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I went out 4:30am saturday to try my luck on the river.  On my arrival it looked low and not exactly full of life, i chucked out a handful of maggots and a few silver fish had a nibble.   So on went a worm to trot down the far margin to see if anything good was out there.   On the forth or fifth trot i managed a nice chub to about a pound, and shortly after another followed suit and then all went dead.  Not even the maggots were catching.  So i thought it about time a deadbait went out to a very tasty looking spot. 

An hour later and i was on the move as it just looked dead where i was, barely any movement and i was questioning myself as to whether or not i was in the right spot.  I went down river about 80-100 metres where i’d seen quite a few tiddlers jumping clear of the water.  Out went two deads but again to no avail.  They were cast in different locations throughout the morning but i couldn’t buy a bite!   So unfortunately i went home later that day totally deflated.

Not to worry too much though as i went out last night and managed a jack on the first cast of a dead on ‘the’ lake, shortly after my buddy managed a perch of about a pound and then i bagged another pike around 6-7lb.  Not bad considering we’d only been there for 3 hours in the evening and the day before i’d wasted about 8 hours chasing not very much on the river.  Fingers crossed we’ll get some decent rain soon and bring the river back to life.  Until then i think i’ll stay on the lakes!  Not many stripeys were about but it was very windy down there so maybe that is something to watch out on future trips… never thought to much about the location of stripeys when there is strong winds, but thats twice its happened now!

Hmm!   

Last night the weather looked perfect, it was still quite warm and overcast.  So I had to get myself out and try a nearby lake for some perch. Unfortunately there were no whackers caught but a fishing buddy and I managed to catch over 30 perch in two hours from a large lake a short drive from where we live (approx 20 acres). The largest was just under a pound but that didn’t stop us have a very enjoyable session, it was all about getting out there and getting in amongst the stripeys. All fish bar two of them were caught on float fished worm. We will be back down there tonight and hopefully see if we can find some of the larger ones.

Fingers crossed~!  And i’ll let you know how we get on soon!

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.