Autumn is the golden age of perch jigging! Perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) are well-known schooling fish, and autumn is the time when perch gather in large schools. This behavior is influenced by several factors, the main ones being water temperature and food availability.
We went with award-winning fishing guide Jani Ollikainen from Merimaskulainen and ex-musician Jontte Valosaari to explore autumn sea perch fishing. Our goal was to catch larger quantities of the national fish of Finnish waters for food – and of course share our best tips with you!
Autumn seascape – towards the shooting locations
The transom of the Buster XXL boat is peacefully bobbing in the waves, as the morning haze paints the surrounding seascape with its grayness. The autumn sea is calm, but the air already feels the bitter promise of the coming winter. The gaze wanders over the horizon, where low islands are outlined in dark silhouettes, hiding in their embrace the deep straits and other interesting bottom features that Jani knows.
Every rising and falling movement of the waves brings you closer to the day's jigging targets – the banks and shoals where schools of perch have already gathered to refuel for the winter. You can already feel the weight of the familiar rod in your hand, and your mind is filled with the image of a strong tug as the jig sinks into the depths. There is a smell of anticipation in the air, mixed with the freshness of the sea water and the earthy tones of autumn. On a morning like this, it is easy to feel the soul of fishing – the peace of nature, the excitement of the moment and the hope of an unforgettable catch.
Why do perch flock in the fall? – Water temperature and hunting for food
In autumn, schools of perch are typically denser and larger than in summer. They often move in deeper water layers than in the summer heat, but can still rise to the shallows to hunt, especially in the morning and evening twilight. When the water temperature is, for example, +8–15 °C, perch are often very active and hunt effectively. When the temperature drops closer to +4–6 °C, perch often move to wintering areas in deeper holes or near the bottom, and their activity decreases significantly. It is not worth forgetting about shallow coves and their vegetation areas.
Refueling with food can sometimes cause fish to eat a lot, and fishermen need to be ready for this!
"Tenth!"
It's heard from the bow, when Jontte puts a perch in the sump. The bait is wild, with every cast Jontte and Jani catch fish, my accuracy of casts is about 2/5. Wrong jig, because I don't have a catch with every cast like the others on the boat.
Flocking of perch is a survival strategy that provides several advantages to the fish:
- Protection from predators: A large school of perch confuses predators, making it more difficult to pick off individual fish. At the same time, the school detects threats more effectively.
- Foraging: In a school, perch can more effectively search for and surround schools of carp.
- Reproduction: The school makes it easier to find a partner during spawning. Perch spawning at sea begins in spring, when the water temperature has risen to about 6–10 degrees.
- Energy saving: In currents, swimming inside a flock can be more energy efficient.
Autumn water cooling and stratification mixing play a key role in changes in perch behavior:
- Mixing of water stratification: In summer, water bodies often experience clear thermal stratification. In autumn, surface waters cool down, and when they reach a certain density (water density is highest at +4 °C), the water begins to mix more effectively. This allows perch to move more deeply and access new feeding areas.
- Perch metabolism slows down and prepares for winter: As the water cools, perch metabolism slows down. They try to fill up on fat stores before winter sets in and the water gets even colder. This is critical because food availability is lower in the winter and they need energy to survive. In colder waters, perch often focus on more efficient predation and try to eat more before the more passive winter season.
- Behavior of perch food fish: The main food fish for perch, such as roach and other small fish, also change their behavior when the water cools. They often gather in larger schools in deeper water or sheltered places. Schools of perch follow these schools of food fish and take advantage of their concentration.
Where can you find schools of perch at sea in autumn? – Fishing guide Jani Ollikainen's tips
Autumn offers excellent opportunities for sea bass fishing, as long as you know where to look and where the bass will go as the water cools. Sometimes it can take time to find a school, but when you do, the catch can be plentiful.
" It is best to search for schools with an oblique sonar, it is the fastest and most effective way to find schools of perch, another effective way is a live sonar. When searching with an oblique sonar, it is easier to quickly find schools in a wider area and at the same time see the bottom structure in the spot you are fishing ," says Ollikainen."
Ollikainen continues that he keeps AutoChart LIVE on his Humminbird Explorer 10 combo device to draw his own map. This has shown him that the depth shown on a nautical chart, for example, is not flat but rather diverse with hills and depressions.
“One perch spot is a separate “canyon” found in the depression. The fish gather in the “inner and outer bends” depending on the direction of the current. The fish also come up to the banks of the depression to feed and the fishing depth can vary by several meters during the day.”
Once the flock is found, anchor or turn off the engine near it, upwind.
Ollikainen has noticed that schools of perch are startled by the sound of the trolling motor, especially in places with heavy fishing pressure. Because of this, he tries to fish close to the school without a trolling motor. In calm weather this works, but in windy weather it presents challenges. A startled school can often be found 15–20 m from the observation point, Ollikainen specifies.
