Commercial perch fishing

Commercials have become very good perch venues due to the neglect to other species and I think specimens such as perch, roach and Rudd get ignored by the day ticket anglers in search of a quick bite from the many carp stocked in the venues. I've fished a particular commercial a couple of times now which is hordle lakes near the forest both Jim and rich the owners are lovely blokes and are always on hand to offer great advice. I've had some good results each time I've visited the venue. Although commercials have become very popular in the perch fishing scene there hard to ignore. my first session was more of a taster but on my second visit I knew the zones where the perch liked to hang about. Swim choice was quite easy really, you just look for any cover or snags or any other features such as monks or aerators which provide cover and good ambush points for the perch. Me and my mate ended up fishing next to each other with snags either side of our swims. On one rod I fished the classic running rig set up on a drennan Avon quiver 1 1/4 test curve rod and a small daiwa SS1600 reel loaded with 6lb mono and the rig itself which consisted of a size 5 ESP barbless raptor hook, a 12" 4lb drennan supplex hook link and a one once lead.

For the Hook bait I started with a king prawn soaked in pure krill extract to give the hook bait that extra pulling power over the free offerings which I scatter around the hook bait. This rod was tucked right under the snag and placed on my alarm. For the second rod I used a waggler set up with my light acolyte float rod coupled with a centrepin reel loaded with 3lb mono. I fished the waggler further out with a nice juicy lob worm.

I sprayed maggot over both rods regularly to attract any small fish which in turn would attract the perch. I also mix up a ground bait consisting of chopped prawn, worm and red maggot mixed with a blood worm mix and ball it up and introduce it to the spots.

It didn't take long for the bobin to hit the blank on the prawn rod! And after a spirited fight the first perch was in the net and weighed 2.8lb! A lovely specimen perch and a good start to the session!

I carried on fishing the waggler but only to get plagued by roach so I moved the float closer towards some snags to my left. And balled in some more ground bait in hope that some more stripeys may come along...

Feeling more confident with my approach with the waggler I was happy! But sure enough it was the prawn rod again which was away! With the bobbin hitting the blank and another spirited fight on the light tackle and  a lovely 2lb perch was again sat in the net!!! And a angry one at that! 

I persisted with the waggler and lob worm approach by roaming it around but no bites fell to the float method. But More bites fell to the King prawn rod! And I ended up landing a further three perch and loosing a couple to! Another good session! 

I returned to the venue after Christmas this timed with more king prawns soaked in pure krill extract and four pints of red maggot and some juicy lob worms. As no bites fell to the waggler on previous sessions I fished two rods on the running rig both mounted with King prawns. I fished one down to the left tight to a snag just off the marginal shelf. The second rod I fished it a little further out as I saw lots of small fry being chased by perch. 

I regularly topped up both spots with red maggot and chopped worm and King prawn soaked in krill extract. 

It was a very slow morning resulting in a few aborted takes and loosing a couple of fish which was really frustrating. By this time it was 3.30pm and the venue shuts at 4.30pm I knew time was running out and I hate blanking! So I upped the amount of chopped bait mix I was feeding into the swim. Anxiously I kept looking at my watch knowing that it'll be soon time to reel in and begin the dreaded pack down! I hate blanking as I rarely get out these days so a blank leads to fustratation but also makes me more eager to up the Anty for the next session. But.... Out of no where my left rod which was placed close to a snag just went into a melt down and line was peeling off the spool at a alarming rate making me think a rogue carp could be the culprit. So I lifted into what I thought was a carp! My mate heard the take and came over into my swim and asked if I knew what was on the end? My reply was if its perch it's a big perch! I knew deep down it was due to the viscous head shaking and sharp lunges! The fish stayed deep! I didn't want to give the fish any slack! Eventually the fish rolled on the surface and the Dorsal gave its identity away! My mate went silent as did I both knowing this was a good specimen! I didn't want this perch to drop off!!! After a few more lunges eventually the perch rose to the surface and My mate swooped the net under her and in the back of the net was a rather festively plump perch! This fish was 3lb easy and a possible new personal best! I was overwhelmed as I didn't blank! We unhooked the perch and let it rest whilst I got the rod back onto the spot and again baited with a generous amount of maggot hoping for another last minute take! We got every thing ready, sling, scales and the camera, my two mates helped with the weighing... The perch spun the needle round to 3.4lb I was overwhelmed and overjoyed! A new personal best! A brilliant late Christmas present! My mate took some beautiful shots for me to! So big up! 

