Targeting specimen river perch on lobworms

[The Flying Tench]

I would agree that float fishing is the best option but last season I started fishing a second rod with legered lobs static on the bottom (using a free-running paternoster, heavy lead and a very light bobbin and a long drop). This actually accounted for most of the bigger perch I caught.

 

 

What were the bites like? Did they play with the worm for an age before the bobbin finally went up?

[weirwulf]

I have caught a number of good perch with the best weighed fish at 3lb 14oz but my preference is to use several small red worms rather than a lob. As most of you say, the chub will often be a bit further out in the flow than the perch which can help you to gain confidence in slower swims. I just find the smaller worms seem less attractive to the chub and more selective towards the perch. I like to use mole hill soil as a ground bait too and this holds better in the slower areas of my local river. I have noticed a definite preference for the perch to take the bait when either the float has been halted or a small maggot feeder used on a very fine quiver of an ounce or less invariably does the trick

[Anderoo]

What were the bites like? Did they play with the worm for an age before the bobbin finally went up?

 

They were very obvious when they came - jerky rises on the bobbin all the way up to the rod (approx 2ft drop). I didn't have any playing about with the bait, except for the crayfish, which give slow, smooth, short lifts. On one occasion I was about 10ft from the rod and had quite a quick bite - I couldn't reach the rod in time, the bobbin made it to the rod, the perch felt the resistance, and dropped the bait...that was the only bite of the session! I now sit very close to the rod at all times and strike before the bobbin reaches the rod, hence the long drop.