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Winter fishing behavior and areas
When water temperature drops below 5-8°C, the pike-perch's metabolism slows down, but it continues to hunt to meet its energy needs. They position themselves in deeper areas, often in contact with pools, breaks, or near submerged structures such as rocks, drop-offs, or submerged woods, where prey (roach, bleak) are more concentrated. Thermal variations can cause the water to form distinct layers, making it necessary to vary the depth and test different levels of prospection.âeuros
Effective techniques
Visit vertical fishing is widely used on boats or float tubes, and remains one of the most effective. It consists in presenting the lure just above the bottom, imitating motionless prey. A sensitive, supple rod is recommended to optimize detection of the sometimes discreet bites. Large soft lures (6 to 8 inches) are preferred to avoid stimulating small pike-perch and target trophy fish. Texas hooks are often used to prospect crowded areas.âeuros
Visit drop shot is a variation on the vertical with a specific rig where the lure is suspended above a sinker. It favours slow animations to provoke hits on inactive pike-perch. The addition of various attractors can considerably increase the chances of capture, by stimulating the aggressiveness of cold fish.âeuros
Visit linear pull tab (or "slow rolling")Â is a technique that consists of slowly moving a soft or hard lure along the bottom, grinding gently and alternating pauses. The aim is to create a cloud of sediment that attracts the attention of pike-perch in sometimes murky water. It is very effective for prospecting deep, calm areas.âeuros
Visit slow soft lure fishing  is done using discreet animations with shad lures, with color variations depending on the light (bright colors to orange or yellow in turbid water, natural in clear water).âeuros
Recommended equipment
- Medium to fast-action rod, 2.10 to 2.40 m long, sensitive for detecting fine touches.
- Reel equipped with fine braid (12-16/100) accompanied by a fluorocarbon leader (25-35/100) at least 1 m long for discretion and abrasion resistance.
- Soft lures such as shads, twists, swimbaits between 6 and 10 cm, with Texan hooks to avoid snagging.
- Adapted lead heads (from 5 to 28 g) depending on depth, current and activity, to be tested to find the best performing combination.âeuros
Practical tips
Fish slowly and patiently, concentrating on the most promising spots.
Adapt depth to thermal stratification, by testing different water heights.
Favour days when the water is calm and clear, but don't neglect flood periods, when pike-perch are more active.
Use olfactory attractants to increase your chances, especially in winter when touches are rarer.
Keep a close eye on the weather and light conditions, as they also influence pike-perch activity.âeuros
Fishing for pike-perch in winter requires a slow and precise technical approach, often based on the vertical, drop shot and slow pull. Knowing where to fish in deep water, using the right resources and constantly adjusting your action to suit the conditions are the keys to success in stalking this demanding predator during the cold season.
