The secrets of using wobblers when catching zander

A wobbler is one of the most effective and therefore popular artificial baits for predatory fish. Thanks to the oscillating movements, imitating the behavior of small fish in the water, wobblers attract a predator. Such a bait is suitable for catching all predatory fish, especially perch, pike, and also pike perch. Further, we will talk specifically about the features of using wobblers for zander fish: what types of bait are suitable for this fish, what techniques are used at different times of the year, and how it differs from wobblers.

In order for fishing to be successful, first of all, you need to choose the right place for fishing. Focusing on this issue is the peculiarities of the habits of the type of fish that you are going to catch.

Pike perch should be sought in clean, deep enough, not overgrown and not muddy reservoirs. This fish prefers secluded, strong places rich in oxygen. It can be:

• pits with windbreak at the bottom;
• whirlpools with a stone or pebble-sand bottom;
• depressions under dams or flooded sloping channels of reservoirs;
• rapids with reverse flow;
• rocky ridges.

Pike perch begins in the pre-dawn (from about 5:00 to 9:00) or early morning (within 10:00-11:30), as well as evening hours (from 23:00 for an hour and a half). From mid-July, it bites mainly at night, moving to deeper parts of the reservoir by the end of summer.

Since the mouth of this predator is not large, it hunts for narrower-bodied fish (such as roach, perch and bleak), bypassing the bream,. It reacts mainly to the vibrations that come from its prey - the brightness of the bait does not matter due to the peculiarities of the vision of this fish. That is why fishing with wobblers is very effective.

Advice! Watch who the zander hunts in the pond. When choosing a realistic wobbler, you should give preference to those models that are most similar to the prey of this predator.

Types of wobblers for catching zander

Among the huge variety of different models of this bait, it is not always possible to immediately determine the one that is suitable for specific purposes and conditions. Here, again, one should take into account the behavior of pike perch during hunting. Based on the above facts, there are several technical characteristics that should be present in zander types of wobblers:

1. The wobbler should have a more oblong, rather than "pot-bellied" shape.
2. You should not take a large bait if you plan to catch a small pike perch - this, on the contrary, will scare away the fish.
3. To increase the speed of immersion of the wobbler to the desired depth, you can use the type of diversion leads (this type of equipment is best used during winter fishing).
4. The angle of attack of the bait (that is, the angle between the blade of the wobbler and its body) should be small so that entry into the water layers occurs as naturally as possible, like a real fish;
5. Since the pike perch reacts to the vibrations that will come from the bait, the nature of its work (game) should be as active as possible with uniform and slow movement;
6. If pike perch is caught during a driven fight, when the whole flock moves to the surface layers of the water, it is best to use those wobblers that imitate wounded fish - wobblers for twitching.

It is also worth considering the working depth of the bait. Zander wobblers should ideally sink to a depth of at least 2.5 meters.

Advice ! If the predator has gone further than this depth or lay down on the bottom, a slowly sinking bait is taken. It must be carried out very smoothly in order to lure pike perch to the surface of the water - too sudden movements will frighten away the fish.

Wobblers for night fishing for zander

In the dark, pike perch is caught as well as during the day. But for bait in this case, it is better to use those models of wobblers that have proven themselves precisely during catching night pike perch:

Advice! The main rule for night fishing for zander is not to lower the bait sharply into the water if the fish is nearby. All movements should imitate the calm behavior of sleepy fry.

Techniques for catching pike perch on a wobbler by season

Pike perch can be caught almost all year round - from spring, as soon as the ice melts from the reservoirs, until the beginning of summer. During this period, the predator is almost inactive.

After spawning, it is especially greedily pecking at the bait. By the end of summer it becomes less active, but in the first autumn cold it begins to fat again. In the cold season, it is worth looking for pike perch at depths and choosing shallow-water wobblers for this.

Especially convenient. For this period, there are also special zander wobblers - ratlins, which make it easy to fish at different depths. The main features of this bait are the following:

• they have no blades at all;
• this is mainly a sinking type of bait, suspenders are rare among ratlins;
• the point of their attachment is located on top;
• they have two tee hooks;
• a rattle is built into them, which increases the efficiency of the wobbler.

But this type of bait is universal; ratlin wobblers can also be used in summer. But when fishing in winter, one should take into account the fact that a flock of pike perches in a pond will constantly move in search of new food, so fishermen must also periodically change their fishing location and drill new holes.

Top 10 most effective wobblers for zander fishing

The easiest way to navigate the large assortment of different models of wobblers is to look at the list of the most popular ones. Top 10 wobblers for catching zander:

1. L-minnow 44 brand Yo-Zuri. This is a classic artificial sinking type wobbler that combines the most optimal characteristics for catching zander. Sufficiently durable plastic allows you to repeatedly use it without fear of possible damage from the teeth of predatory fish. The efficiency of fishing increases due to active vibrations and loud noise from the moving balls built into the wobbler. Good for night fishing.
2. "Shallow Flat Maxx" from This type of wobbler is designed specifically for zander fishing. It perfectly imitates small fish like bleak or sabrefish, while emitting active vibrations and rattling sounds.
3. LiveTarget Threadfin Shad Realistic wobbler, well suited for fishing at a depth of one and a half to two and a half meters. Using the technique of wiring with small pauses, you will be able to attract walleye to this bait as quickly as possible, bringing it to the surface. It has a krenkovy shape and is suitable for catching most predatory fish.
4. This is Reef Runner Rip from Despite the fact that this lure needs to be learned to use and adjusted to the necessary conditions, the result of catching it will justify all the money and time spent. This wobbler is perfect for fishing in rivers with a strong current, its type is sinking, and the working depth is three meters.
5. Pontoon 21 - Greedy Guts. Universal wobbler for catching predatory fish. Especially well proved during night fishing thanks to excellent acoustic properties and bright dynamics.
6. Shad Rap by Rapala. Lures-rapals have established themselves as one of the best wobblers, suitable even for beginners. Their properties allow you to fish both in winter and in summer, regardless of weather conditions, time of day, and even the behavior of the zander itself.
7. Barra Magnum by Rapala. A variant designed for deep sea fishing. The working depth of this wobbler is up to seven meters.
8. Duel Hardcore Shad SH 50 SP. This compact two-hook wobbler is ideal for catching small zander weighing no more than a kilogram. Immersion depth - up to two and a half meters, type floating or suspender.
9. TD shiner 1062 sp company Another universal wobbler. It features tungsten weights that increase the maximum casting distance and create a special acoustic effect during twitching.
10. Hils Master Haka. Ideal for fishing in hard-to-reach areas (sills, snags, etc.) up to five meters deep. The type of this wobbler is floating, it is equipped with two hooks and a rather large spatula.

The more natural the bait looks, the more likely it is to interest the predator. And the above recommendations will help you choose exactly the type of wobbler that will have optimal technical characteristics for catching zander in specific conditions.