Big perch from day ticket fishery
Jon Patten continues to prove why day-ticket fisheries are at the top of many anglers lists when it comes to big perch after banking this impressive 4lb specimen.
Just two weeks after the capture of a fine brace of 5lb 1oz and 4lb ‘stripeys’, the Fox-backed specialist targeted the same Southern day ticket stillwater and had success in margins using a small deadbait.
The Barnstaple, Devon-based angler fished 8lb mainline, an 8lb Fox Fluoro Trans Khaki hook link and a size 4 hook.
Jon believes the water’ perch population consists of just a handful of very large fish and is just one of countless other UK ‘commercials’ that are capable of perch like this.
“I’ve spent so long trying to catch a 4lb-plus perch and now I’ve had three over this mark in the last three weeks,” he said.
“There’s so much potential in this type of water that’s just waiting to be unlocked.”
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Catch your personal best carp this weekend at Thorpe Lea
With a huge head of specimen carp, Thorpe Lea is arguably the best place in the country to bag your first 20lber.
The Surrey venue, adjacent to the M25, was stocked with 2,500 carp 10 years ago and now boasts a huge head of upper doubles, 20s and even a few 30s. With so many inhabitants, locating fish is fairly easy. The 18-acre lake, which has three islands does get a little weedy in spring but gravel and silt patches are still easy to find, and the carp will feed in most areas and at various depths.
Fake corn has been a constant winner at the venue with anglers taking fish on fake kernels in PVA bags over spod mix but Thorpe Lea really can produce on all tactics, including small bright baits and PVA bags which are a good starting point. Regular spodding will keep the action coming, but single baits fired out at range can score when the place is busy. Aside from the carp, specimen perch are definitely Thorpe Lea’s hidden gem.
Prices: £12 a day for adults (£9 for juniors). £24 for 24 hours. Each under 18 must be accompanied by an adult over 21.
Contact: 07934 000559 or www.thorpeleafishery.co.uk
Location: Thorpe Lea Fishery, Thorpe Lea Road, Thorpe, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8PG
Rules: No baitboats, braided mainline or unattended rods allowed. Barbed hooks only and the only particles allowed are hemp, corn/maize and pellets. Nets must be at least 36 inches and large unhooking mats must be used.
Facilities: Toilets, tackle shop and food hut. Local takeaways deliver to the gates.
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Big perch from 'secret' lake
“I left home unaware this lake existed and it ended up producing my biggest perch of the year.” These are the words of Gary Knowles after he banked this 4lb 1oz specimen on his first cast from a water owned by a guest house he was staying at.
The Korum-backed all-rounder had made the long journey from his Cheshire base to Hertfordshire in search of a big chub in the final days of the season.
He was unexpectedly informed by the property owner that he would be entitled to fish a lake behind his premises.
“Big perch are becoming more common so I decided to have walk around the lake with my dropshot rod on the off chance that I saw signs of predators moving around,” explained Gary.
“It was only a short fight but I couldn’t believe the size of it when it slid over the net.”
He quickly packed up and headed off down to the River Lea in search of the big chub and amazingly his first cast produced a huge 7lb 8 drams.
“Two different waters, two huge fish on the first cast – it is a session I will never forget,” concluded Gary.
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Superb sport on offer at Peatling Pools
Peatling Pools in Leicestershire offers superb sport across three lakes which are currently producing excellent mixed nets.
It’s on the Malcolm Pool where you can catch a variety of fish in one sitting, with many anglers reporting catches of chub, carp, barbel, tench, crucians, bream and roach. This half acre water has an island at the car park end and a number of 9ft deep holes, particularly located around the base of the island shelf. This makes the feeder and waggler ideal tactics for catching – with anglers preferring to use corn, maggot and worm as hookbaits.
The small pool which connects both Malcolm and Magna Pools together features a bed of lily pads, and these should be targeted with the float and worm for a big tench – especially when the weather warms up. The Magna Pool itself is similar in appearance to Malcolm, in that it also has a central island roughly around 18m out. The method feeder cast to this feature with meat on the hook will claim carp well into double figures as well as chub and bream.
The gem of the fishery however has to be the Parva Pool, which although tiny, packs some serious punch for its size. Big perch to 5lb and roach to 3lb have all been caught from here to those fishing the pole with maggot and worm on the deck. However, with only eight fishable pegs, you’ll want to make sure you set your alarms early this weekend to secure yourself a spot.
