Zander

Zander lures at Charlie's Fishing: softbaits, vibration baits, glidebaits and jig heads for zander

This page brings together our lures for zander: the shads, pintails and finesse softbaits you jig along the bottom, the lipless crankbaits and blade baits for deeper water, the glidebaits for big zander, and the jig heads, hooks and leaders that go with them. Zander often hunt close to the bottom, are most active in low light and can be cautious biters, so most of the range is built around slow, controlled presentations. It is for anglers who fish rivers, canals, harbours and lakes from the bank or the boat, whether you are new to zander or fish for them every week. Below you find which lure fits which technique, with the sizes and weights that matter.

Paddle tail shads: the classic zander softbait

A paddle tail shad of 8 to 13 cm on a jig head is the bait most zander anglers start with: cast, let it sink to the bottom, lift it with one or two turns of the reel and let it fall again. The Rapala CrushCity The Kickman has a salted belly and a subtle kicking tail that works at the slowest retrieve, in 7.5, 10 and 12.5 cm. The Nays PRDTR 35 2.0 (8.9 cm, 6 g) and Nays PRDTR 50 2.0 (12.7 cm, 16.9 g) have a broad body with a restrained rolling action and garlic scent, made for pressured water and cold conditions. The Illex Dexter Shad 110 (10.5 cm, 10 g) was developed with zander in mind and has a strong rolling action, and the Illex Dexter Shad 150 (13.5 cm, 19 g) is the bigger profile for large zander and pike. The Toppies Skeletonius (7 and 10 cm) is ultra soft, so a zander sucks it in easily, and its light floating material lifts the tail off the bottom. For big zander hunting perch and bleak, the Greenfin Samba Paddle 12 cm moves plenty of water. More in Paddle Tails and Zander and Perch Softbaits, and from the brands Rapala, Nays and Illex.

Pintails, V-tails and finesse softbaits for pressured zander

When zander follow but do not bite, a slim bait with little tail action often makes the difference. The Rapala CrushCity The Stingman (7.5, 10 and 12.5 cm) is a salted pintail for drop shot, jig head, Carolina rig or weightless. The Toppies Pintius 9 cm is made of floating material, so on a Carolina or Texas rig it rises from the bottom, and Toppies reports many zander on a Pintius that was left still for a few seconds. The Greenfin Tango Pin 10 cm has a subtle pulse and after-quiver for selective zander along drop-offs and current lines. For mid-strolling and drop shot there are the hollow V-tail DSTYLE Virola 4" (10.2 cm, 4.1 g) and the Jackall Driftfry 4" (10.2 cm, 5.2 g) with its molded bill and twist tail. See all V-Tails & Pintails and the Toppies, Capt'n Greenfin and DSTYLE collections.

Worms, craws and Ned baits on the bottom

On hard, snaggy bottoms and in cold water, a bait that sits or crawls on the bottom can catch zander that ignore a swimming shad. The PXS Kagashi Worm 3" 7,5 cm and PXS Kagashi Worm 4" 10 cm are pin-tail worms for drop shot, round jig heads, Texas and Carolina rigs, and also a trailer behind a chatterbait. The Rapala CrushCity Cleanup Craw (8.8 cm) works on a Ned rig, cheburashka, Texas or Carolina rig, and the Rapala CrushCity Ned BLT is made of durable TPE that stands up on the bottom on a Ned jig head. More in Ned's & Worms and Craws & Creature Baits.

Weedless ready-rigged softbaits

The Fiiish Black Minnow comes ready to fish with its hook hidden in the body (PH2S system), so you can fish it through rocks, weed and snags where a normal jig head gets stuck. The Fiiish Black Minnow 105 N2.5 Combo Search 12g (10.5 cm) is the size Fiiish recommends for zander, perch and sea bass, and the Fiiish Black Minnow 120 N3 Combo Search 18g (12 cm) casts further and gets down faster in deeper water or current. Each combo includes a spare body. See the full Fiiish range.

Lipless crankbaits, blade baits and spintails for zander

Vibration baits cover a lot of water and help zander find your lure in coloured water or low light. The Nays LPR is a sinking lipless crankbait with rattle in 5.5 cm (9.9 g) and 7.5 cm (20.6 g) that swims from a slow retrieve and can also be jigged in deep water; there is also a silent version without rattle for a quieter presentation. The Rapala Rippin Blade (7 cm, 16 g) is a cross between a blade bait and the Rippin' Rap, with three line ties, for casting and vertical jigging on big water. The metal Rapala Rippin' Spin (3 cm, 9 g and 4 cm, 16 g) has a tail blade that keeps turning on the drop; the 16 g is the size for zander, in wind and current. Fish these with lift and drop along harbour walls and drop-offs, or with a steady retrieve over open water. More in Vibration Baits.

