PEAKS, TROUGHS AND TIMING

HAT AN end to the season, especially for predator anglers. There’s definitely been something in the air – or, more accurately, the water – for our toothy friends, because the sport recently has been insane.

For much of this winter the perch in venues near me had been harder than usual to catch. Pike were plentiful, but not many really big ones. Then suddenly something changed... the perch and pike came alive.

Of course, they will get bigger the closer they get to spawning. Similarly, the water and light conditions are getting better, and more people are going fishing more frequently, but those factors aside, my word what a finish it’s been! The acceleration curve from average fishing to brilliant fishing has been noticeable, and it goes to show that you need to be out on the bank at these optimum times, work and family permitting.

Using the Thames, arguably one of the UK’s finest big perch rivers, as an example, there was a week-long window from February 16-23 that produced a number of really big four-pounders and even a ‘five’. The following week another huge fish weighing 5lb 10oz was caught from a different river. Fish of that size are incredible from large stillwaters, but from a river… that’s different gravy!

We’re seeing it on the Continent too – all species are getting bigger. A pal of mine in Holland, Evert Oostdam, recently landed a 46lb pike. And the Dutch perch this year are bigger than ever, with numerous 6lb-plus fish banked. A world record-breaker is certainly feasible soon. We really are enjoying a golden era for predators, and it’s little surprise that lure fishing is growing in popularity as a result.

Exciting times indeed.

W“Suddenly the perch and pike came alive”