29/04/2026 - Perch Fishing

left home around 1700hrs for the long drive to Woolhampton in Berkshire, some two hundred miles, arriving just after 2200 hrs, as I pulled into the car park,I noticed the full moon, also the frost on the ground, I’d come for two days fishing on the river Kennet, usually I get a B&B, but it wasn’t available at short notice. My first job was a fresh brew, how I enjoy my Jetboiler, however strong the wind blows it gets the water boiling in no time. As I sat in the car feeling the warmth of the heater, enjoying my mug of tea with a corn beef sandwich. I wandered what the next day would bring. Soon I was tucked up inside my Special forces sleeping bag, it was around 0630hrs when got out of my sleeping bag.

After a brew, I headed off into Newbury where I could use the facilities of a Supermarket, then to a café at Woolhampton on the A4 for breakfast, followed by a visit to Kevin's tackle shop for lobworms, also a catch upon what had been caught. Despite the icy cold night, the day was bright sunshine, with an easterly wind, there was a covering of frost on the rushes, trees and bushes, even the puddles were frozen solid, checking the water temperature I got a reading of 36degrees F, certainly not the best conditions. The easterly wind made me shiver, I needed to get my big coat on, also my mittens. My two nights sleeping in the car wouldn’t be the best idea, but I had no choice. I often ask myself “Is it worth it”? I reckoned so, I have always thought "If I don't put in the effort, I can't expect results" I have always put a lot of thought, work and effort into my fishing. Sometimes I get lucky and catch a good fish, if you don’t want to put in the effort, don't complain about those who do so and catch good fish. On this particular trip conditions were not good, it was a one of those days when nothing moved, even the birds were absent on this trip, I didn't even see the friendly robin.

By lunchtime several anglers had packed in, usually with the words as they passed me was "I was told it was a waste of time today Martin" Though after several hours fishing, perhaps that's what I should have done. Yes, conditions were grim, but if you have a bait in the water, you have a chance. After covering some two miles of the River Kennet, trying probably fifteen twenty likely spots, I arrived at a swim where a popular tree had crashed in the river the previous winter. Behind the tree was a dinner table size area of virtual still water creating a nice crease either side of this slack. I turned to Brian saying "Hold on a minute I'm going to chuck some lobs in that slack, it might be good for a perch". I was using a soft Avon action rod, centre pin reel, 6lb Gamma line, with a size 4 barbless hook. Weight was an LG shot lightly pinched on the line 15inches from the hook. I baited with three lobworms, to keep them from wriggling off the hook I use a small square of rubber band or a plastic or an imitation gentle.

At Last A Good Bite

Within three minutes or so of the bait entering the water, then slowly moving down the swim, I  felt a light pluck, then a more distinct pull, "That's not a crayfish" I thought. Striking I felt the typical head shaking of a perch. I called out "I'm in, bring the net"? down in the clear water I could see a good perch, its fin erect, diving and twisting as it sought the sanctuary of various snags, including some overhanging tree branches trailing deep in the water. Cramping on more pressure, I slowly pulled the fish towards my bank, then a minute or two later I lifted the fish towards he surface. In seconds a big perch with dorsal fin erect head shaking was close to the surface,. Applying side strain I pulled the fish towards the net, where it was quickly netted. I punched the air with relief. On the scales it weighed 3-4-0 after a couple of pictures we watched it swim off in that swaggering attitude so reminiscent of big perch. I decided I would fish another bunch of worms through the swim, from some sixty plus years of experience, I have found perch are not normally be on their own, I reckon there could be another fish in the area. I cast the baited hook close to some branches dangling in the water, as I lifted the bait, I felt a slight pluck, I immediately dropped the rod tip, the bait went to the bottom, in the hope the fish would follow bait down, within seconds the line started moving upstream, lowering the rod tip, at the same time taking in the slack, I set the hook into another good fish which was quickly netted. It weighed 3lb 2 ounces. Two big perch in a matter of minutes, it doesn’t get better. It was a pity I didn't retain the first fish in the landing net, then I didn't expect another fish so quickly.

