Where to look for perch in winter, simple tactics for finding large fish

Where to look for perch in winter is a question that every fisherman probably asked himself. In this article we will tell you in detail about the favorite places of the striped predator, what bait is best to catch it and in what way. At this time of year, a lot of fish are common in any body of water, so the question is - where to look for perch in winter? You can answer, everywhere.

Any fisherman has tried to catch minke whale on ice at least once in his life. Some people managed to do it the first time, but others couldn’t and after several years still couldn’t catch it. Despite the fact that perch is especially active in winter, catching a large specimen is difficult, but quite possible. We will tell you about tricks and some tricks.

There is an opinion among fishermen that in winter it is best to look for perch only in large bodies of water, not far from the shore. This fact is not entirely true, since with this method you can only catch the fish that throws itself on the hook. Finding perch in winter requires a more sophisticated approach.

Between large individuals and small sailors it is very large. They differ from each other not only by a large difference in size, but also in their lifestyle in general. Habits and character will also differ from one individual to another. This will be especially noticeable in older reservoirs, where the ratio of different fish is very high.

In small rivers the situation is completely different. Large individuals can be located next to their small counterparts. Conditions in which the fish are in very close contact with each other force them to occupy any free space.

The size of the perch will depend on the following factors:

Value at the reservoir;
What food supply?

We answered the question of where to look for perch on the lake in winter with the first factor. From here it absolutely becomes clear that the larger the size of the reservoir, the higher the chance of catching a large humpback perch. But, as it seems at first glance, everything is not entirely simple either.

Any reservoir, be it a river or a lake, will have differences in the natural food for fish. The most favorable conditions for rapid growth in fish size are considered to be fishing in a pond or small river. Please note that their depth should not exceed 3 meters. And it’s better if it’s less than two.

Features of winter fishing for perch

Firstly, we want to say right away that perch is not the kind of fish that needs to be guarded while sitting near one hole. Of course, sometimes you get lucky, and from the first drilled hole you come across a school of perch. But this is like pointing a finger at the sky.

Our article is not intended to encourage you to go fishing for perch, hoping for luck. And relying on knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge.

As you already understand, the basis of winter perch fishing is its constant search. He constantly moves around the pond, and the saying “Legs feed the wolf” is right about him.

Anyone who has ever caught an active perch in winter knows how cool it is, how much drive and adrenaline it gives. When the perch is active, it takes sharply and greedily, almost everything that you offer it.

But the passive perch, of course, needs to be stirred up:

First, pick up the bait;

Secondly, select the wiring;

Thirdly, you can play with the diameter of the fishing line, for example, instead of 0.14, put 0.12.

In any case, it is important to understand that winter fishing for perch involves dozens of holes drilled and kilometers of distance traveled on ice.

What to use to catch a striped predator

Perch can be found in huge quantities both in the river and in absolutely any lakes. Therefore, when winter comes, fishermen go fishing to any nearby body of water.

To start catching stripers, you need to know in which places they can most often be found. Fishermen who have extensive experience with this fish know very well that perch should not be caught in the middle of the reservoir; nothing good will come of it. It is worth checking out those places where he can easily get his prey.

Please note, large steel perch can be found in places such as small backwaters, there may be some small vegetation along the shore. Another plus will be the presence of a large number of fallen trees. Perch does not like to be in one place, so make several holes at once, this way you will catch it faster. There are also the following favorite places of the predator:

Shallow depth and shallows;
Large dumps near pits;
Very frequent depth changes;
Bay, various creeks;
Slight current;
Can be found in large thickets of reeds.

We would like to note the fact that a spinner can work better than any jig for catching large perch. But this option will be most effective in those reservoirs where you have already found a large number of fry. If luck was on your side and you found such a site, then fishing with a spoon will definitely show its success in catching a predator.

Where to look for perch? Are there any perch here?

Finding perch in winter is the most important task for a winter fisherman. And if for some reason the perch does not bite, then the first thought that arises in the fisherman’s head is: “Are there any perch here at all?”

Getting the perch to bite is the second task that the fisherman faces. The main thing is to find it, which in fact, in some cases is not so easy.

The curiosity and aggression of the perch forces it to take even such bait that does not correspond to its food base. It's all about the ability to provoke the perch to attack.