"You might get one or two perch from a school, after which the feeding stops and you have to search for it within a radius of tens of meters."
When throwing into a flock, it is important to be careful. Throwing away from the flock can break up the flock and reduce the feeding rate.
Deep banks and drops
- Why: As the water cools, perch move deeper and often seek out the edges of steep bottom features such as banks and drop-offs. These provide them with shelter and the ability to move quickly at different depths in search of food.
- What to look for: On a map or sonar, look for places where the depth changes quickly, for example from 3–5 meters to 8–15 meters. The top and bottom edges of the bank are often the best places to fish.
Shoals and rocks
- Why: Even though perch are moving deeper, they still seek out rocky and shoal areas that offer shelter and are popular hiding spots for small fish. These are good ambush sites for perch.
- What to look for: Nautical charts are invaluable here. Look for underwater shoals, reefs, and large areas of rock that rise from deeper water.
Straits and flowing places
- Why: Straits and narrows where water flows are often passageways for small fish and gather food fish for perch. Straits are fishing spots all year round, but remember to watch out for weak ice in winter!
- What to look for: Places where islands or headlands form narrows or choke points where the water flows more strongly. Bridges and their platforms are also good targets.
Bay mouths and deeper parts of the bay
- Why: Bay mouths are often where small fish move in and out of bays. Deeper parts of the bay can provide more sheltered and stable conditions for perch in the cooling water.
- What to look for: Look for bays with deeper spots or shoals near the mouth area.
Port areas and piers
- Why: In urban environments, such as Helsinki, harbor areas and piers offer perch plenty of hiding places and food. The structures gather small fish under their shelter.
- What to look for: The edges of piers, the sides of pilings, the bases of barges or other structures. These can be surprisingly lucrative locations, even in busy areas.
Base quality
- Why: Perch often prefer bottoms with some kind of structure.
- What to look for: Rocky bottoms, transitions between sand and gravel bottoms, or areas with more extensive aquatic vegetation (e.g. kelp zones) at greater depths.
General fishing tips for jigging for redfish
- Look for structures and vegetation: Perch often thrive near piers, bridges, rocks, and uneven bottoms, even in the fall, where they can lurk for prey.
- Watch for small fish: If you see schools of small fish or gulls diving, perch are probably nearby.
- Try different depths: Although perch often move deeper, they can also come up to the surface to actively hunt. Try fishing in different water layers.
- Slow reeling: In colder water, fish metabolism slows down, so a slower and calmer swim is often more effective than in summer.
- Change your lure: If you don't get any fish, change your lure, color, or fishing technique. Perch can be very selective.
Lure tips for fishing among the vegetation – Fishing guide Jani Ollikainen advises
Perch love vegetation! Reed beds, water lilies, lush aquatic vegetation and underwater vegetation areas are perfect hiding places and prey environments for them. However, fishing through vegetation can be challenging due to the lure getting caught. Here are some techniques and tips to help you succeed:
· Surface lures, jigs and wobblers: If the vegetation is dense and reaches the surface, surface lures and traditional jigs are excellent. Perch often rise from the vegetation to strike the surface. Surface lures, jigs and wobblers are especially worth using when you can see perch preying from the surface.
Short jerks and pauses of the popper or wobbler, so that the lure remains attractively spinning, hovering above the vegetation or can be the last nail for perch. The recommended size for wobblers is +- 10 cm narrow profile models.
· Offset rigged jigs: The hook point is hidden and will not catch on plants, twigs or other obstacles. When a fish hits the lure and squeezes it, the hook point is exposed and effectively catches in the fish's mouth. The main advantage is that you can cast and float the lure directly into dense vegetation without the constant risk of getting caught. This opens up completely new fishing possibilities in places where it is impossible to cast with regular lures. You can also use an offset rigged hook for dropshot jigging.
· Spinnerbaits / Chatterbaits: These lures are designed to travel well through the vegetation. A steady, fast enough reel to keep the lure above or through the vegetation. A flash and a clatter that perch can't resist.
· Fishing gaps and edges: Focus on fishing the edges of the vegetation, gaps and channels. Perch often lie in wait for prey in these areas.
· Slow swimming: In cold water or with more passive fish, a slow, jerky swimming or short bottom touches may be more effective.
· React to the jerks: If you feel even the slightest tug, increase in weight, or unusual sensation, immediately pull back. Perch can be quick to spit out the lure.
· Strong backlash: When fishing through vegetation, you need a strong backlash to ensure the hook penetrates both the fish's jaw and the vegetation.
Tight lines and great moments of perch hunting!
Text and photos: Juha Salonen, Team Happy Angler & fishing blogger
