Pike perch is a predatory fish that leads a bottom-dwelling lifestyle, which is not so easy to catch, but for an experienced spinning fisher this is not a problem, but for a beginner it is a serious task that sometimes ends in nothing.
There are no special secrets when catching it, but there are certain subtleties. This article contains a lot of information on walleye fishing and can be useful for any angler status.
Choosing a spinning rod for jig fishing for pike perch
This rod should be strong and reliable, and also capable of casting heavy baits over long distances. For catching pike perch, a fast or super fast action rod with a soft and sensitive tip is suitable. Its power should be sufficient to catch medium-sized pike perch. Pike perch take the bait quite carefully, so their weight should not exceed 40 grams, although in a fast current this weight may not be enough.
Usually a rod with a test that is 10% higher than the weight of the bait is used. Lures usually weigh 30-35 g. This is necessary so that there is always a margin of safety.
The length of the rod depends on the fishing conditions:
- When fishing from the shore, a short rod will not work, but a blank 2.4-3.0 meters long will be enough.
- When fishing from a boat, a long spinning rod will be inconvenient, so rods with a length of 1.8-2.4 m are used.
- If there is a strong current, then a long spinning rod is selected, due to the fact that the current blows the line to the side and a short spinning rod will not be able to make a successful hook.
Reel and line
A medium-sized reel with a fishing line with a diameter of 0.2-0.3 mm and a length of 100-150 m is just suitable for such fishing. These can be spinning reels, size 2500-3500. It is necessary to have a rear clutch, since the pike perch will strongly resist. It is better to take a braided fishing line, as it stretches less than monofilament. In the presence of thickets or other obstacles, braided fishing line is more reliable and when catching individuals weighing up to 2 kg, a cord with a diameter of 0.15 mm is sufficient. During periods of high activity of pike perch, the thickness of the fishing line can be increased to 0.2 mm.
Catching pike perch from the shore using a spinning rod
For coastal fishing for pike perch, a light rod with a test weight of 40 g is used; when the bite is active, spinning rods with a test weight of 60-70 g are chosen, this affects the sensitivity of the bite, but saves time when fishing. When the bite is weak, it is better to switch to lighter gear with a test in the range of 30-35 degrees, in this case there will be a greater chance of detecting a careful bite. In order to pierce a powerful jaw with a sharp and strong hook, use rods with fast and ultra-fast action.
Catching pike perch from the shore has its own requirements for the length of the spinning rod and depends on the casting distance, the presence of a current, and the bottom topography. Mostly they use spinning rods with a length of 2.4 to 3 m, but if you have a spinning rod of greater length and it is light enough so that you can cast and retrieve without much effort throughout the entire fishing, then you will only win. Using a long spinning rod on the edges and drops allows you to achieve a greater change in angle during step-by-step retrieving and increases the chances of releasing a bait caught on the bottom by horizontally raising the spinning rod to its full length or horizontally feeding it forward towards the edge. Also, when fishing in the current, when the line is carried to the side, hooking with a long spinning rod will make it possible to quickly select the line.
The fishing line is taken as a monk measuring 0.25 - 0.3 mm or braided 0.15 -0.2 mm. Monoline can produce more bites, but due to its tendency to stretch, it is not always possible to make a high-quality hook and break through a strong jaw, so when using a monk, you need to take one that is least susceptible to stretching.
Retractable leash for pike perch
A 0.2-0.25 mm metal monk leash, like for pike fishing, is of no use to us, since pike perch cannot bite through regular fishing line. An inertia-free spinning reel with a spool size of 2500-3000, a metal bracket when using braid and a rear clutch, which is easier to adjust when fishing.
The most common equipment are jigs of various modifications. Some of the most popular are the standard jig, the spinning jig and the jig-rig.
Twisters and vibrotails can be used as bait . If you fish in places where there is a lot of aquatic vegetation, then you are better off using spinnerbaits with artificial fish, or twisters and vibrating tails with an offset hook.
Also, catching pike perch from the shore is successful with oscillating spoons with a front landing 6-7 cm long, rather narrow ones no more than 1-2 cm wide. If you are fishing in coastal thickets, Ratlin- type wobbler with an elongated body shape and sinking or neutral Mannou will suit you.
