All these behavioral features of perch are, of course, known to experienced fishermen. For successful fishing at different times of the year, you will need different gear and appropriate fishing tactics.
Perch is found in all fresh water bodies; individual individuals of this fish species can reach significant sizes. Along with greater weight, they also acquire a hump on their back, which is why they are called humpbacks.
Perch is a predatory and voracious fish that greedily grabs bait, preferring its natural version. It bites well on tadpoles, worms, jigs, and larvae. He also does not refuse artificial baits, which is often used by experienced fishermen.
This fish can be caught throughout the year. The activity of perch decreases somewhat in the spring during the spawning period. It does not show interest in the surrounding world even in severe winter frosts, but during the thaw period the perch begins an energetic search for food.
All these behavioral features of perch are, of course, known to experienced fishermen. For successful fishing at different times of the year, you will need different gear and appropriate fishing tactics.
Perch can be successfully caught with all types of fishing gear that currently exist. This list includes a traditional fishing rod with a float, donks of various types, girders, and spinning rods.
As the weather warms up, schools of fish move to shallow water. It is in these places that perch fishing is organized in the spring. After spawning, the fish becomes especially voracious, because it needs to replenish lost strength. During this period, perch willingly swallows any bait, which ensures a good catch even for a novice angler.
The hot summer sun forces fish to move to deeper and cooler places, and this is where you should look for them. Moreover, the fish will be especially active in the evening and morning dawn, and the heat of the day will make it lazy and indifferent. Wire fishing is considered the most effective in summer, and this tactic is used by most fishermen.
In autumn, the fish become active again and can be caught throughout the daylight hours. The best results during this period will be achieved by using bottom gear in the form of an elastic band and several leashes, as well as a fishing rod with additional equipment.
Winter fishing for perch is possible during the thaw period, as well as at the beginning or end of winter. It is carried out with mandatory complementary feeding. A self-expanding table filled with food of animal origin, flavored with dry blood, must be lowered into the hole. A hungry perch will definitely come to its delicious smell. Well, then it’s a matter of technology and equipment. In this capacity, fishermen most often use winter lures.
It is better not to use heavy and extra-heavy fishing rods when fishing for stripers, because maneuverability will be complicated when landing fish.
Perch fishing gear
Perch fishing can bring positive emotions and leave unforgettable moments in your memory only with the right choice of gear, lures and bait.
Perch prefers pools of stagnant or low-moving water with a relief bottom. Deep drops, holes, stone placers and snags are the most favorite underwater landscapes of the striped predator.
Fish can stay in the same place for quite a long time, so experienced fishermen always try to capture in their memory the location of the most successful bite.
Perch is not at all afraid of extraneous noise and is distinguished by its gluttony and impudence. Knowing this feature, you can catch perch both from the shore and from a boat. Now all that remains is to choose the right rod.
Selecting a spinning rod
A spinning rod is the best option for catching perch. But the choice of this gear for perch hunting directly depends on the habits, character and habitat of this fish.
According to classification, spinning rods are divided into several classes:
- easy;
- average;
- heavy;
- super heavy.
Each of them is designed for a specific type of reservoir. Based on these data, for catching stripers (as perch is often called), a light (ultralight or light) or medium (medium) class spinning rod is suitable.
But the classification of a rod directly depends on the bait test:
- ultralight and light class rods have a maximum test limit of forty grams and are used mainly in reservoirs with shallow depths and standing water;
- Medium class rods have a maximum test limit of eighty grams and are used on reservoirs with stagnant water surfaces and a light, barely perceptible current.
It is better not to use heavy and extra-heavy fishing rods when fishing for stripers, because maneuverability will be complicated when landing fish.
Another important factor is the structure of the form. The most effective rod structure for catching perch will be:
- medium (flexibility up to the middle of the form);
- slow (flexibility along the entire length of the form).
Float fishing rods
There are frequent cases of fishing for stripers using float rods.
The most popular float tackle for stripers is a fly rod, and if there is a need for long casting, it is better to use a match rod.
The difference between these two gears is only in the reel:
- a fly float fishing rod (the optimal blank size is up to seven meters) has absolutely no reel, and for storing and transporting the thread there is a special drum in the equipment;
- The match rod (the optimal blank size is up to five meters) has an inertia-free reel, which allows you to make long casts, up to fifty meters.
Coil
As when choosing a float fishing rod, so when choosing a spinning rod, you should pay close attention to the reel.
A spinning reel with a size of one and a half thousand is best suited for the light class of spinning rods. But when choosing a reel, you need to pay attention to the choice of fishing line.