I returned the perch with a big smile on my face!!! and it was a good late Christmas present! I had some really good fun fishing the commercials with some mates who were also lucky enough to catch some lovely perch. I hope you enjoyed the blog and maybe learnt something new on how to target perch. Be lucky out there. Here's a link to the website for hordle lakes. A venue well worth fishing if your after big specimen perch. 

http://m.hordlelakes.co.uk

Commercial perching to be continued....

Red fin chasing part 1

As the colder weather is moving in and the clocks going back its time to get back onto the rivers targeting the roach and grayling. I'm lucky enough to bailiff a stretch of the river itchen, I also grew up living opposite the river itchen when I was a youngster I was either swimming in it or fishing it! So bailiff'ing the Itchen was a honour really! I love it so much and luckily it's not fished a lot. 

My fave time of year on the river has to be January when it's really cold and frosty! But there's always an excuse to get out and try and target those finicky red fins! I've found a few different shoals of roach all as finicky as the other to catch with the smaller fish always being the easiest to catch. I call them the body guards! I've been lucky enough to get a few good hits through the years but none of the real bigguns I've found yet. 

Late summer of 2014 

One session every thing came right and will be a session to remember for some years to come! I was house sitting for my mum who was away on holidays for two weeks and being that she lived opposite the itchen meant I could pre bait every eve and keep an eye on one particular shoal. Right stubborn buggers they were being! I didn't have to much luck I had the odd roach but nothing to shout home about! On the last Sunday I was house sitting I popped out for the old classic "I'll only be an hour" I crept up to the shoal and threw in a few red maggot.. Something was different today? They all started to feed! Rather than the smaller roach feeding whilst the bigger roach held back in the reeds and watched they were all at it! I decided to wait a bit and continued to feed little and often and the roach still fed! My favourite tactic is to bulk the shot under the float so the maggot on the hook slowly drift down with the free offerings I chuck over the top as I found the roach like to snatch and flee. I threw out the free offerings and cast the float out.. I watched my hook bait slowly drift towards the hungry roach and the first body guard slipped up and was sitting in my net so he couldn't return to his mates to tell them about his ordeal! Again out went the free offerings followed by my float. I was working through the shoal and surprisingly the bigguns still weren't spooking but we're holding back in the weed. This cast I was the one and I watched the maggots drift towards one of the bigger roach and he swam out grabbed my hook bait I instantly struck and I was in! But sadly for a few seconds and it was all over shoal spooked! Such intelligent fish are roach! 

 

I continued angling for the roach In 2014 but not catching anything over the magic 2lb mark but still had plenty of lovely red fins! 

This Autumn/winter I was really up for trying my hardest in beating my personal best and catching my first 2lb+ roach! I spent a lot of time feeding and watching the different shoals through the close season spotting out the bigger fish dreaming of maybe one day catching them! But like always come opening they disappeared! My first roach session was early October on a Sunday bailiff walk. I found one shoal and targeted them for a few hours before a hungry jack pike moved in spooking the shoal but landed fiver roach with three of them being over 1lb+ not bad for a few hours angling!

I look forward to my next session and maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch a 2lb+ red fin! 

Last session of the season whacker

After my previous big crucian haul I thought I'd leave my crucian fishing there for the season and move onto other species. But I just had a feeling to return to the crucian Mecca just one final time for the year! I enjoyed it so much I wanted one last go. After a long week at work I couldn't wait to get down the lake. My partner Amie and daughter River came along for the afternoon/evening again. We arrived at the lake to find it packed with carp anglers. 

This proved to be a problem for me as I wanted to fish as far away from pressure as possible. Luckily I dropped in a swim close to the same zone as I had my previous haul from.

The conditions where almost spot on other than the temperature had dropped a fair amount at night.. Had I pushed my luck? I clipped up my two rods to the same area around 30 yards and had a little lead about before deciding on a nice firm area in the silt. I clipped my spomb rod to just under 30 yards and introduced a few spombs of bait to see how I got on. I then cast out the feeders and sat back and waited for the first bite... 