Prices: £7 a day
Contact: 07860 644023 or 0116 2867316
Location: Peatling Pools, Peatling Parva, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 5PU
Rules: No littering, no fires, barbless hooks only, not keepnets except for organised matches
Facilities: Café, Tackle shop, lakeside parking, toilets
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Huge perch from southern day ticket water
Jon Patten smashed his perch personal best twice in two days after slipping his net under a 4lb fish, then a 5lb 1oz monster.
The Fox-backed man tackled a Southern day ticket water with legered worm and or perch livebaits to enjoy a real red letter spell in the space of around 16 hours.
Barnstaple, Devon, specialist Jon used 6lb mainline, a 6lb Fox Rage Fluorocarbon and a size 4 hook. His first specimen came on the afternoon of the first day, to a legered worm.
“I was over the moon with this as I’ve been trying to catch a 4lb perch for a long time after so many ‘threes’,so I came back the following morning and fished a livebait to an island,” he said.
“It wasn’t long before I had absolute screamer of a run and when I saw the perch I was playing I literally talked it into the net. I’m still shaking” he said.
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Huge carp hauls expected soon at Lands End Fishery
Known for producing summer match nets in excess of 300lb, Lands End Fishery in Somerset has proved that it’s got what it takes to be the very best – and with temperatures now on the up, it won’t be long until match weights will once again reach dizzying heights. So what makes this fishery so good? Not only is each lake stocked with a large number of quality, mixed species, but every peg offers a diverse range of features to test your angling skills.
Tadham Lake (16 pegs)
If you’re a specimen hunter then this is the lake for you. It’s stocked with carp to 26lb, grass carp to 17lb, tench and bream to 6lb and a large number of brown goldfish to 4lb as well. The central island is easily reachable with the feeder or pole and this is exactly where you want to target. Corn and pellet will catch nearly everything in here.
Tealham Lake (24 pegs)
The six-hour match record here is an astonishing 351lbs 10oz, making it the go-to water for many matchmen who visit. The two bar-shaped islands and surrounding trees and bushes provided excellent cover for the resident fish, which are mostly made up of carp, tench and bream. Big perch to 4lb also live here and can be caught down the edge or in the gap between the two islands on worm or prawn hookbaits.
John Walter Lake (30 pegs)
An open plan water with three central islands and a host of bays to target. The pole fished shallow with pellet or caster is a firm tactic for roach, rudd and the odd goldfish with many anglers preferring to target the carp from the islands with a pellet feeder. The corner pegs are often high-flyers as well thanks to their access to the side mud-banks and open water.
Sidney’s Lake (24 pegs)
This is the newest water on the complex at Lands End which mirrors the same layout as the John Walter Lake. It’s stocking of carp to 7lbs, perch to 3lbs, roach, rudd and skimmer bream makes it a favourite with novice and pleasure anglers who are looking for a relaxed session. The islands are worth a shot with the feeder or waggler with maggots, with a switch to corn preferable for the carp.
Prices: £7 a day, £5 concessions
Contact: 07977 545882 or visit the new website at www.landsendsomerset.co.uk
Location: Lands End Fishery, Heath House, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4UQ
Rules: Fishing dawn to dusk, barbless Hooks only, no Keepnets permitted, no method feeders, all rigs must be free-running with a minimum hooklength of 12 inches, no cat/dog meat, no bread, no floating baits, no nuts or beans, only coarse/carp pellets to be used for feed.
Facilities: Parking, Toilets, disabled access, tackle shop, refreshments
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Give the Grand Union Canal at Rowington a try this weekend
As the river season comes to an end the country’s canal systems take over for many anglers who are still clinging to the natural venue.
There is a vast number of good canals to fish although it can be difficult to choose where to start, but Leamington AA’s recent occupation of a stretch of the Grand Union Canal may just bring you a net-full of fish this weekend.
The club is sharing the four mile stretch with Stoneleigh AC to increase fishing on a canal system that has produced some big weights in the past.
Roach, perch, skimmers and bream to 4lbs will make up the bulk of your catch to those fishing the waggler, pole or feeder down the track at 8m. Alternatively, fishing a large worm to the overhanging trees on the far bank may produce a big perch or chub.