Fishing line and braided cord
For perch, it is better to choose monofilament or braided cord:
- Monoline. It has less strength, but at the same time does not allow the fish to escape by preserving the integrity of the “minke whale’s” oral cavity. When choosing a monofilament, the size is very important, which should be higher than one tenth of a millimeter (0.1 mm).
- Braided cord. It has increased strength and rigidity, which affects the increased price of this gear. The optimal size of braided line for catching perch will be more than 0.22 millimeters.
Hook
The choice of hook for striper is not such a critical moment. Any self-respecting fisherman has hooks of different sizes and modifications in stock. Therefore, after several casts, you need to look at the bite - if the fish carcass is injured, then the hook should be changed to a smaller size.
The bait is installed as follows:
Gear selection
Rod
For catching perch both at close range and with long casting, a spinning rod with a fast or medium-fast action is optimal. You shouldn’t take too hard “rapier-like” sticks with super-fast action: a softer blank will allow you to best perform a soft retrieve of the bait, which perfectly attracts perch when fishing with a retractable leash.
In addition, a soft blank will allow you to cast longer and, accordingly, catch the maximum number of promising points.
Read Heated insoles
For perch hunting, a spinning rod with an upper test limit of 17 or 21 g is well suited. The optimal length for most situations is about 1.8-2.1 m: a short rod allows you to animate the bait on a retractable leash in the best possible way.
Coil
A reel for catching perch with a retractable leash is subject to the standard requirements for spinning tackle:
- a mechanism with an endless screw that ensures cross-winding of the fishing line;
- smooth running of the mechanism;
- small weight;
fishing line
Ideally, the fishing line that should be used when fishing with a retractable leash, if the spinning angler is determined to specifically catch perch, should be significantly different from the fishing line used for hunting pike and pike perch.
The best fishing line for perch is soft braid. A loose “polyethylene” four-strand braided fishing line is ideal, which, when pulled with a spinning rod, instantly stretches into a straight line. A good example of such a cord is Unitika braided line.
Mono line leash
The retractable leash itself is best made from monofilament or fluorocarbon. There are two main requirements for fishing line:
- quality: reliable monofilament (and especially fluorocarbon) cannot be cheap, but you shouldn’t skimp on fishing line for making leashes - its consumption is minimal, so one 100-meter reel is enough for the entire fishing season;
- resistance to abrasion from stones and shell rock, which are almost always present in promising fishing spots;
Fluorocarbon fishing line has the greatest resistance to abrasion
In addition, this material is not at all noticeable to fish in the water, and when catching perch this is important, since the striped one is known to have very good eyesight
It is worth noting that since the length of the retractable leash for perch hunting rarely exceeds one and a half meters, therefore, how stretchable the fishing line used for its manufacture is and whether it has memory is completely unimportant.
It is important to choose the correct fishing line diameter. Thin monofilament provides the bait with maximum freedom and, accordingly, a more lively game
But it’s also not worth making a leash from a very thin line, especially considering that a bait on a lead made from a thin thread will play too aggressively and sharply, and the perch prefers a smooth retrieve. A fishing line with a diameter of about 0.18 mm is also quite suitable.
If we talk about specific brands, high-quality Owner Broad monofilament or Team Daiwa ADES fluorocarbon line are perfect for making a retractable leader for perch fishing.
Metal leash
When using a metal leash, the number of bites is noticeably reduced. This is especially true for catching perch, which has very good eyesight. Therefore, if possible, you should refrain from using this element of equipment, tying the bait directly to monofilament or fluorocarbon.
In the event that there are a lot of pike bites in the fishing area and a metal leash still needs to be used, the best option would be a leash made of thin, rigid wire. It is better to put a winding ring between the bait and the leash.
Hook
In most cases, when fishing with a retractable leader, an offset hook is used. It is also necessary to approach its choice very carefully, because the number of successfully realized bites and, accordingly, the size of the catch directly depends on this element. In addition, the offset operator must ensure that the bait plays as attractively as possible for the predator.
Manufacturers of quality fishing hooks, proven by time and millions of fishermen around the world, are Owner and Gamakatsu. For catching perch with a retractable leash, offset models such as Gamakatsu Slim Style, Owner RIG'N Hook and Owner J-Hook are suitable.
A spinner needs to have in his arsenal a larger number of hooks of different numbers in order to be able to choose the appropriate size offset for each standard size of bait.
Lures for fishing
This predator can be caught equally well on both rotating and oscillating spoons.
As for baits, there can be no clear recommendation or advice. It won’t be difficult to catch a “striper” using wobblers, proppers and other artificial baits.
