Among the river predators, there is one that is a favorite trophy of not only spinningists, but also floaters. You can catch it with almost any tackle. But far from all anglers get the hook on the hook. Of course, we are talking about zander. This predator is secretive, gluttonous and greedy. He leads a cautious lifestyle, going hunting at dusk. You can fish on it at any time of the day and almost the whole year. The main thing is to know where and how to catch zander.
Description
Zander is hard to confuse with another species, except with a bersh. His body is elongated, torpedo-shaped. Dorsal fin high with sharp spikes. Pike perch belongs to the perch family, but in appearance it is more similar to pike. True, being in the same body of water, these two species will compete fiercely with each other for food. Zander prefers to feed at dusk. His eyes are large and bulging enough. They are adapted to twilight vision. Unlike pike, pikeperch does not have a huge number of sharp teeth, but it is able to hold prey firmly in its mouth.
The color of this predator is not bright, grayish-green. But there is one interesting feature: pike perch (the photo, the fish on which is shown in close-up, clearly shows this) has specific stripes. As a rule, there are eight to ten of them. It is such a protective color that allows the predator to hide among plants or at the bottom. In this case, the color of the scales varies. Large specimens living in the depths have a dark color with a golden overflow.
Habitat
Pikeperch is a fairly common species. It can be found in rivers flowing into the southern seas: Azov, Caspian, Black. It is also caught in river basins, the mouth of which is the Baltic Sea. Pike perch is found in the lakes of the Finnish peninsula.
Before you study in detail how to catch zander, you need to figure out where you can find this predator. Firstly, this species does not settle in every river. He needs some conditions. The main one is water with a pronounced flow and a rich oxygen content. Zander is never found in silty low-flowing water bodies. Also, this species is actively inhabited by reservoirs and large natural lakes. Successful attempts to stock up artificial flowing ponds with zander are known. Why is so much attention paid to this fish? Because of her delicious, dietary meat. Zander, of course, is a commercial species, so they are trying not only to preserve it, but also to increase its number in many regions. True, it turns out with varying success.
So, the "striped" river predator is very picky about the environment and living conditions. But at the same time he leads a very secretive lifestyle. It happens that fishermen have been fishing for several years in the same area and do not even suspect that pike perch is swimming next to their gear. This species always avoids elders and bays. The fact is that in such parts of the reservoir the current is weak, and the water is not sufficiently aerated with oxygen. Pike perch, most likely, will settle in those places where there are considerable depths. The flow in such areas should be well defined, and the soil at the bottom should be rocky or at least hard.
But the pike perch chooses for itself a habitat and by virtue of age. Young individuals keep in packs off the coast where there is snag, or areas of aquatic vegetation are found. How to catch large zander - the question is much more complicated. Trophy specimens are almost never found near the coast. They are kept in the depths, near pits or slopes. Be sure to have a current. They are caught from a boat, often trolling on artificial bait. Likes a large predator snags and pits with hard soil. The sandy and pebble bottom is ideal for him. If fishing is planned near urban settlements, then you need to look for fish near bridges, dams and coastal ledges.
On lakes and reservoirs, pike perch finds itself in the beds of flooded rivers. It can be caught near islands, rocky ridges. At dusk and in the wee hours, the predator goes to feed in the coastal zone, on the shallows. Here, real battles unfold daily. Pike perch hunts in packs, driving small fish and not giving her a single chance.
Zander spawning
Fishing for zander begins in early spring. But in the last decade of April, when the water warms up to the desired temperature, the predator goes to spawn. Females spawn eggs in fairly small sections of the reservoir. Most often, spawning occurs in places with flooded shrubs, among thickets of reeds and on rocky ridges. Fish activity is noted at night. But even more interesting is the fact that after spawning, the fish does not immediately leave the place where the caviar is located. This behavior is not common among aquatic predators.
Zander, unlike many other river species, takes care of its eggs. It stays close to the places of clutches for a long time and intensively drives away other predators. In the early stages of life, juvenile juveniles feed on zooplankton; fry will only begin to hunt closer to three months of age. Well, their puberty will come only by the age of five, when their body will be half a meter long. By the way, it is very curious that, despite all the parental care, cannibalism is not alien to zander. Here is such a strange behavior.
Where to look for zander on the river?
Since most of the fishing for pikeperch occurs on the rivers, it will not be superfluous to dwell in more detail on where and when to catch it. So, this predator is twilight fish. His eyes have a structure that helps him catch even the faintest glimmers of light. This, of course, helps him hunt in the dark. But in the afternoon, such an advantage turns into a disadvantage. Pike perch is hiding from bright rays in the depths of the water. It can stay in the shade of snag and fallen trees, hide under large stones and in bottom holes.