Carp to 30lb also reside here, with boilies and halibut pellets proving good baits for the species. A moored canal boat is a perfect place to target them at this time of year due to their sheltering properties.
Predator experts can also have a red letter day thanks to the abundant shoals of perch, pike and zander. Drop shotting and roving works well around the bridge areas however a floatfished deadbait will be hard to beat for a bigger fish. So if you don’t fancy a commercial outing this weekend, get yourself a membership here as the fishing is great no matter what your style is.
Prices: £36 a year, £18 juniors
Contact: Leamington AA, 01926 312319, www.leamington-angling.co.uk
Location: Rowington Bridge 62 – Lapworth Bridge 67, Rowington, Warwickshire, CV35 7AB
Rules: No uncoated, braided hooklinks, no fires, no litter.
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Head to the Grand Western Canal for great fishing...
The whole of the UK is crammed with top-quality coarse-fishing options but some areas still don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Devon and Somerset are among the counties that are often disregarded but those in the know are fully aware of the massive opportunities both areas provide anglers.
Commercial fishery enthusiasts are catered for with bagging havens White Acres and Stafford Moor and even those who enjoy a spot of canal fishing have one of the most underrated waters right on their doorstep.
The Grand Western Canal may be less than 12 miles long but every inch of it has the potential to produce the goods, with a wide variety of species on the cards.
Starting life in the Devon town of Tiverton, the GWC weaves its way through the villages of Halberton and Sampford Peverell before its journey comes to end just north of Burlescombe at Lowdells Lock.
Although locals will wax lyrical about their favourite hotspots, the true beauty of this rural waterway is the fact that you will never be far away from a shoal of hungry fish, regardless of where you tackle up.
If you want a stretch that provides fairly good access and the chance of both small and large specimens, the Manley and Greenways areas are worthy of your attention.
There’s no need to get involved in a frantic Google search to find out who runs each zone either as one club controls the fishing rights to the whole venue. Tiverton DAC are charged with maintaining the venue’s natural charm and they have made sure it is all available to the masses, charging just £5 a session for access to its banks.
On days when the temperatures remain on the low side, the roach are the species to go in search of, using either a light pole rig or waggler set-up with bread punch over small beds of liquidised feed.
It may also be worth taking a spinning rod with you as wherever there are silverfish, predators are never far away.
The pike may only run up to low doubles but there are stacks of jacks that will charge at a lure in kamikaze fashion before shaking their heads violently as they try to remove the hooks. Quality perch are making a revival in places and a 2lb plus specimen could come your way in the right conditions.
But with the true essence of spring threatening to break through any day now, the bream and tench have started to slip out of their winter slumber and are in search of their first meal of the year.
Look for cover when searching for a big tench or two, fishing worm and caster close to these features. Be prepared to hang on tight when the float finally sinks as these fish will certainly test your tackle to the limit!
Although the bream are a little more elusive there is the opportunity to land a catch of a lifetime should you stumble upon them. Several huge shoals lurk up and down the canal and if you catch one there is every chance several others will make their way into the net.
With specimens over 5lb commonplace in these shoals, it won’t take many bites to catch 100lb of these rarely targeted lumps. Look for swims that are slightly wider, lacing them with plenty of fishmeal groundbait and particles to stand a chance of drawing their attentions.
Stunning scenery, cheap fishing and the chance to bag a new personal best, the Grand Western Canal is certainly worthy of your attention this week.
Prices: £5 a day or £30 a year (January to January) in advance from Eve Valley Angling
Contact: Exe Valley Angling, 01884 242275
Location: Chains Road, Sampford Peverell, Tiverton, EX16 7BL (Address for best access to Sampford Peverell stretch)
Rules: All fish to be returned, anglers must have a valid EA rod licence
The river season goes out with a bang!
One of the most prolific closing weeks of the river season ever proved why more anglers are returning to UK rivers as countless huge specimens and record-breaking catches hit the bank.
Match angler Andy Sharp became the envy of the specimen fishing world when he trotted maggots on 3lb line to bank the biggest chub of the season that tipped the scales at 8lb 4oz.
He was happily catching small dace and roach under the far bank vegetation on the famous King’s Weir stretch of the River Lea in Hertfordshire when the huge fish took his double maggot mounted on a size 18 hook.
“The river started to come up and that’s when all hell broke loose as I lost a big chub and then soon after I hooked another monster that turned out to be this 8lb 4oz fish,” said Andy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played a fish so carefully in my life because I was using such light gear in a very snaggy swim. I was shocked when I saw how big this fish was.