Ratlin for zander
The bait is played mainly using a jig, 2-3 turns of the reel and a pause of 2-3 seconds, while the pike perch attacks more often when the bait falls than when it rises. From time to time it is worth making a short step of 0.5-1 revolution of the coil and 0.5-1 second of delay. Such wiring gives good results near small water edges, hummocks or bottom irregularities.
The bait is cast both perpendicular to the dump and brought from the depth to the rise aground, and at an acute angle to the left or right, so it rises from the depth to the top of the dump not perpendicularly, but obliquely. Quite often, when fishing at an angle, you can feel small spits that stand across the current; in these places, in addition to pike perch, successful fishing for pike or asp can occur. Fishing of the spit should begin from its beginning near the shore. In cases when the bait begins to rise upward under the influence of the current, you should reduce the number of revolutions of the reel when retrieving. A pike perch hooked on a hook does not offer much resistance when fished, so when biting it, the main thing is a sharp and powerful hook.
Spinning baits for pike perch
When jig fishing for pike perch, the following baits with jig heads are used:
- Vibrating tails and twisters are highly attractive for pike perch.
- Squids and frogs made of edible rubber. They appeared not so long ago, but are effective for spring fishing.
- Wabiki (front loaded flies).
- Spinnerbaits with silicone fish. Effective in the presence of thickets.
At the same time, do not forget about classic baits, such as oscillating and rotating spoons. Their advantage is that they are reliable and do not require frequent replacement after damage received from the teeth of a predator. For these purposes, oscillating spoons with a length of 5 to 7 cm and a width of 1 to 2 cm are suitable. They are used when fishing at a depth of 4 meters. Oscillating spoons are convenient because they can be thrown over a long distance without any problems.
Rotating spoons do not have such characteristics, so they are used when fishing from a boat. The depth of their use is limited to 2-3 meters and are effective with increased activity of pike perch when it attacks bait passing in the upper layers of water.
It should be noted that modern specimens, both oscillating and rotating spoons, are quite catchy. This is due to the fact that they are performed using modern technologies, including the use of laser technology.
Wobblers such as minnow or rattlin, both sinking and neutral, have proven themselves well.
Catching pike perch from the shore to the donk
For bottom fishing, strong plug rods 2.4-3 m long are used; spinning, match or feeder rods are perfect for these purposes. Fishing for pike perch can always present a surprise in view of successful catfish fishing , and in order not to be left without a catch, we need a strong fishing rod. The action of the rod should be fast or super fast. Since bottom fishing is not as maneuverable as spinning fishing, several rods are used, usually 3-4, which are used to fish at different depth levels. If the bite starts active, you can reduce their number to one. The fishing line used is a monk of 0.4 mm or a braid of 0.2-0.25 mm. Monk leashes are 50-70 cm long and 0.3 mm thick.
An inertia-free power reel with a spool size of 3000 and a metal bracket when using braid, rear clutch. You can also fish with inertial reels, but this is less productive. Catching pike perch from the shore to the bottom imposes its own requirements on the choice of sinker; its weight ranges from 50 to 150 grams, depending on the depth and casting distance. The load may be dull with a weight of 100 grams or more. and sliding limited by stoppers.
During the post-spawning period, when pike perch hunts in shallow water near aquatic vegetation, weights of 50 grams are used. and less. When fishing in a current, use flat weights in the shape of a spoon; in still water, round weights are suitable. The hooks are sharp and strong, No. 8-12, since we have to pierce a powerful oral cavity. The rods are installed at an obtuse angle to the water, and sound or light bite alarms are hung on the fishing line. Live bait is used as bait; it should be a fish characteristic of a given reservoir. They hook the bait fish by the upper dorsal fin. Live bait is bought or caught directly on the reservoir, so you need to remember the gear and baits to catch it. Re-casting time is 25-30 minutes.
Many feeder fishing enthusiasts catch pike perch using feeders as weights; the weight of the feeders is 80-120 grams. Standard bait for white fish is poured into the feeders; its presence will attract the attention of pike perch or breadcrumbs mixed with pieces of fish meat.
Spinning equipment
When fishing for pike perch, they use different types of equipment. Firstly, this is a classic rig, which includes a jig bait attached to the end of the main line. As a rule, in those reservoirs where pike perch are found, pike are also found. You should always remember this and use reliable leashes that the pike cannot bite through.
