing technique. After the cicada falls into the water, they find a slack in the fishing line and begin to smoothly reel in the spinning reel with pauses, at which time the bait begins to sink to the bottom of the reservoir. At the pause stage, hold the rod a little, at this time the spoon will play on its own.

Photo 3. The perch was caught by a cicada.

The next, more aggressive wiring resembles saw teeth. When using this method, the cicada is lifted from the bottom not only by reeling in the fishing line, but also by simultaneously jerking the tip of the spinning rod. As a result of such actions, sweeping wiring is obtained, which is used in shallow sections of rivers with fast currents.

Another effective technique for catching predators with a cicada involves tapping the bait on the bottom of the reservoir. When twitching the tip of the rod, small steps are made, which provokes slight movements of the bait and the formation of turbidity. A similar method is used for winter fishing, as well as catching predatory fish from a boat.

Cicada fishing in winter

Many fishermen successfully catch pike perch using cicadas in winter. In this case, spinners weighing up to 14 grams are used. You can catch the predator in holes up to 25 meters deep or in sections of the river with a fast current. For fishing in the winter season, the cicada is re-equipped, the hooks are replaced with larger ones, and the color of the bait is also changed. To do this, a fluorescent strip is applied to the surface of the spoon.

The technique of catching cicadas in winter is unique; it is not recommended to throw this bait like other types of spinners. It is also impossible to raise mud at the bottom of the reservoir, because with this method of wiring the tees will cling to the fishing line. The smooth rise of the cicada after touching the bottom is recognized as the most effective. While lifting the bait, the fisherman should feel light tapping on his hand. After the spoon rises 1-1.5 meters, they pause and lower the artificial fish with smooth swaying of the nod. The bite usually occurs when moving down. At this time, the cicada makes a special sound, which attracts predators.

This type of spinners is not very popular with most spinners; both in fishermen’s boxes and on store shelves you can most often see spinners or spinners, while cicadas are rather rare. Therefore, often making a cicada with your own hands is the only way to test such a spinner in practice. These baits are underestimated by many, but with the right approach they perform well when catching almost all types of predatory fish.

Another common name for the cicada, bladebait, quite accurately conveys its shape. Most models resemble a blade with a weight at the bottom and several holes for attaching a leash at the top.

Important! The holes in the upper part of the cicada, of which there can be from three to five or more, are intended to change the game of the spinner. By rearranging the leash, you can achieve a decrease or, conversely, an increase in the frequency of oscillations. As a rule, the best option is the middle hole, from which we usually start fishing.

Most bladebaits are shaped like the petals of spinner spoons, but more diamond-shaped options are often found, as well as more or less realistic insect imitations.

The feasibility of making cicadas yourself

Many companies producing fishing baits have baits of this type in their catalogs, but in many regions cicadas are not very popular, and therefore they appear on store shelves relatively rarely. Diagrams and drawings for self-production are publicly available, and often such homemade products become the only way to test a new type of spinner.

It is also important to consider that branded products, as in the case of other types of baits, may not have the most affordable prices, so a homemade cicada is also a way to save a little. An important argument in favor of making bladebaits yourself is the simplicity of this process - compared to the same wobblers, rotating or even oscillating spoons, this homemade product has the least number of difficult moments during operation.

Loading by gluing

This is the easiest way to make cicadas. First of all, you need to decide on the shape of the body. To do this, you can search for design diagrams and drawings on the Internet, print out the version you like and cut out a template, according to which you can already mark the dimensions of the product on the workpiece. Both soft and easier to process metals such as copper or brass, as well as stainless steel, are suitable as manufacturing materials.

After the workpiece is cut, it needs to be given its final shape using a file, sharp edges removed, and, if desired, polished using a piece of felt and GOI paste.

Lead pellets with a cut in the middle are used as a load. The weight can be secured to the lure with pliers, and then you can check its performance, for example, in the bathroom. If the results are satisfactory, you need to secure the pellets with epoxy resin or other reliable adhesive. If desired, you can paint the spoon in the desired color and varnish it.

Manufacturing with soldering

This method is more labor-intensive, but the result is much more interesting. After the body of the spinner is cut out, it needs to be prepared. If the surface of the workpiece has oxidized, only the area where you plan to solder the load should be cleaned - this way the tin will not flow beyond the clean area during the soldering process. If the metal plate is initially clean, masking tape is used for the same purpose. A wire loop is also soldered, to which a hook is attached in the finished product.

Next, layers of tin are applied layer by layer using an ordinary soldering iron. The process is quite lengthy, since by applying molten metal on one side, you can overheat the solder on the other - you need to make sure that the load does not flow. Give the final shape with sandpaper. Polish using GOI paste or paint.

Spinner with rod weight

One of the options for making a cicada is to use not lead pellets or tin solder as a load, but a metal rod. The body of the spinner is prepared in the same way as in the case of other methods. But as a load, a section of a suitable size is sawn off from a metal rod, with the help of a file it is given the desired shape, after which a longitudinal cut is made with a hacksaw for metal, into which the body of the spinner will be attached. You can secure it using tin solder or any reliable glue. Such cicadas have an interesting game and their silhouette resembles some kind of insect.

