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....

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