Secondly, it is possible to use a diverter leash . Many fishermen use this type of equipment. Its essence is that a weight weighing up to 30 g is attached to the end of a fishing line or cord, and a little higher, at a distance of 20 cm, a fluorocarbon leash, about a meter long. A light bait, in the form of a twister, vibrotail, etc., is attached to the leash.
Thirdly, the drop-shot , which is effective when trolling vertically. It is good to use when fishing from a boat or a high bank, when there is an appropriate depth, but there is no way to approach this area.
Search for pike perch sites
Pike perch prefers clean running water, so you can find it in rivers, lakes with clean water or streams. Pike perch chooses places whose depth reaches 4 meters or more. Up to 4 meters is the life zone of perch, and pike loves shallow water. Small rivers are characterized by the presence of one school of pike perch, which constantly moves around the reservoir in search of food. As a rule, this is a large flock that is not so easy to find. In this case, you have to hope for luck. But here, too, interesting and promising places can be identified, without paying attention to “suspicious areas” where there are strong differences in depth. Pike perch can be in any place that can provide it with protection and also give it the opportunity to hunt. This could be thickets of aquatic vegetation or a cluster of fallen trees, as well as the presence of underwater debris or stones.
As a rule, catching one pike perch indicates that there is an opportunity for successful fishing, since a school of pike perch has been detected. In this case, you cannot hesitate, otherwise he may move to another place at any moment.
Spring fishing for pike perch
With a gradual increase in water temperature, the activity of pike perch also increases. After a long period of fasting, he attacks any bait given, as he needs to gain strength before spawning. At this time, a spinning angler can count on successful fishing, while it is extremely rare to catch pike perch on the feeder.
Somewhere from mid-April to the end of May, pike perch are busy laying eggs. A flock of pike perch goes in search of a suitable place in shallow water, where the water warms up much faster. They choose places that can be protected from various predatory fish that can destroy the offspring of pike perch. These can be places with snags, holes and depressions, as well as various piles, including stones.
At the same time, the pike perch spawns in pairs and catching it during this period is unsuccessful, especially since the pike perch is unlikely to be interested in the bait.
After this, the fish, exhausted by spawning, are passive for 2 weeks. Having rested and gained some strength, the pike perch gradually begins to become more active, hunting for potential prey.
But this does not mean at all that when casting, the pike perch will immediately attack the bait. The fish bite is greatly influenced by several factors, including natural ones. Atmospheric indicators, such as atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature, water temperature, wind direction, etc., are especially influential. The bite can start suddenly and stop just as unexpectedly. But the most important thing is to find a place where pike perch hunts.
In spring, pike perch looks for food in thickets of aquatic vegetation, such as reeds. The bait should be cast to the border of clear water and aquatic thickets, and it is better to use a spinnerbait or a specially designed wobbler that would not be able to catch.
During this period, the bait is small in size, with a jig head weight of no more than 25 g. The rod is reliable, with a fast action and a length of 2.5 to 3 meters. The thickness of the fishing line is in the range of 0.15-0.2 mm. To interest a pike perch that has not yet fully awakened from hibernation, you should perform a stepwise retrieve, making short but sharp movements. For a better and more pronounced game, you should connect a rod to the wiring process.
In case of a bite, you need to make a powerful hook, considering that the pike perch has a dense mouth and it is not so easy to break through it. If the hook is weak, there is a chance that the pike perch will simply abandon the bait.
Spring fishing for pike perch on the pond. Master class 181
Equipment for pike perch when fishing with live bait
Catching pike perch with live bait from the shore using a donkey rig:
- We choose a high-quality, strong and, of course, rigid spinning rod with a length of 2.7 to 3.3 meters. Of course, everything is individual, but usually the river bed, depth changes and various points of interest are located at a considerable distance from the shore. Which, accordingly, requires long casting and a confident high hook.
- For this type of fishing, the best reel would be one without inertia. We select the appropriate rod.
- The diameter of the fishing line used is from 0.3 to 0.4 mm, with the installation of a leader approximately 0.25 mm thick.
- Hooks can be used as doubles, trebles, or simple hooks suitable for float fishing with live bait.
