Perch on the drop shot: the rig and fishing on the spot

With a drop shot, the weight sits at the end of the line, on the bottom, and the hook with the soft lure is tied higher up, 15-50 cm above it. The lure quivers on the spot, above the bottom, right in front of the fish, without moving away from it.

It's the rig for tough days: lazy perch, cold water, fish holding by pilings, pontoons or in holes that won't chase retrieved lures. It works from the bank, from a pontoon and very well vertically from a boat.

Species: Perch · Zander

What you need

Rod: a light 2.1-2.4 m spinning rod, rated 3-15 g, with a sensitive tip.
Reel: size 2000-2500.
Line: 0.06-0.10 mm braid, with a 1.5-2 m fluorocarbon leader of 0.18-0.25 mm, on which you tie the rig.
Hook: a size 2-6 drop shot hook, tied with a Palomar, point up; for bigger lures, an offset hook.
Weight: a 5-15 g drop shot weight, cylinder or teardrop-shaped, that clips onto the line without a knot and is easy to move.

Baits

Slim soft lures of 5-8 cm: worms, minnows with a fine tail and nymph imitations.
Natural colours in clear water, bright colours in coloured water.
For zander, the same rig with 8-10 cm lures, over a hard bottom.

When to fish

Throughout the open season, but especially in late autumn and winter, on ice-free water, when perch hold deep.
On days with clear skies and lazy fish, when the classic lures stop working.
In spring, perch and zander have their own closed season: see the dates below.

Where are you fishing

Next to pilings, pontoons, harbour walls, snags and stones: the lure stays put right next to the structure.
Over holes, on the edges of channels on the bottom and on steep drop-offs, especially from a boat.
Note: in winter (1 January - 15 March and 1 November - 31 December), fishing is banned within 250 m upstream and downstream of bridges with piers in the riverbed, and within 250 m upstream of reservoir dams.

Step by step

1
Tie on the hook. Tie the hook with a Palomar knot, leaving a long tag of 15-50 cm, then pass the tag back through the hook eye from the top so the point stands up.
2
Clip on the weight. Clip the weight onto the tag end at the distance you want: 15-20 cm for perch hugging the bottom, 30-50 cm above short weed.
3
Put on the lure. Nose-hook the lure, through the very tip of its head, so it quivers freely.
4
Cast and tighten up. Cast next to the structure or lower the rig vertically, let the weight reach the bottom and tighten the line without moving it.
5
Work the lure on the spot. Shake the rod tip with small twitches, with the line almost tight, without dragging the weight: the lure dances on the spot. Then move the weight 30-50 cm and repeat.
6
Strike smoothly. At a tap or when you feel weight on the line, wind down and lift the rod firmly, without jerking; the small hook sets easily.

Common mistakes

Dragging the weight too often: the whole point of the rig is the lure worked on the spot.
Slack line, which doesn't transmit the action: the lure sits lifeless.
The wrong gap between hook and weight: the lure sits in the weed or too high.
A lure that's too big for the perch in that water.
Tying the hook point down.

Rules on natural waters

Perch
Minimum size: 12 cm
Species closed season: 20 March - 7 June
Zander
Minimum size: 40 cm
Species closed season: 20 March - 7 June

General closed season: 9 April - 7 June (the periods differ on border waters and in the Danube Delta)

Daily limit: At most 5 kg of fish per day, or a single fish if it's over 5 kg.

The rules above are for natural waters (rivers, lakes, the Danube), where you also need a permit. On a private lake the lake's rules apply: many are catch & release or have their own limits.

For information only, not guaranteed legal advice. There are many local exceptions (Danube Delta, border waters, catch-and-release sections) not covered here. Always check the official ANADSPA (formerly ANPA) source before fishing.

All closed seasons → · The fishing permit →

Frequently asked questions

How far above the weight should I tie the hook?

15-20 cm when perch are hugging the bottom, 30-50 cm when there's short weed on the bottom or the fish are holding a little higher; a sonar shows you at what height they are.

Drop shot or micro jig?

The micro jig is good for searching out active fish over large areas; the drop shot is for precise spots where the fish are holding but not attacking, because the lure stays in front of them for a long time.

What is the minimum size for perch, and when is the closed season?

In natural waters, the legal minimum size is 12 cm; smaller fish must be released. It has its own closed season: 20 March - 7 June. The general closed season also applies on natural waters: 9 April - 7 June.

Step-by-step guides

Fishing knots: Palomar
Releasing fish properly: Zander and perch brought up from deep water

Fishing for perch by county

Tulcea · 98 Călărași · 51 Bihor · 46 Botoșani · 46 Mureș · 43 Cluj · 42 Timiș · 40 Iași · 38 Argeș · 35 Dolj · 35

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