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Summer’s Best Perch Lures – Proven Picks from the Pros
If, like us, you’re fanatical about perch fishing, you’ll already know that summer is one of the best times to target these stripy predators. Takes can be explosive and sudden — whether you’re cranking deep, skipping topwater lures across glassy margins, or probing shady spots where perch lie in ambush. Armed with some of summer’s best perch lures, you can make the most of these prime conditions. Without question, summer offers some of the finest perch fishing in the UK, and when everything lines up just right, you’re not just in for a busy session — you might even connect with a real beast.
With the river season now open and summer in full swing, we’ve reached out to some of the UK’s most respected lure anglers to find out what their number one perch lure is for consistent summer success. These are the lures they turn to time and time again when the bite gets tough or when they’re hunting for a specimen fish.
Whether you’re fishing canals, slow-flowing rivers, weedy gravel pits or clear reservoirs, these lure choices should give you the confidence and inspiration to up your game this season.
Top Angler Picks: Best Summer Perch Lures
Below you’ll find five top lure picks, each handpicked by experienced UK lure anglers. Every one of them explains why their choice works, when to use it, and how to fish it for best results.
1. Ash Costa – Gunki Little Rockstar
The Gunki Little Rockstar has become one of my go-to lures for summer perch fishing when things get tough or when perch are keyed into feeding on smaller bait fish. Its compact profile and tight, high-frequency vibration make it perfect for targeting aggressive fish in warm, shallow water. I’ve had countless sessions where perch couldn’t leave it alone — especially when worked quickly through shoals or twitched past structure.
2. Charlie CopPolo – Rapala DT4 Crankbait
For my summer perch fishing, I always opt for mega “aggressive” techniques — things like topwater lures, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and so on.
But on my local river, my absolute go-to is a Rapala DT4 crankbait. I’ll vary the colour depending on clarity and river conditions, but there’s something about the action of the DT series that just triggers perch. They simply can’t resist it!
3. Hayden Seabrook – Majorcraft Ceana Pencil
The MajorCraft Ceana Pencil has earned its place in my tackle box thanks to its incredible topwater action and versatility. On warm, still mornings or evenings, when perch are hunting near the surface, this lure comes into its own. The walk-the-dog action is effortless to achieve, and I’ve had some truly explosive takes from perch smashing it off the top.
4. Daniele Francia (Momo) – Keitech Shad Impact
My go-to season opener is a pintail, such as the Keitech Shad Impact or PXS Kagashi Worm, rigged on a straight Tungsten jig head — round or darting style. I fish aggressive jigs high in the water column, and hopefully, the fish will smash them hard on the drop!
5. Will Pender – Keitech Sexy Impact
One of my go-to lures for summer perch has to be the Keitech 2.8″ Sexy Impact. They have the perfect profile to imitate a baitfish or an invertebrate. With a waisted pin tail, they don’t shout as loudly as a paddle tail, but they still have enough presence to dominate a swim. My favourite colours are either Gold Flash Minnow or Bluegill Flash.
Fished on a dropshot or a standard jig head, they’re great—but bounced along the bottom on a skirted jig head, they become irresistible to larger perch.
6. Thom Hunt– Westin Bladebite Chatterbait
I simply love fishing with power baits when the water gets above 14 degrees, and there’s nothing better than a Westin Bladebite chatterbait for big summer perch. They won’t get you the most bites, but they will generally catch the bigger ones.
As weed growth increases in spring and summer, you need a bait that is not only relatively snag-free but also produces vibrations that can draw perch out from their cover. I tend to fish it with a pintail-style lure, like the new Westin ShadTeez Pintail in 11cm. The lack of resistance in the tail allows the bait to ‘hunt’ left and right with an erratic action. (If you use a paddle-tail trailer, like the ShadTeez Hollow 8cm, it will keep the retrieve more straight.)
They come in 7g, 9g, and 14g sizes and some awesome colours—my favourites are Headlight and Yellow Sparkle.
7. Adam Seeley– Strike king Sexy Dawg Jr
The Sexy Dawg Jr has to be my favourite summer lure — you just can’t beat the thrill of watching multiple big perch chasing a topwater! Beyond the fun factor, this lure really moves big perch. You’d be surprised just how effective it is. I’m convinced it works so well because the sound it makes closely mimics perch feeding, which tricks others into joining in.
Fish it fast, and don’t stop. Early morning and late evening are definitely the most productive times, especially in less than 5 feet of water. Focus on undercut banks, tree lines, sheet pilings, walls, and weed beds — all great places to start. Give it a go!
Summer Time Perch Fishing Tips
Success in the warmer months isn’t just about lure selection — it’s also about watercraft, adaptability and preparation. Here are a few essential tips to help you get the most out of your summer perch sessions:
- Don’t overlook faster, oxygenated water: On rivers, weedy streams, or flowing sections of canals, predators like perch often hang around in or near faster water where oxygen levels are higher and baitfish gather. Features like weirs, riffles, and back eddies can be absolute hotspots in summer.
- Use a thin wire trace when necessary: While perch are the main target, hungry pike are never far away — especially in warm, active conditions. Using a light wire trace (when pike are present) ensures you don’t get bitten off if a jack decides to gatecrash your session.
- Stay mobile and adapt: Perch can be moody. If the fish you’re targeting isn’t responding to your chosen lures, don’t waste precious time. Change spots, vary retrieve speeds, or even switch species. Chub can offer great sport in similar areas and will happily smash a well-placed lure in warm weather.
- Fish early or late: The low-light periods around dawn and dusk can really switch the bigger perch on — especially in pressured waters. Topwater lures and subtle presentations can work wonders in these magic hours.
Final Thoughts – Summer’s Best Perch Lures
Lure fishing for perch in summer can be electric — the water’s warm, the fish are active, and the visual takes are something to remember. But success often comes down to confidence in your gear and your approach. The lures above aren’t just random picks; they’ve been tried, tested and trusted by some of the most capable perch anglers in the country.
So if you’re heading out in the coming weeks, give one or two of these a go. You might just find your new favourite — and land that summer PB you’ve been chasing.