Unlike my previous sessions no bites came to the rods not even from tench or Rudd or even small carp? By this time my partner and daughter had left and the evening was drawing in! I was beginning to think it was to late in the year and the cold snap of Autumn had finally put a close on my crucian fishing for this year! After a few teas and dinner it was dark and yet still no bites had fallen to my traps.. It was 7.55pm and the bobin on my right rod slowly lifted up and held position.. Once I lifted into the fish I knew what it could be! Being pitch black by this point I didn't want to turn my head torch on and spook the fish and potentially loose it! Was it a small carp or a crucian? The fish was finally in the margins and rolled on the surface.. It was a huge crucian my heart was in my mouth and I played the monster sized crucian very gingerly! After a epic fight the crucian was in the net! I laid the crucian on the mat and I couldn't believe how big it was! A very deep and thick set fish! This could be a new PB! 

I called the carp angler over from the swim next door to help with photos and weighing. The needle bounced between 4.1 and 4.2lb I called it at 4.1lb another PB broken in a matter of weeks! After a few shots I returned the beautiful old crucian. 

After a few calls to my mates to let them

Know of my good fortune I made a few teas and got my head down! Around 3am I was woken by a little mirror around the 5lb mark. I left the rod out and decided to get it out accurately at first light. It wasn't long before the sun was rising lighting up the beautiful lake. 

I had some quick breakfast then I re cast the rods accurately back on the spot and put out a few spombs over the spot. Whilst spombing my right rod melted off and I lifted into what I thought was a tench but to my surprise it was another crucian! Another hairy fight in the margins and it wasn't long before the crucian was safely in the net! Another good sized fish eaily over the 3lb mark! The needle on the scails jumped round to 3.9lb another epic session for me! 

After taken some lovely photos the fish was slipped back and more precious memory's were made! No more bites came that day! Not one! Not from any Rudd tench or small carp! That was to be my final crucian session of the year but I was made up! Forty six  crucians landed in total from my few months crucian angling! Countless 2lb+ crucians! Six over the magic 3lb+ mark and two over 4lb+ what a season! All caught on different methods ranging from float fishing off the tip of the rod using a Centrepin reel to casting feeders at thirty yards using bite alarms. I learnt a lot and most of all caught a lot. With the shorter days approaching and the cold weather creeping it was time to move onto the rivers and still waters targeting other species. Be lucky in your ventures and thanks for reading another addition to my blog 

Autumn gold

After fishing the beginning of the year over the day ticket lake and catching plenty of 2lb+ crucians my thirst was getting worse to venture for bigger specimen crucians. After securing a new ticket the targets were set and I was already mapping out in my mind a plan of action! After counting down the days at work until the weekend I was finally on the banks in search of the magical crucians which reside in the overgrown beautiful looking lake! Not knowing to much other than where the crucians like to feed during the warmer months I set out wondering the banks in search of any tell tail signs. I ended up fishing a corner swim where the wind was hacking in! I opted to fish one rod on the usual method the delicate pole float off the tip of the rod using my light float rod coupled with my centre pin. I plumbed a nice depth beside some pads and baited up with caster and ground bait whilst I set up the second rod. For the second rod I set up a Inline flat method and fished around 30 yards out. It didn't take long for the bites to come to the float but they were from tiny carp. These became a problem so much so I had to stop using the float rod. 

So I ended up using two rods on the method feeders re casting every half hour to keep the swim topped up and hopefully attract those big crucians. 

I was on a tight schedule this session and I only ended up having lots of tench and a few Rudd. Sadly no crucians turned up that session but I was eager to return. 

It wasn't long before I was back walking the glorious banks trying to find a suitable swim to have another go for the crucians. This time I had a night and a days fishing so I was in no rush to find a swim and the lake was quiet to. I had Amie and my little one with me for the eve so I was looking forward to having some quality family time at the lake. And hoping to catch a crucian with my little one there. 

I ended up dropping in a swim where the wind was hacking into. There were no real features to fish to just open water which was quite daunting really as its a big old lake and the crucians could be anywhere! 

After leading about I found a nice hard spot within the silt at 30 yards out. I mixed up my spod mix which consisted of caster, hemp and ground bait and I spombed out 10 spombs and fished two rods a rod length apart. I used to inline flat methods and little 3 inch hook links and for the hook bait I used Immation casters. It didn't take long for the tench to move in! I had a lovely evening with my partner and my daughter before they shot off. 

