Commercial fisheries are not just home to carp and f1's as some anglers would have you believe! There are some other species that go under the radar and perch are one of them. As they are seldom targeted and have access to an abundance of bait and fry to eat, they can become very large indeed, with many commercials holding fish well over 4lbs now.
They are the place to go to try and catch yourself a big stripey and here are some of the best venues around!
Makins Fishery, Wolvey, Warwickshire
All the lakes on the popular Phase One have the potential to throw up a few big stripeys, and fish to over 3lb have been banked this winter. Loosefeeding maggots or pinkies by hand or catapult is key, helping to draw in small roach that the perch will then follow.
Contact: www.makinsfishery.co.uk or 07951 436461
CATCH BIG PERCH ON COMMERCIALS WITH THIS GUIDE.
Lavender Hall Fisheries, Coventry, West Midlands
Station Pool is famed for its stunningly-marked big carp, but it is also home to a very healthy head of perch to over 3lb. Floatfishing in the margins will score, with lobworm or prawn hookbaitsover a regular trickle of maggots.
Contact: www.lavenderhallfishery.co.uk or 01676 530299
Lindholme Lakes, Epworth, Lincolnshire
Most of the lakes have a good head of perch to over 3lb, but Laurels and Willows are arguably the most consistent. Fish at the bottom of the near slope before trying any marginal spots offering 2ft-3ft of water later in the day. Regularly lifting and dropping your hookbait on the pole is likely to draw bites.
Contact: www.lindholmelakes.co.uk or 01427 875555
Woodland View, Droitwich, Worcestershire
Arles Pool is home to big shoals of silverfish, and snacking on these has helped the perch grow to impressive sizes. A 3lb fish is on the cards if you fish a pole or waggler at short range. Ignore the central island, as this is where a lot of the carp linger.
Contact: 01905 620872
Old Hough Fishery, Middlewich, Cheshire
Big Max is the venue’s big-fish lake, where the perch frequently provide new personal bests to visitors. Head for out-of-form swims where the carp and F1s aren’t holed up and you’ll likely find perch in the 2lb-3lb bracket. Worms, maggots and casters will all work.
Contact: 07765 000857
White Springs Fishery, Swansea
The Specimen Lake is a hotspot for big perch, and while 2lb-3lb fish are quite commonplace, there’s the outside chance of a 4lb-plus giant. Guru’s Mikey Williams has had several memorable sessions here, and he swears by the pulling power of casters fished at 5m.
Contact: www.whitespringsfishery.co.uk or 01792 885699
Frant Lakes, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
There aren’t many features to go at on the Car Park Lakes, but use a little watercraft and you’re in with a chance of success with perch to over 3lb. Plumb up carefully and fish at the bottom of the near shelf with worms and casters. Rotate hookbaits to keep the bites coming.
Contact: www.frantlakes.com or 01892 616424
Buttonhole Lake, Wisbech, Norfolk
Big perch can show up anywhere, but the pegs in the bowl are slightly more consistent for the species. Short pole with worms and casters will work, as will a small cage feeder dropped over the same line if you prefer rod and line tactics.
Contact: 07928 222462
Whitmore Fisheries, Preston, Lancashire
Basin, Club Canal and Doughnut are the favourite lakes of local perch enthusiasts, with fish over 3lb stocked in all three. A big bait such as a lobworm or prawn will prove quite selective to your target species, but the introduction of plenty of maggots is the key to sparking a response.
Contact: www.whitmorefisheries.co.uk or 01253 836224
CHECK OUT THESE 6 TIPS FOR CATCHING BIG PERCH.
Alderwood Ponds, nr Worthing, West Sussex
A day rarely goes by without a 3lb-plus perch being reported from the prolific Island Pool, where worms are the stand-out bait for them. Fish both down the margins and towards the central island, keeping the loosefeed to a minimum to prevent drawing too many carp into your area.
Contact: 01903 816377
Peatling Pools, Lutterworth, Leicestershire
Malcolm, Magna and Parva all have big-perch potential, and margin fishing is often the key to finding them. A low resistance leger rig baited with either a large prawns or a lobworm is likely to attract fish to over 3lb, with pole or waggler working equally effectively when the water is calm.
Contact: 07860 644023
Bradshaw Fisheries, Bolton, Lancashire
Regularly feeding casters over your long pole line will eventually attract the perch on Lake Four. Feed a couple of balls of dark groundbait at the start, then work the catapult, and you’ll eventually pull in fish in the 2-3lb bracket. If you catch one, be prepared to catch another on the next drop, as they tend to travel in small pods.
Contact: www.bradshawhallfisheries.co.uk or 01204 307197
THE BEST FISHING POLES ARE CAPABLE OF LANDING BIG PERCH.
Lloyds Meadow, Chester, Cheshire
Badger is a snake lake full of quality silvers, and perch to over 3lb feature in the stocking. Look for a swim with some cover on the inside and focus on it. The water may only be 18ins-2ft deep, but drip-feed casters on the edge of the overhanging branches and you’ll eventually draw them out.
Contact: www.lloydsmeadow.co.uk or 01928 740710
Rising Sun Fisheries, York, North Yorkshire
Lake One is the on-site specimen water and has produced perch to an enormous 5lb 6oz in the past. Cup in a handful of chopped worms down the margins and leave them to settle for a while before fishing a small feeder around 15m out that is packed with the same loosefeed. Start at 15m and leave the margins until later in the session.
Contact: www.risingsunfisheries.co.uk or 07971 877280
The Oaks, Sessay, North Yorkshire
All the specimen lakes are worth a go if you are in search of a big perch. Firs, Oaks and Willows have fish over the 3lb mark, and you’re best fishing long on the pole for other species such as roach and skimmers in the early stages while loosefeeding close to any overhanging trees with casters. Continue this routine for a couple of hours before placing a rig baited with double caster over the top.
Contact: www.theoakslakes.co.uk or 01845 501321
CHECK OUT THESE 10 TIPS FOR SPECIMEN PERCH.
