Google earth or geoportal for example offer satellite views of all your fishing spots which allow you to carry out a comfortable prospection from your home. Indeed, thanks to the aerial views, you can easily guess which structures can create a shelter for fish in times of flood. So here are the typical spots you should look for to track pike-perch.
The island avals
Island swallows are excellent flood spots because not only do they often create a vast area of calm where fish can rest but also an area where food naturally accumulates. The meeting of the two veins of current create particularly interesting eddies to exploit.
The stalls in the bank
Anything that comes loose in the bank, no matter how small, can create a calm zone. Even if it is sometimes only a few square meters, it is still enough to shelter some nice pike-perch.
The dead arms
On large rivers, the oxbow is an excellent winter fishing area, but even more so when there is a flood. The entrance channel is an excellent spot to explore first, especially if there is a difference in water clarity.
Ports
Harbours work in exactly the same way as a dead arm, with the difference that the boats present, due to the fact that they sometimes constitute dwellings, warm the water, which is a significant advantage in cold water.
The inside of a bend
On a river, bends are key because the outside of the river is subject to an acceleration of the current and its banks are often hollow, while the inside is subject to a deceleration of the current.
When it is really strong, it forms a calm zone on a very sharp bend that can hold the fish.
Bridge piers or obstacles
Any sufficiently large obstacle in the middle of the riverbed can become a spot during a flood. It breaks the current and forms a calm zone downstream that will allow a few pike-perch to rest.
The locks
Because of their operation and architecture, the locks offer a favourable shelter during a flood and will hold prey and predators for sure. However, it is advisable to check the regulations to make sure that they are not outlawed!
The importance of water level
The identified spots will be good at specific times and it is advisable to visit them at different times of the day but also during floods on a larger scale. Very often the height of water and the clarity of the water is a determining factor in the performance of each spot, so remember to note your observations for future outings.
