Perch a cold weather fish?

Although unseasonably mild, this winter has seen some exceptional perch sport, this usually cold weather species has provided local anglers with days to remember from a huge variety of venues, even in the mildest January on record.

Commercial fisheries have reported huge perch to 4lb showing up in match catches, with some fishery owners scratching their heads as they never even stocked them into their pools, in the first place.

The four fisheries below all hold huge perch and a float fished worm over chopped up worms is all the tactics needed, to give the best chance of a large stripey'.

Casters are another superb perch bait, mix them in with your chopped worm feed and try a double caster and worm hookbait.

Alter the depth at which you fish every ten minutes or so, even on the coldest days those large perch will take baits at all depths, add some movement to the hookbait by lifting and dropping your rig, to entice those bigger specimens.

Large perch can be found in all types of venues, we are very fortunate in this area as local canals rivers and pools all hold perch from 1lb to specimen sizes.

Floods and barbel.

Those flooded river conditions, have made riverside residents lives a nightmare again with towns and villages across the midlands having to cope with flooded homes and businesses.

Once the high water begins to fall though, midlands barbel anglers know their favourite species will be eager to feed.

Fishing close in to the rivers edge with heavy leger tackle to cope with increased flow levels, is often the best barbel tactics, as during the floods the fish have often found new places on the riverbed to avoid the worst of the often rubbish filled currents.

Baits need to be large and smelly in the coloured water, lobworm is useful but today's huge range of pellets and boilies give a huge selection of feed and hook baits to tempt fish in all conditions. Day ticket streatches to head for are at Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, Bridgnorth and Bewdley these areas throw up barbel to 10lb each season.

Fishery form guide: Hunnington Fishery Halesowen: Heron and Kingfisher pools have been re-stocked with over 1500lbs of fish this month, the venues other two pools Mallard and Coot, have new stock arriving soon, the new arrivals will stir the resident fish into action and increased catches are on the cards. 07887 845098.

Solhampton Fishery Stourport: A 12lb Carp was taken in Sundays match on corn, but owner Burgess Homer is sure the Valley Pools largest resident a 35lb specimen will be on the bank soon, having been spotted feeding close in a number of times last month. The Duck Pools 25lb common carp has also been spotted feeding at dusk after matches, around the island. 01299 828074 Shatterford Fishery: Ed Moor from Stourbridge, took a surprise 16lb catfish last week, in the mild January weather.

An angler's dream fish, a 2-2-0 roach was taken during a match on casters.

The fishery has held 2007 prices for 2008 and anglers are asked to ring in as bookings are very brisk, for the new year.

Trout anglers are also keeping busy at Shatterford, with loads of plate sized fish, better specimens to 4lb are amongst late afternoon catches. 01299 861597.

Patshull Park: Good winter weights of bream and skimmers are coming from match anglers, 36lb won last weekends open on the Great Lake. The Great Lake closes to coarse anglers on 25-2-08. 01902 700774.

There are just two pike matches left, the one on 24th February is a charity match in aid of The Air Ambulance and will be fished on The Lady Barbara Pool.

For details contact Mick Woods on 07790 046332.