Aire and Calder

[Butcherboy]

Do any of you hunt the Perch in the Aire and Calder?
I'm just getting into Dropshot & ultralite lures and wondered if it was worth a trip?
Not asking for any hotspots, just in general thanks

 

[John Aston]

You will be told by anyone who fishes it - and quite a few who don't - that it is full of big perch . I first fished it about 10-12 years ago , primarily because I grew up near the canal , when it was a polluted horror story with no fish. So it was a novelty to catch from it at all.

I have had scores of perch from the A&C , and very , very few needed a net . I'm sure there are decent fish but damned if I can catch them . I fish a mile or so either side of Heck bridge .

If you do fish it it is essential to use wire (I use Surflon 11lb knottable )as pike are often encountered . They tend to be in amazing condition - short , deep and very hard fighting .

Most of the canal is 100% featureless and varies in depth between 6ft or so ad 10/12 ft at a guess. Fish are often very close in and if you find weedbeds (often in the wider parts of the canal with mooring areas) you will find fish. In cooler weather I'd fish drop shot with small paddletails -and decent weight too. The wind can make staying in touch with leads lighter than 8g hard.

I enjoy going there - big water , big sky and (I suppose) the possibility of big fish . I've had a lot of two pound plus perch in Yorskshire , but I am still waiting to get my first from the canal.

 

[Butcherboy]

You will be told by anyone who fishes it - and quite a few who don't - that it is full of big perch . I first fished it about 10-12 years ago , primarily because I grew up near the canal , when it was a polluted horror story with no fish. So it was a novelty to catch from it at all.

I have had scores of perch from the A&C , and very , very few needed a net . I'm sure there are decent fish but damned if I can catch them . I fish a mile or so either side of Heck bridge .

If you do fish it it is essential to use wire (I use Surflon 11lb knottable )as pike are often encountered . They tend to be in amazing condition - short , deep and very hard fighting .

Most of the canal is 100% featureless and varies in depth between 6ft or so ad 10/12 ft at a guess. Fish are often very close in and if you find weedbeds (often in the wider parts of the canal with mooring areas) you will find fish. In cooler weather I'd fish drop shot with small paddletails -and decent weight too. The wind can make staying in touch with leads lighter than 8g hard.

I enjoy going there - big water , big sky and (I suppose) the possibility of big fish . I've had a lot of two pound plus perch in Yorskshire , but I am still waiting to get my first from the canal.

Many thanks John

 

[flightliner]

I often fished a canal near the Aire 'n Calder.
It had loads of very big perch around about 2006, the best best I heard was 4lb -10oz.
On my first visit I was retrieving a lure in the margins when two huge Perch swam immedietelely behind it then swam off.
My best day there was 12 Perch in 12 casts, not one below 1.5lbs but with several over 2lb +.
My best on another occasion was 3lb on the nose. This was around 2006,not been back now for years so they may have disappeared as Perch often do from time to time?

 

[Butcherboy]

I often fished a canal near the Aire 'n Calder.
It had loads of very big perch around about 2006, the best best I heard was 4lb -10oz.
On my first visit I was retrieving a lure in the margins when two huge Perch swam immedietelely behind it then swam off.
My best day there was 12 Perch in 12 casts, not one below 1.5lbs but with several over 2lb +.
My best on another occasion was 3lb on the nose. This was around 2006,not been back now for years so they may have disappeared as Perch often do from time to time?

Brilliant

 

[John Aston]

I often fished a canal near the Aire 'n Calder.
It had loads of very big perch around about 2006, the best best I heard was 4lb -10oz.
On my first visit I was retrieving a lure in the margins when two huge Perch swam immedietelely behind it then swam off.
My best day there was 12 Perch in 12 casts, not one below 1.5lbs but with several over 2lb +.
My best on another occasion was 3lb on the nose. This was around 2006,not been back now for years so they may have disappeared as Perch often do from time to time?

Cripes - I first fished it in abut 2013 I guess , in the early days of my light lure ....errr...journey so obviously I must have missed the boat .