Question.

#1

A couple of weeks ago I went for a walk along the towpath while there was a match on. It was a few hours in and it was hard going when I stopped to watch somebody for a bit, after a quick ' hello, any good ?' from me the angler replied " says something when you've got to go for perch ". He didn't seem too happy so I never asked for an explanation. So my question is - what did he mean ?
It was a team match if that makes any difference.

#2

Hi I was fishing that match. Think I remember you coming along a few times.In coventry it can be brilliant when your on roach and the usual sign is catching them early 10-15lb is very common.When you catch a perch in your 1st few puts it generally means it's going to be a hard day and prob will only catch perch pat of the day. The match in question was very hard and a few perch would of got good team points as the roach never really fed due to the frosts and colour from previous day's rainwater going in.Hope this helps in some way others may have different reasons.Was you the guy that wanted to fish next match over there and I sent you to the organiser?

#3

Yes mate, I didn't get a chance to speak to Pat but I'll give him a ring.

Going back to my question - is it not possible to catch big weights of perch or is it easier catching roach ?

#4

For some reason on that canal the big weights are always roach/skimmers and I've never seen a big weight of perch though others may say different.

#5

Hi I was fishing that match. Think I remember you coming along a few times.In coventry it can be brilliant when your on roach and the usual sign is catching them early 10-15lb is very common.When you catch a perch in your 1st few puts it generally means it's going to be a hard day and prob will only catch perch pat of the day. The match in question was very hard and a few perch would of got good team points as the roach never really fed due to the frosts and colour from previous day's rainwater going in.Hope this helps in some way others may have different reasons.Was you the guy that wanted to fish next match over there and I sent you to the organiser?

Ian,
I think you have got it absolutely spot on there. Perch definitely miss out 'spawning' years. Sometimes three years on the bounce and sometimes never. I haven't a clue why and I don't think anyone else has. It can happen on different stretches of the same canal, it can also happen on rivers but funnily nobody seems to associate that with rivers.

#6

The zander have ate all the perch.