PB tipple in the rain...
- Lewis Gaukrodger
- Jan 26, 2018
- 3 min read
In the May of 2017 myself and 3 other friends ventured out onto a Midlands reservoir in search of the perch shoals that populate its relatively shallow water compared to other reservoirs close by. The reservoir itself incorporates numerous bays and shallow plateaus that generate a good weed growth throughout the summer months.
Heading from the jetty with persistent drizzle blowing in our faces its was forecast to rain throughout the day. With plenty of features to head toward including draw off towers, concrete banks, anchor buoys and jetties, we were spoilt for choice where to drop on first.
Andy and Giles were soon into some lovely perch whilst Aaron was first to register a bite to our boat, spinning on his seat the thin braid mainline ripped through the water as a trout erupted to the surface! after a number of last minute runs, spinning the clutch the hook was soon nicked out in the water and the rainbow was on its way.
We stayed on the move constantly throughout the day as to not stay too long over one feature, working as a team of two boats we would take a side of a feature each and cover as much water as possible. Moving to one of the main features of the res Andy and Giles once again were into more perch almost instantly and if i recall recorded a couple of 2's and Giles picked up a 3 by mid morning.
Aaron was the first to take the perch glory to our boat as we both hooked up at the same time, both landed in the same net, Aaron's was head and shoulder (literally above mine). Giving them a quick rest we released mine and weighed/photographs Aaron's. The scales went past Aaron's previous personal best and landed somewhere in the 3 bracket, a lovely fish and a great start to the day. As anyone knows who has fished with me previous the PB hip flask was soon out and a quick tipple of aged sloe gin was shared between the boats.
With draw strings pulled on our hoods and the rain showing no signs of stopping we headed back down the res toward another feature we had passed over in the morning. Anchoring up around 25 meters from it we began to throw lure right up into its mouth and work them back through. We soon started to revive the give away 'taps' which we found were coming closer to the boat than in the feature itself. I recorded a new personal best of 3-03 with a stunning spawned out dark fish. With an algae bloom pushing up the reservoir with the light wind we took the opportunity to fish in clearer water whilst we had the chance.


Changing up the lures I tried a Big Bite Squirrel tail and cast this onto a concrete bank and began to work it back relatively quickly, after 4/5 turns of the handle i received a firm tap, reacting to this i cranked the lure hard again for another 6 or 7 turns maintaining contact with the bottom before a solid resistance smashed the lure! Instantly knowing i was attached to a decent perch due to the nature of its fight i rose to my feet and witnessed a golden glow flash below the boat and as I played the fish to the surface it disturbed the surface with the most stunning coral red fins and golden flanks. Sitting in the pan net, she filled it! Shoulders like Arnie and a mouth like a cavern the 4.5 inch lure was dwarfed against it.

The photographs could not have come out any better and thanks must go to Aaron for working his magic with camera in less than ideal conditions. She tipped the scales to 3-09 and the was certainly 'the biggest of all fish'. Slipping her back to the depths it was clear the algae bloom was blowing into the feature and we moved to another part of the reservoir but not before the hip flask made another appearance.


Andy and Giles headed into the jetty early with myself and Arron sitting it out until the return time, Aaron landed a trout and a pike, whilst I caught the same pike 3 times on consecutive casts and on that note we fired up the 2 stroke engine and returned to dry land with every time of clothing and tackle soaked to the core!
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