ultalighting

sometimes you just have to get out don't you!

When i need to go but don't have the time i get on the canal with the ultra lites - i did this loads of time last year and caught lots - loads of small pike to about 8lb lots and lots of small perch [nothing big ] and a solitary chub !


I was always amazed by how aggressive the perch were - you couldn't help get follows - gangs of them - following behind your lure - often having a go right at the last second - great fun!

Who else is doing it?

I went yesterday - had fun caught a few [not that many] perch and a couple of jacks - however i didn't get one single follow on any of my many lures.

whats the reason - is the water a bit too cold yet and so they aren't truly in the mood?

Second question - how the hell do you fish those little plastic kopyto's that everybody raves about?

Because they weren't really chasing the little crankbaits - i presumed they may be down a little deeper - time to get the little kopyto's out i thought - i bought some last year - small 2.5 inch and a light jig head - bright yellow and orange and red. - I tried to fish them slow - quick [never saw that working] and i bounced them around the bottom - i suppose a sink and draw type retrieve - i even tried to jig them next to the barges -

I caught fook all on them - yet every time i go on the lure forums thay all rave about them !!

Any thoughts?

Healdy

Before I even read the question,I've gotta say,what a coincidence this post is,Because Ive been looking all day so far to get hold of the Spro Passion rod...which is now almost impossible to source.

I cant imagine the water is still too cold at present (although you are in the north). And if you already had fish following,and even caught a few on previous days,then I wouldn't assume there was anything wrong,some days we blank,others we bag up. All manner of things that could effect how the fish are feeding on any given day.
I've not used the Kopyto's so cant comment really,but as with most small grub type lures,just try varied retrieves, slow,almost bottom bouncing,fast almost stripping line,steady paced etc etc,the ways you fish any lure is so variable is unbelievable.

In closing: I cant bloody wait for the 16th, and Where the hell can I get hold of a Spro Passion rod

This is my take on Ultralite fishing for Perch.

Conditions

Generally conditions have to be right ie water clarity and light conditions, ideally you want a slight ripple on the water and low light conditions so a bright flat calm warm summers day makes Perching hard work, if you know the day is going to be bright and sunny then fish dusk and dawn only for the best results.

Location

Location is important especially at this moment in time when Perch are coming into spawning mode, Perch will hang around in large shoals so if you can find the shoal you will get take after take for maybe a couple of hours good sport before it dies off so make hay while the sun shines.
I have always found Perch to love any dark areas ie moored boats, bridges and lock gates, emerging weed beds are also great at this time of year so dont neglect anything that looks a bit different like a submerged shopping trolly for example.

Lure Choice

I have caught big Perch on all types of lures however I find Perch to be followers in that I mean that they like to follow in numbers, almost bullying a lure out of there area, the trick is especially with crank baits is to speed everything up, the faster and more erratic the retrieve the better your results will be.

Jigs

I have not used the Kocytos however I have had good success using Fox Chubby Shads and Bass Pro Titanium spoons. The most important thing with jigging in the weight of the jig, no matter how nice the lure looks if its not heavy enough to feel every bump on the bottom then it is useless. The Titanium Jig I use is only 3cm but it weighs a tonne so if you couple it with 12-15lb braid and a 15lb trace and a sensative tippy rod you will be able to feel every single tap on the lure.

The Method

How I use a jig is important, I drop my jig to the bottom of the swim and at this stage your rod should be horizontal with the water (important) I then lift the jig slowly off the bottom (approx 12") and then slowly back down to the bottom, rather than watching the water I keep an eye on the rod tip and the line running down from the rod tip, if you feel any resistance on the lift the Perch has taken it and you should strike, if when you drop the jig back down you see any slack line on the rod tip the Perch has taken it on the drop 70% of the takes will be on the drop.
Its important that you use the correct combo for jigging, you can buy specialist rods now however I use a Greys G-Lite Spin which is an ultralite setup (casting weight to approx 3/4 of an ounce) the drop bends to the but so any taps on the rod can be felt and seen due its sensitivity. I also use 12lb braid which might seem big for Perch but you can never overlook the chance of hooking a Pike, I have had Pike to 21lbs on Ultralite rods and its not much fun.

The most important thing is to keep at it Mark, Perch can be hard work but the results are amazing once you have mastered it, ask Mr Ed Beef how deadly jigging can be after last weekends results

Link to my Titanium Jiggs

Great reply Woody

Thanks Mate


Healdy

My pleasure pal