View Full Version : Big Perch
Anyone know a water at RMC Yateley that could offer me a trophy winning perch?
What method(s) do you use or recommend?
I put this post here and not under the Special Venues section because of question No.2!!
Cheers all,
Smarts
I had some nice Perch out of the North Lake but it is syndicate now. I did catch a reasonable one from South Lake a fews years back, went just over 3lb.... took it on a popped up worm. Small live bait is undoubtedly the supreme method for large Perch. I have caught a string of them over 3lb on my fly gear so I should imagin that a small spinner would work.
Another great method is to use air injected lobs and mount them on a pennel rig. The hook size don't need to be massive, size 12's I normally use.
Tony
rhornegold
04-04-2001, 19:16
Smarts,
Tony's right when he said live bait is the number one method for big Perch.
Open bale arm, drop off indicator, free run rigs, a big Perch will take a 4inch roach without any trouble.
Lip hook on size 6 or 8 hook, most runs come early mornings or just before dusk.
Sunken paternoster rigs also work well or a free roving rig if there is plenty of room.
Worms and spinning do produce many fish and are good Perch hot spot finders on still waters.
Best of luck
Bob Hornegold
rhornegold
04-04-2001, 19:42
Ian,
I know it's a personal thing but if I dont catch on the bait fish it usually swims away no worse for ware at the end of the day.
I use a small section of red balloon to hold the bait in place. Most of the takes you get are very positive and I dont miss many on the strike.
Thats the only reason.
Bob Hornegold
rhornegold
04-04-2001, 20:13
Ian,
That's why they have got that spiky fin, cause Eels and Perch love to eat them.
I also only lip hook my Pike and Cat baits, but with the help of Mick Willis Bait Clips.
I know that a few runs are missed, still thats fishing and it's my way of justifying live baiting.
Bob Hornegold
I like to use minnows or smal bleak or dace, lip hooked under a buberous chubber float depending on the size of the bait fish. I have had some good Barbel on minnows and some good chub.
Most of my best Perch have been caught whilst fly fishing for Trout. I had 5 Perch all near on 4lb from Weirwood one day, you could see them in the margins waiting for the fly to be lifted off and then they would hit the fly at tremendous speed.
Tony
Rivercarper
04-04-2001, 22:14
You had better sort out some where for the Specimen Group to go Perch fishing then Boss.
Rivercarper
04-04-2001, 22:24
I hope we aren't going to try and do it all in a year.It's going to last longer than that.
rhornegold
04-04-2001, 22:58
Ian and Neil,
I think we will have to split up into some informal groups, a bit like the green last year.
Hope we get a little clear water to have a go at the Perch on the relief this season.
Bob Hornegold
rhornegold
05-04-2001, 07:14
Ian,
I dont know said it, but Big Perch really are the biggest of the smaller species.
All that aggression and boldness when they come to the surface, they sort off shout at you "why me".
Any one targetting these fish should look for low light levels as the key to success, and multiple takes in a very short space of time.
If you are interested in catching big Perch, try some of the hole in the ground carp fisheries, as they hold some monsters.
Bob Hornegold
Ah ! Big perch, a subject close to my heart. This will bring me out of the woodwork !
I wonder whether anyone has tried the Kennet at Burghfield for them. I have caught some very big ones (over 3 1/2 lb) from a private stertch of the Kennet not far from the RMC stretch.
On this river, on top of Bob's tips regarding light levels (supplied by cover and an early start !) the key is prebaiting. Livebaits will catch the bigger ones, but if you arrive at dawn and don't want to spend (often frustratingly fruitless) time after small livebait then you can't beat lob worms. Of course even a tiny perch will attempt to engulf the largest worm, but if you drop in a dozen large 1/2 lobs and return later you will find that the "giants" have pushed out the lesser ranks. This has often resulted in the largest resident fish first cast and sometimes the second largest as well in quick succession !
This approach is best suited to rivers, where its easier to identify the "perch" holes and prebait with at least some confidence that they won't all be hoovered up by carp, barbel, chub etc etc....!
I think these tactics will work on the reed-lined fringes of the Fishers Green Relief Channel if it ever returns to its clarity of old....I'll let you know.
rhornegold
05-04-2001, 08:27
If anyone does fancy a go at big Perch, give Hookstead carp lake a go.
It's right next to Ashford in Kent and has done lots of Perch over 4lbs, Eels to seven, Roach over two.
