One up shad by Sawamura
A must-have lure for years, the one-up shad is one of the lures I use most often for vertical fishing. Its density and balance give it a beautiful presentation, no matter how fast you drift or retrieve. For pike-perch, the 4 to 6 inch sizes are very good, and you shouldn't hesitate to use the 7 inch from time to time if you hope to trigger a big fish. The brand's historic colors, such as 20 and 27, are a must, and can be sufficient to cope with all conditions. Colors 62 71, 73, 76 and 91 are great additions to have, to present something more varied and less one-coloured.
D-Fin from Daiwa
After the one up shad, this is the shad I use the most, in sizes 4 and 5 when I'm after zander. Its body, less stocky than the One Up, is appreciated when fish are less receptive to strong vibrations and/or fast speeds. The Chartreuse Ayu, Lime and Ayu colors are good for pike-perch and can cope with any situation. Another similar lure is Keitech's Easy Shiner, which is a good complement when looking for colors not available from Daiwa, such as the Wakasaki, which is very good on zander in clear water.
Black minnow by Fiiish
Finally, the last lure in this series is the Fiiish Black Minnow. Its strong point is its painted lead head adapted to the shape of its body and its hidden hook, giving it excellent visual discretion on wary fish. The Off Shore head model is best suited to vertical fishing, as its aerodynamic shape and fairly heavy lead accept fast drifts well. Sizes 120 and 140 are well suited to pike-perch fishing, and if there's one color you absolutely must have in your tackle box for pike-perch fishing, it's orange-yellow!
With these 3 shads, I can fish for pike-perch in all conditions during the winter season.
