Perch Fishing as the rivers are in the fields still. 3lb perch for both Andy and me.

The H.Avon and Stour has been in flood now for weeks. The Avon is running clear but you need chest waders to get to it and the Stour floods with each shower we have, or so it seems. Andy (you should have been here yesterday) Cowley and I normally head off perch fishing. The normal locations were not producing many bigger perch and we tried a new water with Mike and nothing came along for the 3 of us.

I then had been told by a few people about another lake that has been producing some good perch. A few phone calls to mates confirmed that it was producing a good number of large perch. By meaning large I think any perch over 2lbs is a good fish and 3lbers are wonderful perch.

So Andy and I headed off to the fishery on one of the windiest days of January. It was forecast to be 50mph winds and heavy rain. We arrived early and set up camp in a couple of swims close to each other. We wanted to set up in the dry and before the wind arrived at lunch time.

The rigs were simple 50g black cap feeders and reflo 4lbs 12oz hooklink and prawns on the hook as bait. Because we were casting at distances we needed a spomb rod to bait up the swims. This was done with dead and live red maggots with a few pieces of cut up prawn.

I was the first to cast out and by the time I had cast the final rod out and started to set up the shelter the last rod was indicated a bit as the bobbin rose to the butt ring. I struck and found a heavy weight pulling back on the other end. I slackened the clutch up and gently played the fish to the net. It was a spirited fight for sure and I knew it was a good perch. I was using quiver tips on the Korum rods. This extra flex in the rods ensure that you don’t pull out the hooks from the super thin skin on the perch’s mouth. Slowly the perch came to the rippled surface and saw it was possibly a 3lber. Sure enough Andy came along and the scales were saying 3lbs 3oz and 3lbs 1oz in the strong wind. Once the scales go bleep then that’s the weight. And it so at 3lbs 1oz.

Well that was the perfect start. The wind and rain continue to pickup and it was uncomfortable fishing. The gusts were almost flattening the shelter. Andy was next with a lovely little 2lb perch so no blanking for him. I was getting lots of short lifts and indications of other activity around the bait. Nothing to strike at though. Andy though caught a lovely 3lb exactly.

Then for the next few hours he continued to catch at a steady rate with 3 other 2lbers. Me I was just getting some indications but no takes. Then I cast a little further out and had one of 1lbs 14oz.

Andy had the last fish at 3lbs 13oz and a brute of a perch. It looked wonderful. It will definitely be a 4lber later in the spring.

That was about it for the day we packed up at 5.45pm with it being dark.

So a fan bloody tas tic day all around.

Andy’s perch going back