Trio of big perch on the fly! - Matt Roberts
“I headed to an Anglian Water reservoir to catch perch on the fly. A mate and I set out on the boat early and tried a spot where we’d had earlier success. The fish finder revealed a big shoal of bait fish close to the bottom, so I cast out a roach imitation fly.
“After five or so strips of the line I felt a tap followed by a heavy knock which I struck at – causing my light six-weight rod to buckle over into what I thought was a zander.
“When it surfaced I saw it was a perch! At 4lb 8oz it was 2oz off my PB. In the next hour I landed two more perch of 4lb 4oz and 3lb 8oz.”
(This catch was reported before the third England lockdown)
Matt Roberts and a 4lb 8oz perch
Blank session avenged with giant reservoir perch - Clint Rice
“A MONTH ago I suffered a blank at Grafham Water, but I was determined to head back and redeem myself.
“My boat partner Dan Eaves and I spent the morning and early afternoon exploring different areas with nothing to show for our efforts, despite trying a number of lures and presentations.
“Late in the day we spotted a shoal of fry on the fish finder so I decided to mimic them by drop shotting a Savage Gear Dying Minnow lure.
“All of a sudden I felt a heavy thud on my line and I was in! After a fantastic fight the fish surfaced – it was the biggest perch I’d ever seen!
“Dan safely netted the fish and I was amazed to hear ‘exactly 4lb’ being read, which smashed my previous PB. Two other perch of 3lb 11oz and 3lb 12oz followed, transforming a tough day into a magical one.”
Clint Rice 4lb perch
Silvers sport on the UK’s natural venues hits top gear!
ANGLERS using simple pole and feeder tactics have enjoyed a sensational few weeks of angling on Britain’s reservoirs, with bumper bags of silvers banked at natural venues across the country.
Britain’s reservoirs are on fire!
The most impressive weights came from Devon’s 80-acre Upper Tamar Lake, where competitors fishing the recent festivals enjoyed a bite-a-chuck action to record huge weights of roach, skimmers and perch.
One angler tapping into the venue’s incredible autumn form is England Feeder Team member Michael Buchwalder, who netted around 300lb of silvers over a seven-day period.
“Over the week I fished five matches and two pleasure sessions and must’ve had a bite every time I cast out my feeder or lowered in my pole rig,” he told us.
“Dean Barlow and I won the two-day pairs contest with 171lb 13oz of mostly skimmers and roach on the pole and feeder short, but later that week I managed to win the three-day Graham West feeder festival with a combined total weight of 156lb 7oz.
“The fishing was unbelievable! I’ve fished many natural waters across Europe but none of them come close to carrying the numbers of fish that Tamar has.”
Michael Buchwalder with a superb net of reservoir silvers
On the other side of the country the action has also been hectic at Kent’s Bough Beech Reservoir, with plenty of 30lb bags of roach being taken in matches, but it’s Llandegfedd Reservoir in Wales that’s been rivalling Upper Tamar Lake in the big bag stakes.
The 174-hectare Welsh water produced a 164lb haul of bream and hybrids in August, but sport has continued to flourish.
David Healey, who organises matches on the venue, said:
“Two years ago nobody really coarse-fished Llandegfedd but after extensive lobbying of Welsh Water, which owns the fishing rights, we’ve opened up access and increased the venue’s popularity with coarse anglers.
“Last week a match was won with 68lb of hybrids and another angler had 45lb of roach. I’ve seen pleasure bags of bream and hybrids to 260lb, but we’re just scratching the surface of the reservoir’s potential.”
We’re just scratching the surface of the reservoir’s potential
Reservoir perch rips line off the spool - Dan Eaves
“With bright sunshine, high winds and warm temperatures forecast for my visit to Grafham Water, I knew I’d have to work hard for a bite. Despite trying the Ned rig, drop shot, jigs and crankbaits, though, I still had nothing to show for my efforts by lunchtime.
“When the going gets tough I’ve found a black Ned-rigged worm imitation from Inspired Angling Products can pick up a bite, so I persevered with that.
“At 2pm we’d moved to a new area of the water away from other anglers and started working our lures along the bottom.
“Because the boat was rocking around so much due to the wind, I didn’t need to impart much action into the lure, as the motion was doing it for me.
“Out of nowhere my rod suddenly arched over and line started ripping off my spool!
“Once I gained control and wound the fish to the surface I was gobsmacked to see a perch – and not a small one either! My boat partner Clint Rice safely netted the fish and this feeling of relief came over me.”
Dan Eaves 4lb 4oz Grafham perch fell to a worm imitation