And given that this predator prefers to stay on the current near a hard bottom, then first of all it is sought on the rivers near the channel edges and under snags. In such conditions, the pike perch, in order not to spend energy on a useless fight with rushing waters, simply tears out a small hole for itself in the ground and waits for sunset there.
So, we mentioned the main places where to catch zander in the daytime. But such fishing will not bring large catches, mostly small individuals will come across. But during the night dawn it is better to look for a predator at spillways and locks. A pike perch stands here, hiding behind stones and waiting for a small fish stunned by a whirlpool. Fishing will also be successful at bridge piers and reinforced concrete structures collapsing into the water. It will not be superfluous to catch the areas where the border of the forward and reverse flows passes - for sure the zander will also be here. At dusk the “striped” predator goes hunting and shallows; it rushes especially to where there is aquatic vegetation. With the sunset, bursts are heard here - it is the pikeperch chasing the fry. Naturally, at different times of the year, a predator behaves differently. Therefore, there are many fishing options for this type of fish: from a fishing rod to a donkey – snack and spinning.
Spring fishing
In the last days of April or early May, zander begins to have an active zhor. It is observed immediately after spawning. At this time, flocks of predators are kept in shallow bays near the reeds, bushes and snags. To find zander, you need to pay attention to spawning bleak, roach or other white fish. The predator will certainly be nearby. At this time, he eagerly takes almost all the bait (we are talking about bait fish and artificial baits). It is best to catch zander in the spring on the bottom tackle. The most primitive equipment is taken (reel wound fishing line with a diameter of 0.35 mm). Since this species lives in water bodies with the course, the sinker is set weighing 60-100 grams. It should not be torn to the side after casting and even more so be washed ashore. A leash is attached to the sinker at a distance of 30 cm. Since pike perch almost never bites a forest like a pike, there is no need to install a metal one. A leash of ordinary fishing line with a length of 80 cm to 1 meter will fit perfectly. Hooks are needed sharp and large. The sting should be slightly bent to the side so that during the jerk the fish hooks itself. As bait for donk use live bait. Best suited are bleak, roach, gudgeon.
Also in the spring it is recommended to catch pike perch on a leash. This snap involves spinning. Silicone twisters and vibro-tails are always taken as baits. Now more about the snap itself. A sinker is attached to the end of the main fishing line; it is best to take models with one eye or “cheburashka”. Weight - not more than 30 grams, if the current is not strong, then 15 grams is quite enough. A regular leash is attached at a distance of approximately 40 cm from the sinker. Its length should be one meter. A silicone bait is attached to the end , but only without a jig head. In this snap it is not needed. Such installation is simple, convenient and robust. In general, catch on a leash is most often applied specifically to pike perch and its smaller “brother” - bersh.
Catching zander in the summer
About the features of fishing in the spring, it is more or less clear, but what is there to catch zander in the summer? In the hot season, you can temporarily put the spinning aside and take a fishing rod. By mid-June, zhor zander is coming to naught. Fish gradually leaves the bays and goes to their usual habitats. And this is most often the deepened depths. To get it from there is a whole art and mastery worked out for years. Spinning here will be useless, but the fishing rod, as they say, is just right. Predator biting is observed after sunset and in the wee hours. And in cloudy weather zander can actively grab live bait even for a whole day.
Fishing for this predator in the summer has many features and small nuances. It is caught on a float only in those sections of the river where it is possible to let the tackle go far upstream. It can be bridges, water structures, dams or streamers. But the easiest way is to use any watercraft. Fishing from a boat is not just convenient - it makes accessible places. On it you can get to the differences in depths, to rifts, snags and eyebrows.
What bait to catch zander? Of course, in the summer it will be more relevant and most likely to be live bait. He must be tenacious and lively. Among all river species, pike perch prefers to hunt dace, bleak, roach and gudgeon. In order for the bait fish to retain its mobility longer, it is hooked in a special, cunning way. A simple stationery gum is worn on the tail of a fish. And already through it a hook is threaded. Thus, the fish does not get injured, it, trying to free itself, will make a lot of body movements, which will certainly attract the attention of pike perch. The predator's grip is aggressive and decisive. But when the float abruptly goes under water, they do not hook up immediately, but after a couple of seconds. But in the snag, this is not at all necessary.
Alloy fishing
Too many fishermen prefer to catch pike perch with an alloy. This is a very interesting and effective way of fishing on a striped predator. Usually they take a fishing rod as tackle, but they catch it “in a plumb line,” that is, without a float. The bait is still the same bait. Some use a dead fish mounted on a jig head. So, how to catch zander from a boat with an alloy?
