So how's everyone getting on with the Perch? Just wondered what peoples favourite approach for them was? I've had fish to over 3lbs to small pike flies, but fish to over 2lb on both big flies and small tiny nymphs also. Recently had some fish to a couple of pounds, unfortunately no camera handy at the time but here's a similar fish from back in July to get the juices flowing.........



Waiting for the river to run off and i'll be out after some more, would be interesting to know how everyone's techniques differ.........

Cheers


Graham

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Over the last two years perch have become one of my main targets on the fly, i've fished for them for quite a while using conventional tactics so i had a fair idea what i was doing to begin with.

This will be my first winter chasing them on the fly right enough so i cant say much about that.

In summer the vast majority of my perching is done on the local canal where perch are found in there trillions or so it seems! Specimens are something of a rarity but you stumble across bigger fish fairly regularly.

In the warmer months the fishing is satisfyingly easy! The perch are pretty predictable in their location, always hugging the edge of the marginal shelf and hugging bridges, locks and any prominent features ( as you all know).

I use lures with a heavy head to give them a jigging action, i find this essential in perch lures, the nose dive movement drives them nuts! Dumbell or heavy bead chain eyes are great for this, or if you buy your flies then a
no.1 shot clamped just above the fly does the same job. I've yet to try fishing with wets / nymphs for perch but i think im gonna have to do a bit of work on it. My main reasons for using lures are that they get down to the fish quicker and also are a lot more visible in the typically coloured water of the canal.

I like to strip the fly back with a jerky but fairly mechanical retrieve, not too much variation. Crazy erratic retrieves dont seem to appeal to my local perch.

On the hardware front i use a 8'6ft 3 weight rod, most people would think that 3 weights and comparitively heavy lures dont mix but i have no problems casting them and i dont see the point in fishing a 6 or 7 weight rod for these small hand sized perch that make up the majority of my catches. It also allows me to switch over to a dry fly set-up quickly if the roach or rudd appear on the surface.

I use a floating line coupled with a 9 / 10ft level 5lb fluorocarbon leader if the fish are in fairly shallow water, If i require more depth i use various sinking speed polyleaders and to seal the deal i use small fly clips to allow me to change lure easily without shortening the leader through repeated knot tying.

I have ear-marked a few spots on the canal that im gonna plunder soon, areas that i suspect will hold fish all winter due to extra depth.

Also, that perch looks awesome! reminds me of one i saw on youtube........

This I fancy having a go at. My local river holds some good sized perch. Any fly/lure recommendations much appreciated (I'll be buying so full names please).

"Also, that perch looks awesome! reminds me of one i saw on youtube........"

Yeah 3Weight that's the one putting the bend in the rod!

I've only just started spending time with Perch on the fly but love it, it all started with the fish below that took a 14's nymph in the close season and scared the pants off me! Lately i've been fishing for Pike with fairly large flies tied on 3-4/0's and the amount of 2lb plus perch i've suddenly discovered in my river is amazing! The biggest so far is 3lb 8oz and was caught on the 5wt(preferred tool for jacks and perch), i'd just returned a Pike of maybe 6lbs when i hook the big Perch and thought "Here's a better Pike"! LOl.

Great fun though and nice and visual when the fish really want to chase the fly, looking forward to a clearer river soon and getting back out there.



Cheers,


Graham

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Sorry for jumping in on this thread...but I've fished for course fish for a great number of years. In the beginning it was because I was still at school and couldn't afford a evening ticket on the trout waters 3 times a week so I opted to target Pike, Perch, Chub, Dace and Bleak on my local rivers in the Ringstead

I've always used a 8ft 6" #4 weight for fishing dries, which were usually small and black, or pale green...although I caught plenty of Dace and Bleak I never really caught anything of note other than the odd chub to 1.5lb that took a dry.

But regarding Perch and Pike I was and still am quite successful.

(I usually use a 9ft 6" # 8 weight and a Midge tip or a fast intermediate when fishing the river (Nene) or gravel pits

My fly choice is usually a 2" Light Grey Minkie or a small silver Hummungus for the Perch

But for something really special you should try one of the Reservoirs …most are an untapped resource ! - For Pike (and big Perch) I'm still a big fan of the Waggie Tube - which is pretty close to fishing a jerk bait...although you can fish it on a fly rod and it’s legal on reservoirs

But you will need a fast sinking line (preferably non stretch and a lot of backing again non stretch)

(My best fish are Pike 34lb, Zander 14lb and Perch 4lb) for pictures see http://www.guideflyfishingonline.co.uk/page.asp?id=2865

I only ever use a 4" Waggie Tube as a fly, this will catch everything, from Trout to Pike, it's just about the depth, and speed of retrieve really for the different species or time of year.

As far as best spots go it's simple really Grafham as follows:-

Tower at Hill Farm (200m radius)
Tower on the Dam(200m radius)
Inlet (pumping in boil near I bouy)
Both ends of the Dam around 200m off
Sailing Club (by C bouy and other marker bouys)
Savages weedbeds (for big pike)

Basically Grafham is a lot shallower that Rutland, with most marks above being around 30-35ft so it is easier to fish with fly lines.

Best area's at Rutland

Tower in the Main basin (200m radius)
Around the Boils (in the Basin 200m radius)
Sailing Club and Inlet near 17 bouy 200m radius

Rutland is more difficult with the depth at the sailing club about 60ft and in the basin its 105ft when full.

Just get your fly deep and keep it there…..nice and slow close to the feature.

Hope you give it a go

Rob

How about these?

http://www.theessentialfly.co.uk/epo...out-flies.html

Suitable for some predatory stripey action!

I would just buy a selection of rainbow trout lures and pinch a split shot just above the fly to impart the diving action, i find orange and white flies to be most successful but this will vary from water to water and in different conditions. Give it a bash, you might be surprised!

I need to persevere with nymphs and wets this year, i reckon fishing a team with lures and wets could be a winner. Your lucky to have so many big perch locally, most of the fish in my area are tiddlers by comparison!

I discounted the fighting qualities of perch because i had only caught them on my match rod but the three weight really lets them show off, they are strong, strong fish for the comparitively small size.

All very impressive Rob Although, that type of fishing really doesn't interest me in the slightest(no offence meant). I'm talking about close, intimate fishing on shallow rivers, small canals etc where balanced tackle can be used. I too use an 8wt for Pike but where i know there are only jacks in with the perch the 5wt will do just fine, and Perch on the 4wt with a floating line/small lures and forward weighted nymphs is more than just something to do when the Trout dont want to know!

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This little fellow took a gold bead hares ear nymph.