Catching Small Perch The Expensive Way

As you may have experienced, we've had a drop of rain of late. Around me, inland seas appeared including the proposed site of a new housing project. Will they never learn? Anyway, river fishing is suited only for those anglers with the idiocy of youth or gills. I used to battle these conditions but the thought of trying to escape from fast water becomes more vivid with experience.

What to do? I had been pondering a new direction for my limited talents and, that multi-species trip out of Poole left an indelible mark on me. I began following the blogs of LRF (Light Rock Fishing) anglers and their pursuit of numerous species where even a tiny fish can be celebrated. There was though, a repetitive list of contributors who'd spent a fortune on their gear and were publishing pictures of minuscule perch. The occasional lump appealed to me and I dipped my toe into this new world. Rods, reels, and hundreds of little lures were purchased and I waited for my chance to give it a go

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Yay! First cast.

A three-acre, shallow estate lake was my chosen venue and on a cool afternoon, I made my first cast. Guess what? I landed a diminutive perch. I was overjoyed as I had succeeded - sort of. I made my way around much of the lake and landed a couple more small fish whilst watching the resident carp rolling, splashing and throwing up bubbles as they fed fervently in the twilight. I had enjoyed the session but the thought that a different approach could have presented me with a fine common carp irked me.

This has been my problem for quite a while now. Do I go for one method/species or do I fill the car with enough kit to equip half a dozen anglers to cover whatever the conditions throw at us? I rarely travel light but, pondering species and methods distracts me. I recall with some joy the three or four years I spent fly fishing and the lack of tackle I took with me. My belt and braces mentality and being overloaded with gear have been a literal pain in the neck.

We had a week in Cornwall and took some LRF gear to pass the time but the weather, dropping a heavy weight on my foot, and our neurotic dog caused us to return early. My one short session was a blank.

Frustration and research saw Neil and I heading for the Brecon & Monmouthshire canal. We worked hard for a couple of hours without so much as a tug or a sighting of a fish. I managed to lose my hook in a tree and pondered whether or not to set up again. I did and, instead of a piece of plastic, I impaled a redworm to the hook. As I turned to face the canal again, I spotted some movement on the surface. Probably small roach or similar but activity and that's exactly what the predators will home in on.

I cast beyond the movement and twitched the bait back. I had a take! Just a little judder through the sensitive rod but, despite a pause, I missed it. Back out again and in the same spot, another pull. I twitched the worm and felt more interest, this time I left it to lie. Soon the line began to tighten and I was into a 'decent' fish that was bigger than the tiddlers I had last time out. I was genuinely thrilled to land a fish of a pound or so.

Neil joined me and had a smaller one on his lure whilst I managed one last fish again on worm.

Small beer but I was fishing in calm water from an even bank and not too far from the car - result!

So, there you have it. Expensive (so far) but hopefully, it will be well worth it.