There were no surprise specimens in store for Ray Ravenhall during a session on the Warwickshire Avon, but he made history when he took a record-breaking 198lb 6oz net of bream.
The Chairman of Worcester and District United Anglers Association fished the feeder filled with groundbait, casters and chopped worms to land 49lb bream averaging 4lb apiece at the clubs stretch at Pensham during a five-hour contest.
It’s a catch that beats the previous best for the stretch that stood at 135lb and was caught 10 years ago.
“This was an amazing end to the season and if I hadn’t lost a fish on the final whistle I would have caught made a ‘double ton’, but who can complain after a day’s fishing like this,” said Ray.
“It’s been an incredible year for the rivers as more and more anglers are have been making a return to running water.”
The last cast of Paul Elt’s river campaign saw him smash his barbel personal best when he won the battle with a superb 16lb 3oz specimen during a session on a tributary of the River Ouse.
The Dynamite Baits and Drennan-backed specialist from St Neots, Cambs, hair-rigged a small piece of legered meat that was flavoured with ‘The Crave’ and fished in conjunction with a pva bag filled with finely chopped pieces of the same bait.
“I looked over my shoulder as the sun began to set and thought to myself this is the time for a bite and I looked back at the rod, the tip twitched and I was in. I couldn’t have written it any better,” said Paul.
Moving north and the little-known River Goyt in the North West produced only its second fish to ever top the 14lb mark, which was banked by local specialist Jerry Gleeson.
He kicked off his session with a 10lb 5oz fish and then a switch from a straight lead to a feeder filled with pellets saw him land the impressive fish with an imitation piece of bread from The Hook Bait Company.
The 2014/15 season will be remembered by many as one of the best ever for big perch and Watford’s Stuart Court proved why when he landed his best ever haul of the species.
The Watford-based specialist netted a brace of fish that weighed 4lb exactly and two other perch at 3lb 13 oz and 3lb 10 oz after he baited a swim on the River Lea with chopped worms and alternated a feeder and straight lead tactics with a worm hookbait.
Sticking with the predator theme and the River Thames further proved its pike fishing credentials when Martin House smashed his personal best with a huge 28lb fish.
Fish weighing 21lb and 13lb also fell to the Surrey angler when he fished a sardine on size 8 trebles.
Two days fishing on the famous River Wye gave Adam Fisher the perfect end to the season when he was rewarded with a trio of 20lb-plus pike.
The 36-year-old fished float-legered sardines to take fish of 22lb 8oz, 22lb 3oz and 21lb 12oz, plus another of 17lb 8oz, from the margins of the river and slacks behind bushes.
Angling Dreams fishing guide Adam, used Esox trace wire with size 4 and 6 hooks and 50lb braid and admitted to the loss of a monster which said ‘felt like a sunken canoe’.
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Monster perch on first cast drop shotting
The first cast of a short afternoon session on his local river proved the most decisive for Sam Edmonds when he banked this giant 4lb 1oz perch.
The England Lure Team member hooked the huge fish on his first put-in after setting up a drop shot rig with 0.12mm Berkley Nanofil mainline, 8lb Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorocarbon tied to a size 2 Owner Mosquito Drop Shot hook and Berkley Twitchtail Minnow lure. He followed up the capture later in the session with another fish weighing 3lb 15oz to cap a great month for the 20-year-old who also banked another 3lb 15oz specimen last week.
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5lb 4oz perch fulfils dream
One of the UK’s best-known specimen hunters ‘realised a dream’ when he netted this huge 5lb 4oz river perch.
The fish is the biggest banked so far this season and smashes the Oxfordshire-based specialists previous best for the species by 1lb.
This is the first perch that the midlands river has ever produced for Phil, who banked the fish-of-a-lifetime, when he cast a simple leger rig out into a large slack behind an obstruction in the waterway.
He built up his swim with the steady introduction of red maggots and then twitched a lobworm hookbait back up through his scattering of free offerings.
It was a tactic that induced the only bite of the session for the all-rounder, who has a personal best list that makes for impressive reading and includes a 4lb 9oz British record crucian carp, a 17lb 15oz bream and a 17lb 1oz barbel.
