Perch in a Pike water

[Al Brown 2]

Been catching a few perch on lures intended for pike so would like to scale down a bit and catch perch on lighter gear, not much fun on 65lb braid n titanium trace so what's the recommended trace material for lighter perch fishing that would stand the obvious pike attention ?

[Fentiger01]

Hey Al, if you're already catching them on heavier Pike gear i.e. heavy trace wire they don't sound too fussy, I'd just use normal wire in the region of about 20-28lbs or so mate, seven strand etc.

[Al Brown 2]

Hey Al, if you're already catching them on heavier Pike gear i.e. heavy trace wire they don't sound too fussy, I'd just use normal wire in the region of about 20-28lbs or so mate, seven strand etc.

Thanks for your reply, wasn't thinking they were fussy feeders was just thinking for a bit more of a feel of the fish on the way in, just wondering if I'd missed some new trace gear that people targeting perch use, they are in a big water so seem to be keen feeders n maybe not a lot of right size food due to lots of cormorants n other predators.

[Mike J]

Don't be concerned the cormorants have eaten all the small fish in your water as any predator always chooses the largest food item for the least expenditure of energy, and a cormorant can swallow most species to 2lb.

I fish a similar water where cormorants are encouraged, the hope being they will/would eat down the huge populations of small rudd and roach.
Result, the small fish are still their but only come out of the dense cover to feed at night, the bigger fish are less and move around constantly, and the b carp are going bonkers!

Just keep doing what works, things will chage over time and thats when you do (is what I would do).

[Daniel]

What will happen here is you'll refine your approach and start using smaller, perch sized lures, and it'll be like the perch disappeared.
You'll start chucking pike lures about and BANG, you'll start catching perch again!
I have a venue just like this, the perch are easy to catch on a 17cm salmo sweeper, clip on a smaller version and it's nothing but the odd jack!!

[NE.kayaks]

Try a light drop shot rod with fluro carbon trace and light braid. Wilma feel everything through the rod

[Mike J]

Try a light drop shot rod with fluro carbon trace and light braid. Wilma feel everything through the rod

Yes everything, like a sharp bump followed by a slack line.



And no lure on the end

[suffolk si]

Very true mike

[Fentiger01]

Try a light drop shot rod with fluro carbon trace and light braid. Wilma feel everything through the rod

Yes everything, like a sharp bump followed by a slack line.



And no lure on the end

I shouldn't laugh but you're spot on their Mike!

[peteren]

What will happen here is you'll refine your approach and start using smaller, perch sized lures, and it'll be like the perch disappeared.
You'll start chucking pike lures about and BANG, you'll start catching perch again!
I have a venue just like this, the perch are easy to catch on a 17cm salmo sweeper, clip on a smaller version and it's nothing but the odd jack!!

Most of my experience is the opposite, Daniel!

As on LAS Forum,
Interesting that I get few perch on smallish pike lures there (a regular piking dyke) – 4”shads,grubs, cranks etc that half-pound-plus perch well – able to take; but had many more that size – up, on the 2” grub / hinged spinnerbait.
- guess I just "lucked onto" a feeding group on the day?

- Although no perch caught by brothers using 4”shads,grubs, cranks etc, alongside on the day??

[peteren]

Been catching a few perch on lures intended for pike so would like to scale down a bit and catch perch on lighter gear, not much fun on 65lb braid n titanium trace so what's the recommended trace material for lighter perch fishing that would stand the obvious pike attention ?

I lure a lot targeting perch and / or chub - but often getting jacks; sometimes doubles.
Usual setup 5-25g rod, 13lb braid and 12lb https://www.facebook.com/CahiraNitinolFishingWire/ - single strand titanium - less kink / fail prone than multistrands to jacks.
2" shads / grubs, etc will catch wasps upwards; can enjoy smaller fish on that setup, but handle the bigger pike too - they do turn up!

[Karlbird]

Just Albright a short section of the lightest Knot2Kinky or cahira nitol (12lb I think) to a flouro trace, you only need a few inches.

Alternatively, and controversially, just up the flouro diameter - I use 0.34 on the trout reservoirs when zander fishing where rules allow, and have seen plenty of pike caught and no bite offs.