Perch and Pike bonanza

After the session on Wednesday last week, I couldn't resist  the chance to try for another Dove perch.

On Sunday morning 6:45 am sharp I arrived on the bank ready to fish,  the float rod set up with my pin.  I quickly droppered plenty of chopped worm in the spot before I did anything else, then set the floats depth and got myself into position.  First cast, and after a few minutes the float had disappeared.  I hit a solid weight that slowly and surely plowed its way around the swim and out into the middle of the river.  I knew a pike was the likely suspect and so it proved when  this 6lb jack hit the net. The mono had held firm, the hook nicely in the top lip towards the scissors. 


First cast 6lb 4oz

After dealing with the pike I was soon back in position, but had no expectations of any more fish.  Before long though, the float bobbed again moving purposefully across the water and sank away, my strike met with another solid weight that did a jag, jag dance under the surface - perch !  It wasn't long before a stripey football of a fish rolled on the top then sank back down again. After an uneventful fight I had the fish under control and quickly in the net.  When I lifted the net up the thought crossed my mind that it might even be a three !  Sure enough the scales confirmed it, and in the space of five days another PB was bettered.  I'd only been fishing for half an hour.

Second cast 3lb 3oz - new PB

The wind had now picked up making casting a problem with the float and centrepin (I need more practice).  I knew a light ledger would make things easier so changed the rig over for a simple two swan shot link and a braid hooklink.
Next cast and this double figure pike picked up the juicy lob worm, my biggest pike from the river.  The braid was completely intact despite the the fish being hooked fairly deep. (Of course I don't recommend it for pike fishing though)  With the hook safely removed the fish was photographed and returned. 

3rd fish 10lb 4oz

I then proceeded to catch the remaining perch, one of which I thought would make it a brace of threes, but this second largest of the fish fell a bit short at 2lb 8oz.

 I noticed an unusual thing when playing one of the smaller fish in the way it's colours were extremely bold and vivid during the fight, but less so after landing.  It was as if it was flashing a warning at me, in the way a marlin glows bright, almost neon colours when ripping through shoals of fish. (unless I imagined it of course)

Final perch tally - 3.3lb,  2.8lb,  1.8lb  & 1.5lb 

Soon enough it was time to go, but if I could have stayed I think the fish would have fed all day long.
Just an unbelievable experience really, I don't get many opportunities like this - a red letter day indeed.

The brace !




 - all the fish taken on worms, hand picked out the garden.