Phone number 01233 663499
Bob Hornegold
rhornegold
05-04-2001, 08:39
Doc,
When are we getting part two of your very interesting article on the Fishers Green lakes?
I have too agree with you about worms on the rivers, I used a similar approach on the Ouse.
What sort of rigs do you use?
On the Ouse I stuck to simple float tackle and just trotted the likely looking swims.
Bob Hornegold
The season on the Fishers Green lakes was cruelly interrupted by Foot and Mouth (on top of the rain !) just when the best time for the big crocs was upon us. Part 2 on these lakes will therefore be a while away. I thought I might do a perch one first. This could be in a few months time after I've tried some new tactics for the big Kennet perch which are a bit harder to find in the summer. My tactics are going to be fly fishing with intermediate lines and small fry imitations, lures and nymphs. This I am sure will work a treat and will be great fun ! A big perch will bend a fly rod double. In fact fly rods are ideal for this delicately-mouthed warrior.
In the winter of course the perch are bigger, and approaching the shape of small striped footballs in March ! My tactics are simplicity itself. A light link leger set up or even freelined lobs in slacks and my finest quiver tip attached. I've not found it necessary to inject them and the snaggy swims don't really lend themselves to trotting but I'm sure both would work well. It's mainly down to finding out where the big ones live and getting them going with free offerings without spooking them. After that you want to stand a chance of getting them out of very snaggy areas without pulling their lips off. However, barbel and more often carp come along sometimes and so I use 8 lb super shinobi straight through usually and an Avon rod.
More details to come in Doc's Diaries - Carry On Sergeant !
I have found that baiting up wit coloured maggots brings the Perch on especially at Newdigate when it was an RMC venue. Late afternoon/evening used to be best and I fished lobs over the top of maggots. Sounds strange to a lot of people but I used to get pestered by the wild carp in there so had to attack the Perch with the avon rod. I took them to well over 2 and a half pounds.
The Thames holds some big ones and so does shepperton.
Tony
Interesting post DOC, I have some great patterns for flyfishing for Perch. I normally fish with the fly point up I find it is so much better and to be honest I also find a floating line a lot more productive for the coarse fish. Have you tried fishing boobies on an extra short leader for them? That works well too especially in deep lakes and pits.
Tony
I hadn't considered boobys for the river, but a 5 lb perch was taken at Hanningfield not long ago and I have been trying these tactics in the depths there. Unfortunately (or fortunatley sometimes) it's a killer method for the trout too, but statistically I might get a big perch there one day ! My natural aversion to using boobys for trout means I only posses a couple for those desperate days when imitation fails....
I have just acquired some fantastic pike flies, some of which are buoyant, and these look like they will also do the business for perch.
I would prefer a floating line and so I will follow your tip and try that too. Chub fishing on the fly also sounds like fun....
Matt (DOC)
....they sound reallly great, and I'm not saying I've led a sheltered life or anything, but, what are boobies!!!?
CarponlineEditor
05-04-2001, 16:31
I have only caught one big perch, 4lbs 9oz and that was a bit more luck than judgement. I had been ledgering for the bream at Teddington and couldnt catch a thing all day. So I got bored and put a huge lobworm onto my little ledger rig and chucked it right into the foamy water of the weir. After about twenty minutes the rod strted to thump around so i struck, after a while i was looking at the biggest perch i have ever seen. But i must admit to try to catch one on purpose would be much more of a buzz if it worked.
Andy
...I would think the best bait I have used was roach fry......one day I scooped a landing net full of them, then threw one lip hooked on a size 12 hook under a waggler....nothing over a pound, but a fish per cast until the fry were all gone, I filled my keepnet. One thing though, the perch were not interested at all if the fry was dead.
Got to be one of my favorite fish, I also caught absolutely hundreds from the Craypool, it seems that they are the only 'silver' fish in there, nobody fishes for them and they are suckers for a little red worms. Some biggies have also been seen, Gay Bond told me he'd seen one about 4lb!
Any Perch fish ins....I'm up for!
Basically they are buoyant trout flies or lures, if you think of them as "popped up flies" you will not go far wrong. You use them on a short or very short leader and a very fast sink line when the trout are hard on the bottom of the lake. The "popup" is done by two small balls of foam tied in at the eye of the hook that look a bit like the, ahem, outstanding attributes of a very well endowed lady - think Catherine Zeta Jones - hence the name ! As the Doc has alluded to, it is a slightly controversial method and not the most exciting fly fishing in the world but the still water trout angler who wants to be prepared for all eventualities can't afford to ignore booby fishing.
