Monday 3 August 2015

Mission: Perch


Time to start my predator challenge, and this weekend the target was perch. Before I started I decided I was only going to count predators over a pound - mostly to save valuable (and very limited) time weighing small perch.

Saturday, late morning, I hit The Wye armed with a light spinning rod and a selection of my favourite perch lures - all Mepps! And it wasn't long before I was into the fish - loads of perch - and it was great fun.


I lost count (well over 30) but I had 9 fish comfortably over my target weight (quite a few that might have scraped past, but I'd rather catch them than weigh them). The best two went 2lb 2½oz (top photo) and 2lb 2oz (above). I was happy to add 12lb 4oz to my predator weight.

I was surprised by the lack of interest from jacks, only hooking two - one about 7lb that spat the hook and one about 5lb below.

While fishing I did see the biggest grass snake I've ever seen, it swam across the river and disappeared into the grass beneath my feet - I don't think it was quite a six footer but it was pretty close. Brilliant thing to see while fishing, shame I didn't get a photo.


Today, I got up at first light and was on the riverbank 15 minutes later, I didn't have long today, but was soon back into the perch landing a dozen or so before my 9am deadline, including four more over my target weight. Best going about 1¾lb - 4¾lb added to the challenge.

With 5 minutes left on the clock I was wondering how I was going to tear myself away - until a loaded cast found a weak spot on the rod and it shattered - bugger... Still, back home and still in good books! New lure rod required.

6 comments:

  1. Nice fish, there... Shame about the broken lure rod, but on a positive note, you've now got a good excuse to treat yourself to... a new one.)

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    1. Cheers, they were beautiful hard fighting fish - I'll be back soon for some more. Ordered a new rod later that day - should be here tomorrow :)

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  2. Where were all these perch when I lived there?? I like a bit of light lure fishing...

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    1. When I was a kid I was down the river all the time and I only ever saw one perch, caught by a match man. They seemed to arrive 5 or 6 years ago and they are taking over now!

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    2. Yes, you'd have thought that with the bleak population explosion when we were kids they would have gone crazy, they just weren't there in any numbers I suppose.

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    3. There was a disease that nearly wiped them out, they are very susceptible to disease and pollution. Glad they're back, can't wait for another crack at them!

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