Many fishermen are of the opinion that all movements of perch in a body of water are random and chaotic. We fundamentally disagree with this. Like any living creature, perch has its favorite places where it likes to feed or just stand.

And also, his favorite paths along which he likes to move around the pond. We agree that he has many favorite places. And they change depending on the time of year, weather, and the topography of the reservoir itself.

Where to look for perch on the first ice, in the dead of winter, and on the last ice?

First ice;

Deaf winter;

The last ice.

But still, these periods have a general trend, and it’s worth sticking to it.

Perch habitats

Perch lives in schools. They are often numerous, numbering dozens, but the average size of the fish in them is small. Large perch are also schooling, but the larger the fish, the smaller the school. Fish weighing a kilogram or more can hold 2-3 pieces. They actively move around the reservoir in search of food fish.

During the first ice, perch usually stays in summer places - not far from the shore, near the beaches. The depth should be no more than two meters, because... there is still vegetation left in which the perch hides. Large individuals love deeper places. It is desirable that there are holes or differences in depth. They start catching perch from the first hole from the shore. If there are no bites, you should move further from the shore. The most catchy baits at this time are spoons and balancers. If the fish are active, it will be quite easy to catch them at this time.

During winter, the perch goes to greater depths. There it stays until spring and very rarely appears in shallow water. Maximum inactive at this time. It will be difficult for beginners to catch it during this period. You need to know the features of all baits and drill a huge number of holes.

An important point is that the thicker the ice, the deeper the perch is.

The fish bite better in the morning at this time. Closer to spring, perch begins to feed very actively again. He returns to the places where he was before the start of winter, shallow waters and shallows.

Winter migration of perch across the pond

In winter, the movements of perch can be divided into: large migration and daily migration. Throughout the winter, perch often changes its favorite stopping and feeding places, sometimes covering considerable distances. (This is called the great migration). Also, during the course of the day, perch can change its location many times.

This depends on several factors:

Oxygen saturation at a point;

Availability of natural food;

Weather.

This is what is called the daily fish migration. TIP : if you see snags sticking out of the water, be sure to fish this place!

Migration and settlement of perch on the first ice

According to the first ice, the places for catching perch are practically no different from summer ones. The most promising places at this time of year are coastal areas. Even at a depth of 0.5 meters, you can catch a trophy perch quite well, not to mention the standard of 200-300 grams.

What to look for when choosing a location:

In close proximity to the shore;

Snags sticking out of the water, bushes, frozen, fallen trees, etc.;

Driftwood at the bottom, grass;

Steps and depth differences, no more than 0.5-1 meters, any bottom irregularities.

At this time of year, perch is most active and aggressive, constantly prowling in such places.

TIP : Don't spend more than 10 minutes on a hole. If within 10 minutes you are unable to catch a spot, move on to the next one. And so on until you come across a flock. If you find a perch, but you feel that it is somehow hesitant, weak, sluggish.

First thing you need:

Change the wiring technique (change the game with bait);

Reduce the weight of the bait (or increase, depending on the situation);

Think about the diameter of the fishing line. This also greatly affects the perch’s interest in your equipment.

Don't neglect old holes. For example, in the morning you were successfully fishing in one place, then the bite suddenly stopped, and you went to another place, it stopped in another place, you went to a third.

During all this time, the perch could very well return to your first place. Or vice versa, if the place is very promising, both visually and in terms of bottom topography, but the perch didn’t bite at all. It is advisable to check such a place a little later.

Perch on a jig

Fishing with a jig is also one of the most popular methods of catching striped predators. Fishermen learned about it several centuries ago. And she still has high popularity, which is not going to give up her position.

You can fish with this bait using two methods:

Use classic tackle - take live bait;
Fishing without bait - in this case, instead of bait from animal origin, the perch is lured with the beautiful play of the jig. Very often it is this option that attracts fish more.

Where do perch hiccup in the middle of nowhere?

In January and February, the tactics of searching for perch change dramatically, as do its habitats. In the dead of winter, perch, like any other fish, is passive.

It moves little, is found in deep places, with snags, grass, stones or any irregularities at the bottom. If at any other time, perch can be lured by playing bait from a distance of tens of meters, then in the middle of winter such a trick will not work.