I ended up taking the hook links off as the tench were to relentless but I  just stayed up through the night topping the swim up then at first light start fishing again. I topped the swim up with a few more spombs Before putting the rods back out.

It wasn't long for the tench to start biting again! I was beginning to loose faith but then the bobbin rose up slower and i lifted into something which felt completey different to the tench! After guiding the fish in slowly and playing it very gingerly in the margin it finally rose and it was a monserteous looking crucian! As soon as it was in the net the second rod was away!!!! It was another epic sized crucian! I had to take a breather I couldn't believe what I was looking at in my landing net! 

I weighed the smaller fish of the two which swung round the needle to 3.8oz a new PB! My heart began to beat even harder as I knew the fish in the net was even bigger!!!!! The needle swung round to 4lb but was bouncing between 4lb and 3.15oz so I did the honest thing and called it 3.15! 

I was overwhelmed! And on cloud nine! Two fantastic fish and it was still early! I gave my mate a txt and he was soon over to take the photos for me! 

          3.8lb

            3.15lb 

My mate did epic epic photos! I just couldn't believe my luck! 

A lovely brace of specimen crucians 

I was on cloud nine and made a phone call to a couple of mates and my partner Amie to inform them of my news. The bites continued but not from crucians from the tench and carp. Before long the takes dried up so I put out another few spombs of caster and mixed ground bait. It went quiet so i decided to leave the rods out there and it wasn't long before I was into another crucian playing it as gently as possible in the margin with my heart in my mouth.. I got him in the net! A beautiful crucian at that to! And again the second rod tore off! Another crucian to! At first I thought it was only a two pounder but once in the net it again dwarfed the other crucian! I couldn't believe it! The first one went 3.10 and the second well... It went 4lb I immediately started shaking and phoned my mate again! I was bouncing around the swim like a mad man! What a session so far!!!! My mate turned up and took some really beautiful pictures! 

A lovely old specimen! 3.10lb

I simply couldn't believe what I was holding in my hands a 4lb crucian! a fish I've only ever dreamt about let alone catching one! My grandad would be so proud! In fact I know he was right beside me in spirit. 

The magical 4lb crucian! What a specimen! 

We had to do some more brace shots! I Just couldn't believe what was happening!!! 

After slipping back the beautiful bars of gold I didn't expect to catch anymore crucians but if I didn't who cares after the morning I've had so far! After topping up the swim once again with a few spombs of bait it didn't take the tench and carp long to move in making it a very busy fishing! Spombing over the rods whilst getting takes! Crazy angling! I was really enjoying myself I hadn't even eaten anything I was literally burning off of adrenaline! Again I was waiting and wondering if the crucians would move back in? Tench after tench I was beginning to think the crucians had Deff moved off but the bobin on my left rod dropped back and I was once again Into what felt like another crucian after guiding it in it wasn't long before it showed itself I was into another decent looking crucian! After a hairy battle under the rod rip I guided the bar of gold into the back of my net! And before I had time to have a look at the fish the other rod was away! Another savage take but to a

Crucian! Another heart in the mouth battle I didn't wanna loose anything I hooked crucian wise from here as I knew it holds so many special fish! Luckily the crucian was met by my net! Again my net was filled with gold! 

After sending my mate another txt like the true gent he was he was back in my swim doing the photos! These two went 3.2lb and 3.8lb smallest of the session so far but still over the magic 3lb barrier a true red letter days angling! So far! 

The 3.8lb crucian was a real character out of the pair!

I think that smile says it all! 3.2lb 

After slipping back the fish and taking a breather I just sat on my bed chair in ore! Truly overwhelmed! By this point I was beginning to feel tired and my session was drawing to a close but I still angled hard! Continually topping up the swim every hour and re casting the rods every half hour battling through the continuess tench and carp! Slowly but surely my bait bucket of spomb mix was getting lower and lower and my session drew to a close! My Mrs Amie even suggested I did another night but I was happy enough with my days angling and the results! The tench did me out of bait before my Mrs arrived. So I just left the rods out and sat down and took the session in!

