Two new PB perch in one session from River Yare
Steven Nunn beat his perch personal best twice in consecutive casts with specimens topping the scales at 3lb 9oz and 3lb 6oz when he visited a stretch of the River Yare.
The brace was part of a six-fish haul for the specialist, who suspended a small roach beneath a loafer-style float, which proved to be the winning tactic.
His one-and-a-half inch hookbait that was mounted on a size 4 Drennan Specimen hook was fished in conjunction with a simple paternoster rig.
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10lb-plus tench and 3lb-plus perch in one session
Gordon Ramsden had a session to remember when he slipped the net under this 10lb 2oz tench and a perch that topped the scales at 3lb 5oz.
His impressive brace came during a productive three-day session from the Pan Lake, which is part of Mid-Kent Fisheries.
He concentrated his efforts on a silt patch at 40yds and fished a semi-fixed rig with a combination of hair-rigged imitation maggots and casters.
These were tactics that saw him bank six other tench to 9lb 1oz and several other perch.
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Best start to river season for years
Predictions that the nation’s rivers would be in red hot form for the start of the season were proved correct as match, pleasure and specimen anglers alike enjoyed one of the finest opening weeks in history.
Confidence was high that the River Trent would kick-start with the same memorable sport that it produced last year and Richard Easom got off to a flying start when he netted this 14lb 1oz barbel.
The fish was the biggest of a trio of barbel landed by the Three Foot Twitch Baits boss which also included another double of 12lb 8oz. He said: “I fed a kilo of Dubby boilies and once the barbel turned up it was non-stop. After a long and tiring 20 minute fight from the biggest fish it finally came over the net – I couldn’t have asked for a better start the season.”
Further south, Ade West celebrated opening day in style with the capture of a huge 7lb 14oz personal best chub. Having struggled to get a bite on the Throop Fishery stretch, the Gillingham-based rod decided to visit a secret spot for a couple of hours.
Several handfuls of 4mm pellets were introduced before a link-leger rig consisting of an 8lb braided hooklink and a size 10 hook baited with a boilie was placed over the top.
“I received several small taps on my rod tip and struck in to a powerful fish,” Ade told Angling Times.
“When I saw the size of it on the surface I knew it was bigger than my previous best of 7lb 8oz which I caught from the same swim.”
Bream dominated proceedings on the Thames, where numerous triple figure catches were landed in the overcast yet mild conditions.
The biggest catch reported came to Michael Homer who banked an estimated 500lb of slabs from a stretch at Kingston. After balling in 2.5kg of Vitalin at the start of the day he started catching straight away and ended up with over 100 fish to just shy of double figures and averaging 8lb, all falling to worm and corn baits.
Former Fish O’Mania finalist Tony Curd embarked on a rare pleasure session on a stretch of the Thames above Teddington Weir and proved his bagging prowess isn’t solely reserved for the competitive stage when he took 40 bream to 7lb for a 150lb-plus netful.
A feeder attack with a 50/50 groundbait mix of Bait-Tech Kult Sweet Fishmeal and Omen held the shoal for several hours.
Bream were also top of the agenda for Burt Baits boss Tony Wynnick and Laurie Summers who both used an open end feeder approach for over 270lb from the capital’s most popular river.
Team England Lure squad member Sam Edmonds showed why summer predator fishing on the Thames is a worthwhile exercise as he took a 3lb 4oz perch and a 26lb 2oz pike.
The large stripey fell for a Berkley Havoc Rocket Craw Texas lure from a spot close to a weirpool and despite searching several other areas throughout the day, it was exactly the same swim where the rod was bent almost double by the specimen pike.
“It fought so hard in the fast current that it actually up-anchored the boat, which made for an incredible battle as we quickly drifted downstream! It was a bit hairy but thankfully we got it in the net,” said Sam.
The famous Royalty Fishery on the Hampshire Avon hasn’t disappointed either as the chub fishing has been second to none with specimens to 8lb reported by anglers fishing the area known as the ‘Telegraphs’.
Maggots have been scoring well for this species, but the big barbel are also showing a liking for this bait presented on the float or feeder as several ‘doubles’ have graced the bank topped by a fish of 14lb caught from ‘Watersmeet’.
Last but by no means least, silverfish enthusiast Mike Townsend stumbled across a shoal of large rudd while patrolling a Fenland river and used his vast experience to tempt a 2lb 10oz fish.
Floating crust presented alongside a well-balanced waggler rig enticed the specimen into feeding.
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4lb 2oz perch from Midgham Manor Fisheries
Carp angler Carl Udry’s decision to abandon his bivvy and bite alarm to target perch paid off handsomely when he netted this 4lb 2oz specimen from Midgham Manor Fisheries.
