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Because catching pike-perch on a consistent basis requires fine and varied animations, but also because the immediate proximity of the bottom is synonymous with the risk of regular hook-ups and finally because of the subtlety of the bites that must be perceived, the use of specific and high-performance equipment will bring you a real gain in efficiency.
Feel the bottom and the keys
Pike-perch fishing requires precise perception of your lure's movement in relation to the bottom, so you can feel the slightest contact and unevenness, but also detect the sometimes very discreet bites of this fish.
The rod is the most important element of your success. You need a model with excellent resonance, and your choice should be a high-modulus carbon with a pronounced tip action and great responsiveness.
Correctly animate your lure
While these characteristics are essential for maximizing feedback, they are also essential for running your animations.
You'll need to use most of your rod's lower power range so that your tip flexes as little as possible during animation. A hard, reactive tip will enable you to accurately transfer the amplitude and speed of your tip movements to your soft lure.
A bent tip will delay the movement of your lure, resulting in more snags and a reduced transcription of your animations. Of course, you can compensate by using a different motricity, but that's not the most efficient way.
Equipment adapted to the constraints of the environment
the environment in which you fish will determine the power and length of your rod, as well as the accessories that go with it.
The need to cast far, the size of the bottom, the depth and the strength of the current will mean using lead heads with very different weights.
Similarly, the presence of other species such as catfish will influence your needs.
In this sense, rivers and canals are two completely different environments that require the use of a very specific set.
Pike-perch in rivers
Rivers are often wide, with deep areas and strong currents in places, and are often home to catfish. These characteristics call for a rod with good power reserves and lead heads ranging from 7 to 30 g (sometimes more in certain conditions).
What's more, you'll need to be able to cast far and have a rod of sufficient length to achieve accurate line control from a distance of 30 metres.
For the river, a rod between 2.40 and 3.00 m with a power of 20-60 g is an excellent compromise. A reel size 3000 from Daiwa or 4000 from Shimano will balance this perfectly. For braid, which is essential for pike-perch fishing, a PE1.2 or 1.5 size and 30 to 35/100 fluorocarbon will enable you to overcome most of your opponents.
Pike-perch in canals
Canals are very different environments, but also often rich in pike-perch. The fishing here is finer and lighter, as currents are often much less marked and the average depth less. Catfish are also less common in these environments.
You can opt for a rod between 2.00 and 2.30 m with a power output of 5-25 g, enabling you to perfectly handle soft lures from 4 to 5 inches with lead sinkers weighing from 3 to 10 g.
Finally, as canals have a less linear topography, crancking is often effective for prospecting more ground. While staying on the cutting edge, you can opt for a little gentler action on the final third.
A reel in size 2500 fitted with PE0.8 or PE1 braid and 25/100 fluorocarbon will complete your ensemble harmoniously.
