For some reason perch do not figure that highly on many anglers bait lists, but no body ever told the predators that, and this natural bait that is found in just about every venue makes up a large percentage of the diet of both pike and zander.

Perch have a very tough skin that makes them very long-lasting and great value for money. This makes them ideal for trotting, long casting and other tactics that are generally hard on more delicate baits. One favourite tactic is to suspend a perch one to two feet off the lake bed on a float paternoster rig. This approach has accounted for some very big Pike and Zander for us.

Perch are naturally quite buoyant and will pop-up without the need for bait poppers. To make them sink simply pierce the swim bladder with a baiting needle and squeeze out the air.

Perch fillets are another great bait, especially for Zander, simply cut the bait lengthways to make two fillets. This method gives a great leak-off of blood and makes the bait very visible even when fished hard on the bottom.

Usage Tips

Maxi Perch are quite large baits, so It's best to ledger them or use a float ledger set-up with a twin treble size 4 trace to give the correct hook positioning.
Medium Perch can be ledgered or used on a float ledger set-up with a twin treble size 6 trace to give the correct hook positioning.
Fix the upper treble through the root of the tail and the lower treble in the flank of the bait. When using perch on a drifter or paternoster rig put the upper hook through the back of the fish just in front of the dorsal fin and the lower treble in the bottom of the bait behind the gill.

Zander Pack/Mini Perch, These small perch are ideal for use with a Pike Pro single treble hook trace. When ledgering fix the hook either in the tail root or through the jaws of the bait. When suspending the bait under a float hook the bait through the root of the dorsal fin.