Unbelievable perch haul!!

4lb9oz

The plan for saturday morning was to head to the Thames and try for a few different species, namely Perch, Chub and Barbel. We had decided to leave the heavy lure gear at home so we didn't get tempted into fishing for Pike!

A likely looking tree in a known Barbel hotspot was our first spot to try. Positioning ourselves 30 yards above the tree enabled us to place our baits perfectly below the over hanging branches. I chose to fish a big chunk of meat while Rhys trotted while feeding maggots. Things were quiet under the tree so a bait change to worms was opted for, but still no leviathans emerged from their holes.

After a few hours Rhys had filled a bucket with perfect Perch sized Bleak and with little else happening we decided a change was in order. After feeding out spot encase we wanted to return later we put plan B into action. Plan B was to catch giant perch on livebaits. Previous weeks we had seen monstrous perch chasing our pike lures right up to the edge of the boat but none had been foolish enough to try for a bite. A week before I had tried a small white shad in one of these areas and after just a few casts a trio of giant perch chased the lure all the way to the side of the boat. I had to stop winding, at which point the leader of the gang rushed forward and grabbed the shad firmly in it's mouth. Of course I somehow fluffed the strike and was left shaking and cursing as the the three big fish melted back into the depths!

We planned to anchor in the "Perch area" and trickle chopped worm into the current and fish lobs and livebaits over the top. For the first hour nothing was forethcoming so we drifted a little lower down the swim. Immediately Rhys' live Bleak was nailed hard and after a spirited fight a 2.5lb perch was safely in the net. Another drift produced another bite for Rhys, this time the fish going to 23/4lb. A stop was in order to take a few snaps and same time to let the dog on to dry land for a few minutes.

We returned and decided to Anchor upstream of where we had had the previous bites. The next 30 minutes was the most outstanding fishing I have had the good fortune to experience in the UK. Every cast produced a perch of huge proportions. All fought incredibly hard and were in pristine condition. First chuck and I witnessed four or five big perch jostling to be the first to get hold of the bait. One got there eventually and as the float shot under i struck into solid resistance. It fought doggedly, staying deep and taking line regularly. Rhys was also had a fish on and stood fighting his with rod bent double, centrepin struggling to gain line.

For the next 30 minutes pretty much every cast produced a huge perch. If none was straight on to the bait a quick twitch encouraged them to chase the bait out from their hole and engulf the Bleak in front of our eyes. The action was so fast and furious that the net was almost conatantly in use meaning a fish would have wait until it could be netted. Hook holds were pretty light so care had to be taken when the fish was brought to the net.

We ended up with a total of 15 huge perch with 5 more managing to throw the hooks before reaching the net. Total weight was 51 lb, The 4 biggest fish weighed in at 4lb 9oz, 4lb 8oz, 4lb 8oz and 4lb 4oz. 9 others were 3lb+ averaging high in threes. The two smallest were the first two we caught and weight 2.5lb and 2 3/4lb.

A three pound pike signalled the end of the action. We headed back quite dumbstruck at what had just happened. So many big stripeys was utterly amazing. Up until this catch I had managed two three pounders and could only dream about ever seeing so many in one place..let alone actually nailing my bait in front of my eyes. Very special fishing indeed!