Season and closed seasons in Holland: when should you fish for perch, zander and pike?

In the Netherlands, it is possible to fish year-round, but several of the most popular species have closed seasons to protect spawning. This affects when it is possible and sensible to travel.

Closed seasons

• Perch and zander: protected from 1 April–31 May.
• Pike: protected from 1 March–30 June.

Outside these periods, fishing is open and highly productive. Our travel dates are always planned outside the closed seasons.

Best periods

Spring and autumn are the best periods for large perch and zander.

Late summer can offer some really exciting pike fishing.

Fishing is good year-round, and several of our regular departures are in February and November.

Where are the fish?

In the large lakes, perch may be shallow among baitfish schools one day and deeper along drop-offs and structures the next. In rivers and canals, predatory fish gather densely but are more selective. Pike thrive in vegetation-rich areas, while zander often hold deeper along edges and structures.

Lures

• Jigs with shads or crayfish imitations are the foundation of perch fishing.
• Crankbaits and jerkbaits work well when the fish are holding higher in the water or chasing.
• Chatterbaits and topwater lures can produce when the predatory fish are highly active.
• Larger lures along structures and drop-offs for pike and zander.

The guides always adapt the choice of lures to the day's conditions, and that is often where the biggest strikes come from. Equipment and lures are available to borrow on site.

You can read about the guides and waters in the article about large perch in the Netherlands.

Plan your trip to Holland

Our travel dates are always outside the closed seasons. Get in touch if you would like to travel on another date. Emil at Outside Travels has been there himself and is happy to answer your questions.

See the fishing trip to Holland

Frequently asked questions about the season in the Netherlands