Lures for perch
Perch lures: small soft plastics, drop shot, spinners and worm
European perch are curious and hunt in shoals. Small lures worked lively almost always catch, in cold water slow and on the drop shot. US cousin: the yellow perch.
The lure groups
What for, in which size and colour, and how to work it.
Small soft plastic and creature bait
Edges, rock banks, jetties, harbour basins, anywhere with structure.
- Size
- 5 to 9 cm, jig head 3 to 10 g. Big perch take 10 to 12 cm too.
- Colour
- Natural (perch, roach, brown) in clear water, chartreuse and pink in murky water and to provoke.
- Retrieve
- Jig with short hops, twitch along the bottom or retrieve steadily. Change speed when a fish follows.
Drop shot
Cold water, sluggish fish, from a boat over holes, from a jetty along sheet piling.
- Size
- Soft bait 4 to 8 cm, weight 5 to 15 g, hook 30 to 60 cm above the weight.
- Colour
- Natural and subtle, dark in winter.
- Retrieve
- Quiver the lure on the spot, then move it 20 cm. The colder, the less movement.
Spinner and small spoon
Covering areas, perch shoals in summer, beginners and children.
- Size
- Spinner size 1 to 3, spoon 5 to 12 g.
- Colour
- Silver and gold, a red blade or red threads on the hook add a trigger.
- Retrieve
- Steady, with the odd short burst. Lift the spinner after the cast so the blade starts.
Worm and small bait fish
Float fishing from the bank, static fishing, children, waters full of small fish.
- Size
- Half or whole lobworm, bait fish 4 to 7 cm.
- Colour
- Not relevant.
- Retrieve
- Under a float just above the bottom or along rock banks. Perch often bite several times, do not strike too early.
Through the year
- Spring Shallow warm bays, small soft plastics and spinners. Mind spawning time and any closed season on your water.
- Summer Shoals chase small fish at the surface, small crankbaits, spinners, fast soft plastics. Early and evening.
- Autumn Perch feed up, bigger soft plastics at edges and structure. Often the biggest fish of the year.
- Winter Deep and slow, drop shot and light jig heads in harbour basins and deep edges. See the tip Perch in cold water.
Rules of thumb
Perch move in shoals. After the first bite fish the spot out before you move.
Thin braid, fluorocarbon leader, light rod. Perch feel resistance and let go.
Where pike live, a thin leader costs lures. Thin wire or heavier fluorocarbon as a compromise.
Quick questions
What is the best lure for perch?
Small soft plastics and creature baits on a light jig head, in winter on the drop shot. Spinners catch plenty of perch near the surface, worm under a float is the classic from the bank.
What colour for perch lures?
Natural patterns in clear water, chartreuse, pink and orange to provoke and in murky water. A red trigger point on the hook often helps.
How big should a perch lure be?
5 to 9 cm for most fish, 10 to 12 cm for big perch in autumn. On the drop shot 4 to 8 cm.
Next
Lures for other species
Lures for other species
Everything here is a rule of thumb from practice, not a guarantee. Lures are named as a group, not as a brand. Sizes are guide values.
In Germany, closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each state and can be stricter for single waters. All German rules by state, with the legal source. Outside Germany, the local rules apply: licence and agency by country.
Know more?
Additions, photos of your catches or a mistake in the text: write to us and we will gladly credit you as a helper.
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