The Perch Thread

[Steve Burke]

One point I'd like to make is that, despite specialising in big perch and writing a lot about them, I certainly don't know all the answers! I've mentioned this before, both on the Forum and in articles. In fact one of the beauties of the Forum is that I learn from you lot!

 

Hopefully the article I posted a link to yesterday evening will give a lot of food for thought. Apart from giving my own views in depth it also analyses the baits used on over 1500 perch reported to the press between 1900 and 1988.

 

As Anderoo says it very much depends on the water. Indeed, it can even vary from season to season.

 

My 3 biggest perch have come on lobworm, and on some waters they may be the best bait. On others, including many commercials, they're very much second rate compared to live and deadbaits. Freshwater deadbaits have scored for me on every water I've used them, and they tend to avoid smaller perch - but not carp! I've not personally found a water where red maggot is the best bait, but I know friends found it devastating at Tring.

 

Like Kleinboet I have though lost a monster perch on red maggot from a commercial. So you have my sympathy!

[Anderoo]

I used to fish an old clay pit back in Norfolk which was a club lake and grossly overstocked. The number of small rudd and roach in there had to be seen to be believed! We used to fish it in the winter for big perch, once the cold had slowed the little fish down. The way we used to fish it was to use about 3-4m of a pole, light line and float and a small hook (20 or 18), and drip feed red maggots into the deep, crystal clear margins. We'd let the bait (2 maggots) sink slowly to the bottom, lift the rig out again and let it sink wgain, over and over. We'd usually catch a load of small rudd before the perch arrived, but they'd come right up in the water and fight each other for the maggots, it was ridiculously exciting! We used to catch several 2s with a biggest from there of 2lb 12oz, my pb for a long time and an amazing fight on a light pole

 

I wonder what would have happened if we'd tried livebaits...? Or maybe maggots there were as good as anything? Who knows. But maybe there were some real monsters lurking below the rudd, picking them off and ignoring the maggots...

 

Damned hindsight!

[kleinboet]

Steve, I read your article with interest, but I think the water I use has special circumstances.

Firstly, it is a tiny water (10 unoficial pegs) which is "L" shaped (which makes it seem smaller).

secondly although a "commecial" it does not advertise, but relies purely on hearsay (it is a VERY popular Summer venue amongst the locals) Most of the fish in there are pretty sizable in winter, and the Perch are HUGE (well fed I suppose). The only smallfish I catch in the Summer are Skimmers!

 

I believe the large size of the fish is due to the anglers throwing unused bait into the water after fishing, and given the small size of the water and the popularity, well fed fish are the result.

 

It would appear that is mostly used for summer fishing, which suits me fine as there are aproximately of 10 people that use the water in Winter (more for me!!)

[JV44]

About fifteen years ago i used to fish a pit just like Anderoo has posted about,The small lake was about three acres but very deep and gin clear and on a local day ticket complex.

The said lake was stuffed full of stunted roach and rud but was a long walk from the car park being the farthest away of seven lakes which resulted in it having very little pressure.

There were a couple of large pike in the lake and a lot of perch some very big and with livebait in abundance it was heaven,I used to fish two rods one livebait one lobworm and for a change they seemed to be even in the size of fish taken but the lives could produce fish all through the day only took large fish on the worm first or last thing but at that time of day the sport on lobworm was nothing short of spectacular.

Why dont i fish this lake now ?.

Local chav population and a travellers site just up the road enough said!.

It used to be a hidden gem but the last time i went i found myself worried about the motor in the car park and groups of chavs who threw lures all over the lake regardless of where anyone was allready fishing not my idea of fun steve.

[benhben]

Does anyone know about Perch behaviour in winter? Do they shoal up like the pike or move around like summer. Thinking of going up my local canal for some perch fishing and try some slowly worked jigs for pike aswel. Never caught a perch so dont know about bait either, was thinking of Small chopped chunks of fish or worms. What you reckon? Ben

[DavidWliilamson]

I think it's mainly down to the particular water. I'm the opposite, I've never caught a big perch on a livebait, but that's because I haven't really used them as bait. I've had all my big perch (3lb+) on lobs, and so far I've never felt the need to use fish baits. However, on the Thames I think fish baits might be needed. But so far that's supposition!

 

I don't think any bait is that selective really, it seems (from talking to people who use lives a lot for perch) you're as likely to catch smaller perch on livebaits as worms. Not sure about deads. In fact, I'd go as far to say that I think lobs are more selective because they (mostly!) avoid the pike.

 

Finding the fish in the first place is the hard bit...

In the summer I hooked a small perch as i was bringing it in a perch that we though was about 3.5 to 4lbs decided that it would make a meal of the one on the hook nearly landed the big one but it spat out the smaller one at the last minuet so the bigger perch will go for the smaller ones but from what I have been told they normally take them on the way in

 

david

[Steve Burke]

Does anyone know about Perch behaviour in winter? Do they shoal up like the pike or move around like summer. Thinking of going up my local canal for some perch fishing and try some slowly worked jigs for pike aswel. Never caught a perch so dont know about bait either, was thinking of Small chopped chunks of fish or worms. What you reckon? Ben

 

It depends on the water. That's one of the beauties of perch fishing - more than any other species I've gone after their habits vary from venue to venue.

 

In general though perch do shoal up more in the winter. So location is even more important than in the summer.

 

Lure fishing is an excellent way to find the perch, although it works best in clear water. Having found the perch, either by catching them or seeing them follow the lure, you may well find that bait fishing is more productive in the winter.

 

Both worms and fish baits are worth a try, but be aware that perch rarely take static sea baits, and freshwater deadbaits need to really fresh rather than frozen.

 

Good luck!

[Newt]

Lure fishing is an excellent way to find the perch, although it works best in clear water. Having found the perch, either by catching them or seeing them follow the lure, you may well find that bait fishing is more productive in the winter.

Or if you happen to be a dedicated lure fanatic, you may prefer to continue to try and fool a biggun on the artifcials. Not as many fish caught probably but for me anyway, it is more satisfying to catch on lures even if the totals to the net are lower.

 

Easier to stay warm with lures than with bait&wait too.

[Kaulk Head]

I'm not an experienced course angler yet but I have been thrashing the local river enthusiasticly since late summer. My first freshwater fish was a Perch and I was thrilled to catch it. Would you believe I caught it on a purple jelly with a yellow jig head? Actually I caught a few more with that and a couple jacks too. They were probably curious more than hungry.

 

However, my PB (3lb) was caught with two maggots, one red, one white on a size 14 to 3lb hook length and 6lb main line. I caught it in an old millpond in slack water the other side of the race where the river blasts in at some pace. The bites at the time were minute and I was sure that smaller perch were nicking my bait. A large tug followed by complete stillness convinced me that my bait was gone, again so I made to reel in and rebait. Imagine my consternation as my light quiver tip rod bent double as this spikey horror took hold and decided to go broadside against the flow through the race. I have no idea how long I played it for but I do know that it would have looked hilarious as I wobbled on the bank trying to get my landing net with my foot and try not to loose the quarry.

 

Since then I've not had one so big but I've not targeted Perch specifically. Perhaps I'll have a go this weekend?