A floating line with a weighted fly works magic with Pike & Perch. As for the Chub I always use mixers superglued to a hook but a big fluffy fly in olive works well for the chub.
Dace fishing with size 16 flies upward is great sport too. I fished richmond using a floating caster imitation and bagged up more dace than the pole guys /images/forum/icons/smile.gif
Tony
Rivercarper
05-04-2001, 19:25
Some of the takes you get when fishing a Bobbie are incredible.I once had an 8lb Mirror on a Bobbie,it's the only time I've been down to the backing on my fly gear.
What you doing Perch fishing in my neck of the woods Mr Horngold.
It's the same with the Trout neil... when trout hits a booby it hits it hard. I wonder if a Cerp would take a moving biscuit fished on a sinking line popped up.
Tony
rhornegold
05-04-2001, 20:59
Neillie,
I had a few on that Marsh and they were real beauties or do mean boobies?
Tony did you mean the fly has the hook point facing upwards ?
Us coarse anglers will need a glossary of fly fishing terms at this rate.
Bob Hornegold
Rivercarper
05-04-2001, 21:29
I ment the trout Tony.
White boobies make superb bread imitations ! On a midlands reservoir I fish, white boobies are regularly taken by large roach of 2 lb plus, especially in the area that the swans get fed. I think boobies could be quite versatile for coarse fishing trout reservoirs within the rules. Some of these waters contain huge un-fished for roach, perch and carp (30 lb fish have been spotted at Hanningfield !!). A friend of mine bagged-up on carp to double figures at a commercial fishery while dozens sat biteless with poles and method feeders around him. He did this by using various patterns of floating fluff on a floating line, and every battle he had was an epic one ! He caught about 20 fish while everyone else blanked. Enough said. All coarse fisherman should learn to throw a fly...
rhornegold
06-04-2001, 09:18
Doc,
I think you will have to come along to our informal fish-in as Tony is going to have his hands full teaching us lot to fly fish.
Well he will with me anyway.
Bob
CarponlineEditor
06-04-2001, 09:26
Me too lol I dont even have the tackle. I wonder how much it would cost to buy a set up for fly fishing for the carp etc. Sorry not perchy but there you go.
Andy
Less than you might think to get a "starter" set of gear that will do fine with trout and coarse fish in most waters in England. Do not be fooled by the features and ads in the game fishing magazines into thinking you need to spend many hundreds of pounds on an American carbon rod, magnesium reel and pricey, exotic tapered lines. A Daiwa, Bob Church or Shimano rod 9'6" taking a 7 or 8 weight line, Leeda or Rimfly reel and a couple of midprice fly lines will start you off fine. £225 or maybe a bit less, perhaps. I'm not knocking guys who buy the top of the range gear if they can afford it and they enjoy choosing and using it - but in strictly practical terms it's not necessary.
Sorry for the late reply as I have not been 'on-line' for at least a whole day....RMC withdrawral!!
Cheers for the replies....more livebait orientated than I thought.I have found a lip hooked gudgeon to be a great bait in moving water,and I too lip hook them so they can be released,but "yes",Ian....is does mean missing a few takes but these could be timid or small perch,as Big ones take it straight down!
It's amazing what a small perch will try and get in it's mouth...such bravado!
Smarts
Bob,
I learn't how to cast a fly in an afternoon at a Leicestershire cricket ground about five years ago. Apart from the odd Klutz most people pick it up very quickly, at least to an adequate standard (like me). I took a chap who works for me out at Hanningfield who had never fished with a rod before let alone fly fished. He had only "fished" with home-made incendiary devices after the war (a trained organic chemist). I taught him (as best I can, as I'm no expert) how to cast in a churchyard at dawn before we left. He took seven rainbows to nearly 4 lb. Simple.
After an initial "cricket ground lesson", it's always easier to start at a trout fishery and from a boat (less chance of catching hedges and taking eye brows, ear lobes etc if you fish to the right of your tutor). This will give you confidence and you will usually catch too which also boosts confidence. Casting is always going to be more tricky at a coarse fishery, where the banks are generally not prepared with the fly caster in mind. But once you have got going you can cast anywhere. The Fishers Green relief channel looks reasonable, with just about enough room for it.
