It is not only Saltwater fishing I enjoy doing, my teenage years were spent hunting down pike on the local waters using lures. I love the whole way of targeting predators using artificial lures but unfortunately as life has progressed I have drifted away from this style of fishing. Having a light lure set up for my sea fishing has opened up a whole world of possibilities and it was a lovely crisp Novembers afternoon I decided to head out to a local river and try and catch one of my favourite all time species on a little rubber lure.

I remember my time as a child spent chasing fish on the local drains and lakes, from carp to roach all the way down to the bait robbing bleak these days were some of my fondest angling memories. Heading out without a care in the world to see what I could catch on my waggler rod, there was always a fish I enjoyed catching more than the others though and that was the perch. Just the colours of this amazing little fish are enough to make you fall in love with it and as soon as the spines on its back raise and it gets it’s aggressive little stance going on you know that this is one species you will always enjoy catching.

I pulled up at a local river mark and made my way up-river from the car park, the weed was still in full bloom despite it being a crisp Novembers day and this was proving difficult with the small 7g jig head attached to a Jinza Finnesse grub picking strands up on the retrieve. The weir-pool section proved to be  a no go so I was soon making my way up the river looking for overhanging trees and slow running deep sections under the bank I was on.

I soon found a nice deep looking area right in-front of a big, old, weather worn tree, with roots dropping off into the water and branches dangling over this looked a prime ambush spot for a stripey or 2. I flicked my jig out and slowly brought it back under my feet, with slight flicks of the tip I made the grub dance enticingly in amongst these roots hoping something was watching.. it was. The tip of my 2-12g Jinza nerve Rock rod bent over and started to bang away, only for a couple of seconds and then it became light. This happened another 3 times with each fish throwing the hook so there was only one thing for it. I cut down the grub, taking around 3-4cm off the body, i flicked it back out but I think the swim was now spooked so it was time to up-sticks and head further up stream looking for another spot.

I tried a couple more spots with only a solitary hit off a small jack pike to show for my efforts, I then came to another deep slow moving section and dropped my jig in under my feet. The tip slammed over almost instantly and a small perch was hooked, the trimming down of the grub had done the trick though and after a quick but spirited scrap I had caught my target. After some pictures this handsome little devil was slipped back and shot off back down into the depths of the river, ready to ambush whatever unlucky prey item was next on his hit list.

That was it for me, only a quick hour whilst my son was at a birthday party but the bug is bag, I’m already looking at where to head to next with my lure set up and hopefully I will have more tales to tell very soon.