How to catch the big perch in local waters

Perch are not too particular about bait presentation so for most of us, it was the first fish we ever caught.
Perch, one of our most beautifully coloured fishPerch, one of our most beautifully coloured fish
Perch, one of our most beautifully coloured fish

It’s one of our few native predatory fish which will feed regularly throughout the year.

Perch grow to over 6lb but a fish over the 3lb mark is considered a specimen.

Many natural baits work, particularly worm and they are also attracted to prawns but the largest specimens often fall to spinners and livebaits.

Commercials hold monstrous perch, which grow big feeding on the abundance of small fish, so are rarely caught by the matchmen.

Paternostering a livebait in mid-water will get the best results if you can get permission to use this method.

Make sure you use a wire trace; the pike don’t know the bait isn’t intended for them.

Perch are at their biggest just prior to spawning, which takes place when water temperatures reach around 7ºC in late March or early April.

Snaggy areas such as amongst roots and sunken branches are favoured haunts.

This provides protection from bigger predators but also makes for a good place to ambush passing prey.

Perch generally hunt in shoals, attacking and damaging fish before eating them.

They are however cannibalistic so very large specimens are often more solitary.

Perch are sometimes seen as a nuisance fish when targeting other species because they will take virtually any static or moving bait.

Love them or loath them, they are certainly one of our most beautifully coloured fish and offer excellent sport on all waters when other fish simply don’t want to feed.

Match SCENE

Last week Middy Match Team member Simon Skelton managed the top match weight of the week, catching over 103lb of carp and skimmers during Wednesday’s Fun League at Sherwood Forrest Fishery.

Lee Parker wasn’t far behind, netting over 90lb of carp during the Sunday Open.

Dave Sewell managed Hallcroft’s top weight with a commendable 83lb of carp to 7lb, taken during the Veterans Open on Monday to win with ease.

This week Rich Allen managed the top match weight k from Sherwood Forrest Fishery’s Holemale Lake during Sunday’s Open, landing carp to 7lb for a total net of over 85lb.

Nigel Shipman took top weight at Hallcroft with a mixed bag for over 34lb.

Sherwood Forest Fisheries: Tue Open, Sherwood: 1st J Urrity, Alfreton Angling Centre, peg 21, 21-0-0; 2nd J Holmes, Woodhouse Angling Centre, peg 5, 20-1-0; 3rd D Round, peg 16, 18-2-0.

Wed Autumn Fun League, Holmedale: 1st S Skelton, Middy Match Team, peg 33, 103-11-0; 2nd N Shipman, Subfish, peg 27, 93-8-0; 3rd M Langton, Sherwood FF, peg 36, 50-12-0.

Sun Open, Holmedale: 1st L Parker, Phil’s Bait & Tackle, peg 27, 90-10-0; 2nd P Hodgetts, Sherwood FF, peg 17, 47-10-0; 3rd M Langton, Sherwood FF, peg 45, 43-15-0.

Sun Open, Holmedale: 1st R Allen, peg 54, 85-10-0; 2nd L Plackett, peg 45, 45-0-0; 3rd S Sheldon, peg 32, 42-3-0. Despite the lake being partly frozen over, Richard fished waggler maggot up in the water to catch Carp to 7lb.

Daiwa Hallcroft: Mon Veterans Costcutter, Bridge: 1st D Sewell, James Maude Linden, peg 16, 82-14-0; 2nd K Pacey, peg 13, 38-12-0; 3rd N Wood, MAP Leegem, peg 24, 28-6-0.

Thu Veterans Winter League, Moat: 1st P Bagshaw, peg 55, 41-14-0; 2nd A Berisford, MAP Leegem, peg 10, 32-14-0; 3rd D Sewell, James Maude Linden, peg 52, 24-10-0.

Sat Winter Carp/Silverfish Open, Moat: 1st G Gibson, Max Tackle, peg 58, 56-13-0; 2nd L Hewison, MAP Leegem, peg 61, 53-8-0; 3rd D Smith, peg 6, 49-8-0.

Sun Teams of 4 Silverfish League, Moat: 1st A Oldham, Frenzie, peg 8, 20-4-0; 2nd K Baxter, Daiwa, peg 43, 18-10-0; 3rd S Twigg, MAP Leegem, peg 15, 15-12-0.

Sun Open, Croft: 1st S Robbins, MAP Leegem, peg 6, 45-12-0; 2nd W Lomas, peg 2, 44-6-0; 3rd M Edgecombe, peg 27, 42-6-0.

Tue Carp/Silverfish Open, Moat: 1st W Lomas, peg 21, 28-11-0; 2nd S Twigg, peg 50, 27-2-0; 3rd G Mumby, peg 47, 23-8-0.

Thu Carp/Silverfish Open, Moat: 1st N Shipman, peg 61, 34-11-0; 2nd S Gilbert, peg 57, 19-14-0; 3rd G Mumby, peg 22, 14-11-0.

Sat Winter Carp/Silverfish Open, Moat: 1st L Hewison, peg 35, 33-12-0; 2nd B Poole, peg 26, 18-10-0; 3rd S Twigg, peg 71, 15-10-0.

Sun Teams of 4 Silverfish League, Moat/Bridge: 1st A Oldham, peg M23, 17-7-0; 2nd P Morgan, peg M32, 15-6-0; 3rd S Shepherd, peg B4, 14-9-0.

If you have an angling story or a picture of you with your catch, email me at [email protected] or call me on 07815 308463.

Tight lines!