The search radius for perch in the wilderness is greatly reduced; holes are drilled from each other at a distance of no more than 2 meters. In a word, the bait must be placed right under the perch’s nose, only then can you count on results.

In addition, when you find a perch, it would be useful to feed it. Basically, a feed bloodworm or jig is used for this. Important: complementary foods of animal origin.

Where to look for perch on the last ice?

The tactics for finding perch at the end of winter are practically no different from the first ice. As the ice melts, you should look for perch closer and closer to the shore. He is gradually returning to his usual habitats.

Every day the water becomes more and more saturated with oxygen, thereby increasing the activity of the perch. This means that the radius of drilling holes increases 10 times, and finding perch becomes many times easier than in the middle of winter.

Where to look for perch on small rivers and lakes?

It is much easier to find perch on small rivers than in large reservoirs and rivers.
First of all, you should orientate along the shore and coastal zones. All landmarks and signs of promising locations for perch are exactly the same as described above. Namely:

Driftwood. Both at the bottom and sticking out of the water. Fallen trees frozen in ice, bushes;

Any bottom irregularities. Depth differences from 0.5 to 1 meter, no more;

Steep banks, steep slopes, and so on.

The search for perch on small rivers begins from the very shore, starting with fishing at the coastal edges, gradually moving away towards the river bed. As for lakes and ponds, here the search for perch is carried out according to the same principle.

The same fish, the same favorite habitats. The only thing that may differ from river perch fishing is: the type, weight and color of the bait. In such places, the bait should be selected as closely as possible to the natural food of the perch.

Perch: description

This fish belongs to the perch family (Percidae) of the order Perciformes. The breed is numerous and quite widespread. There are a total of about 150 species. But in our reservoirs there are only 2.

Sometimes the perch is called the humpback, due to its slightly convex back. Small coastal perches eat insect larvae and zooplankton. A deep black-backed predator, it eats mainly small fish and its smaller brothers.

Appearance

Perch has a beautiful greenish color of various shades. With transverse dark stripes throughout the body. The body is short, laterally flattened, covered with small ctenoid scales. Small perches are lighter in color, while mature predators are darker.

The color is influenced by the color of the bottom of the reservoir, water quality, and time of year. Its gill covers are iridescent, with a unique pearlescent iridescence. The fins are all red and elegant. On the humpbacked back the fins are higher, with spiny, spiked rays.

The eyes are slightly convex, orange, surrounded on all sides by a golden border. The teeth are bristle-like, helping to eat and hold prey. Freshwater perches are usually small in size, no more than 250 grams, about 45-55 cm long. They live on average up to 10-12 years.

Habitat

They live in many bodies of water in their range: ponds, reservoirs, lakes, alpine lakes, rivers.
They are found in coastal areas of the seas and brackish lakes.
The maximum habitat depth is 30-50 meters, but there is evidence that it is also found in deeper water places.
They spend most of their lives closer to the bottom, near various obstacles, such as flooded trees and snags.

Spawning

Spawning occurs once a year. This time falls in March-April. Keep an eye on the birch trees; when their leaves bloom, it means spawning has begun. By this time, the water in the reservoirs has time to warm up to 7-8° C.

The female lays fertilized eggs on various nearby vegetation such as reeds, duckweed, and algae. Externally, caviar looks like gelatinous ribbons, reaching up to 1 meter.

Perch behavior

The behavior of a predator can change significantly throughout the day, much depends on the weather and time of year. In the spring, after spawning, it most often prefers to be in shallow bays, where it recently spawned and eats there. Schools of white fish also come into such bays to spawn.

And this is the ideal time for our perch to profit and recover a little after a hungry winter and spawning. And only in May it gathers in small flocks and leaves the shallow waters. In the summer, it prefers to set up ambushes in quiet creeks, overgrown with dense coastal vegetation, in barrels, and water lilies.

But their most favorite places are the snagged bottoms of rivers and areas of the relief bottom adjacent to the riffles. In the summer heat, it eats less often and takes refuge more in coastal shady zones: bridge spans and supports, cliffs, shade of trees.

