INDIANANGLER

Hi Everyone,

With the Autumn well and truly here and temperatures cooling down it's the perfect time for a spot of predator fishing. With the winter ahead the fish are piling on weight for the lean months ahead.

Over the last few months we have seen some truly huge perch chasing our pike lure to the side of the boat on the river Thames. Now the weather has cooled we decided to have a proper go for them.

First trip we fished for both pike and perch and from where we noted large perch before, I cast a small white swim shad. After only a few casts three enormous perch followed the lure right to the side of the boat, dorsal fins bristling, ready for action. We watched in disbelief as these were really large fish easily around 4lb. This may sound small but a "4" is a fish of dreams, something few anglers have had the good fortune to catch. When I could wind no more the largest fish of the trio rushed forward and grabbed the shad right before our eyes! A fluffed strike and the fish vanishing into the depths leaving me weak at the knees! I couldn't belief I had missed a chance like that. And that was it for the day..just a couple of small pike.

The next weekend we were back with a masterplan intent on getting our big perch. We headed to the weirpool nearby to look for livebait. And after a few minutes of feeding handfuls of maggots small silver fish were blackening the water. Small Bleak of around 3-4 inches were on the maggot hook baits before they had time to sink and it wasn't long before we had a bucket full of lively little silver fish.

Step one of the plan was complete so we moved to part two and went in search of the enormous perch further downstream. We fished a chubber float weighted down with a few sgg shot and a length of 12lb flourocarbon as a hooklength. Perch hate resistance so we kept tackle as light as possible to avoid spooking fish. A size 10 hook hair rigged to a size 6 completed the set up. The size ten to lip hook the lives and the larger to hook the potential perch if it ate the bait!

Anchoring up at a likely spot we fed some chopped worm and groundbait and trotted the livebaits over the top but after 30 minutes had no luck. So raising anchor we drifted downstream to see if the fish were hiding under the moored boats. This was a good bet as, aswell as hating resistance Perch aren't keen on high light levels.

At the first boat Rhys' float shot under and hooked he into a good Perch. Over the moon with the catch we weighted the catch, which came in at 2.5lb, a very respectale catch and a new personal best for Rhys.

Next catch went to Rhys, another fish near on 3lb. For the next 30 or 40 minutes the action came thick and fast. Every cast and the floats shot under the water as live baits were engulfed by large perch. At one point through the clear water I saw 4-5 big perch fighting over my helpless little Bleak. If no bite came with in 20 seconds of the float reaching the boat a short twitch was all that was needed to bring a huge perch out from its lair to grab the bait.

It was insane fishing..surely once in a lifetime fishing, a real red letter day. We ended up with 15 perch, 4 breaking the magical 4lb barrier, biggest 4lb.9oz , 9 3's and two 2's. 5 more were lost due to hook pulls. It dawned on us that we had just had one of the biggest perch hauls from Uk waters. The Thames had done it again!

The past weekend we fished again on the Thames and had a few more absolute clonkers before heading up to the Norfolk Broads (around 3 hours north of london) for some Pike fishing. Although not as succesful as the perching we managed a few pike on lures and livebaits. At this time of the year the Broads are truly stunning, particularly with blue skys and countryside bathed in autumn sunlight. A few pics below.

Hope you enjoy, All the best, Scott





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Nice fish buddy...

Also what is the rod that you are using with your abu C3.

Amazing fish Scott!

Looks like UK is fishing Paradise.

Greetings from Indo

See you soon Mate

Congrats on the Monster Perch Scott, what is the UK record for Perch mate?

Simply Great
Thanks for sharing the snaps.

Fantastic fishing. Perch sure are really beautiful fish. What brilliant colours and that top fin is a killer.
A day like this once a year is all I want.

Nice catch Scot. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Hi there,

Amazing read as always. The Perch looks real good and never seen one that big. I hope some day I will be able to land a few perch in my native place. Not that I know if we have them but for sure we have a few fresh water bodies around. And no its not Thames for sure :). Thanks for sharing mate.

DeZZ

Super fishing, Scott.
Lovely pictures.
Enjoyed watching them.
Congrats.

Ravi

Great writeup and pics...amazing catch...keep it up :)

Nice catch , Congrats Scott open that Scotch

Scott I have always admired your catches, they are amazing and the pics are superb.

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Superb catch, Congrats

Excellent fish

Congrats Scott.

HI Scott;
Amazing Catches
Beautiful pictures


fishergomian

Hello Scott!

Maybe nobody want to invite to the competition!
Somebody else should also have a chance :)

Wow, those are some really nice looking fish! Very nice report also, thanks

Congrats Scott