Perching

With the rivers still cold and uninviting, a perch trip was planned to a small pond that has produced some reasonable fish in the past.

Tactics would be to attempt to attract some small roach to the net and eventually the prospect of a 2lb plus perch. The problem with this lake however is the huge population of carp that make catching live baits really difficult. The recent frosts had also made bites harder to come by so it was something of a struggle to put anything in the net. A small carp inevitably kicked off proceedings before a bream also made its way to the net but sport was generally slow. I eventually acquired a live bait and placed it near some overhanging willows.

I then hooked a good fish on the float fished maggot set up. It was obviously a carp but of a much better standard than I'm used to catching at the venue. On relatively light tackle, a spirited battle ensued before a fine looking carp was netted. At around 10 ½ lb, it was a good return for a chilly afternoon. No sooner had I returned it when the alarm of my perch bait sounded resulting in line being taken purposefully. I struck into a fish and the first perch was on the bank. It was not a monster but at 2lb 1oz it was a nicely sized perch. I did manage another perch soon after to a maggot which was somewhere around 1 ¼ lb but there was to be no further action as the light gave away to another cold night.

A brace of perch