Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Preparing your gear
• Method 2 of 3: Timing for Fishing
• Method 3 of 3: Catching walleye

Zander is a large freshwater fish popular with fishermen. Many fishing enthusiasts spend a lot of time and effort to improve their skills in catching walleye. If you are a beginner fisherman, in this article you will find the basic methods and techniques for catching walleye, which will allow you to become an expert in this type of fishing.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Preparing your gear

1. 1 Select the bait. It is best to catch zander with live bait. When fishing for this fish, mainly three types of bait are used: small fish, leeches, and earthworms. Most often, small fish are used, and all types of fish are suitable for catching pike perch. The choice of bait depends on the season.
   • For live bait, all you need is a hook. For large walleye fishing it is better to use 1-4 hooks.
   • Small fish such as red-tailed chub and minnow can be used in spring.
   • In the summer, leeches and earthworms can be used as bait.
   • In autumn, red-tailed chub and small Chukuchans are suitable for bait.
2. 2 Pick up the bait. The bait is put on the bait, before the temptation to swallow which predatory fish will not resist. Lures, sometimes called jigs, vary in weight and color. The choice of bait depends on what time of the year you are going to fish for walleye.
   • In the spring, use a light bait of about 3-4 grams (1/8 oz). Choose bright red, yellow-green, yellow or white lures. The brightest white lures are considered the best. The bright color will attract even well-fed fish.
   • Use heavier baits in late spring and summer. If you're fishing in shallow water, 3/8 oz (10 gram) baits will do. For deeper areas, use 1/4 oz (7 gram) bait. At this time of the year, pike perch prefers natural colors such as brown, silver, black, white.
   • In the fall, baits are usually not used as they often cling to plants at the bottom of a river or lake. At this time of the year, catch zander with a regular baited hook.
3. 3 Choose a good rod. The type of rod and reel depends on the season and the lure you use. They are determined by the weight of the bait and the location you choose to fish. For zander fishing, spinning and a lure reel are most often used. Rods vary in rod strength and line strength.
   • The strength of the rod determines the weight it can carry; this weight is indicated on the rods. It can be denoted by a word, for example, "light", or by a number from 1 to 10.
   • The strength of the line determines the load that the line is designed for. It can range from as little as 1-2 kilograms (a few pounds) to over 23 kilograms (about 50 pounds).
   • There are two types of 2m (7ft) spinning rod that can be used for zander fishing. When fishing in shallow water in early spring, you will need a 2m (7ft) lightweight spinning rod. Enough for the line to hold 2 to 3 kilograms (roughly 4 to 6 pounds). Use bait weighing 1 to 4 grams (1/32 to 1/8 oz).
   • For late spring, summer and fall fishing, use a 2m (7ft) rod with medium light to medium strength. The line should be able to support 3.5-5.5 kilograms (8-12 pounds) and the bait should weigh between 3.5 and 20 grams (1/8 to 3/4 ounces).
   • For lure fishing for walleye, you can use a lure reel. These reels are suitable for all medium strength rods. For general lure fishing, a 2m (7ft) rod with a 15cm (6in) reel with medium rod strength and high line strength is suitable.