The main rule of perch fishing is not to use too bulky or massive baits. The average weight of a spinner or wobbler is 5 grams. Another important feature that must be present in artificial lures for perch is shine.
Spinners, regardless of design, must have this quality. Wobblers that imitate whitebait should also have a reflective coating in attractive colors. Lures painted yellow and silver are most attractive to this predator.
Spinning is the use of lures such as a spinner or a balancer. Unlike the summer use of spinners, when they are held horizontally, in winter the spinners are held vertically, which eliminates the possibility of them getting caught on algae or other “surprises” located under the ice.
Lure for perch in winter
In winter, perch can be caught using both worms and bloodworms. Sometimes there are times when a striped predator begins to peck at the crust or bread crumb. To attract perch, such bait is simply thrown into the hole. In addition, perch does not disdain its relatives and pieces of this fish, as well as eyes or fins, will be used as bait.
It’s not clear why, but perch doesn’t really react to bait like maggots, regardless of whether it’s winter or summer fishing. Although there are exceptions.
When fishing at depth and in muddy water, where visibility is very poor, combinations of spinners with large jigs , which are placed on a fishing line 10-15 cm above the spinner, are the most effective catchers. In the middle reaches you can fish vertically and by swimming. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the spoon does not drag behind the boat, but works correctly. In strong currents, the boat is slowed down either with an oar or with a small parachute anchor.
The perch is served a jig with a finely vibrating “booger”. With her own fast, but not sweeping (!) movements, she provokes him to attack. Anglers who have mastered this method of fishing achieve vibration of the bait with a frequency of more than 200 vibrations per minute. The jig must be selected depending on the body of water in which the fish will be caught, but usually its size does not exceed 3 mm in diameter. When fishing with a live bait rod, it is completely appropriate to use a large leech or lamprey as bait.
Catching perch using a donkey with an elastic band is quite popular. This type of sweet clover will consist of a fishing rod, fishing line, a leash with hooks, a sinker, and a piece of strong elastic. It should be noted that on such a donkey you should put a meter of elastic for every five meters of fishing line.
What to catch perch with
Lures for catching perch come in a wide variety, but in order to catch a couple of good trophies, you should choose only the right products. Among the most modernized and very popular fishing inventions are:
- A tailspinner is a very popular tool that is equipped with a weighting element and a rotating petal behind the hook.
- Twister is an effective soft bait made of silicone or soft plastic. And although more and more new solutions appear on sale, twisters are still in great demand and have practically no analogues.
- Wobbler - all spinners love to fish with a wobbler, not only professional ones, but also beginners. This solid bait perfectly imitates the behavior of live, wounded prey. On sale you can find three types of wobblers, which differ from each other in terms of density: DD - a sinking model, which greatly facilitates determining the depth and is considered indispensable for finding the largest specimens, F - a good floating version, made of wood and imitating a sick fish, SP - neutrally buoyant. Such models are effective when performing slow retrieves when you need to interest lazy fish.
- Spinner is a universal and simplest bait that exhibits excellent performance at almost any time of the year. On sale you can find a traditional oscillating spring and a fairly productive spinner.
As for spoons, they create an excellent imitation of the behavior of real fish, therefore they are considered indispensable for catching predators. Turntables equipped with a rotating blade are an acoustic bait that is used not only by pike and perch, but also by “white” fish. Also on the market you can often find the so-called fly bait, which demonstrates very fast rotation in the water.
Bottom tackle
When catching perches in the current, the fishing line on the bottom should be thicker. For example, a green olive is more suitable for donkey when catching perch in still waters, but it should no longer be placed on a river.
When fishing on the river, a flat weight is made that can withstand the pressure of the river current. When fishing from boats, it is better to use round sliding sinkers. When casting on the main line, leashes are attached - one or two, which should be tied higher. You can also attach the sinker to a separate leash.
To successfully catch perch among vegetation, it is better to use the following type of donkey. A piece of foam plastic is taken as a base. You will also need a piece of wood or something else that will hold the bait at half-water.
Catching perch using a donkey with an elastic band is quite popular. This type of sweet clover will consist of a fishing rod, fishing line, a leash with hooks, a sinker, and a piece of strong elastic. It should be noted that on such a donkey you should put a meter of elastic for every five meters of fishing line.
When catching perch on a rubber bottom, the weights should be selected correctly so that the tackle does not get carried away by the current, but at the same time the angler can pull it out. Donka with an elastic band is most used by anglers when catching perch; in some cases, jigs are used instead of live bait. In some cases, fishermen use feeder feeders instead of sinkers. Feeders of closed varieties are most suitable for such purposes.