After hearing of the captures of several large perch from the Berkshire complex the local rod was determined to get in on the action.
Selecting a deep and weedy marginal swim he baited the close range spot with a bed of maggots and worms.
Using a light waggler rig, comprising 4lb mainline, a 2lb hooklink and a size 20 hook, it didn’t take long for the fish to show an interest, but unfortunately he lost his first two takes.
Thankfully, it was a case of third time lucky and after keeping the perch away from a set of snags he soon had his new pb on the bank.
“I was determined to get a large perch and by picking a few people’s brains, I managed to achieve just that,” said Carl. “I am confident there are even bigger fish in there and there are rumours that potential record breakers could be present,” he added.
For more details on the complex email midghammanor@yahoo.co.uk
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3lb 2oz perch in practice session for England trials
Predator ace Sam Edmonds paid a visit to the scenic Brecon Beacons where he caught this 3lb 2oz perch.
The England Lure Team member was practising for the England team qualification trials on Llangorse Lake in Powys where he also landed nine pike to 11lb. Sam fooled all his fish by bouncing a Berkley 3 inch Power Grub lure rigged on a 3/8oz jighead along the bottom, using 0.12mm mainline and a 17lb wire trace. Llangorse can be fished on a day-ticket with anglers given the option of fishing from a boat. For more information contact the venue on: 01874 658226.
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3lb perch after 50 year break from angling
After taking a 50-year break from angling, Mal Houlbrook made an impressive return to the sport when he landed this 3lb 7oz perch from Westerly Lake in York.
The 67-year-old only recently took up fishing again and had another local angler to thank for the capture of his new personal best for the species.
He said: “A chap called Sean was fishing in the next peg and he made up three rigs for me to use. I suspect if I had carried on fishing the way that I normally do then I wouldn’t have hooked this perch.
It really made my day spending time with someone who was more than willing to pass on the benefits of his experience and even give up his own time watching his float to sit and help me. It was really appreciated and I hope to meet him again,” said Mal.
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Target 3lb perch from Surrey stillwater
Going against the grain proved to be the key to success for Jack Pells when he caught this 3lb perch from a local stillwater.
The majority of predator anglers on the lake use livebaiting tactics to avoid the large head of bream, silvers and carp, but the Surrey-based rod decided to snub this approach in favour of a worm, prawn and maggot attack.
Fishing a 3BB waggler close in under a bush he fed maggots soaked in Predator Plus liquid all day and received his first bite at dusk resulting in a fish of 2lb 7oz.
He said: “The float buried again on the next cast as the fish tried to find sanctuary in the snags. After several powerful runs I drew it over the net and achieved my long-term target of catching a three pounder.”
Jack used 4lb Drennan Double Strength and a size 16 Drennan hook.
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Another new world record perch
Just one week after Willem Stolk broke the world perch record he has gone and done it again with this jaw-dropping 7lb 11oz specimen.
As reported in last week’s Angling Times, the Shimano-backed Dutch ace broke the previous best with a huge stripey weighing 6lb 10oz but continued with his campaign on Haringvliet Lake to try and find an even bigger lump.
Using a six inch shad lure, it didn’t take long for the ferocious predator to attack the artificial bait and he said: “In preparation for the World Predator Classic event on the venue I have fished 17 days straight. One record was incredible but to bank another one is mind-blowing.”
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First trip to new fishery nets a 4lb 7oz perch
The unpredictability of angling was perfectly proved when Ashley Bradley smashed his perch personal best with this 4lb 7oz specimen that came from a commercial fishery he’d never fished before.
In a perfect demonstration that you don’t have to visit the most popular specimen waters to bank some of the UK’s biggest fish, the Worcester-based rod decided to give the small water a try after a biteless morning at the venue that had produced his previous personal best weighing 3lb 6oz.
This was to be his last perch fish session of the year and he certainly made it count when he found a redlined corner of the venue and hooked the huge predator soon after casting out his favourite lure.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to catch a perch over the 4lb mark and I don’t usually even target perch this late on in the year, so it was a good job that I’d conveniently left the lure fishing gear in the car which is what tempted me to have one last session,” Ashley told Angling Times.
“I’d only visited this small water in the West Midlands once before and that wasn’t to fish as I just had a walk around and remember thinking to myself that this place must be worth a try for big perch after seeing lots of fry scattering like they were trying to escape a predator.
“At first I thought I’d foul-hooked a carp that I’d seen patrolling the margins, but after the first short run it surfaced and when I saw the stripes as she thrashed her head my legs went to jelly and I just prayed that it would come to the net as quickly as possible.”
