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Novice anglers coming to the Putorana Plateau trophy fishing tours, seeing a fisherman with a rod equipped with a side nod instead of a float, ask about this tackle. What it is, how to fish with it, and how to rig a rod with it.
Features of the lateral nod
With the advent of ultra-light rods, it became possible to equip them with additional, more effective accessories. A side nod is one such accessory. The main features of this tackle are as follows:
· The float is missing and is replaced by another bite alarm (side nod).
· Summer jig, spoon, and balancer are used as bait.
· With this device, fishing is similar to winter fishing.
· After casting, the fisherman uses the nod to perform the game, constantly manipulating and twitching the bait.
· You can fish with a side-nodding rod in dense weeds. Simply find a small opening in the water, similar to a winter ice hole (another similarity to winter fishing).
How to choose a fishing rod?
When choosing the right fishing rod, it's important to consider its weight. A lightweight rod allows an angler to easily cast bait all day long, landing large numbers of predators.
Since the rig doesn't have a conventional float and the tip of the rod is located away from the angler's eyes, the side nod is installed on the side. This allows for spotting bites and creating the desired vibrations during fishing.
When choosing a fishing rod, consider its tip. It should be strong and rigid, and able to handle the attachment of a side nod. Side nods can vary in appearance.
The key is for their color to be noticeably different from the surrounding water. Fishermen recommend painting the tip of the nod in bright colors, while the device itself can be dark, such as green.
Selecting a fishing rod, spinning rod
In summer, long, telescopic rods with a stiff action (4.5 meters) are ideal for fishing. It's best to choose models without additional guides. They are lighter and more convenient for this type of fishing. To avoid adding too much weight to the tackle, experienced anglers use a lightweight, inertial reel and 0.25 mm line.
To prepare for fishing, we lay out the rod, wrap the line around the blank, and thread the end through the ring on the side nod. Then we rig it with lures. If we're targeting predators, balance lures and spinners are suitable. For peaceful fish, we use a summer jig.
A side nod is easy to install on spinning rods. This is ideal for use as a bottom fishing rod. The device is installed using a simple piece of rubber. To attach it, drill a pair of parallel holes in the rubber. One is used to place the side nod, and the other is used to hold the tip of the rod.
Types of side nod play
Experienced ice fishermen know a variety of techniques. Beginners might be curious about what to do and how to do it.
· Rise and fall. The bait drops sharply to the bottom, then twitches and rises in steps, approximately 10-15 cm. After several rises, it is returned to the bottom and the entire motion is repeated.
Bottom play. The bait is dropped to the bottom of the pond and gradually rises to the surface, with small twitches creating small pulses. This continues for a couple of minutes, and then the bait is dropped back to the bottom.
Finger play. Similar to the previous method, but with the addition of tapping your fingers on the rod. This gives the lure a distinctive, twitching motion, reminiscent of live bait to predators.
· Tightening. This technique is used in fast-flowing waters. The bait is first dropped to the bottom, and then the line is taut, causing it to rise to the surface.
· Jerk. The bait is fixed in the water at a certain depth, then with a sharp jerk it is jerked up to a height of about half a meter and then lowered back down.
· Drag. We lower the bait to the bottom and create a forward motion with the rod. This way, it doesn't rise to the surface and drags along the bottom of the pond.
· Bottom movement. The bait is cast to the bottom and, as in the previous version, using a forward motion, but instead of using the rod, the lure is moved with a sideways motion.
Conclusion
Side nods are considered an excellent tool for fishing in ponds cluttered with snags and algae. They work well for both predators and peaceful fish, significantly increasing the number of fish caught. It's worth noting that some anglers make these devices themselves. They're not difficult to make, but the results will be much greater.
