Huge River Perch Caught on Video
After spending a few months obsessed with high-volume drop-shotting, I recently felt the itch to change things up. While picking off dozens of perch in a single spot is a blast, there’s something special about this time of year. As the temperatures drop and the rain starts to move in, the fish begin to group up—and that means it’s time to go hunting for a real specimen.
In my latest session, I moved away from the "easy" spots to explore a quiet stretch of river. Here’s how the day unfolded and the tactics that landed me a massive 4lb beauty.
The Strategy: Keep Moving
On a small tributary or stream, perch are often patchy. You might walk past dozens of empty swims before hitting a "pod" of fish. My philosophy for the day was simple: keep your feet moving.
* Search Lures: I started with 7cm Slick Shads to cover water quickly.
* Targeting Depth: I looked for deep holes. In a river that’s only two feet deep, a five-foot drop-off is a goldmine.
* The Bream Connection: Interestingly, I found a decent perch sitting right in the middle of a shoal of bream. If you find the bream, the perch are often lurking nearby.
Scaling Down for Success
When the bites are hard to come by, don’t be afraid to scale down your hardware. I found success by using a tiny jig head and a hook that some might say was "too small" for a 7cm lure.
However, by scaling down and using a 3g jig head, I was able to keep the lure pinned near the bottom without it rising too high in the water column. If you’re struggling to get a look-in, try thinning your leader or shrinking your hook size - it’s a classic way to trick a finicky fish.
My Go-To Gear
I kept my kit incredibly minimal for this trip to make the long walks more pleasant. One small sling bag and two tiny lure boxes were all I needed.
Top Lure Picks:
* Fox Rage Slick Shad (7cm): The "Green Pumpkin" and "Wagasaki" colors are absolute killers. Wagasaki is a beautifully natural color that fish just can’t ignore.
* The Ned Rig: When I found a likely-looking hole, I switched from the Shad to a Ned rig. This allowed me to fish much slower and more intentionally, plucking fish out one by one.
The Grand Finale: A 4lb Specimen
As dusk approached - which I call "Prime Time"—the river really came alive. After catching a smaller perch on the Ned rig, I cast back into the same spot.
The result? An absolute unit of a perch that tipped the scales at 4lb on the dot. It just goes to show that even if a stretch isn't "prolific," the solitude and the chance at a monster make every mile walked worth it.
Pro Tip: If you find small fish, stay in that spot! Big perch often hang around the same structure as the smaller ones.
Final Thoughts
With the autumn rain arriving and the rivers looking healthy, now is the perfect time to get out there. Keep your lure selection simple, focus on the "Wagasaki" color palette, and don't be afraid to walk that extra mile for a bit of peace and quiet. You might just end your day with a new personal best.
Watch the Video
Related reading: Big perch fishing in the Lea Valley and River Stort – winter 2017, New Video - Beginners Guide to Perch Fishing, Big Perch Fishing