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The advantages of kayaking for perch fishing
With its shallow draft, the kayak provides access to shoals, nearby breaks and shallow edges where perch hunt fry.âeuros
What's more, the kayak is very discreet. It makes less noise and vibration than a boat or motorboat, which helps on educated fish or in clear water.âeuros
Finally, its mobility allows long, controlled drifts to "sweep" an area and find shoals of active perch, especially in large bodies of water.âeuros
Recommended equipment
- Short, light rod, ideally between 1.90 m and 2.10 m, for comfortable seating and the ability to cross the line from one side of the bow to the other in combat.âeuros
- Light spinning or casting reel, fine braid (8âeuros12/100) with fluorocarbon leader for discretion and sensitivity on sometimes very fine bites.âeuros
- Stable kayak (sit-in or sit-on), with pedal drive if possible to keep hands free and better control the vertical drift.âeuros
Particularly effective techniques
Vertical fishing : soft lure on a leaded head just under the kayak, ideal for following echoes with a depth sounder and insisting on a break or a spotted bank.âeuros
Light linear fishing : small shads or swimming fish along the edges, seagrass beds, drowned woods and heads of shoals in search of active fish.âeuros
Scratch fishing: slow animation on the bottom with small soft lures (creatures, finess, shads) to deter perch stuck to the substrate or with a weak bite.âeuros
Choice of lures and zones
- Lures: small shads and finess from 5 to 10 cm on heads from 3 to 10 g depending on depth and wind, completed by a few small crankbaits and spinners for power fishing.âeuros
- Zones: shelf breaks, offshore drop-offs, seagrass edges, structures (boulders, drowned wood), often between 3 and 8 m depending on season and light.âeuros
- Strategy: use the kayak to cover ground, spot bites, then go back more slowly to areas that yield several fish.âeuros
Safety and ergonomics
It should be compulsory to wear a vest and to check the weather before each outing, especially on large windy lakes or rivers with currents.âeuros
The organization of the deck with stowed rods, accessible boxes, and a paddle or paddle board that is always under control to avoid imbalance when ferrying or moving.âeuros
A floating anchor or a drifter are very useful to limit drift speed and keep a good vertical line on the lure in windy conditions.âeuros