Loading by casting method

This is the most difficult method to master, but the cicadas produced in this way are practically no different, even externally, from factory products. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Prepare a reference spoon. The body can be made of metal, having previously cut out and prepared the blank, but the shape of the future bladebait load can also be made from easy-to-handle plasticine.
2. It is necessary to make two identical boxes from fiberglass, plywood or wood to the size of the future bait.
3. The next step is to prepare a fairly thick gypsum solution. After it thickens a little, you need to immerse about half of the spinner sample in it.
4. You can first place a couple of nails near the workpiece, the grooves from which will serve as holes for pouring tin. You can also make them using a ready-made shape using a needle file.
5. Next, fill the second half of the casting mold with gypsum mortar. Place the first one on top, with the reference spoon placed in it.
6. After the plaster has hardened, the casting mold is ready. It is necessary to prepare the spinner blank by drilling a couple of holes in it where the weight should be (this way the tin will hold better), and also degrease the blank with any solvent.
7. The workpiece is placed in the mold, a wire loop is installed in the right place to attach the hook, the workpiece is poured with molten tin through the holes prepared in advance.
8. The halves are separated, the almost finished spoon is finished with a file and sandpaper.

Manufacturing using this method is well suited for the production of such baits in small batches, including for sale.

Possible ways to use such spinners

Cicadas are a fairly universal bait; using different approaches to their animation, you can interest both active and passive predators. If we talk about the species diversity of fish that react to bladebaits, then these are primarily perch, asp and chub, pike and pike perch react to them somewhat more sluggishly.

It is especially worth highlighting the cicada's play in the current - it is extremely stable, works well during demolition maneuvers, and thanks to its compact shape and weight, its flight qualities are also excellent.

For perch, pike and pike perch, the most relevant are near-bottom stepped or wave-like movements, in which the cicada periodically touches the bottom, stones or aquatic vegetation, thus losing its game - it is at this moment that a predator often attacks.

In the case of the asp, the animation of the cicada is as simple as possible - even movement in the upper layers of water is quite enough.

Important! You can increase the permeability of cicadas by replacing treble hooks with doubles, securing them so that when wiring their stings are facing upward. In the most catchy places it makes sense to place single hooks.

This bait is used not only in the open water season. Some cicada lovers successfully use them in winter. This type of bait especially shows itself at great depths in the presence of a pronounced current, when fishing in deep-sea holes, which pike perch loves so much. In such cases, a kind of wiring is used - after touching the bottom, the cicada is lifted up at the minimum speed at which the game can be felt in the hand. This technique can be used not only in winter, but also in summer, when fishing vertically from a boat.

Bladebait "Cicada" is a bait that is not yet well known among fishermen in Ukraine and Russia. Information about this bait can be found extremely rarely in fishing publications, and it is usually presented very poorly. It's a pity - the bait is quite interesting. When using cicada, a very high catch is ensured. It is for this reason that the use of cicada spinners has been banned in several American states.

Its advantages:
1) In terms of casting range, only “Kastmaster” can compete with it.

2) It is best used for casting with direct casting, i.e. wiring in the form of a “step”, as well as for vertical fishing (in winter it is also used in the form of a regular vertical spoon) Used for trolling, because can withstand wiring speeds of up to 10 km/h.

3) It has a frequency, low-amplitude game (vibration) with sharp shocks and impacts of the “petal” on the water, which can be caught by the lateral line of the fish at long distances.

4). Creates a certain noise during wiring. This noise greatly attracts predatory fish.

5) All the main carnivorous river fish bite on this bait: pike, perch, pike perch, ide, asp, etc. But since the cicada is a cross between a wobbler and a spinner, carp and bream are successfully caught with it.

Compared to the five advantages, there are two disadvantages:
1). At times, the tee may catch on the fishing line when casting and naturally break off.

2). High cost in stores. To correct the second drawback, you can try making leafhoppers yourself. For example, for the “step” make a cicada in the shape of a fish.

Making a cicada:
- For the production of the petal, an elegant sheet alloy (0.5-0.8mm) is used, preferably stainless steel, but it is quite possible to use another one. The main thing is that the sheet of metal is light enough, thin and, at the same time, durable. Such requirements are necessary for the game of the bait to be as “live” as possible. “Stainless steel” best suits these requirements, but it is worth remembering that not all “stainless steel” is excellent at soldering. You can use thin brass sheets. We prepare templates according to which we mark the necessary contours.

In order for the spinner to play “live”, it must be given a concave shape. This requires a hammer with a rounded head and a 6 mm wide die. The matrix must be placed on top of the blank. By hitting it with a hammer, we achieve a curved shape. The main thing is not to overdo it - if the shape turns out to be too concave, then the action of the bait will be too fast.

We solder the shipment. This requires a soldering iron with a power of 65 or 100 W and tin. If the petal is cut from brass, then the shipping area must be cleaned and treated with octophosphoric acid. If the surface is not oxidized, then tape must be placed near the soldering area. For the lower tee, it is quite possible to solder the loop afterwards. However, a higher-quality grip will be obtained if it is laid on a blank and coated with tin.

After soldering the cargo of one part, it is necessary to begin shipping the second. This must be done carefully so that the first part does not melt. To do this, take a container of ice water and periodically cool the part.

After completing work with a soldering iron, the bulges of the blank must be cleaned with sandpaper.

On the top, on the wing, it is necessary to make several holes in order to attach the finished cicada spoon to the leash at different angles. You will also need a hole in the tail section where the next double or tee is attached.

As a second option for making a cicada, you can use another technology: from two aluminum plates, using a punch, you can knock out the cicada spinner matrix. Then lay the cut out petal and use a sprue to fill in lead instead of the blank. It should be noted that before inserting the petal, along its edge (which you will insert) you need to make several holes to seal the entire product with lead. When using this manufacturing option, you do not need to use a soldering iron.

The finished product weighs from 7 grams. up to 14 gr.