Method 2 of 3: Timing for Fishing

1. 1 Go fishing in the springtime. Depending on the time of year and the specific area, pike perch can be found in different places. Fish migrate due to spawning. In spring, pike perch prefers shallow, sandy waters with a depth of 1.5-4.5 meters (3-10 feet) near the banks of rivers and lakes. Fishing at a depth of approximately 1.5-3.5 meters (3-8 feet), depending on the specific water area. Pike perch can be found in the riverbed on sandy areas near its rocky banks, near fallen trees and in other secluded corners. In such places, fish spawn in early spring.
   • At this time of the year, the chances of catching smaller males of pike perch gathering in the spawning grounds are high. Females leave for bOgreater depth, hiding from the sun's rays and other fish. If you want to catch large females, look deeper (4.5-6.5 meters, or 10-15 feet).
   • Zander is a schooling fish, so they swim in groups. If you've caught one fish, there are probably others nearby.
2. 2 Go fishing in the summer. In warm weather, when the water warms up, the pike perch goes to deeper places, or hides among thick algae. For fishing, you can settle down on an islet with steep rocky shores covered with pebbles, or not far from the river mouth. During the summer, especially in hot weather, zander goes 6.5-15.5 meters (15-35 feet) deep. In search of food, the fish swims closer to the shore only at nightfall.
   • Smaller fish, usually small males, can stay in shallow water.
3. 3 Catch walleye in the fall. Pike perch are harder to catch at this time of year, but you can try. As the water temperature decreases and food decreases, the zander moves away from the coast and goes to deeper places. If you are fishing in a river, look closely at the current and try to identify deeper areas by its slowdown and eddies. In lakes, pike perch also swims offshore, sinking to a depth of 4.5-11 meters (10-25 feet).
   • If you are fishing in the lake, you may need a depth gauge to determine the likely locations for zander.
   • In autumn, at night, large females of pike perch swim in shallow water. Between 10:00 pm and 03:00 am, fish gather in large schools at a depth of 1-1.3 meters (approximately 2-3 feet).
   • You can try to catch pike perch in winter, although at this time of the year the fish are usually inactive, so they bite worse than in other seasons. However, zander is caught in winter in places where it is widespread, such as in large lakes.

Method 3 of 3: Catching walleye

1. 1 Get your fishing rod ready. Place the bait on a hook or jig. Throw the hook into the water. Make sure he is submerged in the water of the river or lake. After the bait is completely submerged in the water, it must be pulled out. According to speed, there are two main ways of pulling a baited hook, slow and fast. The speed depends on the season. When pulling the bait, straighten the line so that it forms a straight line with the line. Slowly shorten the line, pulling it up so that it does not sag while remaining taut.
   • During the low-activity zander season, that is, late summer and autumn, as well as in the middle of the day, pull the bait slowly. Take your time to shorten the line so that the hook or jig floats slowly in the water to lure the walleye.
   • In spring and early summer, when the zander is more mobile and aggressive, pull the bait faster. Shorten the line so that the hook or jig can quickly cut through the water column. Having been tempted by the bait, the pike perch will set off in pursuit of it.
   • Since pike perch hunts near the shore, you can fish standing on the banks of a river or lake. Cast your line into a river or lake 1.5-4.5 meters (3-10 feet) from the shore, where fish usually track their prey.
2. 2 Catch the walleye. When you feel something tugging on the line, it could mean that the zander has swallowed the baited hook. In this case, pull the rod towards you with force, catching the fish. In this case, the hook will go deep into the lip of the pike perch, and it will be difficult for the fish to jump off it. To get the fish out of the water, wind the line around the spool.
   • Once you have reeled in the line, you can reach the fish with your hand or use a net for this. If you reach for zander with your hands, be careful and pay attention to the dorsal fin of the fish. It is quite sharp and can be easily injured.
   • You may need pliers to remove the hook from the fish's mouth. Be sure to bring them on a fishing trip.
3. 3 Fishing for walleye with a spoon. You can also fish for walleye with a spoon on board the boat. Cast your lure rods from the stern of the boat and let the lure submerge under the water. Then ride the boat at low speed around the lake or river.A lure with bait or bait will follow the boat, attracting zander. Trolling is especially good during seasons of low activity of zander, that is, in autumn and winter.
4. 4 Be patient. Pike perch can be difficult to spot, especially in the middle of the day, in hot weather, and also in the fall. Look for places where walleye usually likes to gather, and cast your line there. If these are not easy to find, ask the locals, or look for a website dedicated to hunting and fishing in your area. For many areas, there are maps showing the relative amount of a particular fish in water bodies. Find an area with the highest concentration of walleye and try your luck there.