Also I don't like to keep perch in a net as they are very fragile fish. After a break for a fresh brew, , with a cheese and pickle sandwich. Break over I roamed up and down the river with nothing to show for me effort, after hiding my gear in some rushes, I went off to Woolhampton café on the A4 for a hot meal, Before getting my head down in the car park. After driving many miles, roughing it in the car at night, living whole meal sandwiches and tea, with the occasional visit to the café it had been worthwhile and rewarding trip.

Perch Are Great Fun with a Fly Rod

For probably fifty odd years I’ve targeted coarse fish with dry flies, streamer sand nymphs, there isn't a fish I know of you can't catch on an imitation fly. Roach, perch, chub, rudd, tench, dace carp, pike even barbel, as I proved on the River Teme, when fishing with Tony Farquharson, ending up with seven fish all taken on Walker mayfly nymph fished upstream, during a big mayfly hatch. These are my usual target fish, two species that will avidly take a surface or sub surface fly patterns are pike and perch, certainly my favourite fish. In this feature I am writing about perch, they can be caught from a variety of waters, Spate Rivers, chalk streams or lowland slow flowing clay based waters and still waters.Dry flies, nymphs and streamers have accounted for lots of good perch (fish of 2lb plus) over many years from various rivers Wharfe, the Great Ouse. Rivers Wye, Kennet, Teme, Enborne Hampshire Avon and Beult It was on this latter river I caught my first fly caught perch in the 1950’s sadly the river doesn’t seem to have the head of perch, it did in those days. Cholmondeley-Pennell mentions fly fishing for perch, in the book Fishing Badminton Library 1893. While John Bickerdyke writing in Fur and Feather series Pike and Perch writes on page 256 Now and again perch will take imitation of natural flies, but can hardly be classed among fly taking fish. How wrong he was.

Looking back over the years I have had many happy days with a fly rod, but none can beat the day on the Kennet when I had a series of very good perch, using nymphs and streamers by sight fishing. I started the day by putting together two outfits, a nine foot five weight rod, floating line, twelve foot leader with a 3lb tippet, this outfit was for upstream nymphing. For fishing streamers I chose a nine foot 6 weight rod with a floating line with a mini sink tip of just seven feet to which I attached a six foot leader with a 6lb tippet. I chose to use a stronger tippet in case a jack pike should hit the streamer. I  suppose it was around 10 o’clock when Solicitor Stephen Collins and myself split up to fish our beat, I walked to the bottom to fish my way upstream, while Stephen walked half way up the beat before commencing to fish his way to the top, hopefully arriving in time for a late lunch. Tying on a weighted dragon fly nymph, I crept low and quiet towards the water’s edge, I peered intently into the gin clear water, it’s in cases like this you need quality polarised glasses. Mine are made by Optilabs; which also have my prescription lenses fitted. Slowly I made my way upstream after about fifty yards I spotted a good brown trout tight against some swaying water crowfoot with its lovely daisy like flower. After watching the fish for five minutes I aerolised enough line to drop the fly ten feet upstream of the trout.

It landed with a tiny plop, descended in the stream down to the trout, in a split second the fish moved forward then engulfed the nymph. A few minutes later having been unhooked in the water the fish returned to its old hunting spot. It was as easy as that. I suppose it was midday I had cast the nymph upstream to a trout, which ignored my offering, as I worked the fly back downstream, I spotted a good perch moving from under the water crowfoot, by its action I could see it intended to hit my fly, I gave two quick six inch pulls which increased the speed of retrieve. The fish shot forward engulfing the fly. After a spirited fight I netted a cracking perch, scale and fin perfect. It just fitted in the landing net. After a couple of quick pictures I watched the fish swim strongly off back to the cover of the swaying weed. I then I spotted the first of several perch, In the next half an hour I had five more fish. All on the Dragon fly nymph. It was time for lunch. Back at the small cabin overlooking the river Stephen and me enjoyed our lunch, as we discussed the morning’s events while watching the river flowing left to right. It was great to be alive in the warm sunshine. Lunch over we fished our way downstream catching some nice trout, Arriving at a right hand bend the water flowed fast along the sedge lined opposite bank over hung by willows and alders, I decided to make a long cast upstream dropping a streamer close to the far bank, hopefully a big trout would fancy this big mouthful, on my second cast as I worked the streamer downstream, I had a hit, this isn’t a trout I thought. Suddenly the water boiled a good perch fin erect swirled on the surface. Then dived towards the sedges and swaying weed, I cramped on the pressure. This powerful outfit should control anything I might hook on this beat. Minutes later a good fish was in the net. I quickly shot a couple of pictures I then slipped out the barbless fly, then sliding the perch back in the water. I would love to know its weight. When trout fishing I don’t take any weighing scales, as I return all my fish. During this afternoon session I caught more perch than trout, finally I caught my last fish as Stephen appeared in view so I got a trophy shot. Why not go fly fishing for perch. It’s an ideal way to fish some of the canals. One such water is the Kennet and Avon which hold some stonking perch of 4lbs plus.

