Active fish
An active, hunting pike-perch may be simple to lure. However, an adaptable angler will always find a way to catch more fish than another. Generally speaking, there are two ways to target active pike-perch.
Firstly, a shad, with its stiff material and strong vibrations, is particularly effective on active fish. This makes it easier for fish to spot the shad at long distance or in dirty water. On the other hand, you can also use soft shads emitting low vibrations to fish faster without having to overhang your rig. Hunting fish can also tell the difference between prey according to the type of vibration they emit.
Fish with low activity levels
During phases of low pike-perch activity, it's important to slow down the action and stay in the right layer of water for as long as possible. Although stiff shads are perfect for slowing down fishing, I recommend avoiding them. Too strong a vibration passing close to a fish that is not very active risks attacking it and causing it to flee. A soft shad, with a fairly fine profile and discreet vibrations, will be much more effective when mounted on a light lead head, giving it a gliding action of easy prey.
When it comes to line fishing, it's important to include downriggering phases between two animations. The longer the descent phase, without starting too high in the water, the more likely it is to result in a hit.
Educated fish
Educated fish are undoubtedly more difficult to lure effectively. However, the variety of shapes and actions of soft lures allows us to fool them. Shads, widely used and with their characteristic vibration, should be avoided. Finesse lures, on the other hand, emit weak vibrations totally different from those of a shad. Lightly weighted to take advantage of the gliding effect, or with streamlined heads to make the lure darter, the finesse stands out from the crowd on educated fish.
Vibrations that pike-perch see less frequently, those of an imitation crayfish, also work very well. The aim is to fool the pike-perch who are already familiar with the full catalog of shads from the various brands. Worms, grubs and articulated soft lures can also be formidable under the right circumstances.
