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Perch

Well done Mark, as David says a very good result for an exploratory trip. You are right though mate, it could be that the majority of the fish were in one spot, they do shoal up more as the year goes on I believe.

Personal experience does tend to back up what I've read from various experts, don't give up on a spot because it isn't producing bites. Perch can turn on very suddenly, when you might have given up on one being in your swim you'll suddenly get a handful. Having said that, I don't possess the patience necessary to sit it out in an untried swim indefinitely. Maybe that's why I'm yet to catch a real giant.

Perhaps with so much water to explore spinning might also be an option?
 
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Spent the day at Barton Court today, whilst it was quite mild and overcast, the horrendous wind and driving rain made for a difficult days fishing. I spent most of the day perching and had 3, biggest 2.10 all on floatfished lobs. Lovely clear water perch, I think I would have had more if conditions had been a little more hospitable, the wind made presentation difficult, and was so strong half the time my loosefed red maggots flew onto the far bank!

The 2.10 came from right beneath my feet, just dropped the bait in a small slack and it was away, I thought I may have hit into a Barton Court shoal, but no more bites came.
 
a personal best perch caught today very happy 3lb 8oz
 

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A first session on a 60 acre pit yesterday in serach of the billies.
One bite on float fished lob resulted in this tidy fish....

Fishing006.jpg



Another 3 weeks and we'll start fishing our Thames spots for them.
Loads of 3's last year and one 4 for a WBC member so hopefully we'll see some little stripey chunks this year.

Ian
 
Hi Anthony,
Yes, they are definately in shoals. To be honest, I came across a couple of spots by pure accident about three years ago, ie, I was pike fishing on reasonably sized plastics and had a 3.15 perch, then a couple of other big ones. I then went back to these spots with a float and started to catch them in numbers. One session, a fellow WBC member and I had five 3's and seven 2's.
I know they will be there now, but deliberately don't pressure them until the start/middle of Feb when they start to pack on weight for spawning.

It's a time of the year I really look forward to, well apart from the tench....and the carp....and the pike :p;)

Ian
 
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A first session on a 60 acre pit yesterday in serach of the billies.
One bite on float fished lob resulted in this tidy fish....

Fishing006.jpg



Another 3 weeks and we'll start fishing our Thames spots for them.
Loads of 3's last year and one 4 for a WBC member so hopefully we'll see some little stripey chunks this year.

Ian
Stunning perch, well done:)

Do you use the old loop of line trick to get the fin stood up?
 
Hi John,
Yes, 2lb mono and a small loop on the dorsal tip. Shows these fish as they should be...

Ian
 
wow are perch becoming the new Barbel, pal of mine owns a fishery that has done a 5 and has been inundated by "fish chasers" 14 people turned up the other day 6 of them from "the press" all after the same poor fish ? I hope they dont start putting them in keepnets and stuff ??? :)
 
Steve :)
As barbel were the new carp we heard the cry some years ago, as such tactics were being applied to snare ole boris...
I think generally, we appear to be at that life cycle point where many waters contain big perch for a variety of reasons, and we, the fishchasers! ;) want to go catch them.
They are magnificent creatures...

Ian
 
Got him !!! it was only a bit of fun to see if i could get you in my keepnet chubby chops !!! straight round three foot twitch !!! :) I thought you were joking !

I know how you boys like to keep it on the QT so ill whisper
"peg 12 woodside fishery tenbury wells" ha ha :)
 
Hoping to get out after some stripey's at the back end of next week. First time out fishing since the beginning of Nov! Unfortunately my planned trip to Barton Court is off as some bounder has booked the whole place out next Friday. If I have luck elsewhere I'll keep you all posted.
 
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Late start for Perch this year

Hi all,

Got a little side tracked with the cod this year, but managed to get out monday for my first proper perch session of the year/season. Was hoping to get on the Kennet & Avon Canal a few weeks back, but my ticket hadnt arrived and the place was frozen anyway. I booked the day off monday this week hoping that my K&A ticket would have arrived, but due to the poor postal service we now have it didnt. Plan B was to fish either Coate Water Country Park in Swindon which has some form or a stretch of the Upper Thames about 25 minutes from home. I'll always prefer rivers to a big man made lake, so off to the thames it was with 85 lobs and a pint of red maggots.

Arrived in bright sunny conditions with a low and very clear river, so hopes were not exactly high. I didnt need to worry as after a few pouches of reds were sprayed in a likely spot and my first three lobs impaled onto a size 4 kamasan B983 cast out, i was into some good perch right away. I'd had around 6 or 7 perch including three just into the 2lb mark, when my 1st pb hit the net at 3lbs 8oz. The next fish blew me away at 3lbs 10oz and another new pb. A phone call to Hinders resulted in Dan Vallis popping out to take some snaps for me in his lunch hour. The third fish equalled my previous pb of 2lbs 12oz. After 4 hours of fishing, i had almost run out of lobs so decided to call it a day. 17 perch, 4 2s and 2 new pbs. Sometimes you just find yourself in the right place at the right time. Now i'd like a 4. :D

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