Large specimens hide in places hard to reach for people:

pits, whirlpools;
potholes with uneven bottom relief.

Perch usually comes out to feed in the evening after dark or at dawn. In large bodies of water it hides in stones, on elevated bottoms, in coastal thickets, on islands, and shallows. In the fall, it gathers in flocks and gradually moves into the depths of the reservoir.

Because in the deep layers the water is warmest. With the first frosts, activity increases; it does not stand in one place. Often schools of perches can be seen moving freely throughout the water area in search of food.

In winter, at shallow depths, a rapid process of decomposition of underwater plants occurs, significantly reducing the oxygen content in the water. All vital processes of aquatic life slow down significantly. The fish moves reluctantly and eats little.

Let's celebrate! But by spring it gradually comes to life and begins to actively chase small prey and eat greedily. It approaches the mouths of melted rivers and streams that bring oxygen. Gradually leaves the wintering area in search of food and spawning grounds.

Where to look for perch on large rivers and reservoirs?

Finding perch in such a huge water area is not easy. And if the reservoir is completely unfamiliar, then one might even say it’s unrealistic. You should go to such reservoirs prepared for perch. Prepared in the sense of at least theoretically having an idea of the river’s topography, the presence of dumps and edges.

It certainly wouldn’t hurt to ask local fishermen to find out what’s going on. Moreover, now all this is freely available: thematic forums, groups on social networks.

Of course, you can always find your way on ice even without special knowledge of the reservoir. It is enough just to stay close to the bulk of the fishermen. If you see a bunch of anglers, you can be sure there are fish there, or at least there were.

Just wandering around a pond and drilling holes anywhere is dooming yourself to failure in advance. The main thing is to find a slope, edge or ridge. And then it’s a matter of technique; we begin to drill in a checkerboard pattern in search of perch.

It’s better, of course, to go fishing with a group of people, as many actually do. This way, finding a perch is much faster and easier than alone.

The influence of weather on the behavior of perch

The bite and activity of perch can be influenced not only by the periods of winter: first ice, deep winter, last ice, but also by the weather. Let's take a closer look at how weather affects perch activity. When is it worth going fishing for perch, and when not?

In general, the best time for fishing has always been considered when the weather has been the same for a long time, without sudden changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature.

But what to do when the weather is constantly changing, calm gives way to wind, atmospheric pressure fluctuates: sometimes low, sometimes high, air temperature sometimes plus, sometimes minus?

What should you pay attention to when planning a fishing trip?

Full moon. It has been noticed more than once that when the moon is full, the bite is simply disgusting;

The predator is most active at low atmospheric pressure, and passive at high;

During the thaw the bite is always good. But you probably already know this very well;

The best air temperature for catching perch in winter is up to -15°C. When the thermometer drops below -15°C, catching perch will be more difficult.

No one has been able to prove with certainty that this is indeed the case. They seem to be experienced fishermen, they all say the right thing, but everyone is different. Of course, you should focus on the weather, but not always and not everywhere. For each body of water and its inhabitants, changes in weather and pressure act in their own way.

What and how to catch perch in winter

The next step to successful winter perch fishing is choosing your bait. Your catch will depend on how well you can choose the bait. For catching perch use:

jigs;
spoon;
balancers.

No special gear is required for winter fishing for perch, although it can offer quite decent resistance. This can be an ordinary winter fishing rod, but it is advisable to use a longer nod to better muffle the jerks of the predator after hooking. The fishing line is usually used in the range of 0.08-0.2 mm.

Let's now take a closer look at lures for winter perch fishing and learn how to choose truly effective ones.

Jigs for perch

The jig is an excellent bait. You can use both baitless jigs and jigs with a bloodworm attached to the hook. Catching perch with bloodworms in winter can sometimes be very successful and saves you when the perch does not react at all to a baitless jig. So, you need to decide on the shape and color of the jig.

But the color and shape of the jig play a secondary role. The main thing is to choose the correct weight and size of the jig. Ideally, the jig for perch will weigh 0.2-0.3 grams and its length will be 2-4 mm. Buy jigs carefully. Do not take jigs with a very small hook and pay attention to its quality - it must be sharp.