- Sinkers depending on the current and type of soil. For moderate currents, weights of 40 grams and above are suitable.
- It would also be a good idea to equip your rods with individual bite alarms. It doesn’t matter whether it’s sophisticated electronic systems or proven bells.
Catching pike perch in the summer with a spinning rod
Before the start of the summer season, pike perch gather in schools, which consist of individuals of the same size. They catch pike perch in the water column at a depth of 0.5 to 2 meters. In this case, various types of wiring are used, probing different temperature layers. It is very important that the water is clean and free of foreign matter that can cling to the fishing line. In such conditions it is very difficult to count on a catch
Large individuals, in the summer, hunt alone in areas where clean running water prevails and it is difficult to catch them with a spinning rod. They prefer deep places where there are differences in depth. They can be found in estuaries, small rivers flowing into lakes or large rivers.
The most suitable time for fishing for pike perch is morning and evening. In the daytime, especially in intense heat, all fish, including small fish, prefer places with cooler water.
The most suitable rigs will be classic and with a retractable leash.
Summer pike perch fishing
Choosing a place to catch pike perch
Pike perch is a predatory inhabitant of medium and large waterways of our country. It lives in large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. This fish does not like muddy bottoms and prefers to be on a hard surface covered with pebbles or shells. This predator also tries to avoid visiting places that are poorly saturated with oxygen and settles in clean water with the current. Pike perch likes to rest in places with stumps and snags, where you can safely hide from more dangerous predators - catfish and pike. Also in such places you can take a break from the current and use them for ambush.
Pike perch is a typical predator of the menu, which consists almost 100% of small fish. Its diet includes fry of all representatives of the reservoir where it lives. In addition to the fry, the predator likes to feast on all types of insects and their larvae, sometimes even pecks at a worm; the predator also feeds on crustaceans and mollusks. It does not disdain invertebrates living at the bottom of the reservoir.
These predators usually live in packs, and the smaller the size of the individuals, the larger the pack. Small specimens can form flocks of up to 20-50 or more. Large individuals gather in groups of no more than 6-8. Sometimes captured specimens cost one at a time, but these are extremely rare cases.
In the early morning or late evening you can see the “fight” of this hunter. This happens because basically this predator does not like hunting from cover, preferring to quickly pursue prey that catches its eye.
Choosing equipment for catching pike perch using a spinning rod
- 1. The spinning rod for fanged fishing should be light so that the hand does not get tired during the fight. Length from 2.5 to 3 meters. The structure of the blank should be such that you can make long casts. When fishing, you should most often use braided fishing line because it is the most durable.
- Lures for catching pike perch using a spinning rod
There are a huge number of baits for catching pike perch. The predator is tempted by almost any type of bait, from animals (insects and larvae, small fish, crustaceans and shellfish) to various types of artificial bait that can be bought in the store. You can also make your own baits.
When silicone appeared in the fisherman’s arsenal, various simulators of animal baits immediately appeared, and they were made with such similarity that the fanged fish took them with great eagerness. The predator is attracted not only by the appearance and color of the baits, but also by their ability to imitate the movements of animal prey, pike perch. The advantage of such attachments is their low price.
1. Vibrating tails.
Lures for fanged fish in the form of a vibrotail are the most common among others. Vibrating tails for pike perch are distinguished by a narrow shape with a flattened tail in the form of a heel. The vibrotail has this appearance due to the narrow mouth of the pike perch. Typically, a vibrating tail for a fanged fish is never longer than 10 cm or more than 1 cm thick. The color of this bait does not play a big role, but the notches that give the vibrating tail a good sound when playing well affect the bite. Attractants that make the bait edible also have a positive effect on the catch. Vibrotail in appearance imitates fry, which is the main dish of pike perch. This type of bait is mainly used for spinning fishing.
2. Twister
It is distinguished by a wide and thin tail in the shape of a sickle. Like the vibrotail, the twister has a narrow shape; its length varies from 8 to 12 cm. An important characteristic of the twister is the ribbing of the entire body. When wired, the ribbing makes the twister's movements more realistic. This allows you to interest the fish even at a long distance. The color of the twister does not have a big impact on fishing, however, when fishing in places with a high degree of illumination, the color of the twister should be chosen based on the intensity of the light. In gloomy weather, twisters with a brighter color should be used, and in sunny weather, the color should be dark, not flashy.
