Method

Spinning: how to get started

When spinning, you cast an artificial lure and actively retrieve it. You stay mobile and look for perch, zander and pike.

Good for

Plan a day of Spinning

What you need

Light spinning rod for perch and trout: 2.10 to 2.70 m, 10 to 30 g
Heavy spinning rod for pike: 2.40 to 3.30 m, 60 to 100 g casting weight
Fixed-spool reel with a properly set drag
Braided line for direct contact with the lure, or monofilament as an alternative
Swivel in front of the spinner so the line does not twist
Pike-proof trace of at least 40 cm wherever there are pike
Lures: spinners, spoons, soft plastic shads on a jig head, small plugs
Landing net, disgorger or pliers, tape measure, priest and knife

Step by step

Before you go, sort out your German fishing licence (Fischereischein), your fishing permit and the rules for the water, for example whether lures are allowed right now.
Set the drag so that it gives line before the line breaks. Add a swivel, and where pike swim, a pike-proof trace.
Match the lure to the fish: spinner size 0 to 2 for perch and trout, size 3 for zander, size 3 to 5 for pike.
Cast in a fan pattern: first close to the bank, then further out. Good spots are drop-offs, jetties, water lilies and weed beds.
Retrieve the lure steadily and feel through the rod tip whether it is working. Let soft plastics sink to the bottom every now and then.
Vary speed, depth and colour: copper on bright days in clear water, silver when it is cloudy or the water is coloured.
When you get a bite, strike with a short, firm movement and play the fish on a tight line. Land bigger fish with the landing net.
Any fish you keep, stun and kill straight away in a humane way. Unhook undersized or protected fish quickly in the water.

Common mistakes

Fishing a spinner without a swivel: the line twists, you get bird's nests and the line breaks while you are playing a fish.
Fishing without a pike-proof trace even though there are pike in the water.
Working just one lure at one speed all day long.
Lures that are too heavy on a rod that is too light: the casting weight applies to the whole rig, otherwise you risk breaking the rod.

Tips

Buy just a few cheap lures to start with. Snags cost tackle, that is part of the game.
Soft plastics need to sink for at least one second, so choose your jig head to match.
Ask in the local tackle shop which lures are catching on that water right now.

Quick questions

Which rod do I need for spinning for perch?

For perch, a light spinning rod about 2.10 to 2.70 m long with a casting weight of 10 to 30 g is enough. Pair it with a small fixed-spool reel and thin braided line.

Do I need a wire trace for spinning?

Where there are pike, yes. Their teeth cut through normal line. Use a pike-proof trace of at least 40 cm, even if you are actually fishing for perch, so that no pike swims off with a lure in its mouth.

Which spinner size for which fish?

As a rule of thumb: size 0 to 2 for perch and trout, size 3 for zander, size 3 to 5 for pike. Feel free to try different sizes on the water, fish do not always stick to the rules.

Check the rules

Closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each German state (and by each country abroad) and can be stricter on individual waters. We are building an overview with sources and check dates. Until then, check the local fishing regulations and the rules of the club or permit for your water.

Sources (3)

Last checked 2026-10-10. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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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