It is advisable to put a couple of bloodworms on the jig. This is the amount that is ideal for catching perch. If the depth at the fishing spot is shallow, then it wouldn’t hurt to feed the hole with bloodworms.

I have noticed that bass respond better to light-colored jigs. The shape of the jig almost never plays a big role. The most important thing is to choose the game with a jig. It is to the play of the jig that the perch reacts most. First try to make calmer movements with the jig, raising it and lowering it to the bottom again. If the perch does not react, try to provoke it with more sudden movements and do not forget to pause the game. Pause up to 10-15 seconds. It is during pauses that predator bites mainly occur.

Sometimes the perch is provoked to bite by lowering the jig to the bottom or moving it there. When the jig raises a cloud of turbidity, the perch decides that it is a small fish or a bug swarming in the mud and its hunter instinct kicks in.

Perch also reacts well to the trembling of the jig as it is raised and lowered vertically. Loosening the jig from side to side is not recommended. Perch almost never reacts to such a game.

Catching perch with a jig is suitable for beginner winter fishermen. Because the jig does not require special play to attract the perch, and even some movement of it can provoke the perch to bite.

If you are not successful in catching perch, try catching peaceful fish, for example, winter fishing for bream can be very good.

Spoons for perch

Winter lures for perch

Another catchy bait for catching perch in winter is a winter spinner. The lure for perch should not be large. The smaller the spoon, the more bites, but at the same time the more bites of small perch. Also, the selection of spoon size depends on the fishing period. At the beginning and at the very end of winter, you can use larger spoons, but in the middle of winter, even large perch will take a small spoon faster than a large one. The fact is that in the middle of winter the perch is weakened, it lacks oxygen and it is difficult to cope with large prey.

You can find out how to choose the most catchy lures for perch here.

Well, the ability to play the spinner correctly is very important. This is more difficult than playing with a jig. But, nevertheless, it is quite easy to learn this. It is worth considering that each spoon has a unique game and it is worth practicing in the bathroom or in open water, testing the game of each spoon and seeing it with your own eyes.

There are a great many options for trolling perch in winter, but it’s enough to know at least a few of them. For example:

Sharp swings with a nod upward. The spoon should jump about half a meter. Initially, the spoon is located a few centimeters from the bottom. But you must immediately lower your hand to its original position so that the spoon falls under its own weight, creating an attractive game for the perch. Do not rush to make the next jerk, pause for 10-30 seconds.

Smooth lifting of the spoon. Also, the spoon is located a few centimeters from the bottom and smoothly begins to rise upward, making small fluctuations along the way. With every centimeter we accelerate the spinner, you can lift the spinner with your arm fully extended above your head. Then smoothly return the spoon to its original position. A pause is made at both the lower and upper points.

You can simply make oscillatory movements of the lure, slightly raising and lowering it. Every 10 seconds we pause for a few seconds. Remember, pausing is the basis of technique. It is during pauses that the perch rushes to the spoon.

Well, if you want to occupy your leisure time with something, you can try making a lure for pike with your own hands.

Balancers for perch

Winter fishing with a balance beam can show very good results. The game of the balancer is so attractive to the perch that it may not be caught with other baits, but it cannot resist the balancer. A variety of shapes, sizes and colors of balancers allow the fisherman to roam widely and choose the best option. And it’s better to select the best option directly on the reservoir. After all, perch in each reservoir has its own preferences and tastes.

When catching perch in winter on a balance beam, you just need to throw it 20-30 centimeters up, and the game of the balance beam begins precisely when it falls. Each balancer plays in its own way, so the color of the balancer is not as important as its performance. Try fishing with one balancer; if there are no bites, take another balancer of the same size, but with a different game.

If changing the balancer does not help, it may be the size or color. Try using a smaller balancer. It is enough to change the color of the balancer from dark to light or poisonous and vice versa. Changing a light-colored balancer to another light color will not give any result; only changing to a completely opposite color will have an effect.

What can I say? There is a separate article about this type of perch fishing. Find out more about catching perch in winter using a balance beam.

Tactics for searching for active perch

Constant search and fishing of all promising places is what awaits every angler hunting for perch. When a promising location is found, 10 holes are drilled at once, at a distance of approximately 15 meters.