“I knew it was well over 4lb when I got it into the net, but a five pounder wasn’t even in my mind, so you can imagine how I felt when the scales read 5lb 4oz –I’ve caught some big fish in my time, but this is right up there among the very best,” said Phil.
“Perch tend to react to any movement of the bait so that’s why I just kept twitching the worm back towards me every few minutes and it worked a treat – It’s a dream fish.”
Phil’s previous personal best weighing 4lb 4oz was caught 12 years ago from the famous Wilstone Reservoir, which is part of the Tring complex in Hertfordshire.
His latest specimen was beaten with a rig that comprised 6lb mainline, a 0.5 oz bomb and a 6lb Drennan Supplex hooklink that was finished with a size 6 hook.
It’s 1oz bigger than the season’s previous biggest ‘stripey’ that was recently published in Angling Times and taken from a tiny Nottingham stillwater by local angler Jake Burns.
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Big perch worth the wait from Derbyshire Derwent
The Derbyshire Derwent once again showed its big perch fishing prowess when Andy Cheetham banked this 4lb 13oz fish from the venue.
With river levels falling and temperatures on the up, the Manchester-based angler packed red maggots in to a feeder and used a lobworm hookbait.
An hour later the action commenced when a specimen of 3lb 4oz found the offering.
But he saved the best until last, with the huge predator showing up in a slack just under the rod tip.
“I recognised it as the same fish that my friend Simon Brough caught at 4lb 15oz last year,” explained Andy.
“Incredibly, it was caught almost a mile downstream that time and would have to pass some strong currents to get to where I landed it,” he added.
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Hugh Miles banks 3lb 11oz perch
Hugh Miles had every reason to smile when he set a new venue record at the Popular Sway Lakes when the award-winning film maker and photographer slipped the net under this pristine 3lb 11oz perch.
The all-rounder, who filmed the iconic a Passion For Angling series, squeezed a visit to the popular Hampshire complex into his busy schedule and produced the goods when he link-legered two red maggots in a deep area of the fishery.
He backed up his specimen with no less than 12 other predators over the 1lb mark which were all beaten with a rig that was made from a 1lb 8oz hooklink and a size 18 hook.
“The owner tells me that this is the biggest perch in Sway, which is a great result for me because this really is a special place,” Hugh told Angling Times.
“I managed to get another session in a few days later and fish hemp and tares to land several roach over 1lb 8oz with the best weighing in at 1lb 15oz.
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Risby Park stocked to perfection
There aren’t many commercials that are steeped in history but the story of Risby Park started over 250 years ago.
It was way back in the 1760s that the colourfully named Eaton Mainwaring Ellerker owned the picturesque East Yorkshire site and, as was the custom then, created a huge lake in the grounds of the estate.
Apparently, the water was initially 1.5 miles long, with a grand building erected on the banks of it to give visitors and anglers a stunning view of the site.
Fast forward to today and a lot has changed but the current owners have worked hard to maintain the charm put in place over two-and-a-half centuries ago.
The big lake that was first created has now been split in to four, with the ruins of the historic building still standing proud next to Folly Lake.
Gillen Springs, The Gorse and Orchard Pond complete the quartet, each of them sat deep in the middle of a tree-lined valley. Wildlife is also abundant, with waterfowl, birds and deer calling the spot home.
But all that aside, it’s the quality of fishing that is ultimately going to decide whether you pay it a visit and the complex definitely delivers on that front.
Fully aware that the modern angler craves more than just carp, bosses have committed to a mixed stocking policy, with big roach and perch, chunky crucians, fin-perfect tench and large slabs all thrown in to the mix.
Add to that a café that serves a range of delicious treats and ample parking and you’ll struggle to find a reason not to give Risby Park a bash.
Two anglers to have fallen for its charm are matchmen Harry Bignall and Scott Rispin. Most people have their favourite lake that they fish almost religiously but when I contacted the duo to see what all the fuss was about, there was a big discussion over which water we would use to display the venue.
“I’ve fished all four lakes and they all offer great fishing. The beauty of it is that they all provide something different,” explained Harry.
“Gillen Springs is home to lots of big carp, Orchard Pond is good for a mixed bag and Folly can be brilliant for tench, skimmers and crucians at the right time of year. But today we fancy a crack at The Gorse.”
This lake is locally known as the Tench Pond and although there is a good head of that species, it is the big roach and perch that would prove more reliable feeders on the dire winter day we visited.
