Autumn Stripeys

I set out back to my local canal again today hoping for some decent pike in the same spot I fished yesterday. I arrived at around 8.30 to avoid the heavy boat traffic. When I got there the water was like a mirror, the only disturbances were small fish on the surface and there were no boats or walkers.

I set up and got both rods out. It wasn't long before my alarm let out a couple of bleeps and the line was pulled out of the drop back indicator. The fish was a small jack of around 2lb. As soon as I had unhooked it the fish went mad, and managed to flip up and catch one of its teeth on my finger, I'd almost forgotten just how sharp they were.



Next it was my float road that went, I was into an even smaller pike this time. I think if I want a double figure canal pike the stretch I was on earlier this week would be my best bet.



After that I decided to move pegs to a section of canal that split into two and there's a lock. I cast a small perch just at the point were the canal splits almost certain there was a predator lurking there. After around 30 seconds my float was dragged under, I struck and was into what I thought was a small jack.

When the fish rolled on the surface and I saw it's dark stripes I couldn't believe it. I know perch will regularly take livebaits, but I wasn't expecting one to in the middle of the day. The biggest perch I had caught before this must have been around 6 inches long, although I nearly had a better sized one from a river but it backed off from my lure. The perch weighed 1lb 12oz, but it looked massive. I think it was Richard Walker who said the perch was the biggest fish of them all, and he was right. It had a gigantic cavernous move and dark menacing stripes.



Where I caught it is circled, textbook watercraft.



After that I packed up as there were a few boats about to come through the lock. I think after catching this perch I might start targeting them properly.