The reel for such gear is preferably inertia-free, size from 1000 to 2000, depending on the test of the rod.
Installation of a branch leash
There are several ways to install a diverter leash. You can use the method with a loop on the main line to attach a leash with bait, or you can use a carabiner for this purpose. Also, there are options with sliding and blind fastening. Each of these methods is good in its own way, so let’s look at each of them.
Side hinge mounting
The easiest way to install a diverter leash is through a side loop on the main line. It does not require any additional equipment, it is made tightly and it will not be possible to adjust it in any way or quickly change the length of the leash. That is, you did it and use it until you break the tackle. The disadvantage of such equipment is frequent twisting, especially when fishing in the current. More suitable for fishing in still water.
Installation is very simple. A weight is attached to the end of the main line, and a loop is made about 20-30 centimeters above, to which the diverter leash is tied. The length of the branch leash is 50-150 cm. It is advisable to have several blanks so that you can change the length of the leash. Often, it is its length that affects the improvement or deterioration of the perch’s bite; it should be selected depending on the bite activity.
For those who do not know how to properly make a loop on a fishing line for a retractable leash, the site rybkolov.ru has put together a video that very well shows how to make such a loop.
Double swivel mounting
A double swivel makes the tackle less tangled, but this does not mean that you will completely get rid of the overlap of the leader with the sinker and regular tangling of the tackle.
The diverter leash is quite often confused with the double and triple swivel and there is no escape from this. It’s just that with experience the tackle will get tangled less. However, the use of a swivel in the equipment will make it more perfect, so it is optimal to install it not on a regular loop. Mount the main leash through the side loop on the fishing line only if there are no swivels and there is nowhere to take them. Or if you just want to try fishing with a retractable leash.
Installation is very simple - a swivel is placed in place of the side hinge. The main line and sinker on a leash 20-30 cm long are attached to one of its eyes, and a lead leash 50-150 cm long is attached to the other eye.
T-swivel or triple swivel mounting
Mounting on a T-shaped swivel allows you to tie each element of the tackle to a separate eye.
The main line for one, the lead for another, the leash with a load for the third. However, the equipment, although convenient, is still not for everyone. Some anglers prefer this triple swivel, others prefer the more compact double swivel. Read What is a jig and how to assemble a jig bait
Some anglers are sure that the triple swivel creates additional unnecessary vibrations in the water and negatively affects the game and catchability of the bait. It is even recommended to use the double swivel in the smallest possible size. But, nevertheless, other anglers catch with the same success using a triple swivel and no “extra fluctuations” prevent them from dragging the striper one after another. So, most likely it’s a matter of habit - try fishing with double and triple, and then choose the most convenient installation for yourself.
During installation, there are no changes in the equipment - the same leash for the load is about 20-30 cm, the leash for the bait is 0.5-1.5 meters and the main fishing line. The installation can be seen more clearly in the picture.
Sliding installation of the outlet leash
I personally and many fishermen like this installation method the most for one simple reason - this equipment is much more sensitive and transmits the bite more clearly.
Now you will understand why this is so. With this installation method, the load is not tightly attached to the main line, but slides along it. Thus, the bait is in direct contact through the line with the tip of the rod, without having to do with the load. For such equipment you will need two double swivels. We equip a branch leash 50-150 cm long on one side with an offset hook, and on the other side we attach a regular swivel to it. Now you need to prepare the leash for the load. To do this, we equip a leash with a length of 20-30 cm on one side with a weight weighing from 10 to 30 grams, and on the other with a swivel.
Next, we pass the main line through the swivel of the leash with a load and tie it to the swivel of the retractable leash. Thus, it turns out that the load will not be tightly attached to the main line, but will slide freely along it. To limit the sliding of the load along the main line, you can put a stopper on the main line at the required distance. The equipment turns out to be very sensitive, but also quite difficult to install, compared to the first three methods.
Perch on a spinning rod in autumn
Catching perch in the fall is much more effective with bottom baits (jig, drop-shot)
There are several nuances and key differences in spinning perch fishing in the fall from other seasons, namely:
- Weather. In the fall it is usually too cloudy and unpredictable, which is critical when fishing for perch.
- Upcoming winter. This is the main reason for the improvement in the bite in the fall, namely from the end of August.
- As a rule, humpback fish bite equally well at any time of the day.
- In mid-September, the fry, which is attacked by our predator, begins to go deeper and deeper, which attracts our prey with it.
Based on these aspects, we can say that the key to successful autumn fishing is the mastery of fishing at depth, but any difficulties at this time of year will be rewarded with a large number of larger fish.
