Peas in a Pod

The rivers maybe fishable next weekend so I decided to have another trip to the reservoir. A frosty start when I got there at 7.00am and it was only when I heard a faint beeping from a Delkim and a man shaped silhouette at the far side of the pool that I realised I had company. To try and better my 2lb 11oz PB I set-up in my favourite peg with my usual 2 rod set-up, a float rod with Perch bobber and centrepin and a sleeper rod with a running rig. Lobworms as hookbait and red maggots as feed.

I’ve found especially on the running rig 2 big lobworms seem to attract the bigger Perch, I use a small split shot an inch from the hook and air inject one of them. I use the Zandavan rollover indicator and Delkim as bite indication; I’ve got such confidence in the set-up that I’ve bought another indicator and alarm so I can use two rods with the same running rig. Centre Parcs will be ideal for this as I’ve found the Perch are in the open water rather than near the margins and tree cover.

The set-up can also be used for Zander and eels for example as it’s more or less resistance free. Something else I’ve found is when the Perch takes the bait and pulls line from the open bail arm lift the rod off the rest and feel the line like you would when you touch ledger, as soon as you feel a pull on the line and some resistance, that’s the time to strike. I don’t think I’ve missed a bite since.

Anyway to the fishing, in four hours I had 6 or 7 Perch with the biggest 2lb 9oz on the sleeper rod and a 2lb 8oz’er on the float. The smallest was a pound and a half. Every time I fish here I’m looking to beat my PB, sadly I didn’t today but with the river close season nearly upon and spring round the corner the spawning Perch will be their biggest. Is there a >3lber here ? no doubt about that in my mind.

What a fantastic morning, sunshine really does make a massive difference to a chilly morning, because as soon as the sky cleared and the sun took hold it was very pleasant, it certainly was a big contrast to the weather we have been experiencing up till now. I was back home for midday to take the kids to the park, fishing as a hobby is great isn't it.