Roger's Angling Pages
The Pikeperch Stizostedion lucioperca		Perch family Percidae

This fish is one of the most economically important of the Perch family. In the post glacial period it penetrated the rivers of central Europe from the east and moved as far west as the river Elbe. By the end of the eighteenth century it was being successfully reared in reservoirs and ponds, particularly in Czechoslovakia. It also thrives in dams in valleys. It has a long body and its jaws with sharp teeth stretch behind the eyes. The large 'dog teeth' in the front of the mouth are a typical feature of this fish. It has transverse dark lines at the sides and its eyes have a peculiar glassy, almost opalescent, shine. When breeding the males have a dark marble pattern on the belly.

The Pikeperch is a predatory fish and regularly feeds on Ruffe, Perch and other types of fish. It hunts for food in groups and the small specimens move about in shoals. According to size the female lays 10,000 to 500,000 eggs in spring when the temperature is between 10 and 12°C. For this purpose a place on the sandy bed is prepared beforehand. The male diligently looks after the nest for several days. The pairs spawn sometimes in shallow water and at a depth of several metres at other times. In the first year of its life the Pikeperch grows on average 10 to 15 cm and by the time it is eight years old may have reached 70 cm. Increases in weight in older fishes are higher than in younger ones; the females grow more quickly than the males whilst migratory types grow more quickly than those staying in one place. The largest Pikeperch weigh 20 to 30 lb and there are reports of fish, weighing 40 lb and being over 130 cm long. During the day they stay in deep water, but in the evening and at night they swim to the river bank after food. The Pikeperch, therefore, can be caught at night. It can live in relatively salty water, as for example off the Baltic coast.

It provides good sport and its popularity is increasing all the time. The whole of the second half of the year is suitable for fishing for it. A catch can most likely be expected shortly after spawning or in the autumn. During the warmer times of the year fishing is best in the evening, whereas in the autumn a catch can be anticipated all day, particularly during changes in the weather. It can be caught by ledgering and float fishing, using live or dead fishes. In places where there is an uneven bed, Bleak can be chosen as live bait since they continually try to get to the surface. Equally successful is the use of dead Ruffe or Perch, made buoyant by the attachment of a piece of cork. A line of 9 lb breaking strain is strong enough and to this is directly tied a single or a double hook. When fishing near the surface of a nearby river bank, the live bait is held by a steel trace as there is a danger that it might be bitten through by a Pike. When fishing on the bottom, the line is left loose and the reel left unchecked so that the fish, after it has taken the bait, is absolutely free, since if it feels the slightest resistance it will leave the bait. The fish is only usually hooked at the second bite, but if small fishes are used it can be caught sooner When fishing with lures, small spinners are the most efficient. When putting the Pikeperch back into the water, it must be dealt with very carefully as it develops mould very easily.