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Where to look for perch in winter?
In lakes and dams: marked breaks, pits, slope breaks (e.g. from 4 to 6 m), rocky or hard areas and forage concentrations identified by depth sounder are very good areas to prospect.âeuros
In rivers and canals: cushioning, sheet-pile edges, bridge piers, slightly deeper and slower areas, should be sought out. The poles are often just a few meters from the edge.âeuros
In gravières: the fish are often less grouped together than in large lakes, so you have to â??beat the groundâ? to find schools of perch.âeuros
Key lures and fixtures
The drop shot is one of winter's star rigs. A rig that holds a soft lure (shad, finesse, worm, creature) motionless or almost motionless, just above the bottom. Ideal for "insisting" on a bank once found.âeuros
Vertical fishing with compact shads, vibrating blades or jigs is still very effective for triggering aggressive strikes on fish gathered at depth.âeuros
The "scratch" fishing technique: a soft lure on a lead head or Texas rig, which is slowly glided over the bottom to lift a little sediment and imitate easy prey, is perfect when perch want to expend a minimum of energy.âeuros
And last but not least, the single float plus worm rig is best used in canals or banks. The use of a small float (1âeuros3 g) and a worm section close to the bottom remains formidable, with a discreet and itinerant approach.âeuros
Equipment and settings
Cannes : a light rod for fine fishing (drop, vertical) and a more powerful rod for blades/jigs cover most situations.âeuros
Lines : fine braid with a fluorocarbon or 18âeuros25/100 nylon leader, depending on the obstacles, with a well-adjusted brake to withstand head blows.
Animations : they should be slow, minimalist, with long pauses. Often, the touch occurs at the stop rather than during recovery.âeuros
Winter strategy
- Look for shoals quickly using a "fast" technique (blade, jig, linear shad).
- As soon as a few fish are found, search the surrounding area for the school of fish.âeuros
- Don't dwell too long on an empty area: in winter, either the bench is there, or you have to move.
The key to perch in winter is the combination of location plus slowness to find deep groupings or close to structure. Then offer very stable, slow-moving rigs that provide perch with easy-to-grasp prey despite the cold.
