Fishing Near Me | Top 5 Specimen Perch Fishing Venues
Struggling to land a monster perch from your local river and want to see what a 3lb plus perch actually looks like? Then you may want to take a look at this list of venues that hold a specimen stripey for you to land.
HAMPTON SPRINGS, Hampton Malpas, Cheshire
Fishing close to the islands on Alice Springs will put you in with a chance of finding a perch nudging 4lb. Try the straight lead or waggler with maggots and worms.
01948 820789, Postcode: SY14 8AD, http://hamptonsprings.co.uk/
STAFFORD MOOR, Dolton, Devon
The vast majority of the waters here have produced perch over 3lb although Pines Lake is without a doubt the pick of the bunch at the moment.
01805 804360, Postcode: EX19 8PP, http://www.staffordmoor.co.uk/fishing/lakes/pines
WHITE SPRINGS FISHERY, Swansea, South Wales
A 5lb perch is a dream specimen but visit the Old Canal and it could become a reality. Snags down the margins and against the island provide the perfect swim.
01792 885699, Postcode: SA4 8QG, http://www.whitespringsfishery.co.uk/
WHITMORE FISHERIES, Preston, Lancs
Island Pond, The Basin and Club Canal have all produced perch over 4lb in the past. Use a straight lead or long pole over minimal feed.
01253 836224, Postcode: PR4 3HQ, http://www.whitmorefisheries.co.uk/index.php
WOODSIDE FISHERY, Kidderminster, Worcs
Island Pool is a popular hotspot with specimen anglers after perch over 4lb. Prawns are a fantastic bait when presented at close range.
01299 270565, Postcode: DY14 0BU, https://www.woodsidefishery.co.uk/
Fishing Near Me | Top 15 commercials where you can catch a specimen perch
Specimen perch can be caught all over the country but finding a true monster near you can be quite difficult... However, commercial fisheries are a great place to start. These stillwaters are the perfect habitat for big perch to thrive with lots of room to hunt and silverfish to eat. Struggling to think of a venue where you can go fishing for a new personal best perch? Don’t worry, here are 15 venues to get you started.
Alderwood Ponds, Steyning, Sussex
A small tub of prawns will be enough bait to tempt a raft of fish to over 3lb from the Island Pond. Fish no more than a couple of rod lengths out and feed plenty of red maggots to get the prey fish and perch into your swim.
Contact: 01903 816377
Website: www.alderwoodponds.wordpress.com
Postcode: BN44 3AA
Athersley Memorial Lake, Barnsley, South Yorks
Tiny sections of worm alongside a few casters will produce perch over 3lb. The pegs in the mid-teens close to the reed beds are the hotspots.
Contact: 07402 682899
Postcode: S71 3JU
Buttonhole Lake, Wisbech, Cambs
Virtually everything that gets stocked in here grows enormous and the same goes for the perch which have been banked to almost 4lb. Worms fished close to any reed beds should get you bites.
Contact: 01945 430629
Postcode: PE14 8EY
Decoy Lakes, Whittlesey, Cambs
This fishery is highly regarded for its carp action but it is also growing a reputation for perch to over 3lb. Fish close to the dead lily beds on Horseshoe Lake for the best results.
Contact: 01733 202230
Website: www.decoylakes.co.uk
Postcode: PE7 2AD
Eye Kettleby Lakes, Melton Mowbray, Leics
Perch to 4lb are a possibility on Lake 5 with legered worm hookbaits favoured. Cast tight to the overhanging trees on the island where the water drops to 7ft to be in with a chance of catching a belter.
Contact: 01664 565900
Website: www.eyekettlebylakes.com
Postcode: LE14 2TN
Golden Pond Fishery, Andover, Hants
Locate the overhanging trees and underwater roots and the perch will be lingering nearby. Fish to 4lb can be taken on the pole or waggler on maggot and caster hookbaits.
Contact: 07734 669738
Website: www.goldenpondfishery.co.uk
Postcode: SP11 7LA
Hampton Springs, Hampton Malpas, Cheshire
Fishing close to the islands on Alice Springs will put you in with a chance of finding a perch nudging 4lb. Try the straight lead or waggler with maggots and worms for a nice bag of perch.
