Lure Fishing for Perch During Flooded Rivers: Tips and Techniques

Perch are one of the most exciting species to target in freshwater fishing. They’re aggressive, fight hard, and are usually plentiful in rivers and lakes. However, when rivers flood or the water turns murky, fishing for perch can become more challenging. The good news is that perch can still be caught in these conditions — with the right approach, lures, and techniques.

This article will explore the best practices for lure fishing for perch during periods of high, coloured water. You’ll learn how to adapt to these conditions and increase your chances of success.

1. Understanding Perch Behavior in Flooded and Coloured Water

During floods, rivers experience increased water flow, and their colour often changes due to suspended sediment, reducing visibility. This affects how perch behave:

• Sheltering from Currents: Perch will seek refuge from fast-flowing water. They tend to gravitate towards areas where they can hold position without expending too much energy, such as behind rocks, inside eddies, slack water or near submerged structures.
• Feeding Windows: While perch are sight predators, they still hunt when the water is murky, but they rely more on vibration and scent to locate prey. Flooded waters often wash insects, crustaceans, and baitfish into the river system, providing feeding opportunities.
• Lowered Aggression: In coloured water, perch may become slightly less aggressive. This means they might not chase lures as far as they would in clearer conditions.

2. Choosing the Right Lures

Lure choice is crucial when fishing for perch in murky or flooded waters. You want to choose lures that are highly visible or make enough noise and vibration to catch the attention of perch. Here are some of the best lure types for these conditions:

a) Bright and Flashy Lures or strong silhouetted lures

When visibility is low, bright colours like chartreuse, orange, yellow, or fluorescent green are more likely to stand out in murky water. Black can also be a great colour and helps to create a strong silhouette. Lures with metallic or holographic finishes that reflect light can also increase visibility.

Recommended Lures:

• Bright-coloured soft plastic shads and worms
• Spinnerbaits with flashy blades
• Crankbaits with a bold, vibrant colour pattern

b) Vibration and Sound-Based Lures

In coloured water, perch will often rely on their lateral line to detect vibrations and movements. Using lures that produce strong vibrations or sound can trigger bites even when the fish can’t see the lure well.

Recommended Lures:

• Lipless crankbaits (rattling versions)
• Blade baits or chatterbaits
• Spinnerbaits with larger blades for maximum vibration

c) Soft Plastics with Scent

Adding a scent to your lure can also increase your chances of enticing a bite. Soft plastics infused with scent or adding a fish-attracting spray can make a difference when visibility is poor.

Recommended Lures:

• Soft plastics such as grubs or worms enhanced with scent
• Lures pre-treated with fish oils or attractants

3. Targeting the Right Locations

Flooded rivers and coloured water change the structure of your fishing environment. Perch will typically avoid fast-moving currents and look for slower, calmer waters. Focus your efforts on these areas:

a) Slack Water and Eddies

Look for spots where the current is slower, such as behind rocks, bends in the river, or in sheltered bays. Perch will use these areas as ambush points, waiting for food to come by.

b) Submerged Structures

Structures like sunken trees, branches, and man-made debris provide shelter from the current. Perch like to hold near these areas, and they often serve as prime feeding grounds during floods.

c) Near the Banks

Flooded rivers may force perch closer to the banks where the current is weaker. Casting parallel to the bank or into marginal slack water can be productive.

d) River Junctions

Where two rivers meet, or where a tributary joins the main river, the water flow can be slower, and perch often gather in these junctions during high water.

4. Lure Fishing for Perch During Flooded Rivers Techniques and Retrieval Styles

When lure fishing for perch in flooded and coloured rivers, the way you present the lure is just as important as the lure itself.

a) Slow and Steady Retrieve

In fast or murky water, perch are less likely to chase fast-moving lures. A slow, steady retrieve gives them more time to locate and strike your lure. Use a retrieve with occasional pauses or twitches to mimic injured prey.

b) Bottom Contact

Perch tend to stay close to the bottom in coloured water, where visibility is slightly better, and they can feel safer. Use lures that you can fish near the bottom, such as jigs or soft plastics. Let your lure bounce or crawl along the riverbed, as this mimics natural prey like crayfish or worms.

c) Vertical Jigging

In deep water or areas where the current is strong, vertical jigging is an excellent way to keep your lure in the strike zone. Drop your lure near structures or slack water and lift it gently off the bottom, letting it fall again.

5. Adjusting Tackle for High and Murky Water

Flooded and coloured water means you may need to adjust your tackle. Here are a few considerations:

a) Heavier Weights

The increased flow in flooded rivers may require heavier lures or weights to keep your bait near the bottom and prevent it from being swept away by the current. Use heavier jig heads or crankbaits with a deeper diving range.

b) Stronger Line

In murky water, perch won’t be line shy, so you can use a slightly heavier line than you would in clear conditions. A 10-15lb braided line with a 10lb fluorocarbon leader is a good choice, as braid provides sensitivity and strength while the fluorocarbon remains nearly invisible underwater.

6. Patience and Persistence

Fishing for perch in flooded or coloured water may require extra patience, as perch might not bite as readily as they would in clear, calmer conditions. However, by using the right lures, techniques, and targeting the right areas, you’ll still be able to catch them.

Keep in mind that floods often change the structure of the riverbed, creating new features and hiding spots for perch. If one area isn’t producing bites, try another. Persistence pays off in these challenging conditions.

Lure Fishing for Perch During Flooded Rivers: Conclusion

Lure fishing for perch during periods of flooding and coloured water can be tough, but it’s not impossible. By using lures that rely on vibration, sound, and bright colours, targeting the right locations, and adjusting your tackle and techniques to the conditions, you can turn a challenging day into a successful one. Stay adaptable, and the perch will still come to play, even when the river is high and muddy.