Matt (DOC)
Swan_Vesta
06-04-2001, 19:59
Doc
With regards to Hanningfield I've never fished it before, but I,ve just started trout fishing and it's pretty close to me as I live nr Maldon.
Have you ever tried a day fishing using the Friends of Hanningfield scheme. It looks pretty good and I thought it would be a good way of learning about the fishery.
Swan Vesta
Bob,
Sorry for the confusion, I meant size 16 upwards as size 16 or smaller /images/forum/icons/smile.gif my grammar is not my strongest point
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by scorpio on 06/04/01 08:12 PM (server time).</FONT></P>
To fish for Carp using mixers you are going to need a pretty good rod as there is believe it or not quite a lot of weight in a semi soaked biscuit. I would go for an 7 - 9 rated rod with an 8 weight forward line. The reel is not important I use the old cheap rimfly reels as they have an exposed rim which is usefull for slowing a run down.
As for learning to cast, it's all in the timing. If you can use a hammer properly to bang in a nail you can cast a fly.
Tony
I was very fortunate John. I have 2 rods. Both bought second hand. I have a Farlow's Reservoir special. Extremely powerful casting rod and a specialy built Boron rod that only weighs 3 oz and is 10ft and rated at 7 - 8. As for lines I get mine mail order from America. You pay dollars for what you would pay pounds here.
Tony
Brian,
I was not aware of this scheme. I probably don't go there often enough to join anything there. It's a lovely place though and very well run. It's a good place to start trout fishing but it is HUGE ! There are lots of boats available though. Reopening on April 13th all being well.
Matt (DOC)
Hi Doc,
Regarding your question about perch in the Kennet, this river has realy taken off in the last couple of years for stripeys.
I haven taken perch to 3.11oz from burghfield (4" chub livebait whilst piking!!) and fish to 4.4oz from other streches.Fabulous fishing for 2s and 3s at the moment and my main methods employed are fishing American style with a microlight spinning outfit with 10 pound braid using spinners and tiny lures/imitations.This is such a fun way of fishing especially when you hook the ocasional double figure pike!.
On this note always use a wire trace as pike will readily exept the smallest spinners i like to use caliber wonderwire on this outfit due to the suppleness and strength vs diameter.
Top tip: Use spinners with flashes of red wool on the treble as this always produces for me.
My other prefered methods are trotting minnows under a small chubber float and quiver tipping lobworms.
My P.B was caught trotting minnows on a 12ft avon rod couple with a centre pin loaded with 6 lb line size 10 hook magic!!!.
If there are any other self confessed perch freaks out there drop me a mail!.
Ian what about having a Perch day where RMC members can get together and try various venues on the permit?
Cheers
steve
Trust Carponlineeditor has been given some ideas about fly gear now ?
Tony, this is a bit off the "perch" point, but I no longer bother with expensive fly lines. Both Mullarkeys and Steve Parton sell own-brand flylines at £13-£16 a go that will do anything you can reasonably ask. I think these lines are actually made by Shakespeare and I have seen the same on sale in the lodge at Rutland Water. While an Air Cel Supreme or Cortland 444 might be better, I cannot see that they will be 300 or 400% better - which they would have to be to justify the huge extra cost...
Just a quickie John,
I got my Courtland 444 from the states via mail order for under £20 and also a scentific anglers inter for the same price. I wouldn't pay £50 for a fly line /images/forum/icons/smile.gif I will dig out the site and private to you.
Tony
CarponlineEditor
09-04-2001, 18:39
Sorry chaps I had a virus wreck my computer and i have only been able to skip on here for a couple of minutes at a time before it went down again. I think for the time being that i shall have to give the fly tackle a miss as the money seems a bit steep. But thanks a lot for the info i have made a few notes and shall see in the future.
Cheers, Andy
rhornegold
10-04-2001, 07:49
Doc,
Thanks for the advice, I have an old fibre glass rod which should do the job and a sports ground down the road to practice on.
Bob
Looking around the various adverts in magazines...I've noticed that there are a fair few fly fishing sets available at a reasonable price,especially ones involving rods imported from America.Might not be top notch....but will surely do for a complete novice......like me!
I guess it's the fly lines that bulk up the cost,Scorpio?
How many fly patterns would a fresh starter need?
(never mind the perch...rather than start a new post and all that,I thought I'd chuck it on the end here!).
