Catch A Speci Stillwater Perch by Paul Elt

Geplaatst Wit Vis Tactiek at Dec 30, 2010

A couple of months ago Dynamite backed Paul Elt banked a new PB perch from a stillwater following a run of fish over the 3lb mark. Here, he explains the tactics he uses when targeting perch on lakes…

“I recently made the decision to pursue Autumn perch with a view to upping my PB by an ounce or two and I managed to do that with a fish of 3lb10oz, backed up by some stunning specimens from a stretch of river and a local gravel pit, including three in one session topped by a 3lb 7oz beauty!

There’s been plenty of literature written about catching river perch whereas stillwater perching isn’t as popular as it should be because there are some huge perch to be caught if you find the right venue.

Although the species may be the same, it’s quite a different task trying to catch a big perch from a stillwater. Before even wetting a line I like to do my homework as this can save many hours on the bank. The first port of call is usually the venue bailiff as they’ll always know what’s been happening and can immediately point you in the right direction.

Match results can also be a great source of information if they’re readily available because they can narrow down the best areas for big perch or sometimes more importantly areas of prey fish. Match anglers always weigh in their total catches and will sometimes weigh single fish if they’re impressive so this will give an accurate estimation to the size of fish. Tales of huge perch are very common but can quite often be inaccurate if they’ve not actually been weighed!

With a high percentage of clubs/venues banning livebaits my main bait choice has been lobworms and red maggots. Both of these baits are given a boost with Dynamite Baits XL Liquid Worm the night before I fish. The liquid is squirted onto the peat the worms are living in and the maggots are given the liquid so that it soaks into the bran and the maggots will take on the pungent aroma. A couple of pints of red maggots and 50 or so lobworms will be plenty for a day’s fishing.

Fish Location
Unlike their river cousins, I have found stillwater perch can have feeding spells at various times of the day and definitely not always during the classic dawn and dusk windows. On the session when I had three 3lbers I never had a bite until 11am, and the action had subsided by midday! In that short period of time I’d had four perch with three over the 3lb mark. Subsequent trips have proved to be similar.

My latest session coincided with a drop in temperature so I was happy to fish the deeper areas of a gravel pit. If the area holds a feature of two, both above the surface of under it then it could be even better, however, I’m more than happy fishing into open water if there are no visible features.

Watching the water for small fish topping will give you a visual aid to where the prey fish are. This is usually best at dawn or dusk.

The area I have currently been fishing, due to extensive small fish activity, drops off down to 12ft of water at around 50 yards. Float fishing isn’t possible due to the undertow and distance so I rely on my usual feeder fishing tactics. I’ve been using a Drennan Specialist rod with a 1.5lb TC, 6lb Double Strength mainline and I run a Kamasan Black Cap maggot feeder on a big bore run ring to reduce resistance. The feeder is stopped by a swivel stop bead and I attach my 6lb Flurocarbon hooklength to the matching swivel.

Perch Baits
A size 6 Drennan Super Specialist hook is used but I will drop it if I feel it would get me a bite. On the hook I use a whole lobworm, or smaller segments and will try different sizes during the session.

I kickstart the swim by catapulting out several balls of Dynamite Baits Silver X Roach Black groundbait as this attracts the prey fish that the big perch will follow. I also add chopped worm and dead maggots to the groundbait as both small fish and perch will eat these particles. The groundbait is also glugged with XL Liquid Worm to increase the smell!

I like to recast my feeder fairly regularly to maintain a constant supply of maggots entering the peg.

Casting Around
Bite indication is quite important as I prefer to fish with a small, light bobbin as opposed to a quivertip. Sometimes the bites can be so fierce they turn the reel but other times they can be very delicate and it’s important to strike whilst the bobbin is twitching.

If bites don’t come within a few hours I will leave one rod over the baited area and cast around the swim with the other rod to try and locate a fish.

Occasionally, a blank day has been saved by a fish caught when I’ve cast away from my fed area. Of course, overhanging trees and weedbeds are always worth a look as well as the marginal drop offs but with most of my fish coming at range, in open water, recently it pays to keep your options open."