Opening pikes
May 19, 2025
Dynamic pikeperch
July 7, 2025
The predator from the East
Text and photographs by Marco Altamura
The season in its progression brings me new challenges from time to time with new predators: June marks the beginning of hostilities with a predatory fish I love, the pikeperch or sandra.
The large basins of Northern Italy are the natural theater of my outings aimed at this splendid percid, and again this year the shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Lario were chosen by me for this research; the crepuscular and nocturnal habits of this marauder contribute to make the sessions dedicated to the Vampire from Eastern Europe more fascinating.
Outfitted with my trusty “2.40” in two sections coupled with a size 4000 reel loaded with an excellent fluorescent yellow braided line, the8XPE Perfect Storm by Asso Fishing Line 0.15 mm thickness with terminal Asso Superfluorocarbon mm 0.30 thick, I go to super-tested spots that have given me noteworthy catches over the years, with perch specimens weighing several kilograms.
The search should be done in close contact with the bottom by inspecting every crevice with silicone shad made to hop between the roughness of the bottom; the touches of this fish are often sneaky and, to a neophyte, can easily be mistaken for contact of the artificial with stones or various submerged structures.
It takes good sensitivity and years of experience to get right with our mysterious antagonist.
As for sensitivity, this can be amplified by the use of excellent super braided wires such as the one mentioned from Asso Fishing Line which, with its fluorescent yellow color, makes it not a little easier to find the path and trajectories of the artificials in the water, even and especially in night sessions.
In addition, the excellent resistance to abrasion and the very high breaking strength allow us to happily complete even the most probing fights.
I personally use 10/12 cm silicone shad primed on 12/15 gr round jigheads depending on the depth of the spots and the presence or absence of wind.
The terminal Ace Superfluorocarbon turns out to be practically invisible even to the keen eyesight of this fish and resists contact with the roughness of the bottom very well.
Experience gained in this particular type of jigging and knowledge of the habits of this unique predator with its shy yet fierce nature toward its prey do the rest.