The holes need to be drilled in a checkerboard pattern. After we have drilled 10 holes, we begin to fish them, spending no more than 10 minutes per hole.

We would also like to point out that when searching for active perch, the distance between holes should be 10-15 meters. Since active perch can be lured by playing bait from longer distances.

If the search begins from the coastal zone, then in the absence of a bite, they begin to shift towards the river bed. Also drilling holes in a checkerboard pattern, and at a distance of 10-15 meters.

If you finally find a perch, but for some reason it doesn’t take it, but simply pokes at the bait. This is already good, since we completed the first task facing us - we found a perch.

Then we simply select the desired bait, balancer, jig or spinner.

And if the bite starts, we fish until it stops. When the bite stops, we move on again to the first task - finding the perch. Moreover, periodically returning to their old holes, therefore, as practice shows, in most cases they work.

To fish holes, a balancer is most often used. It attracts perch from as far away as possible. And when the perch approaches, we act according to the situation depending on the bite. If there is no bite or frequent, idle bites, we change the bait to a lighter one.

Perch fishing tactics

Among the predators that can be caught in winter, perch stands out for its omnivorousness, but still, gear for catching perch should be carefully prepared, because not everyone is always able to catch a “mad” bite. In our waters it is not so often possible to catch a kilogram “humpback whale”; more often it is a fish weighing up to 300 grams. And in smaller specimens the feeding pattern is different, so for fishing in the dead of winter, baitless jigs for perch come to the fore as bait. Winter lures for perch and balancers can also be used, but there is no point in saying that one of them is more preferable.

Various types of baitless jigs are suitable as perch fishing gear for fishing in our waters (a river overgrown oxbow lake, a lake with a working depth of half a meter - two meters), depending on the fishing conditions. In this case, it is necessary to select the right tackle for catching perch; the nod must correspond to the weight of the bait. It is important that the jig does not stick when retrieving and that it does not knock on the fishing line: in this case, there is nothing to dream of successful fishing.

Shallow water overgrown with grass

All winter, such places attract fish and, accordingly, anglers. Here, catching perch in winter with a jig is most effective with bait that does not require a large game ("nails", small "goats").

The migration of fish into the depths is observed at dawn and half an hour after sunrise. Later, before evening, there is nothing to do here, there will be no bite. In the evening, perch appears about an hour before sunset and fishing is possible until dusk.

Channels between reaches

Perch can be seen here all winter. This does not mean that he stands here all the time, but when he goes out to feed, bites begin at the same time in almost all available holes. Here the predator does not look at the size of the potential “prey”. The heavier the bait the fisherman chooses, the sooner it will reach the desired horizon. On the channels, winter fishing for perch with a jig is best when using the “nymph” variety. The mobility of the jig's disks makes it noticeable to fish passing by. There is no specific time for the appearance of perch in such places, you just have to come and fish your holes periodically.

Shrubs and submerged tree trunks near the shore

Perch is a big fan of underwater “forests”. But in one place there will be a medium-sized fish, and in another you can catch a very respectable specimen. What's the matter? As with any fish, when choosing a resting place, for large fish the first place is safety and the “presence” of food. Therefore, all kinds of snags, submerged branches and trunks serve as good shelter for him. But only an experienced fisherman can try his luck in such a place, since it requires a “jewelry” approach. Sometimes, for a successful bite, you need to drill a new hole almost next to the old one, at a distance of several centimeters, so that the bait is directly in front of the nose of the perch standing at rest.

Flooded bushes for perch fishing

In such places it is better to use “nymph” and “banana”. Discs, beads, and all sorts of additional irritants will only increase the likelihood of a bite.

Deep dumps

Classic winter fishing for passive perch. It is in such places that it is found most often during the wilderness. The method is simple, but labor-intensive. Having found the edge, you should move along, while drilling one after another from seven to ten holes at once, at a distance of about one and a half to two meters between them. When biting in one of the holes, it is necessary to conduct a thorough fishing of the entire area. In such places, “cloves”, “bananas” and “nymphs” will work well.

Over time comes experience, the ability to decide on a fishing spot and the choice of gear, bait, and the correct “feeding” of them to the fish. And with experience, a good catch is guaranteed at any time of the year, including in the cold season of the wilderness. Happy fishing!