Contact: 01948 820789
Website: www.hamptonsprings.co.uk
Postcode: SY14 8AD
Makins Fishery, Wolvey, Warks
Fishing in the deep water on Anchor Lake will put you in with a chance of a 3lb plus specimen. The predators target the silverfish shoals in here and you can target theme by feeding plenty of maggots and pinkies.
Contact: 01455 220877
Website: www.makinsfishery.co.uk
Postcode: CV11 6QJ
Moorlands Farm Fishery, Kidderminster, Worcs
Most of the lakes are home to quality predators although Meadow Pool has been the most prolific of late. The fish can usually be found in the deep margins.
Contact: 01299 250427
Website: www.moorlands-farm.co.uk
Postcode: DY11 7XN
Tricklebrook Fishery, Five Oak Green, Kent
The Main Lake is the place to head for perch over 4lb and any areas providing cover are worth trying. Worms, casters and maggots should all be in your bait bag.
Contact: 07743 955812
Postcode: TN12 6SH
Viaduct Fisheries, Somerton, Somerset
Campbell Lake is usually reserved for matches but during the winter perch anglers are allowed to target its shoals that run to over 4lb. Fish just off the end of the platform or towards reed beds. The other lakes also hold a good number of perch if you can’t get down to fish Campbell Lake this winter.
Contact: 01458 274022
Website: www.viaductfishery.com
Postcode: TA11 6LJ
Wansford Fishery, Driffield, East Yorks
The Coarse Lake is home to plenty of dense reed beds and this is where huge perch to 5lb will lie. Worms coated in Van Den Eynde Predator Plus will give you an edge.
Contact: 07887 662796
Website: www.wansfordfishery.co.uk
Postcodes: YO25 8JJ
White Springs Fishery, Swansea, South Wales
A 5lb perch is a dream specimen but visit the Old Canal and it could become a reality. Snags down the margins and against the island provide the perfect swim.
Contact: 01792 885699
Website: www.whitespringsfishery.co.uk
Postcode: SA4 8QG
Whitmore Fisheries, Preston, Lancs
Island Pond, The Basin and Club Canal have all produced perch over 4lb in the past. Use a straight lead or long pole over minimal feed to catch.
Contact: 01253 836224
Website: www.whitmorefisheries.co.uk
Postcode: PR4 3HQ
Woodhouse Grange Fisheries, Doncaster, South Yorks
The carp have backed off the feed as a result of the frosts but big perch to 3lb are still willing to feed on maggots or worms on Lilly Lake.
Contact: 07936 647588
Website: www.woodhousegrangefisheries.co.uk
Postcode: DN7 6DU
FISHING NEAR ME | Best urban perch fishing locations
Drop shotting, light lure fishing, jigging or street fishing whatever name you wish to call it, this style of fishing is as exciting as angling gets.
From catching big perch and zander on urban canals to wrestling with pike and chub on small rivers, light lure fishing or drop shotting is a great option especially during the cooler months when species like carp go into hibernation.
If you're not sure how to fish the method read our guide here..
Fish like this zander are what to expect when drop shotting
Need inspiration on where to go drop shotting/lure fishing? Try one of our venues…..
NORTH
Beverley Canal, Beverley, E Yorks
The boatyard at Beverley is a winter hotspot which contains pike perch and odd zander.
Contact: Hull DAA, 07976 779983
Prices: £3 on the bank, Hull DAA
Huddersfield Broad Canal, Huddersfield, W Yorks
With old mill houses and railway lines you don’t get much more urban than this but the fishing here is excellent with a huge head of jack pike and big perch to go at.
Contact: Chris Roberts Fishing Tackle 01484 545032
Prices: £3.50 from Chris Roberts Fishing Tackle, Mirfield AC
Huddersfield's industrial Broad Canal is ideal for a spot of street fishing
Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Wigan, Lancs
The inner city section around the DW stadium is full of bream meaning predators will not be far away.
Contact: Harry's Fishing Tackle, 01942 728532
Prices: £2 on the bank, Wigan DAA
Rochdale Canal, Chadderton, Oldham, Lancs
The Broadgate Length through Chadderton Industrial estate is a popular match venue which also contains plenty of predators.
Contact: Heywood DAS, 07905 906261
Prices: £3 on the bank, Heywood DAA
Salford Quays, Manchester
Now under the control of Salford Friendly Anglers the Quays are renowned for their quality fish and numerous lure fishing competitions are held on it each winter.