Although the trees were bare and the reeds had a wintery yellow tinge, it was clear that once Spring arrived the whole place would be awash with colour.
“It may be raining heavily today and blowing a gale but that won’t put the fish off – action is guaranteed,” explained Scott, as he rigged up a waggler.
On the other hand, Bag’em Matchbaits-backed Harry had decided to fish the pole at 6m and 12m, feeding casters regularly over both spots. With the wind making presentation almost impossible on the long line, it was the backup swim that was more fruitful, producing over 20lb of big roach, quality perch and the odd tench during the four hours of action.
The result was no different for Scott who presented the waggler both on the deck and shallow to keep the silvers coming throughout the session.
If Eaton Mainwaring Ellerker is looking down on his creation now, there’s no doubt he’d be proud that the breathtaking spectacle he once built up is proving such a hit with the angling community.
Prices: Adults £6, concessions £4
Location: Risby Park, Dunflat Road, Risby, nr Beverley, East Yorks, HU17 8SS
Rules: Keepnets can be used for up to six hours, barbless hooks only, no radios
Contact: Call Anthony on 07860 255981 or visit www.risby-park.co.uk
Facilities: Café, toilets, parking
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Monster perch from Chew Valley
This 4lb 10oz perch just shows that Chew Valley Reservoir isn’t all about huge pike.
Many experts believe that the Somerset could produce the next British record perch and this fish was landed by local angler Mike Anderton when he enjoyed a day’s fishing with his son Will.
The duo were given a lure fishing masterclass by resident professional guide John Horsey and boated many pike well into double figures along with the new personal best perch for Mike perch that fell to a Fox Replicant lure.
“This is the biggest perch I have ever witnessed from Chew in 22 years of being a professional guide here,” said John.
“So many people feel that this venue is capable of producing the next record pike, but I think that there is a great chance of it surprising everyone with a new record perch.”
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The big perch keep on coming
The incredible run of big winter perch continues this week with the capture of two monster specimens from venues not known for their stocks of big predators.
Steven Platt banked what’s believed to be the biggest perch of the season so far in the shape of this 5lb fish after spending a session fishing a small club stretch of the River Glen in Lincolnshire.
The Spalding based matchman, who only started targeting the species late last year, tempted his fish by hooking a 5 gram jig head to a lobworm tail and retrieving it slowly along the river bed close to the spot where hebanked a 4lb 10oz perch, which was recently reported in Angling Times.
The 35-year-old originally thought he had hooked the same fish until he got home to study some photos.
“I was fishing virtually the same spot so when I saw it in the net I immediately thought I had snared the same one as before and had to look at both photos when I got home,” he said.
“It’s amazing how prolific this quiet stretch of river is and to produce two fish of this size is staggering.”
Steve tamed his prize using 10lb braided mainline tied to 6lb Fox Illusion fluorocarbon leader and size 4 Fox hook.
Edward Harrison also enjoyed success on a venue not known for its head of big perch when he battled snowy conditions on Yorkshire’s River Swale to land a giant 4lb 12oz specimen.
The Bradford based pensioner caught his on a Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers stretch of the river near Ripon, North Yorkshire. After making the long walk to a peg which is often overlooked by other anglers, Ed targeted the a slack area of the river using a simple free running lead rig with size 8 Drennan Super Specialist hook baited with a whole lobworm. He said: “It was a day when most anglers would have stayed at home with all the snowfall but I’m glad I braved the elements to land the fish of a lifetime.”
It is thought that these eye-opening catches could now encourage other anglers to try more relatively unknown venues in search of the sought after species.
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4lb 12oz perch caught on TV
Catching huge perch is tough but Julian Chidgey went one better when he banked a huge 4lb 12oz in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras.
Following the capture of a string of big ‘stripeys’ in recent weeks, the crew from the hit weekly angling show ‘Tight Lines’ paid the Fox and Marukyu-backed an angler a visit to see whether he could replicate that form for the episode that hits TV screens this Friday.
The Devon-based specimen hunter put in his home-work and had the dream ‘warm up session’ the day before the cameras arrived to land a 3lb 2 oz perch on a lure and then switched his tactics to bank a huge 4lb 10oz 8 dram giant.
“I really wanted to deliver for Tight Lines so I just had to go and get the swim ready the day before,” Julian told Angling Times.