 

It's rare when things come together so well for me with my angling especially in this manor anyway but this year I had a bee in my bonnet and targets I wanted to achieve and so far so good! I'm in two minds whether to return to the crucian Mecca but it was so much fun they'll be one or two more trips this year before I move onto my new Perch winter ticket in search for a 3lb+ stripey or even a 4lb stripey! Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog I hope you enjoyed it and liked the imagery. Be lucky in your ventures... F

Searching for stripeys

Usually I'd be sat behind motionless buzzers freezing my knackers off going to bed at 7pm wasting most of my weekend sleeping and eating.. But this year having Amie around i preferred  to be with her in the warm than on my own drinking tea but of course I needed to get my angling fix so I decided to have a go for some perch or stripeys as people like to call them. Fishing for perch in the winter was ideal! Spend the morning/day with the Mrs then down on the bank by 2pm in time for the bewitching hour. I decided to focus on one venue and try and see what mysterys swam in there! I heard lots of rumours regarding the venue and that was enough to warm my cockles whilst out on the bank! My first session was more of a recce to see what's going on over the venue and what features there are and if I could see any perch chasing silvers. Once on the lake all childhood memories came crashing back! I used to fish the venue for perch with my grandfather 15 years ago when I was 13. So I was familia with the lake. 

Not your standard fishing attire. But me at the ripe age of 13 with a brace of perch. 

After my recce I was gagging to head back to the venue! My first session ended up on Boxing Day! After a full English brekky I was bank side! I had a few hours to kill before I had to head back to enjoy the Christmas festivities! I flicked one rod into the margin on a running rig style and baited up and placed the rod onto the buzzer. The other rod I float fished on my light acolyte float rod coupled with my centre pin. It wasn't long before my bobber float started to disappear and I was into my perch of the session! After a short fight the perch was in the net! "Merryfishmas" 

And what a beautiful perch it was to! I was over the moon! Always nice to catch your intended species! 

I ended up having a few more perch before heading back to join the Christmas festivities! 

I returned back on New Year's Eve for another go! Me and Amie don't drink so we had no plans for New Years so I had some time on my hands this eve so planned to fish hard! The session started off slow producing roach but the classic bewitching hour was creeping up! As soon as that sun starts to creep behind the horizon the perch begin there onslaught on the prey! The float soon started bobbing away and I was soon into a perch. I ended up having lots of perch all around the 1.8lb mark. That session but not the monster I've heard rumours of! 

Luckily having a fair bit of time off over the festive period I wanted to make the most of my spare time! This time I returned with Amie. 

The temperature had risen that day and after speaking to my mate si about the conditions and how prime it was for perch I was even more confident! As usual bites were non existent until the sun started to disappear then the float started to twitch indicating the perch were around! The perch bobbed about for a few seconds before disappearing! I lifted into the fish and immediately it started taking line and started lunging about! Could this be the monster perch? A few moments later and the perch was in the net! Certainly not the monster but maybe the monsters little sister maybe? Amie took some lovely pictures and I returned the perch back into the cold depths to terrorise some roach. 

It wasn't long before it was dark now so time was running out for this session but I knew it wasn't over! And I was right! Another finicky bite and another perch was on the end! And eventually was in the net! And another one of the monsters siblings! 

Another session ended and every thing going to plan! Happy with my approach and baiting surely the monster perch had to make a appearance! 

I waited for the weather to be warmer and over cast before returning! Making sure that every thing was in my favour! A few weeks later and the weather improved and I was back! Instead of spending the whole day down the venue wasting time I just arrived at the venue just gone dusk! First cast the bite was almost instant! This fish was on a mission! After snagging me up on some pad roots and darting back to snag me a again I started to gain some line and I saw the fish roll on the surface! This perch was bigger than the previous perch I'd caught so it was special! Before I even had time to slip the net out the hook pulled... Gutting absolutely gutting! Not wasting anytime I flicked the rod straight back out to the same Zone and within a few minutes the float was away again! This time this perch wasn't getting away! And he lost his battle and ended up in the back of the net! Another decendent of the monster! But a new pb!!!!!! I didn't even have time to get the fish out of the net before my second rod on the buzzer melted off! And there was another perch in the net! I kept the perch in the net and angled on! Glad I did as I ended up catching another two perch! All lovely specimens! After a quick call Amie was down to take the photos! And another good job she done to! 

I returned the smaller fish out of the four and got a few special snaps of the new personal best! Before returning him to his home. 

Sadly I ended up breaking my foot and the perch Fishing and fishing in general grounded to hault! But there's always this autumn and winter to look forward to! And maybe I'll catch that monster? Thanks for taking your time to read! Be lucky... F