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Facts on the perchposted on 15 September 2008 | posted in Hints and TipsThe British record for Perch is 05lbs 09ozs 08dms and was established in 2002. This handsome fish is olive green with six or seven dark vertical stripes with ventral red fins. Its tail is rather small but it can cruise quite fast for long periods. It's one of the most aggressive predators found in the U.K. Perch of 2 lb. and above are considered specimen fish. Small Perch feed in shoals but start to chase small fish when they reach about 4 oz. The Perch inhabits Lakes and slow moving rivers providing cover. Perch are a small predatory fish and have dark vertical stripes, which blends in with the weed and reeds. Best bait is Worms, Small live or dead bait fish. Spinning with small lures is a popular and successful method of catching large Perch. Try lobworm, casters and maggots as a ground bait and hook bait. Perch spawn among marginal weeds between April & June. They take four years to reach maturity. Females lay about 100,000 eggs per pound of their body weight. The Perch has an average lifespan of about 13 years  The Perch can be found in most waters throughout the UK. A predator, the Perch hunts in packs often chasing small fish in the shallows, herding them towards other Perch until finally their prey are surrounded whereupon the pack embarks on a feeding frenzy. The Perch with it's colours and markings easily camouflages itself into it's surroundings, weed beds, sunken branches and tree roots. These colours and markings are less distinguishable in older specimens who tend to favour deep water and solitude, their colouring being darker and the markings indistinct. The Perch has two dorsal fins, the first dorsal fin being spined and having a conspicuous black spot to the rear.
Methods of Capture. There are various ways of catching Perch. Float fished or legered worm or maggot will always tempt the fish especially if close to an obstacle or an overhanging tree . Spinning in shallow water or close to moored boats can equally tempt the Perch. The larger specimens are harder to find because of their solitary existence. A well place legered minnow or large worm can often tempt the older Perch. Some knowledge of the fishery can be helpful such as the location of sunken tree stumps and obstacles. Tip: To attract perch into your swim just nip the bottom part of the worms tail of. This releases scent into the water to help perch find your hook bait. |