The 27-year-old from Tenbury Wells used a 10lb braided mainline and a 7lb 6oz mono leader to get the better of his well-earned specimen.
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Brace of perch personal bests for schoolboy
A short session on a northern stillwater produced a brace of personal best perch for James Johnson – this 3lb 4oz specimen the highlight.
The Doncaster-based schoolboy arrived at the venue with his dad, Danny, just a couple of hours before last light and cast out two rods, one with a legered lobworm and the other with a waggler using the same hookbait.
A predator of 2lb 6oz fell to his float rod shortly before his tip wrapped round with the biggest fish of the trip.
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World record perch
The recent spate of huge perch captured from UK venues was surpassed last week with the landing of two World record specimens from European waters.
The pair of fish, one of 6lb 10oz caught by Dutch lure ace Willem Stolk and the other weighing 6lb 8oz caught by Russian angler Mikhail Poliakov, highlight the ever increasing size of the species.
Both captures would break the current International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record for the species of 6lb 6oz, a fish caught by Kalle Vaaranen in Finland back in 2010.
Willem’s perch was landed from Holland’s Hellevoetsluis Lake during a practice session for the World Predator Classic, an event which will see him partnering the ‘Man in Red,’ Jan Porter, this coming June. The Shimano sponsored angler tempted the specimen using a vertical jigging approach - a method which is popular in this part of Europe. Meanwhile Mikhail Poliakov’s stripey was taken from an unknown lake in Denmark. The Eco Fish Team member was said to be fishing for pike when the giant predator, which measured 53cm in length, took his 6.6 inch Westin Jätte lure.
The number of big perch has rocketed in recent years including some monster fish from UK venues as well as numerous record claims from across Europe. The current UK record is jointly held by Ken Brown and Neil Stephen with fish of 6lb 3oz from Tring Reservoir and Stream Valley Lakes respectively, both caught in 2011. In October of the same year, Angling Times also reported the capture of an estimated 7lb-8lb fish caught by Dutchman, Alrik Nedermeijer on Hollandsch Diep River system, a fish which was returned without being weighed.
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Worm lures big canal perch
A quick session before work saw Steve Phillips catch this 4lb 1oz personal best perch from the Grand Union Canal.
The Warwickshire-based angling journalist started off using small soft plastic lures but was forced to switch tactics with no bites coming to the artificial baits.
He said: “I changed to a dropshot style set-up with a dendrobaena worm on the hook, and it worked a treat. I’m over the moon to have caught a fish of this size, especially from a canal.”
Steve’s rig comprised 10lb Sunline Momentum 4x4 braid, an 8lb Fox Illusion flurocarbon leader and a Gamakatsu worm hook.
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Pellets tempt 4lb 3oz perch
Pellets rarely come into the equation when perch are the target but Nate Green proved that it is well worth turning to them as he fooled this personal best 4lb 3oz perch from a southern stillwater.
The Kent-based angler fed maggots and Sonubaits 2mm Krill pellet over two spots and presented a running paternoster rig over the top with a king prawn hookbait.
A 2lb 13oz predator fell for the approach in open water but the best of the day came late in the session from a swim 30 yards out close to a far bank margin.
Huge perch from Devon holiday park
Further proof that huge perch can turn up in the most unlikely spots was provided by Michael Barnshaw this week when he took a series of big fish, including a new personal best of 4lb 7oz, from a holiday park.
The Berkshire-based angler has been a regular visitor to Devon’s Clovelly Lakes for over two decades but has only been on the trail of a large perch since they were stocked in the venue a couple of years ago.
Having landed a 4lb 1oz fish on a previous visit, he was well aware of the specimen potential of the complex and set out on a short morning session to try and increase his pb again.
Baiting a deep marginal spot with groundbait, chopped worms and dead maggots he presented a float setup with a large lobworm hookbait over the top.
Several stripeys over the 2lb-mark were quickly landed before he came agonisingly close to achieving his goal with a 3lb 15oz perch.
The next cast saw the float disappear again and within moments of setting the hook he had an inkling he was attached to a special fish. “It put a proper bend in the rod,” he said.
“It only took a few minutes to land but as soon as I saw the frame of it my net I knew I’d broken my personal best,” added Michael, who used 6lb mainline, an 8g Drennan loafer float and a size 8 wide gape hook.
Despite its large head of big perch, the venue has been largely neglected by serious specimen anglers and Michael told Angling Times: “The potential of Clovelly Lakes and several other holiday parks across the country is incredible. Along with the huge predators it also has double figure bream, 2lb-plus roach and big tench.”
