Fishery of the Week
Earn your perch stripes at Frant Lakes
COMMERCIALS were once solely the territory of anglers who wanted an instant fix.
Carp, F1s and skimmers were stocked in abundance at such venues to make sure that those committed to family life and work for most of the week got their rewards during their few precious hours on the bank.
That mentality has continued, but there is also a new strand to many commercials. Species that were never given a second thought have now become key players and have helped attract a new audience at the same time.
PERCH TAKE LIMELIGHT
Perch are an example of a species that have become much more widespread in recent years, and Frant Lakes is a complex that certainly has plenty of these beautiful fish.
Most of the pools at the East Sussex complex have a decent head of them, but it is the Car Park Lakes that gain the most attention. Two lakes merge into one through a small gulley and, in truth, the perch – which run to over 3lb – can show up anywhere.
SPECIMEN SECRETS
Russell Shipton first discovered the stripey secret a couple of years ago, and the Middy man has enjoyed numerous productive sessions since.
“It’s a beautiful complex, and while match and general pleasure anglers have always enjoyed coming on here, I’ve noticed a lot of people fishing specifically for the perch recently,” he said.
“There’s a chance of catching a 3lb-plus monster, but if you don’t manage to achieve that, you’ll still get among lots of fish in the 12oz to 2lb bracket.
“They feed in all conditions and if you are struggling for bites – which is rare here – you can bet your bottom dollar that the perch will show up at some point. It’s not easy fishing, but do it right and you’ll succeed.”
Pegs with overhanging cover or lily pads tend to be the most prolific, although fishing a line slightly away from them can also result in the odd surprise or two.
If you fancy a crack at perch on other on-site waters then you’ll have plenty of options, with Horseshoe, Skirmish and both Specimen Lakes having the potential to throw up a pb.
If the conditions are hardly compatible with a standard commercial bagging session, turn to the perch at Frant and a trip out in the cold will have been well worthwhile.