Smarts
Smarts,
Are you in the specimen group as we are doing some on flyfishing. I may wreite a masterclass bit for Ian if he wants it on flyfishing, the required tackle and flies for different occasions. To put it on the forum here would take half the forums web space /images/forum/icons/smile.gif The thing about tackle is buy what you can afford. Go for second hand gear first. Once you start you will want to cast further and so want better lines and tackle. I started with an expensive rod bought second hand and still use it today 12 years later.
Tony
Scorpio,
Yes...I'm in the group....sat opposite you at the meeting!
I thought that the question regarding flies was not an easy one!! Your offer of teaching the basics is a much appreciated one and I look forward to seeing everyone,(myself included),make a right pig's ear of it!!
I know that there are rods for every occasion,line weight etc....how confusing?! My friend used to fly fish and I always admired the skill and finesse of it.Somewhat different to launching a 2oz lead!
See you soon,
Regards,
Smarts
I agree entirely with your comments on the Kennet. We should take advantage of this situation while it lasts (see John Prentice's Masterclass comments). A 4 lb plus fish must surely come from from Burghfield next season if we put some effort in. Well I'm going to anyway ! I still think fly fishing is going to be great too.
Matt (DOC)
Re :Tony's comments,
Specimen hunting and fly fishing, the archetypal chalk and cheese of angling !
This of course brings up a further question, currently being discussed in another thread. That is, what would be the qualifying weight for a specimen brown trout, and, more controversially, rainbow trout ?
This is even more tricky to put a figure on than say catfish specimen weights these days (or even carp the way things are going !).
I suppose this should be transfered to the "specimens" thread now.
Matt (DOC)
If anyone is looking for BIG perch, I suggest they take a look at Horseshoe lake, the Carp Society water. I have caught several just over 2lb ( average size for there) but seen others that I couldn't put a weight on. They made the 2lb'ers look about 1/2 lb. I think you can get day tickets ?
Perhaps the first Specimen Group Perch fish-in (and perhaps also subsequent ones) could be named the "Bernard Venables Memorial Mission", as I believe this was his favourite fish.
Top guy, incredible angler, I still have the original Mr. Crabtree's book here at home and am still hypnotised by it after all these years. Perch are a wonderful fish, apart from Rudd I think the prettiest in our waters, and to catch a lrge one is not as easy as a lot of people think.
I did 3 years fishing just for Perch about 9 years ago. I had 3 over 4lb and a dozen over 3lb most of them caught on a fly rod so if anyone want's any advice on this method for Perch feel free to ask.
Tony
Tony,
I am definitely going to give the perch a go with the fly rod on the Kennet this summer. However, what I'd really like to crack, is how to find the big perch on trout waters without catching rainbows all the time ! If this could be achieved (a tall order probably) this seems a good bet for a 5 lb fish (at least one came out of Hanningfield last year). Did you mention that you fished Weirwood at one time ? I used to fish there for roach about 20 years ago (but caught as many tench and small carp). It would be nice to go back one day.
Matt
Matt,
I have had Perch from nearly all the main reservoirs, had some crackers from Bewl Bridge.... to single out the perch from the trout is very difficult as they feed on the same food source. I found if you use the methods you would adopt to fish for brown trout or even pike.... I have had 90% of my Perch on fry patterns but nymphs sometimes work, especially black one on a sunny day in clear water. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a larget perch chasing your fly in deep clear water.
For your information i saw a 5 1/2 pounder come out of the Queen Mother at Datchet 10 odd years ago and that was caught on a black leaded tadpole.
Tony<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by scorpio on 24/04/01 07:33 PM (server time).</FONT></P>
Thanks for the tips Tony. I'm ready to give them another go this season ! I suppose the only way to single out the perch is to try obvious areas with cover, which on most reservoirs would be jetty points and stages where the lodge is (not usually fished areas) and valve towers. On the Kennet it's going to be a lot easier...
Hiya,
I always find the Perch where there is weed... also I have had them fishing behind the boys in their waders.... the perch do like the shallows especially when the fry have hatched aroud July/August..... if you walk round and look for the fry boiling the surface invariably it will be the Perch & not the trout chasing them...... stealth, good casting tequnique and observation is the most important factors on reservoirs.... on the Kennet in the summer you will probably catch 10 Pike/Chub to every perch....... some of the chub you catch are real big as well, I have had them to well over 4lb on a fly and pike up to 15lb
Tony
Sounds great ! My arm is twitching already.
are you sure its your arm ?
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