The small ghost overturns the big pike. Small gums, finesse and dropshot techniques.

Dr. Barbion in his famous book "How to catch small fish with large tools" made the following clarification No, today it is not about "Operation Monster" nor about small fish. We are talking about small pike fishing with big pike with Steven Powell, an Irish fisherman whom I had the pleasure of meeting in France, at FIPS World Championship in 2014.

At that edition of the World Championship, where Romania was on the 5th place, the Powell brothers (Steven and Andrew), members of the Irish national team, managed to catch the largest pike in the competition, a superb 118cm specimen. Despite the fact that the success recipe for that World Cup was the use of large gums, the Powell brothers tricked the giant pike into a small gum. Was it a coincidence? Well, no.

After the awards ceremony in France, we sat down to talk (and a mouthful of smoked Irish whiskey) with the Powell brothers. They told me they caught the pike on a small gum with light equipment. "What luck!" I said. They contradicted me, it was no luck, that's how they fish when pike are not active and target large specimens. Small gums, thin threads, sometimes in dropshot mount. And they only "smoked" me a little.

Turning the film over, I remembered that I also had a lot of big pike when fishing for perch with small or rotating gums. I thought I was lucky, but it didn't seem that way. So, this technique stuck in my head and I used it successfully several times in competitions or pleasure fishing. As a confirmation, one of the best lures for large pike on Snagov is Relax Turbo Twister TSO97, a gum of only 6.5 cm, a tip I found out from Robert Boanta. A rubber with which he and Andrei Sava caught Snagov very well over the years and brought us an 87cm catch in the training sessions at Okuma Garmin Cup 2019. See in video minute 3:45.

Going back to Steven Powell and his big pike with small gums, the other day we were working with him on Messenger some memories from the World Cup in France. I remembered the evening I talked about the 118cm pike and the small gum techniques they use. In the smoked whiskey steam and our Irish-Romanian English from 2014, it seems that I had misunderstood something. The big pike had actually been caught on a 7-8 inch gum, but the rest, including a 90cm one, had used dropshot and fine jigging, "secret" techniques for pike fishing in those days. "Don't you want to write me more about this technique and publish an article on my blog?" Positive answer, read below about small pike fishing with large pike with Steven Powell.

"When others throw big lures into the water, it's time for you to fish with small gums!"

Little science about small gums and finesse

Do you think that a fine gum is only used at certain times of the year? Guys, you're sorely mistaken. You will understand more after reading my opinion on the science of fine fishing. You can fish with a small gum and drop shot in any way you want and at any time of the year, from the boat or on the shore, it is a very effective technique, especially when the fish do not want to cooperate. Before, you just need to prepare your equipment for the situation: lighter rods for fishing from the boat, while when fishing on shore a stronger class rod to avoid problems when you catch large pike from a few kilograms to at 10 kg and over if you are lucky. At least that's the way it is in Ireland.

Records of large pike on small tires

A dropshot fineness gum is a technique that will catch any predatory fish in the fishing area, whether they are hungry or not. Cautious predators can turn super fine bites into a rod-pumping action in just seconds. What I like about this method is that I don't need too much equipment, I can only use a few fine gums and one or two rods with launching powers of various weights. Just because it's called fine fishing doesn't mean that only small predators are caught, as most fishermen think. Some of the biggest personal records of pike and perch were caught with small gums in finesse style and the dropshot method.

What small gums work on pike and large perch?

It is essential for me to choose the right brand of fine lures. I like to use 1.5 inch micro larvae for perch and trout fishing and also for pike. With the right equipment for the dropshot installation, an imitation crayfish on the bottom of the water is a very versatile method in fooling predatory fish. If you've ever seen a crab move underwater, then you'll know why I like these baits so much. Cancer-like play is essential and big perch and pike will confirm this with brutal attacks.

Cold water, bigger gums, still dropshot

For pike fishing in cold waters, I like to use 5-inch minnow guns armed with light jigs, thus giving them a wonderful, very slow free fall action to make those sleeping giants come into action. And for bigger pike, for me, nothing beats a Gunslinger Strike Pro in the 10 cm and 16 cm version on a dropshot mount.

Hooks, jigs, sizes, weights

I like to use BKK hooks, they are ultra-sharp, ultra-fine and have holding properties due to the design. The selection of the jig is very important for the small baits of finesse when it comes to the weight and size of the hook. Most people miss this correlation, and micro gum can lose its action in an instant. By incorrectly selecting the weight and size of the hook you can lose a potential fish.

