Basic baits for Zanders and Perches in summertime are jigs. Both grubs and shads in sizes 2-4 inches please these striped hunters to take the bait. To perches one can serve 6-8 inches worm jigs with Carolina- or Texas-rigging, too. Of course living baits, like worms and minnows, are always effective. In the photo You can see some examples of zander jigs from my jigbox. To find the right hit colours is important. Yellow, glass with silver flakes, white, chartreusse and motor-oil are the favourites for perch-fishing. Early mornings and late evenings perches rise up and hunt small minnows just near the water-surface. Then small wobblers and spinners make nice results. In the summertime zanders hit wobblers both with casting or trolling.

Photo: Jigbox for zanders

Jigtails You loose a lot, because Mother Earth eats them, too. That’s why You have to have in your box more than one tail or head of each colour. When You loose a jig You normally loose both tail and head. Jigheads between ¼-1/2 oz are heavy enough to reach the bottom, where perches hide and eat daytime.

Springtime pikes are crazy for big, slow moving wobblers. When summer makes waters warmer, pikes need more living baits than in cold waters. Large spinners are both moving lively and fishing effectively. In summer 1997 my friend caught over 20 lbs pike with number 3 Mepps. Wobblers 3-5 inches are good, too. Only the swimming movement of wobblers have to be more lively than springtime. Summertime the colours of wobbler can be natural, minnowlike. Only during prolonged hot weathers irritation colours can be the right choice.

Photo: Spinners for pikes and perches: Up row from left: Jensen Insect,
Dardevle and Vibrax; In the middle: Calico Cat, Mörrum spinner and Lotto;
Bottom row: Calico Cat, and a fixed copy of Mörrum

Large shad jigs, middle size wobblers and large spinners are good in pike hunting. Number one baits for summer pikes are spoons. Summer 1997 and 1999 where exceptionally warm in the Archipelago area. Kuusamo’s Haukilätkä, Monni of Eloranta and Tervajoen Uistin co’s Ahmatti and Rosvo spoons got many lines in my fishing diary. The best colour was silver with black stripes and red spots.