Herbarium edges
In bodies of water and rivers where weed beds proliferate in summer, pike-perch are usually found posted nearby. In summer, meadows provide shelter from predators and light, while creating an oxygen-rich zone much appreciated by fish. In winter, the amount of weed greatly diminishes, making it harder to locate, but if the water temperature is right, the fish are always there.
Pike-perch are not always hidden in the heart of the weed beds, but tend to settle at the edge and wait for prey to come out of hiding. The float-tube allows us to skirt the weed easily and vary our speed of prospection by changing the way we paddle. A lure that perfectly skirts a weed bed will give plenty of bites.
Human constructions
The various man-made constructions are always good spots for pike-perch fishing. There are two types: vertical and horizontal. Vertical structures are concrete bridges and docks. Pike-perch are very often found in the open water near the pillars of a bridge, either on the sheltered, shaded side when they are not very active, or on the exposed side when they are hunting. Whitefish can also be found here, providing a good food supply.
Horizontal constructions are rarer, except in dam lakes where low walls and old roads can be found. These areas are very popular with pike-perch, who frequently take up residence there. Vertical fishing lends itself well to various human constructions, since we know how they are designed and there is no randomness in the placement of a pillar or wall.
Rocky drop-offs
A rocky drop-off, whether very steep or not, is very difficult to fish from the shore. This is where the float-tube comes into its own, allowing us to fish vertically without the risk of snagging too often. Rocky drop-offs create shadowy areas where pike-perch take shelter on sunny days. Their vision is very effective in low light conditions, so they avoid sunlight, which is too aggressive for them.
When fishing vertically, it's easy to get as close as possible to the drop-off to decide on a pike-perch hidden in the shade of a large rock. A significant advantage is that rocky drop-offs where the bottom sinks quickly don't require you to travel a great distance with your flipper to find the ideal depth.