Catching perch on a retractable leash - fishing technique with Moscow equipment, correct tying and choice of bait.
Which poppers to choose and how attractive this bait is for perch, about the catchability of poppers for perch.
A lot of advice was given above in the text. There are many options for gear, each of which is effective in its own way. There are also many ways to identify fishing spots and bait them. If you do everything correctly and with enthusiasm, then fishing will definitely be successful.
Perch fishing in winter is not stable. With the onset of cold weather, fish move into deeper layers of water. It is more difficult to lure it out from there than from the surface, but it is still possible.
There are some ways to increase your catch:
- Firstly, for fishing you need to choose good, calm weather. If possible, avoid severe frosts.
- Secondly, it is necessary to increase the sensitivity of the gear.
- Thirdly, the bait must be really attractive to striped predators. Progress is also moving forward and pheromone baits for fish are sold in specialized stores.
- Fourthly, a good time for fishing is all the time in the morning.
Let us note that there are even days when the perch does not respond to any bait, this does not mean that they are not of high quality or are not catchy. Of course, if the bait is not chosen correctly, you won’t have to count on a good bite.
Selecting a spinning rod
for perch fishing , but the most popular is the spinning rod. Catching perch with a spinning rod from the shore is a constant environment, many unpredictable situations, a fast bite, a very difficult fight with a ferocious predator, and also the opportunity to fish for a real trophy. Looks tempting, doesn't it? But the success of the upcoming fishing is closely related to the choice of suitable gear, so if you have to choose a spinning rod, do not ignore a number of important points.
Selecting gear consists of several key steps:
- Finding a fishing rod.
- Selection of fishing line.
- Buying a reel.
It is the rod that is the main part of such a trinity, so its choice should be treated with increased attention. The most important characteristic of the form is its structure. The indicator indicates the ability to resist bending under a certain load, and as the experience of many spinners says, for perch fishing it is advisable to choose medium and slow action. This will significantly reduce the number of escapes that occur when the delicate lips of a perch are torn in the last seconds of fishing.
The next important indicator is the test. The markings indicated on the form are displayed in grams, demonstrating the spread of equipment weights, which will not be able to overload the rod when casting. To select a test, you should take into account the type of bait you prefer, but the universal number is 15 g.
How to choose gear for catching perch in summer
Having chosen a spinning rod, you buy a reel, which should be light in weight. There are no special requirements for the reel, so you can safely purchase the simplest inertia-free reel from the middle price category. The only thing I can recommend is to choose reel models that are equipped with a front drag and have a metal spool.
Regardless of which bait options will be used for catching perch, the hook point on the bait must be sharp, otherwise the percentage of idle bites may increase significantly.
- Uneven surfaces of the bottom of the reservoir.
- Underwater holes and edges.
- Snags.
Other ways to catch perch
Also, perch can be caught using a jig, although this method is usually used for fishing in the winter season.
Fishing takes place in the following areas of water bodies:
- Uneven surfaces of the bottom of the reservoir.
- Underwater holes and edges.
- Snags.
For fishing with a jig, you should use the following gear:
Fishing with a jig has the following features:
"Balda"
To use it, you need to prepare the following gear:
- Hooks No. 6.
- Drop-shaped weights weighing up to fifty grams.
- Fishing rod for winter fishing.
- Multi-colored cambrics.
- Line with a diameter of 0.3 mm.
The fishing technique with this gear has the following features:
Plumb fishing with a long rod, fishing with a short rod
Plumb fishing with a long rod is usually practiced in deep lakes and ponds. This method is used in hot weather, when the perch is hiding under the bottom of the boat and it is difficult to get them with a float rod, but it is much easier with a rod without a float. Fishing can be done from bridges, but it works best from a boat.
For vertical fishing with a long fishing rod, the following gear should be used:
- A fishing rod with a length of six meters. The rod tip should be very flexible and susceptible to bites.
- Hooks No. 3.
- Weights in the form of small pellets.
- Long fishing line with a diameter of 0.9 mm.
Plumb fishing occurs as follows:
- Throw the tackle to a depth of at least two and a half meters so that the line is taut and the bait rises from the bottom by twenty centimeters.
- When there is a bite, you can easily notice it by the tip of the fishing rod, which will twitch a little.
- If a bite occurs, then you need to immediately make a quick but gentle hook.
To fish vertically with a short fishing rod, you should prepare the following gear:
- A rigid rod with a length of three meters and forty grams of dough.
- The reel is inertialess.
- Monoline with a diameter of 0.22 mm.
- Spoons or wobblers with good action.
The vertical fishing process follows this principle: