Winter Perch on Crankbaits

Fox Rage: New Crankbait Video

I recently had the opportunity to film a new video for Fox Rage, focusing entirely on catching winter perch on crankbaits. It was one of those projects where everything came together — the fishing was incredible, the conditions were atmospheric, and the content practically wrote itself. In this post, I want to take you behind the scenes of the shoot, share what I learned across two separate sessions on the river, and pass on some practical tips that you can put straight into your own winter perch on crankbaits fishing.

The First Session

I arrived at the river a few days before the main filming day to scout the stretch and get some initial footage. Within minutes of casting a crankbait, I was into fish. The perch were absolutely smashing the lure — proper, aggressive takes that bent the rod right over. It was exactly the kind of action you dream about when you head out targeting winter perch on crankbaits.

The session built through the afternoon and into dusk. Some of the fish were stunning — deep-bodied, dark-flanked perch that had clearly been feeding well. I managed to catch consistently throughout, which gave me real confidence heading into the main filming day. If you enjoy watching perch fishing action, make sure you check out our video library for more sessions like this.

One thing I love about crankbaits is the speed at which you can cover water. Unlike slower techniques, you can fish at pace, find the fish quickly and then really work an area once you know they are there. If you have read my post on catching huge river perch, you will know how productive this approach can be on rivers.

Tackle Setup

For this session I kept things simple and light. The rod was the Fox Rage Prism X Twitcher — a lovely, responsive rod that is perfect for working small crankbaits. I paired it with a Prism 1000 size reel loaded with 10–15 lb braided mainline. A fine, light braid gives you excellent sensitivity and casting distance with these small lures.

Below the braid I used approximately 3 ft of Drop & Jig fluorocarbon leader, connected to a light wire trace. The wire trace is important when pike are present in the same water — it provides peace of mind without significantly affecting the action of the lure.

Pro Tips: Winter Perch on Crankbaits

Here are the key lessons I took away from these sessions — practical tips you can apply immediately to improve your own winter perch on crankbaits fishing.

Choose 4.5 cm Floating Crankbaits for Shallow Water

The 4.5 cm Salmo Rattling Hornet was my go-to across both sessions. The floating version dives to around 1–2 metres, which is perfect for most river margins and canal swims. The floating design also lets you pause the lure and allow it to rise back up, gliding under overhanging trees and snags.

Match Lure Colour to Water Clarity

I carried a small selection of colours and rotated between them. The general rule is simple: natural colours for clear water, brighter colours for coloured water. Hot Perch and Pearl Shad worked brilliantly in clearer conditions, while Chartreuse was the one to reach for when the water carried a bit of colour.

Use a Straight, Steady Retrieve

Don't overthink the retrieve. A straight, steady wind at a reasonable pace is all you need. This lets the crankbait's built-in action and rattle do the work. The speed also means you can cover a lot of water quickly, which is critical when you are searching for fish on a new stretch. Check out our gear reviews for more on the tackle I use.

Crankbaits Work in Cold Conditions

One of the biggest takeaways from these sessions was just how effective winter perch on crankbaits can be in genuinely cold weather. Some anglers assume crankbaits are a warm-weather technique, but that is simply not the case. Perch hit crankbaits as a reaction strike — they are not necessarily feeding, they are reacting instinctively to the lure passing through their territory.

Target Dusk but Don't Ignore Other Times

The dusk feeding window was definitely productive, but I caught fish throughout the day. Winter feeding windows are shorter, which is another reason the reaction strike element of crankbaits is so valuable — you do not need the fish to be actively feeding.

Try Jerkbaits if Crankbaits Go Quiet

If the crankbait action slows down, consider switching to a suspending jerkbait or small suspending minnow. These can be paused in the water column, which can be deadly when conditions get really cold. But that might be a video for another day.

Pearl Shad is the Top Pick

If I had to pick one crankbait colour to save my life, it would be the Salmo Rattling Hornet in Pearl Shad. It has caught me more perch than any other lure in my box. A truly outstanding winter perch on crankbaits pattern.

The Second Session

I returned to the river for the main filming day full of confidence. It did not disappoint. After working my way along the stretch, I found a pod of perch that were absolutely on it. The takes were savage — rod-wrenching hits that came right at my feet in some cases.

The highlight was landing a cracking 40 cm perch that absolutely slammed the crankbait. Shortly after, I found myself with two good fish in the net at the same time — a proper brace. It was one of those moments where everything clicks and you remember exactly why you love this kind of fishing.

Watch the Video

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