A break from the river and “Boom 4x 3lb plus perch”

Hello again it’s been about a month since my last post. I’ve been vigorously painting and decorating and working in the garden. Things have been busy for sure. You know I have loads of Brownie points to spend later.

I visited the “BIG ONE” fishing show and it was truly wonderful to meet up with so many friends and make new ones. The tackle trade know how to put on a great show.

I am also the organiser for the Tench fishers fish-in on the Carp Societies Horseshoe lake. It takes a bit of arranging to sort things out, chasing people for money and thinking about food for the event. I love it really. Early May is the timing of the event.

I decided that since my tench exploits are far away with the weather being still very cold perch would still be my quarry. I had decided with my mate Andy “you should have been here yesterday” Cowley to fish a pool on the Cotswold water park. Thing didn’t look good as Otters had been spotted on there on each visit. I’m not going to say too much about the otter problem here, people know my views.

So together with Andy we spotted another venue and thought it might produce a fish or two. Andy was first on the venue and managed a nice 2lbs 12oz perch.

It’s been the cold weather that has stopped my first tench session. So off Andy and I went together on a cold damp day.

Fishing and seeing loads of small pike filled me with dread.

Sure enough I hooked a few and landed one the others bite me off.

I was using popped up lob worms and sure enough they loved these.

Andy blanked and all I had to show was the pike.

The next week came and the weather looked good for Thurs and terrible for Friday so I decided to fish Thurs. Arriving not too early I fished a swim that had produced a few perch before.

Out went a few spombs of chopped worms and red maggots. Then followed by 3 swim feeders of chopped worm and maggots. I didn’t expect too much action from the start. The wind was blowing from the east making casting difficult however the temps did rise to 16c during the day. Having blanked the previous time other than the pike bites it was great to have some short lifts. Could they be line bites or perch picking up and dropping the baits.

After about 1 hr the bobbin rose and I struck into a perch and you could feel the thump thump of a perch fighting away. I slackened the clutch and carefully played the fish to the net. It looked a good perch and so it proved. It went 3lbs 13oz and what a beauty.

After a few photo’s the fish was returned. I had a big smile on my face.

It didn’t take long for another one to come along again I had one or two short lifts before the bobbin rose and I struck into another hard fighting perch. Again I slackened the clutch and played the perch out under the rod top. Bingo another 3lber for sure and this one went 3lbs 9oz. The tail had a funny shape so a fish that can be recognised again easily.

Again a few photo’s and an even bigger smile on my face. Normally it’s been difficult to find them let alone have two 3lbers.

It didn’t stop there as another hour later a 3rd 3lber was hooked and landed, this time slightly smaller at 3lbs 2oz. I was on cloud 9 for sure.

Then as lunch time approached things went quiet with the sun coming out.

Having said this it doesn’t normally stop the perch from feeding. I was enjoying the warm sun thinking that 3 3lb perch was an excellent days work when the bobbin rode once more. Another perch thumped on the other end and it fought more than the others and I thought this is the one!

Disappointed as it slipped into the net it was to be only 2lbs 12oz, I say only they are still beautiful fish.

Out went a couple of spombs of maggots again. It was clear that they were feeding on them as they had them in their mouths when unhooking them.

It was a quiet afternoon and evening until 7pm when once again the bobbin rose and again I struck into a good perch. This fought well and as I slipped here into the net I thought it was the best of the day. Unfortunately it was not to be, 3lbs 12oz of  beautiful perch once again was released back into the pool.

So 4x 3lb plus perch for a days fishing was fantastic to say the very least and as I have seldom perch fished it was easily my best ever session.

Think I may be fishing this in the winter next season when the rivers are flooded.

Happy Days