Roger's Angling Pages
The Eastern Pikeperch Stizostedion volgensis		Perch family Percidae

This fish is smaller than the Pikeperch and also has only half the number of transverse lines on its body; Stizostedion lucioperca has 8 to 12 lines, whereas Stizostedion volgensis has 5 to 7. The jaw line only stretches to the middle of the eyes. The body is stouter and has larger scales. It lives in the same type of water as the other Pikeperch, but it stays in the middle of the river in the deepest currents and the oldest part of the river bed. It can also be found in brackish water near river estuaries. It travels long journeys up river to the higher reaches, for example to the hinterland of the Black Sea.

The largest specimens are 40 cm long and reach a weight of about 2 lb usually in the third to fifth year of their life. Occasionally fishes larger than 30 cm and heavier than 14 oz are found. The large fishes prey on shoals of fry and eat small Perch and Ruffe. The smaller fishes search for crustaceans clinging to the river bed.

There is not much difference in fishing for Stizostedion volgensis or Stizostedion lucioperca; perhaps only the size of bait should vary .The uninformed angler usually has difficulty in distinguishing between these two very similar fishes. Fishing is more rewarding during the colder, autumn weather, when they are very active in their search for food. In some places this fish has an economic value, but its importance as a game fish is relatively small.