Zander

Sander lucioperca · pikeperch, pike-perch, European walleye

Water temp

57–70°F

Peak season

Aug–Nov

Best light

Low light

IGFA record

25 lb 2 oz (11.4 kg)

Photo: eLNuko · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

Overview Where & When How to Catch Gear Regulations Records Forecast Catches

Overview

Zander are long, grey-green percids with dark bars, reflective eyes and a mouthful of fangs, native to rivers of Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic drainage and now widespread in Western Europe, including the UK Fens and the Netherlands. They favor turbid, slow water, hunting shoals of small fish along drop-offs, bridge pilings and canal lock cuttings mostly at dawn, dusk and night. Spring spawners, they are sluggish in the coldest months but feed heavily in autumn. Anglers prize them as the most refined lure target in European freshwater and as one of the best-eating fish there is.

Typical size2–6 lb (0.9–2.7 kg); 16–26 in

Trophy15 lb+ in Western Europe; 20 lb+ is exceptional

Table fareExcellent — firm, white, mild fillets

Where & when

Zander spawn in April–May and many countries close the fishery then; the best action is August through November as water cools and fish gorge before winter.

River Severn, United KingdomLower reaches are the UK's premier zander river Fen drains (Middle Level, Great Ouse), United KingdomShallow, murky drains where UK zander were first established Rotterdam harbors / Nieuwe Maas, NetherlandsUrban street fishing capital of Europe for big zander

How to catch

Vertical and dropshot jiggingWork a 3–5 in soft plastic on a 10–20 g jighead or dropshot rig right on the bottom along steep edges, lock cuttings and bridge pilings. Lift and drop slowly with pauses; takes come as a tick or a sudden weight on the drop.

Deadbait after darkFish a small whole or half roach or smelt on a running ledger or a sunken float rig in 6–15 ft of water from dusk into the night. Use sensitive drop-off indicators and strike early; zander drop a bait at the first sign of resistance.

Gear

Rod7–8' medium-light spinning, fast action, 5–25 g

Reel2500–3000 spinning

Line15 lb braid with a 12–15 lb fluorocarbon leader

Lures

paddle-tail soft plastics on jigheadsdropshot finesse wormsslim suspending jerkbaits

Baits

roach deadbaitsmeltlamprey sectionslive minnows where legal

Regulations

Most European countries require a national or regional license plus water permits, with spring closed seasons and minimum sizes for zander. In England and Wales zander are a non-native species and anglers are not permitted to return them to the water on many waters; check local rules.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: 25 lb 2 oz (11.4 kg) — Trosa, Sweden, 1986 (Harry Lee Tennison). State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Is zander the same as walleye?

No, but they are close cousins. Zander (Sander lucioperca) is the Eurasian member of the same genus as the North American walleye (Sander vitreus); they look alike, behave alike and taste alike. Zander grow a little larger, have more pronounced fangs and lack the walleye's white tip on the lower tail lobe.

Bite forecast — Zander

Location

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Zander.

Family	Perches (Percidae)
Habitat	river, lake, reservoir, canal, delta
Feeds	Low light
Tolerates	41–77°F