For 1 inch baits I like to use a small 2-4g jig, size 1, it depends on how fast I want it to fall depending on the speed and depth of the water. For 5 inch baits I use a hook size 3, 4-5g, for small water. Slightly heavier, at 6-8g for faster running water or deeper water, do not use heavier weights because the evolution of the lure can be lost. Another point to remember, with a higher weight, I could miss the fish in weak conditions on the line when fishing in the vegetation.

For fishing in the vegetation I use Chimera BKK hooks, to which I always stick the tip behind the bait, to make sure it doesn't stick. You may be wondering if this will stop the fish from stinging? No, I can assure you that you will always sting the fish without any problems. For the dropshot technique, I use Sprit Walker BKK hooks.

Rods and threads

In general, I use 6'6 "-7 ', 3-10g Legit Design rods for this style and technique. For extra sensitivity I use an extra fast WSS60UXL XX rod, which is specially designed to detect super fine bites.

Depending on the location, my line ranges from 8lb fluorocarbon yarns all over the reel drum, to multifilament up to 15lb. If I aim for larger pike, I go for wires with up to 11 kg breaking force at the knot. I use exclusively fluorocarbon on ultra-clear water and I leave the multifilament at home without a doubt, this has always given me a general advantage with bonus fish lying.

How to fish with small gums on large pike?

There are a lot of ways you can fish a small lure - the sky is your limit. Always remember, if your recovery style doesn't work, change it, I can bet the fish you thought they weren't feeding on will instantly start attacking. Personally, I like to slow down and keep the lure in the attack area as much as possible. No sudden or violent movements, as this can scare them. On the other hand, sometimes fish just want a static lure, I've seen it many times When all the fishermen caught nothing, one with an inert lure caught all the fish. The secret to recovery and the game of lure is to find what works at that moment, only you can find the right answer, because every water is different and every day is different.

When too much is too much

"Millions of tomatoes and prey flooding areas with shallow water can be good signs as well as curses."

Big perch and pike will definitely be close to the food, but if there is too much natural bait, it can be difficult to make your desired gum. To overcome this common problem, you can make some simple changes. Changing the size of the bait can make a big difference when you are surrounded by prey fish. Choose a gum that has a different size than the prey fish to make the lure stand out a little more. If I want my lure a little smaller, I use it Strike Pro Piglet Shad 10cm and when I want to increase, I use 5-inch Strike Pro Tumbler Shad.

Boat fishing, sonar

Sonar tracking of fish is essential when fishing from a boat. Look for suspended fish, which are usually harder to catch, and flutter a lure around their snouts in a dropshot mount for a few launches. Use 2-3-inch lures with as realistic a motion as possible, like fish prey. Take a break and scan the surface to observe the movement of prey herds, the predators will never be far away, attacking from time to time a prey stray from the herd. Playing the lure around the card, the results will not be long in coming.

Calm, calm, quiet

Flat calm conditions require a special approach, in complete silence, maintaining silence is essential. I experienced it too many times when the fish on the sonar disappeared just because I touched something on the boat too hard, the noise sending shock waves through the water. In these situations, gums are needed that do not make too much noise when touching the water and implicitly lighter jig heads, so as not to scare the fish or to touch them when the lure descends on the substrate.

Instead of the end

Small pike fishing with large pike is effective all year round, and if you insist on these two techniques, light jigging and dropshot, they will bring you results when others fail. You will be able to catch more fish and gain more confidence in fishing. Enjoy this sport and I hope that the article I wrote will help you put more fish on the shore.

Steven Powell

Later edit

Before publishing, I sent the article to Steven, in the EN version, I would like to thank TranslatePress for implementing the translation on the site.

“Now, we are older, wiser and a little more awake, but then, in 2014, with good reason to drink, we got rid of our little secrets from that time. Now all fishermen know this game with finesse and dropshot, it's no longer a secret. " said Steven.

I replied, "Yes, but it doesn't mean we can't write or talk about it. This article is for the younger fishermen who come from behind and for us to remember with pleasure all the experiences we have lived ”.

And if we started with a quote from "Operation Monster" I say let's close the article Fishing with small gums on large pike in the same way.

"When you gain a minimum of experience, you will understand that there is a true, authentic elegance of the fisherman, of clothes sunburned, soaked in rain, beaten by the winds, soaked by the sweat of itpast. It's like a flag, you understand? Torn by bullets… I catch, I don't catch, I don't care, I want you to catch! To understand from your own experience what a beneficial activity fishing is. behold to you, you are pale, tired, very tired! So, without any a reason. Asthenia. Onset of asthenia. ”

If you liked this article, also read the series ABC fishing avat on the Danube, ABC Shore fishing with Elvis Vigu, spring, ABC tips fishing for pike on the Danube with Ovidiu Ursachi, ABC trout fishing with Alex Bucur, ABC perch fishing with Cristi Anghelina.