“Once I knew there were a few big fish around I switched tactics after landing the 3lb 2oz fish.”
“I built the swim up with molehill soil, Marukyu SFA400 krill powder, maggot and worms and placed a small popped-up livebait over the top, which did the trick as it wasn’t long before the big ‘four’ was in the net.”
The following day it was time to return to the same peg on his chosen southern stillwater, but this time with the Tight Lines team in tow.
Action was far from hectic, but the only bite of the day was worth waiting for with a personal best equalling 4lb 12oz specimen sliding over the net.
“Catching the first fish was great, but to land the biggest perch ever recorded on Tight Lines was a real honour,” Julian continued.
Show producer Mick Brais has overseen the creation of hundreds of episodes and he believes the next instalment could be one of the most memorable on record.
“It’s rare to catch such a superb specimen while filming, especially when it’s precisely what the angler was targeting. It is definitely one of the best results we have ever had,” he said.
To watch footage of the session, tune in to this Friday’s episode of Tight Lines on Sky Sports 3 at 7pm.
Presenter Keith Arthur will also be joined by top carp angler Mark Bartlett to discuss the sports hottest topics.
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4lb 10oz perch on homemade swingtip gear
A home-made piece of tackle made Roger Cramer’s first perch fishing trip of the season one to remember after he banked a river specimen-of-a-lifetime.
Roger Cramer sold his tackle shop four years ago, but he used his knowledge to adapt the tip of his leger rod into an old-fashioned ‘swingtip’ to create a unique piece of equipment that was the key to landing this huge 4lb 10oz personal best perch from the River Derwent.
The Hinckley-based angler made the alteration to give him more a sensitive bite indication and this in conjunction with a simple running leger rig and a lobworm hookbait, saw him bank the huge specimen from a swim that he’d never fished before.
“I wanted to create a rig that would pick up the slightest of indications so I doctored a standard tip, introducing a piece of silicone between the screw thread and tip section to create a good old-fashioned ‘swingtip’, which worked a treat,”said Roger.
“I’m an avid barbel angler, but things have been so tough of late that I decided to turn my attentions to perch, fully aware they may feed in the freezing conditions.”
His first swim choice failed to bear fruit and it looked like a blank was on the cards as his second spot also seemed lifeless until a tiny movement on his ‘swingtip’ indicated that the huge fish had picked up his bait.
“My initial thoughts were that I’d hooked something around the 3lb region, but when it surfaced I knew it was something very special,” he continued.
“I weighed it twice and each time it read 4lb 10oz – it took my breath away.”
“To catch a fish this big on my first session of the season after them is unbelievable. The Derwent is definitely a river that is capable of a 5lb perch this season and I’ll certainly be back in search of it very soon,” concluded Roger.
His memorable ‘stripey’ was fooled on a rig comprising a half ounce bomb and an 0.20mm hooklength to a size 10 hook.
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Cotswold stripey a long-waited personal best at 4lb 12oz
A four-year quest to beat his perch personal best saw species expert Dan Sales do it in style when he won the battle with this mint-conditioned 4lb 12oz specimen.
The Herts-based specialist was representing Fox Rage at the recent ‘Cotswold Predator Weekend’ and banked the fish while retrieving a lure through his swim at a Watermark Fishery, which are part of the Cotswold Water Park.
It’s a fish that beats his previous personal best that stood at 4lb 8oz and was fooled when Dan put his faith in a Fox Rage Mini Fry on a 5 gram jig head and a 10lb braided mainline.
“I’ve been so close to breaking the 4lb mark again recently and I thought it was never going to happened, but when this awesome fish almost pulled the rod out of my hands I knew I’d finally done it,” said Dan.
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4lb 6oz perch from Hampshire stillwater
The predator potential of the nation’s commercial fisheries was highlighted yet again when Adrian Eves banked this stunning 4lb 6oz perch from MBK Leisure controlled water.
Having fished the Hampshire fishery on numerous occasions, the Fox-backed all-rounder was fully aware that it often produced in the coldest of conditions and resorted to dropshotting tactics.
No action was recorded in the early stages of the session but a switch to Fox Rage Slow Micro Lemon Tiger Tiddler lure changed his fortunes.
“As soon as it hit the bait I knew I was in to a good fish but when I got it in the net I knew it was something very special, falling just 7oz short of my personal best,” explained Adrian.
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