BIG FISH COLUMN: Shift to autumn brings fauna to the fore

The shift into autumn starts to bring a changed fish fauna to the fore and the species making the local headlines during the past week is one which typifies autumn fishing better than most – the perch.

Although the rise of the commercial pools and the perfect environment they provide for the growth of big perch are responsible for much of the current boom, the species are thriving in most of our rivers too and local stretches of both the Thames and Kennet are capable of turning up 4lb fish.

Two perch catches reported last week give a brief but exciting snapshot of current status of the species locally and are a mouth-watering appetiser of what may be in store for the next few months.

Of the local Thames beats Bourne End, Marlow and Maidenhead all have an excellent perch track record and it was to Bourne End where Tim Houseman spent a day after perch last week trotting minnow baits beneath a loafer float on 4lb line straight through to a size 6 hook.

Tim kept a regular feed of maggots running through his swim to keep the small fish active throughout the day and his minnows scored with 10 perch including four over 2lb and one just creeping the right side of the magical 3lb mark at 3lb 1oz.

On the Kennet that most traditional of perch baits, the lobworm, scored for Sam Robinson who used a light quivertip rod to present the bait on a size 10 hook and 6lb main line with a 4lb hook length tight to snags on the river at Theale.

After a slow start the fishing picked up as the light started to fade in typical perch feeding style and in the last hour Sam took four perch to exactly 3lb. Sam also netted a bonus chub of 3lb 8oz during the day.

As Sam found perch feeding is very closely tuned to light intensity and they usually strike when their superb low-light enhancing eyes give them a distinct advantage over their prey.

Dawn and dusk are the really prime times but you are just as likely to score on a dull, drizzly day and I’ve even known takes come during a brief cloudy spell in an otherwise sunny day; a few waters even respond into darkness so always hang on as long as you can because when one feeds there are usually others with it and you can catch a number of big fish in a very short space of time!

Spinners, small lures, lobs and minnows are all worth an outing on the local rivers at present and it will not be too long before the noted commercial pools start to produce numbers of decent fish too with Royal Berkshire probably the pick of the local crop.

Any anglers can contact me on 07780 755138 or ian@bigfishtrail.com