Perch from Rivers and Still Waters

From the late 1960’s through to the late 1980’s perch stocks were decimated through disease, the fish become a rare species; small boys couldn’t go and catch perch to get them started on a career in angling, as millions of us older anglers had done.

Thankfully the bad old days are past us. For the past three years I have been spending a lot of time fishing for the perch, in fact I would have to go back to the late 1950’s early 60’s when I last spent so much time fishing for what the late Richard Walker said “Its the biggest fish that swims”. When Richard said biggest he didn’t mean weight wise. It was how big the perch looked alongside other coarse fish of equal weight. They certainly look bigger and far more impressive, than all the other species.

Seeing a big perch swirl on the surface at the end of your line, certainly takes your breath away. For a few seconds you stand spell bound at the size of this magnificent fish with its dorsal fin erect and gills flared. It’s a sight you don’t forget in a hurry.

Some canals, many still waters and quite a few rivers contain big perch. A pound perch is a nice fish, catch a two pounder it’s a good one. Three pounders are big; the four and five pounders are giants and what we dream about. Two canals that spring to mind which produce giant perch are the Leeds and Liverpool and Kennet and Avon, both venues having done 4lb plus fish. On both waters you can get a day or season permit.

There are many still waters up and down the country that hold three pound plus perch, waters often no bigger than a farm pond, so do not neglect these small venues. There are many rivers holding big perch, yet few anglers’ fish for them; preferring to seek the barbel and chub.

Rivers where I have caught big perch are the Loddon, Wensum, Kennet, Waveney, Buckinghamshire Ouse, Teme, Upper Thames, Suffolk Stour and the river Ure in North Yorkshire. Brian Moorland who organised the syndicate and me certainly had our share of big fish. One warm muggy November day Brian hooked and lost a giant of a perch which I had a good view of. I reckon that fish was nearer 5lbs that 4lb No doubt you have a river venue near you.

If you want to catch a river perch choose a quiet stretch of reed fringed river with over hanging willows and alders, a fallen tree in the water where a deep slack has been created, or where a stream flows into the river creating a deep under cut bank, this will often be a good spot to try.
Float Fishing and Lobworms

There are several ways to catch perch, we can use spinners and plugs, leger or float fish with a dead or live fish. Though I reckon float fishing with lobworms is one of the best and most productive ways to fish for this prickly predator on any venue.

My best days perch fishing on a river was back in 2005, when I fished the River Kennet with solicitor Stephen Collins of Hungerford and Mike Osborne from Carlisle catching 31 perch, nine over 3lbs. Trotting the stream with an 11 foot Avon rod, centre pin reel, 4lb Gamma line and a size 8 hook. To complete the tackle I decided on a red tipped balsa on quill float with five AA shot on the line. Having plumbed the depth I set the float at four feet so the bait was either lightly dragging or just an inch or two off the bottom. During the day I found the depth critical, even moving the float an inch often made the difference between a bite and no bites. Perch can be so fussy at times.

Another excellent way to catch big perch is by strett pegging using a thirteen to fifteen foot rod and centre pin reel, in my book I reckon its one of the best ways to catch not only perch but chub, roach, barbel, and bream. I get told it’s an old fashion method, don’t you believe it. It’s as good today as it was back in 1950 when my grandfather showed me the technique. Having plumbed the depth I set the float which is often a red tipped swan quill three to four feet over depth, then bunch the shot about twelve inches from the hook. Having cast downstream I put the rod in the rest so the rod tip is pointed slightly upwards.

The float will either lay flat or be at an angle. Bites are usually very positive. The float submerging or moving out into the stream, though sometimes you get a very savage take pulling the rod tip round violently. After fifteen twenty minutes without a bite, I will lift the rod allowing the tackle to move down stream a couple of feet then put the rod back in the rest.

On some waters legering can be a useful way to fish, I suggest you use a paternoster rig with a short link about 6 – 9 inches to attach an Arlesey bomb. Hook link would be two feet with a size 6 barbless hook baited with one or two lobworms, having impaled the worms on the hook, I then place a tiny square piece of rubber band to stop the worms wriggling off. When fishing for perch I keep feeding gentles with some light brown crumb to attract the small fish into the swim. I have tried ground baiting with whitebait; I haven’t noticed any advantage in doing so.