The water quality of our rivers is improving from year to year. Where once a murky broth flowed, today the water is pure and clear. If you want to catch a zander in these conditions, you have to come up with something special. After all, the predators have a very good sense of sight, which they know how to use. On my waters - large rivers - the spiny knights have noticeably shifted their foraging to dusk and night. Under the cover of darkness, they hunt small fish along the stone packs of the groyne fields. As a result, I had to adapt my fishing time to the zander's feeding and hunting phases. For some time now, I have been fishing at night with great success for glass eyes - regardless of the time of year. Whether in summer or winter, the zander always seek out the shallow groyne areas in the dark. Differences in water temperature tend to play a subordinate role here. In the following, I will give you seven useful tips so that nothing stands in the way of your nocturnal zander success.
Weather forecast and water level
Before we go fishing, we should take a look at the weather and, above all, the river level. If strong winds, heavy rainfall and high water levels are forecast, it makes more sense to postpone fishing. I use the apps (Pegel-Online) and (Wetter-Online) and check at the beginning of the week to see which nights have perfect conditions. This way, we plan our fishing time more effectively in advance.
Which stage is the right one?
We head to the river at low tide. During the day, we have the chance to spot exciting spots for the night. Keep your eyes open: Groynes with hard and rocky bottoms are promising spots. If you find deep holes, they are also worth a try. The fish often stay here during the day. Groynes with long stone packs and dark water also promise good catches. Satellite images from Google Maps can help you find suitable spots. Fish both sides of the groyne thoroughly. But don't waste too much time on a "dead" spot. If there is no bite after around ten minutes, move on to the next groyne. Time is fish - especially with the short biting times in winter. Extra tip: Change sides or the whole bank for a short time after a fish. The zander are suspicious and cautious due to the drill and the commotion. If we give the spot around 20 minutes to rest, it is definitely worth trying again. If you miss a bite, keep fishing. The fish will often attack the bait again.
Mobile with narrow luggage
As a rule, the zander move to the shallower shore areas at dusk - this is when the big feeding starts. The biting phases vary throughout the year: if it is only one to two hours in winter, it becomes longer as temperatures rise. It therefore makes sense to reduce your tackle to the bare essentials. A small shoulder bag such as the Shoulder Bag 20 or the Backpack102 with one or two bait boxes and other important items such as pliers, leaders, measuring tape or fishing papers. This allows us to remain very mobile and flexible. To save time in the event of a break-off, ready-made leaders and already mounted soft lures with different jig head weights should be to hand. I currently use the Akilas rod in 2.70 meters with a casting weight of 15 to 60 grams. This allows me to set the hook safely even when the bites come directly in front of my feet. This is not possible with a model that is too soft. I recommend a 3000 or 4000 SP1 to match the rod. When it comes to leaders, I swear by a thin steel leader with a load capacity of seven to nine kilos. This way, I have fewer break-offs with snags and am on the safe side when one of the rare Rhine pike bites.
Zander feast
Soft lures are also the first choice when stalking zander at night. High-backed models such as the Wobshad 2.0 with a strong rolling action and a pronounced shovel tail have brought me good success. Even at low speeds, they play excellently in the current and entice the zander to bite. In the cold season, I go for sizes between 12 and 15 centimetres. In the dark, I prefer real shock colors: lemon lime or white are my favorites. If the current is strong enough, it is also worth trying shallow-running wobblers such as the Ikiru Jerk. The larger zander in particular have a weakness for hard fish imitations without rattles.
A question of management style
Pay attention to the current within the groyne. Important: The bait is always guided and retrieved against the direction of flow. Zander will bite even at a low water level of just 50 centimetres. A simple underhand cast from the wrist along the stone pack is perfect. Then close the reel handle immediately, point the rod diagonally upwards and guide the lure flat and parallel to the bank. An even and monotonous guide is the key to success. Pay attention to light ground contact when reeling in. If you don't feel this, simply slow down the crank turns. A reel with a low gear ratio helps here. Be fully concentrated. Many zander follow the bait before they take it. The bites mainly come when the soft lures move towards the surface.
Lights off, senses on
As the zander usually patrol the stone pack directly in front of our feet, silence is required. Loud noises, hectic movements and rays of light entering the water should be avoided. It is useful to use a head torch with a red light. This has less of a scaring effect and we can move around safely on the rocky bank. You will be surprised how you perceive things in the dark. Your senses are sharpened and I find fishing more intense than in daylight.
Next time, try a night for zander on your river. The bites are hard as nails and feel like they've been hit. With these seven tips, you'll be one step closer to a night-time adrenaline rush. Stay flexible and look for more distant spots, these are particularly exciting for the big zander. I can only encourage you to go on a discovery tour with a buddy. There's just something magical about the river at night.
Your Salah
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