To a generation, perch is the fish that fuelled the quest and deepened the fishing mystery. I often wonder if perch were placed in our waters to be the first fish that many of us caught and got us hooked... often small, always greedy the little 'sergeant majors' (their nickname) due to their linear stripes – gave themselves willingly and often came at a cost due to the spiny dorsal.
But little perch are very a different prospect to the leviathan that Kevin Durman, Fishing for Schools Kent coach, and one of this country’s leading specialist anglers goes on to discuss here.
Autumn is here and the hunt for big perch is on. A favourite of many an angler and a fish that can be caught all year round.
A summer tactic could be a sensitive float fished red maggot with the hookbait just off bottom. This will get plenty of bites. Regularly loose fed maggots will draw fish into your area.
I like to fish for big perch during the winter as they are a fish that continue to feed during these colder months when other species can become tricky to catch. A legered bait is my preferred method. The secret to legering for perch, or any predator for that matter, is to make your rig as free running as possible. Predators such as perch will not tolerate any kind of resistance and will soon drop a bait if any is encountered.
Popular baits include lobworms and raw king prawns. I fish these on 12 inch hook lengths of 4lb line to a size 6 or 8 hook, on a running rig using a wide bore resistance free run ring. I like to have the rod aimed directly at the bait and use a light bobbin on a long drop. The long drop gives enough time for the angler to strike before the bobbin reaches the rod causing resistance.
Good luck with your search for a stripey “Sergeant”.