09/03/2026 - The start of a new trout fishing season

The Start of a new trout fishing season Walking through the riverside copse, the Ramson with its white flowers will soon be in flower in the mild weather we are having. Often confused as wild garlic, scattered around among the trees were clumps of Primrose's along the hedgerow were several bluebells, in two or three weeks' time, there will be a haze of blue. The trees were getting their cloaks of green, coming out of the wood into Johnson’s meadow into the bright sunshine, I stopped to put on my Polaroid glasses, then slowly walked upstream for about six hundred yards to reach Swallow Pool which is over hung by a large oak tree, the river flowed crystal clear over small stones with an occasional rock; with some water-crowfoot, what a beautiful sight a river is when the River water-crowfoot in in bloom with its daisy white flowers. Sitting on the bank I soaked up the warm sunshine taking in the riverside beauty, a few feet downstream a beautiful clump of marsh marigolds looked resplendent as they glistened in the bright sunshine. In the North of England, the trout season starts on March 15th as the coarse fishing season on rivers, closes on the 14th of March. Many waters for trout fishing on streams and river in other areas of the country the season starts April 1st, though on some waters, its May1st.

Towards the far bank at the bottom of the pool, a good fish swirled on the surface. It was time to make a cast. Moving downstream so I was below the rising fish I sat down close to the water’s edge then pulled off enough line to cover the fish, with two false casts the line flew silently over the water unfurling as it did so, the imitation olive landed like thistledown, making a small upstream mend I retrieved line as the olive drifted very lifelike downstream, within a few feet the fly disappear as a dimple appeared on the surface. Lifting the rod smoothly I set the hook then felt the surge as a fish fought for its freedom, the pressure of balanced tackle soon took its toll as I pulled the fish close to hand. Bending down I eased the fly from the scissors of a nicely marked brown trout, in seconds it was streaking off to the deeper water. Just a few moments of fly fishing from my diary. I must say from the start fly fishing is about timing, it’s not a muscle game, which is where many men make their mistake, during the years I had my fly fishing school in the UAE I had many lady pupils, who outcast the men on many occasions, ladies will listen, take notice practice and don’t know it all after a day. I well remember a couple from Qatar, I was teaching the class how to use the Tie-Fast tool, for joining different thickness of line in this case 20lb to 50lb is also used for joining backing or leaders to the fly line, after fifteen minutes, I tested the knots all were perfect except the knot tied by the male pupil from Qatar which busted under light pressure. I asked why he hadn’t used the Tie Fast Tool? being told “I don’t need to tie knots” using a tool, after tying several knots which all busted, he eventually used the tool, his knots were perfect.