If a dead fish is taken as bait, then it is necessary to make it move like a bait fish. Sluggish, and even more so motionless prey of pike perch is not interesting. Liveliness bait provide a game. It must be continuous. To imitate the game of fry, the fisherman makes a series of small twitches. Of course, everyone has their own fishing technique. But just such are taken as the basis: with a soft and wide movement, the jig-head with the fish rises from the bottom, then it waits a couple of seconds and drops sharply back.
This is the whole secret of how to catch zander on live bait, which no longer moves independently. As for gear, they look as follows. The alloy fishing rod should be short and strong. The reel is inertial, which allows the fisherman to quickly change the fishing depth. This is necessary if the bottom topography changes abruptly or an unexpectedly heavy specimen is caught on a hook. The float is not used in a snap. The bite feels like a push or is visible on a sagging fishing line.
Spinning summer fishing
Of course, catching a predator on live bait is a simple matter, the issue of how to catch zander on a spinning rod is much more problematic. To achieve that he pecked at artificial bait is not easy. Although spinning fishing for zander has recently become as popular as pike fishing. The main thing here is not the number of fish caught, but excitement, skill, the ability to pick up bait, make wiring. In general, this method of fishing is really for enthusiastic people.
Mostly, jig baits are used to capture pike perch. And since there are a great many of them, it will not be superfluous to clarify which particular models are suitable. Pike perch most often responds to vibro-tails. Their preferred sizes are 8 centimeters. And the color does not really matter. It is much more important to pay attention to the shape and weight of the bait. Depends on these parameters how to catch zander on rivers in a jig . A decoy game is everything. Jig-heads are selected taking into account the current velocity and depth. Checking if the weight is correct is easy. When tossing, the bait should sink to the bottom in two seconds. Although in some conditions it is more efficient to catch lighter jigs. They literally hover above the surface of the soil.
It is worth mentioning how to properly catch zander with such baits. The wiring is stepped. This is the easiest option. The wobbler methodically rises and sinks to the bottom. As a rule, zander bites are sharp and assertive. If one specimen was caught, then it would not be superfluous to catch this section of the reservoir better. There is a high probability of fishing a few more individuals. Pike perch is a schooling fish.
Wobblers for zander
Of course, in addition to silicone baits, you can use other options. For example, you should familiarize yourself with how to catch zander on wobblers. This bait must meet certain criteria. The real nonsense wobbler - the geometry of the "minnow". Its length is from seven to twelve centimeters. They can be either floating or sinking. In general, spinning professionals often mention that a stunned wobbler should have a depth of possible immersion somewhat greater than the distance to the bottom of the reservoir. Then, when posting, the bait will occasionally slide its belly over the ground. And this will undoubtedly lead to the rise of a cloud of turbidity. Thus, an imitation of the movements of a small fish, swarming at the bottom, seems to be more reliable for zander.
Night fishing for zander
Perhaps the most “romantic” fishing for pike perch is at night. This fish shows its greatest activity - unlike the same pike - after sunset or in the wee hours. At this time, the fishermen lay out their gear and prepare for the upcoming bites. They are looking for zander after sunset on the rifts and shallows. Here, battles are fought not for life, but for death. Pike perches flock a small fish in packs, giving it no chance of salvation. And this “battle” lasts almost all night. So with the onset of pitch darkness fishing does not stop.
How to catch zander on a spinning rod at night? The question is quite interesting, because at this time the conditions for casting and wiring are not the best. Wobblers are used as bait. Floating ones are best, since the predator hunts at shallow depths. The color scheme of the wobbler is not at all important. In order for a fisherman to see his bait, one can take fluorescent models without prejudice to fishing. They do not deter fish and are convenient to use.
Now in specialized departments where fishing gear is sold, you can even find and purchase light-accumulating lures. They glow in the dark. The speed of posting to pike perch at night is slow. It is necessary to periodically make small stops. At such moments, the wobbler, as a rule, fluctuates over the course. And yet, what is better to catch zander after sunset and until dawn? This predator is actively grabbing shallow shallow baits, certainly with a fractional game and clearly visible to the angler from the shore.
Autumn catch
Pike perch in the fall shows excellent appetite. It is very successful at this time of the year to catch him on artificial bait "plumb". For this, in addition to gear, a boat is also useful. With a decrease in water temperature, this predator will pursue flocks of its favorite prey, which go deep. Getting the pike perch from the shore becomes very difficult. Therefore, you need to get into the depths. Experienced fishermen quickly find foppish places in reservoirs they know. From year to year they can remain on the same section of the river. These are most often dumps in pits, the boundaries of whirlpools, snags. As baits they take average lunatic spinners, balancers and “helicopters”. It is noticed that pike perch violently grabs the bait rising up.
Here is such an interesting river predator - zander. The photo, the fish on which barely fits in the hands of a happy fisherman, will not leave indifferent true connoisseurs of sport fishing.