Dynamic pikeperch
July 7, 2025Unmissable autumn
Text and photographs by Marco Altamura
After yet another sweltering summer characterized by unbearable temperatures due to the now customary climate change, I can finally look to the future with a little more optimism: since September, in fact, a drop of a few degrees in water temperature is enough to bring fish predatory activity back to levels that are at first acceptable and then, as the fall season progresses, optimal.
All the predatory fish in our lake waters are affected by this kind of water revitalization, but my focus is mainly on perch and pike; Lake Maggiore in September usually has good water levels after the first autumn warnings, so I plan some outings with "allround" equipment, that is, suitable for generalist spinning suitable for different fish species.
With the arrival of cold weather then the main target will become pike, but that is another story.
I face my outings with a 2.40-meter "two-section" with effective power of gr 15/40 coupled with a size 4000 reel loaded with 0.15-mm-thick super braided line (Asso 8XPE Lure Braid) together with a 0.30-mm-thick fluorocarbon terminal (Asso Super Fluorocarbon).
The former provides excellent hold, high abrasion resistance and safety for even the heaviest fights, while the latter is appreciated for absolute invisibility in the water and remarkable abrasion resistance. This combo allows me to bait both small/medium-sized fish such as perch and good-sized fish such as pike and zander.
Spots can range from areas in front of jetties to sloping beaches to overhanging shores with good bathymetric values. Sinking-rigged minnows will hold their own against all predatory fish, followed by silicon shad up to 15 cm in length baited with specially designed single-rigged stingers.
Fishing action will be concentrated at the various levels of the water column with predilection for the middle layers, now the most frequented by predators due to the still warm temperature and the presence of forage fish in large quantities.
Minnows should be retrieved by alternating short but vigorous jerks designed to make them lurch with an unsteady motion, while shad should be retrieved with slow and steady motion.
September marks only the beginning of a fantastic season for spinning, and we will certainly be talking about it again in the months ahead with the early cold weather and morning mists heralding abundant and sizeable catches. Until next time!