Twitchbaits and chatterbaits

The Rapala Shadow Rap Shad Deep Twitchbait (9 cm, 7 g) dives to about 2.4 m and darts from side to side on short twitches, then sinks slowly in a horizontal position on the pause. It is a good choice for zander that hold deeper along drop-offs and channels in clear water. See Crankbaits & Twitchbaits. The PXS Copper Head Blade (8.5 cm, 10.5 and 12 g, hook 5/0) is a chatterbait that vibrates hard on a steady retrieve; with a Kagashi Worm as trailer it is a strong search bait for active zander in shallower water. More in Chatterbaits & Spinnerbaits and PXS Pitch and Strike.

Glidebaits and swimbaits for big zander

Big zander feed on bigger baitfish, and a slow glidebait or swimbait can bring them up from the bottom. The Swimbait Republic Glideway 126 (12.6 cm, 29.5 g) comes with lead weight stickers that make it floating, suspending or sinking, and does its best work on the pause. The Rapala x Charlie's Fishing Limited Edition is a Super Shadow Rap Glide 11 (45 g) in our own perch pattern, with screw-in weights to set the sink rate. The SPRO Swimbait 5" Slow Sink (12 cm) is a three-piece jointed swimbait of 24 g that sinks about 30 cm every 3 seconds, and the handmade Hispano Lures Polaris 147 (14.7 cm, 37 g) is a floating soft paddle tail swimbait for pike and zander. Read more in our guide Hispano Lures Polaris 147 & 167: Handmade Floating Swimbaits for Pike and Zander, and see all Zander Glidebaits and Swimbait Republic.

Jig heads, hooks, weights and leaders for zander

The jig head decides how your softbait falls and how well you feel the bottom. As a rule, pick the lightest head that still keeps bottom contact: lighter in still water and shallow canals, heavier in deep water, current or wind. The BKK Hyperlatch Round Jig Hooks have a keeper that holds the softbait in place and a very sharp hook; the Dexter Shad 110 product page pairs it with the 4/0. The Toppies Tungsten Jighead (3.5 to 10.6 g) is smaller than lead for the same weight, so it drops faster and you feel more on the bottom. For drop shot and wacky rigs there is the wide gape BKK Predator WG, and the VMC Drop Shot Sinker (14 and 17 g) changes in seconds with its quick-change clip. The ready-made VMC Fluorocarbon Leader in 0.80 mm is a discreet choice for zander in clear water. See Jigheads, Hooks and Rigs, Weights and Lines and Leaders, and the brands BKK Hooks and VMC.

Where and when to fish for zander

Zander like depth and structure: river groynes and current seams, harbours, canals, bridge pillars, drop-offs and deep lakes. They are often most active at dawn, dusk and at night, and in cold water they tend to stay deep and take slowly. Bites can be no more than a light tap or sudden weight on the line, so keep contact with your lure and strike firmly. Our beginners' guide Zander Fishing for Beginners: the guide for catching zander explains the basics step by step, and River Fishing: 9 Lures We Always Bring for Perch, Zander and Pike covers fishing in current.

Which zander lure for which situation

• Jigging along the bottom: a 10 to 13 cm paddle tail such as the Kickman, PRDTR 50 2.0 or Dexter Shad 110 on a round jig head.
• Pressured or cold-water zander: a pintail or V-tail like the Stingman, Pintius, Tango Pin or Virola 4" on a drop shot or light jig head.
• Snaggy bottoms and stones: the weedless Fiiish Black Minnow or a Kagashi Worm on a Texas rig.
• Finding active fish fast, coloured water: Nays LPR, Rippin Blade or Rippin' Spin.
• Deeper fish along drop-offs in clear water: Shadow Rap Shad Deep.
• Big zander after large baitfish: Glideway 126, Super Shadow Rap Glide 11 or Samba Paddle 12 cm.
• Shallow water at dusk: PXS Copper Head Blade with a Kagashi Worm trailer. See also Perch and Pike.

Why buy zander lures at Charlie's Fishing

We picked zander lures from brands such as Rapala, Nays, Illex, Toppies, Capt'n Greenfin, Fiiish, PXS and DSTYLE, with the jig heads, hooks and leaders to match, so you can put together a complete setup in one order. Every product ships from our own stock in the Netherlands with fast delivery across Europe, and we are happy to tell you which size and weight fits your water.

What is the best lure for zander?

For most situations a 10 to 13 cm paddle tail or pintail softbait on a jig head along the bottom. When zander are active or the water is coloured, a lipless crankbait or blade bait can work better, and for big zander a slow glidebait.

Which size softbait for zander?

Most zander anglers use 7.5 to 13 cm. Choose 7.5 to 10 cm in cold water, clear water or when fish are cautious, and 12 to 13 cm when zander are feeding on bigger baitfish or you are after big fish.

Which jig head weight for zander?

The lightest weight that still lets you feel the bottom. In shallow canals and still water that is often lighter, in deep water, current or wind you need more. A tungsten head such as the Toppies Tungsten Jighead gives more feel for its size.