pike and perch.co.uk

Hi all,

Today i went for a different approach and thought i’d try dropshotting for the Perch.  I went to a large lake near where i live armed with my spinning rod 5-20g with 15lb braid loaded onto a Shimano Sedona 750.  This outfit is a total joy to use when targetting Perch and seemed perfect for dropshotting.

New dropshot hooks are currently on order so i opted for some green size 4 fly hooks that i have and they seemed to stick out perfectly when mounted on 12lb grand max.  I rigged it so the lure was about a foot from the bottom and set about trying to christen the new technique and get to grips with how effective it could be.

It didn’t take too long to work either i think on about my fifth cast i was into a nice perch of around a pound!  A great way to start on a new way of fishing!!! Luckily i managed another around 15 minutes later and i was set on always taking a rod rigged up for dropshotting on my luring trips.

I’m not so sure the hooks i used stood up enough but for the trial it seemed sufficient enough, i cannot wait to get out more on this method and see if it out fishes the usual spinning and jigging!  Time will tell!

And hey if you haven’t given it a go yet i highly advise you try it out!

I think today must have been my 10th or 11th attempt to try and catch a fish on a lure again. 

I went out for a wander last night and found a few pike hitting shoals of fish just as the sun was going down. I had a cast about but had to leg it early as otherwise my car would have been locked in the car park for the night . Didn’t really fancy that… how gutting that was – the fish were active and i had to get the hell out of there! 

Anyways so off i went at 6:30am this morning as i wanted to make sure i got back in the spot that looked so good last night. The water levels i knew were 3-4′ down … the EA were clearing a lock somewhere and nowhere else looked remotely good. 

After about an hour and a half in ‘the spot’ i must have seen about 6-7 pike launching into their prey and pike/prey breaking the water… but still the lures had not produced. 

I was beginning to question myself… until i bunged on a white 3″ Kopyto with a light jig head on, started to reel as slowly as possible and then BOOM at last something had found one of my lures appealing! I was in and the knees were knocking! The rod was an abu 5-15g and was doubling over – wow what a thrill on such light gear! A few moments later and the pike was in the net! Phew!!! I’d broken my duck! 

I managed to catch my first fish on the new lightweight setup, meaning that i’d just i’d christened my new rod, my new reel, my net from christmas and best of all i managed to catch my first predator on a rubber lure! Previously they’d all been on spinners and spoons! 

Happy days! Guess where i’m going next weekend! 

Oh and shortly after a i hooked a near 3lb eel on a grub! Doesn’t get much weirder than that!  

Cheers to all the LAS members for recommending Kopyto shads and making me invest in a load of em! 

Hi all, another quick message to recommend a great site for lures and a vast array of soft plastics.  

www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk

Service has been excellent!  Delivered extremely fast with no fuss.  The stock levels are updated regularly and any queries are answered quickly!   Highly recommend you give them a try!!! 

After just heading over to Sportfish to compile a shopping list for upcoming ventures look what i have just found… new spinners from Blue Fox – maker of some of the best built spinners on the market.  These will definately be added to my lure bag!  I’ll let you know how i get on…!

 New Vibrax Hot Pepper Spinners

Ok my new kitchen fit / fishing break is over and its time to get fishing again!  I really want to get another 3lb plus perch to either a lure or bait.  My choices are varied from commercials or quiet streches of the Medway, to me though the commercial is not so much of a challenge i fancy the river!  The possibly of uncaught unseen fish is much more enticing and the personal reward so much greater.  Having had one last winter to 3lb 10oz i cannot wait for the hunt to begin.  My bag next session will be the faithful worm with a variation of spinners and small rapalas.  This way i can try my best with the worm to quiver and if this doesn’t produce in my favourite my fancied spots i’ll begin to rove with the lure rod.   If this fails on the first couple of visits i may even try the old faithful livebaited gudgeon that produced my last monster perch.  Having not heard of any other big perch in my area being caught the chance of another 3lb’r may be tough but this is something that makes me want to try even harder.  Is it just me or is there something special about the perch that others miss.  I rarely see other anglers on my travels that target the perch…! 

To me this means more chance of a rewarding capture and more fish for me to target!  I cannot wait for the winter to come again and heighten my chances considering how good last winter was.  I love the summer for sport and relaxing, but come winter its fishing time and hitting those predators with great excitement!  May the rest of this year be productive for us all and if the big perch come biting it could be a great end to slow year. 

Have you ever used spinners for pike and perch?  Just lately i’ve been out trotting the river banks and using a wide variation of spinners and lures, and one type of spinner keeps producing more than the rest put together.  Its the Abu Reflex spinners and boy have they thrown up some suprises!  When i think all is dead in a swim and its time to move i chuck one on and give it a go!  So far its produced perch to 2lb, chub to 3 and half and pike just seem to whack it for fun.  Albeit at the moment only jacks its still good fun!  Last Sunday jacks were hitting it on the drop, i thought it was just luck so tried other spinners after to no avail.  Even on moving tried the others with no results, back on went the Abu Reflex and low and behold another pike.  Was it just sheer luck or was this one hell of a special spinner!  I guess i’ll just have to keep experimenting!  I’ll let you know how i get on.  And if you have a fav let me know what you’ve caught and we can post it up for others to enjoy.

If you wish to try these spinners have a look here

If like me you enjoy strolling the river bank with spinners and small lures this is ideal for you.  Before i purchased this i always struggled to keep my lures and spinners in order, near on every visit i’d be trying to seperate them.  Since adding this bag to my setup the treble tangles are a thing of the past!  For £19.99 this is a must have luggage item.  It is extremely well built with zipped 4 pockets for any additional items, such as wire, forceps etc, and included in the price is 5 adjustable lure boxes.   It really is a great item for travelling light!

Check it out!