Last Zander / Pike-perch fishing in 2017

After a month without fishing due to catastrophic weather consisting of wind, rain or snow, see all 3 at the same time, I decide to schedule a 3:30 micro outing by boat for December 31. It's the last one of the year, so we'll try to make the most of it!

I haven't had any information on fishing on this lake for a while. So I simply choose two rods that will accompany me for the outing: the 68MX, a monster of resonance, for all vertical fishing and the SJ705IM for its versatility (jig, casting jig, straight retrieve / Cast and retrieve soft lure...). Given the short time available, I'll try not to spread myself too thin.

The boat is quickly launched at daybreak, the sun is out, it's a change and a real Pleasure. I take the opportunity to take a few photos of the landscape; I may come here frequently, but I never tire of it, whatever the season.

[caption id="attachment_1252" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sunrise and mist...[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_1253" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Beautiful day ahead![/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_1256" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Like an air of Canada... Perdu c'est le Cantal![/caption]

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Complicated start to the outing.

But enough contemplation, I'm here to fish. A quick survey on the sounder confirms that fishing for Zander / Pike-perch is not going to be easy: no wind, bright sunshine, water at less than 3° and not a single echo on the sounder. I decide to make a siege of a spot I know well.

[caption id="attachment_1257" align="aligncenter" width="640"] It's not won ...[/caption]

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The station in question is located at 15m depth at mid-slope under a plateau and is made up of a few boulders with compact sand or gravel around them, whereas the majority of the lake's substrate is made up of silt. As an anecdote, I discovered this spot 4 years ago during a vertical fishing trip with the 68MX. The resonance of the blank allowed me to feel the substrate very effectively, to scrape the bottom and differentiate gravel from sand and silt. It was only 2 years later, with the acquisition of a side-view fishfinder, that I had confirmation of what I had felt with this blank. I still remember it, it really blew me away...

The fishing action is going to be as follows: you're going to have to insist on the position for a long time, regularly scraping the bottom to feel the difference in substrate. Fish generally stick to boulders and lie on gravel. The 68MX is a weapon of choice in these configurations, and it's the blank I pull out immediately.

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Change of strategy.

After 30 minutes of prospecting in the Vertical at Finesse and a few color changes I still haven't had any hits. But I believe in this position and insist on changing lures. Despite the bright sunshine, I decide to go for a 4-inch shad to completely change the type of vibrations. The water being well stung, I use a chartreuse color so that the lure is clearly visible. I also reduce the weight of the lead head to 10gr.

Usually, for zander fishing, I'm a fan of an "old school" vertical. That is to say, heavily leaded, generally 28gr whatever the depth, for really plumb fishing. This is not the fishing of the day... I'm slightly under-weighted for depth, but since there's not a breath of wind I can make ultra-slow, precise drifts. I also take breaks on the bottom and rely on the lightness of the lead head to make it easier for the Zander / Pike-perch to suck in the lure.

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After 5 minutes of fishing I finally get a tap on my shad after a long slide on the gravel followed by a slight take-off. The fish isn't big and should be around 45cm, but it gives me the start of a lead: the lure is well cased, I must be right.

[caption id="attachment_1254" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The first one, not a monster but it gives a lead.[/caption]

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A start to the trail?

I start fishing again and move a little further away from the post. The bottom is distinctly different, softer. After a contact with the bottom my lure swims strangely, I reel it in and remove a leaf caught on the hook. Even though I'm used to it, I'm still surprised every time. I resume my drift on the post with the same animation looking for the gravel and the penalty is immediate. Not a violent slap, but I felt it all. The fish is in the boat and is already nicer. I estimate it at around 60cm. The lure is cased on the bottom, clearly confirming the catch.

. [caption id="attachment_1258" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The size is increasing, finally a decent fish![/caption]

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Well, maybe there's something to be done after all. I slalom between the GPS-marked boulders. After making contact with a rock, I take a large cartridge before making contact with the bottom again. The touch is unmissable but the fight is non-existent, and for good reason ... This one's greedy! He must have attacked New Year's Eve early and is already starting to gorge himself...

[caption id="attachment_1259" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Not even 30cm but one hell of a bite![/caption]

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Santa's present!

Time passes and I attack my last half-hour of fishing. I alternate gliding along the bottom, taking off the lure and pausing on the substrate. On a break longer than the others, line barely taut, I feel something imperceptible. Like a mixture of scratching and suction, but very light. I reflexively shoe and find myself hanging. For a few seconds I'm not sure whether it's a Zander / Pike-perch or a branch. A few loud head-butts confirm the identity of the client: a beautiful Zander / Pike-perch. After a good fight punctuated by a few rushes, the fish goes up to the boat. The fight is pretty quick! A flick of the landing net for this one and off we go, a massive 80+ Zander / Pike-perch to finish the year, I'm ecstatic.

. [caption id="attachment_1255" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Nice 80+ to end the year, I couldn't ask for more![/caption]

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