A Brace of 3lb Perch

Five hundred mile round trip for two days fishing on the Wasing estate fishery on the river Kennet was worth all the effort despite the icy cold nights, bright sunny days and low water temperature. Though I must say at 70 its getting tough at roughing it at night sometimes. I have always said "If you don't put in the effort you cannot expect good results" It's through working at my fishing I some times get lucky and catch a whacker. As I tell my listeners if you want to catch you need to put in the effort.

Despite the tough condition and low water temperature on this latest trip I didn’t blank, on my first day I had 3lb chub on crust and a brace of perch like the one in the picture which weighed 3-4-0 my other perch weighed 3-2-0 both on lobworms. It’s a pity I couldn't have retained the first perch then I could have had a picture with the brace. I used a soft Avon action rod centre pin reel 6lb Gamma line and a size 4 barbless hook with a LG shot s weight. To keep the three lobworms on the hook I used a small square of rubber band. The first perch was caught as I rolled the worm down the swim; the second perch was caught as it attacked the bunch of worms as I dragged the bait across the surface to make another cast.

On the second day I had three barbel two at about 6lbs and one of 10-12-0 all three barbel were caught on crust, I couldn't catch on sausage meat, cheese paste or luncheon meat. I also lost three other fish which shed the hook after a few seconds which was rather strange.