Prices: Free fishing, anglers must join Salford Friendly Anglers, Contact: Salford Friendly Anglers, 07985 733969, Sat Nav: M50 3AZ
Salford Quays is a great lure fishing venue
Shropshire Union Canal, Chester, Cheshire
The L-Shaped Basin is a wide section of canal in the centre of Chester offering typical canal species including big stripeys.
Contact: Chester Tackle Locker, 01244 345069
Prices: Part of the £20 a year Waterway Wanderers Scheme, see Canal and River Trust Website
MIDLANDS
Cauldon Canal, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs
Amongst the chimneys and buildings from a bygone pottery industry the canal around Lichfield Street offers easy access and some great fishing too.
Contact: Goms Mill AC, 01782 318173
Prices: £3 a day on the bank, Goms Mill AC
Grand Union Canal, Loughborough, Leics
Lined with red-bricked industrial buildings the canal through Loughborough in known for its head of perch particularly the Albion Wharfe pegs.
Contact: Smiths Angling Supplies, 01509 239136
Prices: £5 a day from local tackle shops, Quorn AS
Loughborough Canal just screams street fishing
River Welland, Spalding, Lincs
Known for its huge shoals of roach in winter meaning the perch and pike follow them in.
Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Granz Angling, 01775 712206, Sat Nav: PE11 1XA
River Trent, Nottingham Embankment, Notts
Big perch and specimen pike have been caught in previous winters making this a popular water for predator fans.
Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Matchman Supplies 01159 813834, Sat Nav: NG2 5FB
Nottingham Canal is a great venue to rove with light lure setups
River Derwent, Derby, Derbys
The Earl of Harrington's club run, Pride Park stretch is as urban as this river gets. Most people target the barbel leaving the predators as an un-tapped resource.
Prices: £5 from Nathans of Derby, Contact: 01332 515353, Sat Nav: DE24 8XL
River Wensum, Norwich, Norfolk
Another classic urban waterway which holds plenty of predators thanks to the big shoals of bream and roach which flock here in winter.
Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Lathams Tackle 08432 891368, Sat Nav: NR1 4LH
Soho Loop Canal, Birmingham, W Mids
The Winson Green stretch sees few boats and anglers despite contains plenty of fish. Pike can be found to over 15lb along with perch to over 3lb.
Contact: Black Country AS, 07813 618819
Prices: Free fishing
SOUTH
Basingstoke Canal, Ash Vale, Hants
Located close to Gold Valley Lakes, this section of canal offers plenty of features including lock cuts and bridges where big perch lie in wait.
Contact: The Creel Aldershot, 01252 320871
Prices: £4 on the bank or £3 from local tackle shops, Basingstoke Canal AA
Gloucester Canal, Hempsted, Gloucs
A wide deep canal holding plenty of big predators particularly perch which go to over 4lb.
Contact: Lobby’s Tackle, 01453 791417
Prices: £4 a day on the bank, Winget Angling Club
Grand Union Canal, Little Venice, Paddington
just a stones throw from the skyscrapers of London, big perch and odd pike like to hide amongst the house boats. An urban havenin the middle of the capital well worth fishing.
Prices: £20 a year, Canal & Rivers Trust Waterways Wanderers Scheme
Contact: First Tackle, 02084 557778
London's Little Venice is great for perch and pike fishing
Grand Union Canal, Milton Keynes, Bucks
Over 5 miles of inner city canal with plenty of locks, bridges, wharfes and wides to explore. A big perch hotspot can be found between the factories at Wolverton.
Contact: Gone Fishin MK, 01908 313158
Prices: £6 on the bank, Milton Keynes AA
River Medway, Maidstone, Kent
The Law Courts area is a hotspot for silverfish so pike and perch also reside here but predators can be found all the way through the town.
Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Maidstone Angling, 01622 677326, Sat Nav: ME16 0GB
River Ivel, Biggleswade, Beds
The town stretch is lined by houses and is well known for its huge perch to over 3lb which are caught all year round on lures. The river is also worth a try at Langford and Blunham.
Contact: Ivel Protection Association, 01234 823959
Prices: Vary from club to club which are included in IPA
Drop shotting brings rewards like this plump perch