Big Autumn Perch - Phil Spinks

This entry was posted on 18th October, 2021

With the temperatures now starting to drop, Summer is turning into Autumn, which is a great time to start targeting perch.

One of the most appealing aspects of chasing big perch is the variety of methods you can use. Different methods suit different venues and situations.

Here are Phil Spinks’s top 5 Perch fishing methods to try this Autumn:

1. Live baits

2. Drop shot

3. Ned style jig fishing

4. Float fishing with prawns/lob worms

5. Ledgering

Live baiting

In my humble opinion, there is no better method for targeting BIG perch than a float fished live bait. I appreciate it’s not for everyone, but is definitely my favourite approach.

Small silver fish up to around 10cm fished under either a large drennan loafter float, or a small inline pike style bob float is my preferred choice.

My hook choice is a size 4 Kamasan B983, if there are no pike present my hooklink is 6-8lb fluorocarbon. If I'm likely to encounter a few pike a soft wire is better.

Drop shotting

Drop shotting for perch has probably become the most popular method for catching perch in recent years. The method enables you to work tiny rubber lures close to the bottom very slowly.

It can be a great fun, and a good way to explore a venue.

Ned fishing

Ned fishing is a style of jig fishing that I believe started in the USA for targeting bass. Small buoyant rubber lures are fished on tiny stand-up jig heads.

The lure is worked very slowly along the bottom, gently bouncing the lure along pausing in-between. Most of your takes occur when the lure is stationary.

This has been very productive for me in very cold conditions especially in boat yards and mariners.

Float fishing

One of the simplest yet most enjoyable perch fishing methods. Float fishing with either prawns or lob worms as hook baits is my go to method on still waters.

The bait is fished laying on the bottom and I feed little and often with red maggots and the occasional piece of chopped worm or prawn.

Watching a waggler slide under on a cold Autumn morning takes some beating.

Ledgering

My style of ledgering is similar to a scaled down version of ledgering for pike. I use running rigs that offer no resistance. My rods are pointed straight at the rigs and fished on drop off type indicators with an open bail arm and bite alarm.

My choice of baits are lob worms, prawn or very fresh small dead baits. This method suits venues where I need to fish beyond a comfortable float fishing distance, and when I may have to wait long periods of time between bites.

Good luck to anyone chasing big perch this Autumn...