The Tackle Box

Although perch are caught on a variety of baits including maggots and casters, I want to look at tactics specifically aimed at catching big perch. Remember perch are carnivores and great predators which really determines the baits used. Lob worms and small fish tend to be the most popular baits for big perch. The choice…

Baits such as elderberry, hemp and wormsare used less often. Ignore these baits though at yourperil, particularly the most versatile of them all,the humble loaf of bread. The beauty of a loaf ofbread is that it can be fished in so many differentways. From a piece of crust torn from the loaf to aball of…

Trolling is a method much used by inshore artisanal fisherman as the modern parlance likes to call them(Euro speak). In other words full time professional fishermen who use small boats handlining for mackerel, trolling for bass and pollack combined with a bit of potting and sometimes even a bit of netting. I have no argument…

Specie: pike Weight: 17lb 8oz Location: Thorpe Ski Lake, Surrey This is a pic of a 17lb 8oz pike caught at Thorpe Ski Lake, Surrey. It struck only 5 minutes into the session and gave a very good account of itself, taking 15 mins to land. I assumed it was it’s slim line build which…

Rutland Water Rutland continues to fish well with a rod average of 2.65 for the week. Big fish showed on catch returns with Gary Mann of Belper in Derbyshire taking a splendid 8lb 2oz Rainbow. North Luffenhams Mark Schofield also got in on the act with a 6lb 4oz Rainbow followed by another one of…