Many of the ladies who I teach to cast a fly, do so either to join their husband at the waterside, or because the partner plays golf, which they consider boring. What Does It Cost? The answer is as little or as much as you want to spend within reason, you can get a decent rod, reel and line for around a £150-00, cheaper if you can find a decent second hand outfit, though you will need to have someone with the knowledge of fly fishing. I suggest you choose a 9 foot rod rated for a 6 weight line, its most important that you match the line weight as described written on the butt joint just above the cork handle, you will see AFTM 9ft # 6 line, so make sure you have a # 6 rated line for the rod, you need to aerialize 30 feet of line extended from the rod tip to load the rod. A company that does very good rods, reels and fly lines ideal for the newcomer or improver that will suit most anglers wallets are Shakespeare, my advice is visit a local shop where an assistant goes fly fishing, also ask to try two or three rods to see what model suits you best. I usually teach my pupils with a progressive action rod; don’t go for a stiff action rod they are for the experienced fly fisher often for use in windy conditions on the flats when hunting bonefish where you need to tight casting loops. A progressive or soft action rod will help your casting, should you make a mistake that slower action rod will often help you get away with it. As a member of Thomas & Thomas pro-staff I have been using fibre glass rods from the company, they have the action of cane, the weight of carbon, making them perfect for dry fly fishing, also giving me lots of pleasure.

Most casting instructors will have a variety of models for you to try, the average cost for a lesson is around £30-00 an hour, certainly worth the investment, for an hour's instruction from a competent casting instructor. Whatever you do don’t ask your best friend to teach you, unless he has a good knowledge of teaching the art of fly fishing, otherwise when you go for a lesson the teacher will spend time correcting the mistakes, I’m quite happy to teach .readers living in the North of England, all I ask for is a cheque made out to one of my charities. A fly fishing reel for brown and rainbow trout fishing is just a reservoir for holding fly line and backing, you should get a reel for around £40-00, the most important part of the outfit is the line, probably the most used line profile is a weight forward, often described WF followed by the line weight. Also pay as much as you can afford, but don’t skimp on the price of the fly line it really is the most important part of your kit. You will then need a few knotless tapered leaders around 9 feet in length with a tippet of 3lbs for stream fishing probably 6lb for reservoirs, the tippet is the fine end of the tapered leader. I often use a leader of 15 feet in low gin clear water. .attaching leader direct to fly line. Some fly fishers use straight nylon, please don’t go down that rout, tapered leaders give you a better presentation, also allow the leader to roll out giving a better presentation of the fly on the water ensuring good fly presentation.

Some Flies

We all have far too many flies, I have literally thousands collected over a lifetime of fishing many not suitable for fishing, not many anglers can go in a fly-fishing shop without buying another couple of flies. I reckon a selection of 10 barbless patterns in a couple of sizes for each pattern would be suitable for the newcomer. A book I can recommend is Matching the Hatch, Peter Lapsley & Cyril Bennet. My selection would be the following which are all imitative patterns, my first choice would be Chironomids, known as midge Pupa or buzzers a nonbiting midge, it’s a very popular pattern on still waters. Though it isn’t used enough by anglers fishing rivers and streams, I have caught lots of brown trout fishing this pattern often down to size 22. In the United States, they will use this pattern on a size 28 hook, no chance for me, I have a job at times tying on a size 22. I suggest size14's and16's in two colours, black and red patterns, in April I would want some Grannom, a Caddis fly in sizes 12’s and 14’s Greenwell’s Glory, Gold-Ribbed Hare’s-Ear, Pheasant tail nymph, Large dark olive, Klinkhammer Iron blue dun and Blue-winged Olive all in sizes 12-14’s. I always advise my pupils to ask in the local fly shop on pattern selection and size as it can vary from river to river and time of the season. Two flies I would always want in my fly box are Richard Walkers Mayfly nymph, also the beaded pattern. Odds and Ends You will need some fly line cleaner, I use Armor All available from Halfords or similar shops, a large bottle will cost around £5-50, a small bottle of fly line cleaner between £8-£10. You will need some floatant to keep your dry flies floating, I use both Gerks Gink and Dry shake. For degreasing the end of the leader so it cuts through the surface film I make up a mixture of fuller’s earth and washing up liquid into a paste keeping it in a small plastic shot box, a small pair of forceps are useful for the odd fish hooked well inside the mouth, if its deeply hooked I cut the line as close to the hook as possible, on no account squeeze the fish around the stomach, trout are very fragile creatures. Hopefully this short article has wetted your appetite to try fly fishing, remember it’s no more difficult that other forms of angling it’s just

Back to the News List