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Pike-perch fishing is a particularly interesting activity, as it requires a great deal of prospecting, adaptation and technical mastery. And while its defense may not be the most impressive, the big head strikes characteristic of big pike-perch are unrivalled. Last but not least, the multiplicity of hits it is capable of is both disconcerting and exciting.
A technical fish
Pike, perch, black-bass and catfish are receptive to many more lures and techniques than pike-perch. Admittedly, their fishing requires greater versatility, making them more interesting to track.
Pike-perch can be fished in a variety of ways, but most of the fishing is done with soft lures close to the bottom and therefore requires a high degree of technical skill.
Many will tell you that they've caught pike-perch on crude rigs, on huge lures preceded by a steel leader, and that its legendary distrust, the origin of its reputation, is well and truly usurped. Like all fish, when they're in a feeding frenzy, they're easy to lure, but consistency over a season is another matter altogether.
Reputed to be moody, they are undoubtedly less so than pike, but are much more sensitive to the presentation of your lure in order to be fooled.
Locating pike-perch
To fish pike-perch consistently, it's essential to locate them. Pike-perch holding positions depend on 4 factors:
- The light
- Oxygen
- The food
- And finally, the look is determined by structure and luminosity.
The light
Pike-perch are luciferous fish and can therefore take advantage of low light levels to hunt. The intensity of the light is therefore decisive for the depth at which the fish can be held. They will always be on the borderline between the visible and the invisible to surprise their prey. Brightness depends on the color of the water, the time of day, the weather and the size of the spot. So the lower the light, the shallower you'll find them, and vice versa. At high water or daylight, they can be caught in 50 cm of water 1 m from the bank.
Oxygen
Oxygen is vital to the survival of all species, and pike-perch are no exception. The concentration of oxygen in the water depends on its circulation and temperature. So the hotter it is (especially in summer), the more you'll need to look for them in highly oxygenated areas, i.e. deep or with a strong current.
The food
The final factor is the presence of food. Pike-perch, like all predators, choose their holding positions according to their survival instinct, but also their feeding instinct, and will always look for a safe spot with plenty of food. The presence of food is linked to the feeding current, but also to the structure of the spot.
So, in a future topic, we'll look at the different spots where these fish can be found and the importance of seasonality in their holding areas.
