1. Local knowledge is invaluable when fishing for perch
Always start by asking around the people who know the waters best and know where the perch are usually found. Local knowledge is extremely important when you start looking for fish. But, after that, don’t just go to the same places every fishing trip, but challenge yourself by getting into the habit of trying three completely new places every trip. This is the only way you can actually develop and start to see patterns in where the perch are given different times, temperatures and seasons.
2. Fishing for perch with the right bait
Variation in bait choice is key when it comes to perch fishing. Try different types of lures, such as jigs, spinners or small wobblers and change colors often until you get it right. Once you find what works, make sure your friends in the boat switch to similar lures so you can maximize your fishing together. If you want bigger fish, don’t be afraid to go up in size up to 10-12 cm on the bait, often the bigger perch are quite voracious.
3. remember where you have caught nice fish
Always make a note of where you caught big perch. Some places are simply better than others for bigger perch and it’s worth returning there. Sometimes a sprat can be great and then you find a similar spot a few hundred meters away and it’s completely empty. The reason for this is not always easy to understand, but everything from water currents to oxygen levels and water temperature plays a big part.
4. Baitfish control the fishery
Look for baitfish with your sonar or just look at the surface if you can see where they are hitting. It’s often worth spending a little time choosing your fishing spot carefully before you anchor and start casting. And if there’s one thing that’s more important than anything else, it’s that there are baitfish nearby. The perch follow the baitfish all year round and if there are a lot of pollack, roach or dace where you are going to fish, the odds of the big perch also being there are considerably greater.
5. air pressure matters
Perch are very sensitive to air pressure and typically considered to be a “fine weather fish”. Obviously, high pressure is best for fishing, but in Sweden you can’t just order a high pressure when you go fishing. However, what you can do if you have a weekend to fish is to choose to maximize the day when there is stable air pressure, it is usually better fishing then.
6. Dare to go your own way
Of course, you can gain important knowledge by looking at how others have done their fishing. But the single most important factor is how much time you spend out on the water and how innovative you are when it comes to testing and understanding the particular water you are fishing in. Every water is unique and you have to crack the code. Most people have waters near them that hold fish over a kilo, so start by buying the fishing gear you need for a successful trip here on tradera and then get out on the lake!
Text and photo: Pierre Norberg, hunting and fishing journalist