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Tactics for searching for passive perch

The tactics for searching for passive perch are very different from the tactics for searching for active perch. Although the basic principles are the same, there are still a few nuances.

The fact is that a passive perch moves little and mostly stands in one place. And it will no longer be possible to lure him with bait from a distance of 10-15 meters.

Although the principle of drilling holes is the same, we make the distance between holes no more than 2 meters. As soon as you present the bait under the perch’s nose, you can count on a bite.

Where to catch perch in winter

In winter, perch prefers to stay in shallow places. It feeds mainly in thickets of coastal vegetation, where there are always a lot of small fish, which in fact are its food. Therefore, you should look for perch close to the shore at a depth of no more than two meters. The richest places for perch are small bays and backwaters, surrounded on all sides by reeds.

Fishing for perch in winter always involves extensive searching. To find a school of perch, sometimes you have to drill dozens of holes. And after the perch base is found, drilling does not stop, because you need to fish this area as best as possible. If you try, you can pull out one or two dozen stripers from this school and go in search of new places rich in perch.

Towards the middle of winter, perch moves to deeper parts of the reservoir, and returns to the coastal zone at its end. With the anticipation of the end of frost, the perch becomes more active and winter perch fishing becomes more effective and catchy.

Choosing the right place to catch perch in winter is already half the success. And although a perch can bite at any point in the reservoir, you still want to see not random bites, but a really good bite. Especially for you, we will reveal some secrets of perch anchorage in winter. I will list several places where perch prefers to spend the winter in any body of water. Experienced fishermen always keep secret how they determine active perch biting areas, but we will lift the curtain.

It’s not enough to know that perch stays in shallow water in winter. As they say, shallow water, shallow water are different. So, the most catchy place is the shallows near the pits. That is, you must find not just a shallow, flat area, but a way out of the pit. If you find a hole, let's say 6 meters deep, and at the exit it is 2 meters deep - this is exactly the place where you can find large schools of winter perch.
You shouldn’t go to the middle of a lake or river, even if all the other fishermen are crowded there. The most promising places for perch fishing are located close to the shore. Look for areas with trees fallen into the water, drill holes at the edge of clear water with remnants of reeds, and choose places with a depth of one to two meters.
Fishermen who have caught perch on this reservoir using a spinning rod will be able to easily identify snags in the reservoir or various shelters at the bottom. Perch always accumulates in areas where they can hide. It doesn't have to be driftwood. A large rock or a flooded car will also easily become a hiding place and a favorite place for perch.
And another good place for catching perch in winter is a hard part of the reservoir. This only applies to silted water bodies. If you find a section of the bottom with a hard surface on such a reservoir - slabs, sand, pebbles, etc., then perch fishing will be very effective.
It happened that the perch refused to bite and no matter where the hole was drilled there was silence. But in a desperate search, I drilled a hole at such a tiny depth that even the drill, along with ice fragments, brought dirt to the surface. The thickness of the water there between the ice and the bottom was 10-15 cm, no more. And imagine my surprise when the bites followed! Moreover, we came across exclusively large perches of 300-500 grams. Most likely, the emergence of perch on such shallows is associated with the presence of fry in such places. Perch comes out to feed in such areas quite often. Pike and ide also pecked in such places more than once. Therefore, such places are quite promising. And while other anglers are trying to figure out where the bite has gone, you can successfully catch a couple of dozen stripers in the shallows.

Now that you know promising places for perch fishing, you are “armed and dangerous.” All that remains is to choose the right fishing time and bait. We'll talk about this further.

MINK 500mini
If you catch perch in a large reservoir and getting to the fishing spot on foot with a bag of necessary things causes great inconvenience, then you should think about a convenient means of transportation in order to easily get to the cool place. Motorized towing vehicles will be good in this regard. vehicle NORKA 500mini , which was designed specifically for winter fishing, is very good for This device has excellent traction, easily moving on snow and ice, it is very economical in terms of fuel consumption and, very importantly, is very compact and easily fits in the trunk of a Niva or station wagon. The relatively low cost of a motorized towing vehicle makes it accessible to almost any fisherman, and the comfort it creates when moving is difficult to overestimate.