For more details on the fishery visit www.clovellylakes.co.uk
Proof that big perch thrive in canals too with 4lb 4oz fish
Pete Webster further proved the big-fish potential of the nation’s canal systems when he banked this huge 4lb 4oz perch.
The dedicated specimen hunter from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, concentrates his efforts on venues in the North of the UK and slipped his net under his second canal-caught perch over 4lb using floatfished a lobworm.
His bait was presented close in to his own bank at the bottom of the near shelf and these were tactics that also tempted a tench that weighed in at 4lb 8oz.
“This is the culmination of a two-year quest to prove that my first perch over 4lb from a northern canal wasn’t a fluke,” Pete told Angling Times.
“I fished away from my baited area as I’m convinced that that the big perch don’t like to feed here and really hang back.”
Season's biggest perch weighs 4lb 15oz
THE BIGGEST perch this season has been banked in the form of a monster 4lb 15oz predator.
The huge fish was caught by specimen angler Paul Parnell from a middle section of the River Thames and was part of a huge haul which included three other fish weighing over 3lb all caught using lure tactics.
The 30-year-old, from Reading, visited a dropping river on several occasions during the space of a week, beating his personal best three times by banking specimens weighing 3lb 5oz, 3lb 15oz and 4lb 7oz before landing what he called ‘the fish of a lifetime’. He told Angling Times: “It has been my best year ever for perch as I’ve had numerous 3lb-plus fish and now these two fours, compared to other years where I have only landed the odd low three and just plenty of two pounders.”
Paul’s setup included 10lb PowerPro mainline, 10lb Fox Rage wire trace and a three inch shad lure.
3lb 1oz perch from southern waterway for Sam Edmonds
Heavily flooded rivers are hardly the ideal place to catch big perch but Sam Edmonds defied the odds when he took this 3lb 1oz fish from a southern waterway.
The Abu Garcia angler had been run down by illness but decided to battle through the discomfort and target predators on his local venue.
High water levels and a raging current did little to boost his confidence but he managed to tempt the specimen with a yellow twin tail lure.
“The conditions were far from ideal but that one bite made the effort all worthwhile,” said Sam, who used 0.12mm Berkley Nanofil to a 17lb wire trace.
3lb 4oz perch from southern estate lake
When Mark Pilley’s carp fishing session didn’t going to plan he turned his attention to perch - and promptly landed this 3lb 4oz specimen.
Targeting a southern estate lake, the London rod was struggling to catch carp in freezing cold winds so fetched his new Fox Rage Lure set-up from the car. And it wasn’t long before his Hot Olive Mini Fry lure was snapped up.
“The first cast saw me dragging in half a tree branch which I immediately thought would ruin the swim,” he said. “I decided to give it a couple more goes and my lure was hit on the next cast. It wasn’t a long or spectacular fight but it made several lunges under the tip.
It’s not quite a personal best but it’s the biggest I’ve had for quite a few years and it’s my best on a lure.”
Beginner's perch at 3lb took a lure
Ryan Need only began targeting perch three months ago – but he’s wasted no time getting among the specimens, landing this 3lb 4oz fish from a Staffordshire stillwater.
The local rod adopted the popular drop-shotting approach and after an uneventful couple of hours he saw a large stripey hit his Fox Rage rubber jig.
He said: “I’ve been fishing for over 25-years but have only recently decided to have a go for perch. This fish came out of nowhere and it was awesome to see its gills flair up as it grabbed my lure.
“My previous best was a fish of 2lb 2oz from the River Severn and I was delighted to break the magical 3lb-barrier.”
Huge perch is first on a lure
The decision to lure fish a venue that had never been previously tackled with the tactic paid dividends for Ben Church when he banked this 4lb 10oz personal best perch from a southern commercial fishery.
After hearing rumours that a local venue had produced a large fish during a match the Cornwall-based rod arrived at the lake just before first light.
Rather than using worms and maggots he selected a Fiiish Black Minnow lure to try and pick out the bigger specimens.
He said: “We’d found a deep open water spot and my friend Dean Pilgrim and I had a hunch it could be the perfect place to land a very special fish.
“As soon as I got the take I knew I was into something special. I had been aiming to for a 3lb perch to beat my 2lb 8oz best but I ended up with a lot more than I bargained for.
When it came to the surface my eyeballs almost popped out - I’d never seen anything like it. Sometimes going with your gut instinct can pay off and on this occasion it certainly did,” he added.
Just days later he returned and reaped the rewards again as a 3lb 12oz stripey fell for an identical attack. Although increasing his pb again will take a monumental effort he has not given up on going one better. “Big perch are rarely caught by matchmen on the venue and I’ve had two fish for over 8lb within a week on lures. If that is achievable then who knows what is in there,” he told Angling Times.