3. In the category of other silicone baits
there is a huge variety of their forms. These are slugs, creatures and simple silicone worms. Typically, these types of silicone baits are not used often, mainly in cases where the fanged fish begins to be capricious and stops taking the more popular types of baits. Like other types of silicone baits, these are used for jigging in all seasons except winter. Nozzles in the form of frogs and worms are made ribbed. Fishing with such baits involves visual contact with the pike perch, so they are made in bright colors. It has been noticed that pike perch prefers the amber color of the bait on gloomy days and the color of motor oil on clear days. Edible silicone becomes very attractive for inactive fish. They try to use these nozzles in shallow places, where the complexity of their structure brings the greatest results.
4. Wobblers
no less popular when hunting pike perch than silicone, but its significant cost greatly affects the frequency of use. The size of the wobbler can be up to 120 mm, but the diameter does not exceed 3 cm. Using this type of bait allows you to count on catching large and even trophy pike perch. When using wobblers, spinning trolling is usually used.
5. Spoon
. In the classic form, an oscillating spoon is used as bait for fanged fish, although now rotating spoons are no less popular. Also popular are vibrators that are distinguished by their small width and oblong body. The length of the spinner for pike perch is no more than 7 cm with a width of 10-20 mm. The spinner plays without high-frequency vibrations only due to the wiring and has a clear trajectory with small shouts. The castmaster spinner is ideal for this type of fishing. Castmaster is used at great depths; now such spoons are produced with LED backlighting. In shallow water, rotating spoons are used that imitate a willow leaf in shape.
6. Mandula
- a composite nozzle made of cylinders on a metal rod. Most often, the rod for this attachment is an extended tee. The cylindrical components are made of polystyrene foam. Usually there are no more than 5 such cylinders. The mandula is usually decorated in a striped color. This type of bait is usually used for catching pike perch in not very deep reservoirs in the summer and autumn before ice appears on the reservoirs.
7. Foam fish
. An equally interesting type of bait is a foam fish. This bait does not have its own game and its movements depend only on the movements of the spinner. This type of bait is most suitable for jigging and twitching. Pike perch responds well to foam rubber due to the clarity of the trajectories of the movements and the rigidity of the game. Foam fish are baits that are used when fishing only for pike perch. The advantages of foam rubber include its low cost and a large selection of colors and sizes. You can make a foam fish yourself by cutting it out of hard material in shape and size similar to a fry. You need to color it with a felt-tip pen in a suitable color and attach a jig head. This bait is used in any season on water not covered with ice.
8. Balance.
In winter fishing, balancers are used as bait. Balancers are classified as a subspecies of horizontal spinners. It is used at different depths and at different flow intensities. The length of the balancer varies from 5 to 9 cm. It should be taken into account that the larger the balancer, the larger the pike perch that can be caught with its help.
9. Animal bait.
Throughout the year, the fanged fish takes animal bait well. Not only whitebait is the main type of such bait. Maggots, bloodworms, dung worms, leech, and so on are not bad options. During the hatching season, pike perch are excellent at beetles, locusts, and caterpillars; they also love fanged fish and tadpoles, which begin to actively grow in late spring. Among live baits, the best baits are considered to be bleak, loach, gudgeon and roach. Scavengers, crucian carp and silver bream are in less demand, but one should not refuse them, especially if they do not bite on the main types of live bait. Most often, animal baits are used for bottom and float fishing.
10. Plant baits.
The fanged fish is not bad at plant baits either. The baits used are peas steamed in boiling water, pearl barley, corn, and boiled beans will also work. Pike perch take well to plant bait on currents where the bait is constantly moving.
Technique for catching pike perch using a spinning rod
When casting, you should take into account that the fish stands at a distance of 50 cm to 1 meter from the bottom. Therefore, the wiring should be such that the nozzle touches the bottom and immediately rises, and does not drag along it all the time. Immediately after this, you should wind the coil with 2-4 turns.
You need to hook the pike perch sharply, but not sweepingly, and fish it out very quickly, not allowing the pike perch to go under the snag and tangle the line there. Large pike perch must be fished out before hooking, as it can easily break the fishing line.
