
Welcome back Esox!
April 24, 2026Percha Opening
Text and photographs by Marco Altamura
The year 2026 also saw me starring in chasing pikeperch in the waters of a large pre-alpine lake. On May 31, hostilities reopened toward this splendid twilight/nighttime predator, and jigging turns out to be the premier technique for chasing it.

In keeping with tradition, I chose the last hours of light and the first hours of darkness to try to fool this percid with characteristics that are still somewhat mysterious but extremely fascinating; in fact, its behavior is difficult to categorize alternating between long pauses of apathy and windows of frenetic, almost "suicidal" activity.
The minimalist equipment allows you to move easily without problems: rod in two sections of mt 2.40/2.70 depending on your aptitude, reel size 4000 loaded with excellent braided line such as Asso Evergreen 8X PE thickness mm 0.15 and as terminal the always valid Asso Superfluorocarbon 0.32 mm thick.
Extreme abrasion resistance, absolute invisibility in the water and reliability in fighting big fish are the characteristics of this formidable combo.
The most effective artificials are 8/12 cm silicone fish imitations primed on 10/15 gr roung jigheads.
The fishing action always takes place near the bottom animating our imitations among the roughness, making them first collapse and then start again after a short stop: the attack is sneaky and sometimes imperceptible, but the ferrata must be fast and decisive ready for the exciting fight in case it is a specimen of considerable size.
In fact, it is no accident to lure specimens of 5/6 and more kilograms who know how to sell their skins dearly before surrendering to the wade.









