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The benefits of kayaking for pike-perch hunting
The kayak allows access to little-fished spots such as crowded edges, island heads, remote breaks or bridge piers, without relying on a boat launch. Its low noise and visual footprint causes little disturbance to pike-perch, which favours bites in clear or shallow water.
Basic equipment
A rod from 2 to 2.10 m in medium to medium-heavy power (approx. 10âeuros30 g) gives good lure control while remaining easy to handle when seated. A size 2500âeuros3000 reel fitted with fine braid (8âeuros12/100) and a 25âeuros30/100 fluorocarbon leader offers sensitivity and resistance to obstacles. It's important to limit the number of rods mounted to keep the deck clear and avoid tangles.
Effective techniques
There are two main kayak techniques for pike-perch: vertical and linear. With the vertical, you drift slowly, keeping the soft lure (shad or finesse on a lead head) just above the bottom, perfectly controlled under the rod. Linear fishing is done by casting upstream or over breaks and slowly bringing the lure back, skimming the bottom and pausing for a few seconds, which often triggers bites.
Choosing lures
Soft lures from 10 to 15 cm are a standard for targeting nice-sized pike-perch. Natural colors (green back, brown back, light belly) work well in clear water, while brighter shades (chartreuse, white, firetiger) help in tinted water or low light conditions. Adapting the weight of lead heads (7 to 21 g in general) to depth and current is crucial to maintain contact with the bottom without getting permanently hooked.
Safety and organization
Wearing a life jacket is advisable, especially in autumnâeuroshiver, when water temperatures make falling dangerous. Simple deck organization (accessible lure box, tongs, short lure net) avoids sudden movements and the risk of imbalance during fights. Before concentrating on technique, it's a good idea to practise manoeuvring the kayak and dealing with wind and drifts, as positional control is one of the keys to good pike-perch fishing.
