Commercial Monster Perch

The potential for commercial fisheries to throw up monster Perch is well known and with the river out of sorts our plan was to nail one for ourselves. Perch like most predators thrive on neglect and the abundance of bait fish that inhabit these waters.
It was slightly later than planned when I pulled up in the fishery(over-indulgence in the pub again!) and the Perchman was already ensconced in a lovely corner bay so I dropped into the adjacent swim. Our plan of attack was Prawn hook baits float fished on highly sensitive lift floats, a tactic that has served us well in the past. The lake was new to us so we had no idea of the potential apart from a few rumours that abound but fisherman rumours need to be accompanied by a huge pinch of sodium chloride!

It didn't take long for me to get the first fish of the day and it was pleasing to see a target species in the folds of the net, not a monster but a good start at about a pound and a half.

Within the hour I had another two in the net the biggest going just shy of two pounds. Martin had not had a sniff which was strange because we were fishing exactly the same tactics within a couple of yards of each other but only I was getting any action. He moved to the swim the other side of me but his floats remained motionless there too, fishing is brilliantly unpredictable.

A sail away bite and subsequent battle way out in open water followed and either I was connected to the mother of all Perch or a rogue Carp had joined the party. Sadly it was the latter, an immaculate Common that fought like a tiger but ruined the swim for a good hour. I would land three more of the little buggers before the day was out.

The next bite that connected felt initially like a Carp as it took line from the clutch which none of the previous Perch had managed but then there followed some tell-tale head banging. I could tell it was a Perch and a serious one at that. Martin came over to do the honours with the net and we both gasped as a monster Perch broke the surface. The hook was clearly visible only just gripping the boney gaping mouth and as it drew closer and closer to the net Martin kept me calm by whispering to me to be very quiet and especially careful. Thankfully everything held together and as we peered into the net at our prize we played the old guess the weight game:"it's a definite three", "looks like a four", "definitely a pb". Handshake and back slaps.

SMUG TW*T!!

It was close to a 'four' but the scales settled just shy on 3lb 14oz. I was elated, buzzing, a new pb beating my previous best by five ounces. 

The one in my right hand weighed 1lb 15oz so you can see the difference!
The water had lived up to its rumoured potential but sadly that was the end of the Perch action as the Carp moved in and made a nuisance of themselves. Martin saved a blank with a Carp of his own but it had definitely been my day. Amazing what a difference a couple of yards can make. There was no visible rhyme and reason to it, I just got the right swim by chance. Got a feeling we might go there again!