Christmas Eve I was out in search of roach. I managed a nice bag of fish the week before the best weighing over a pound and a half.

I arrived at the venue and with the temperatures mild I expected more of the same as the previous week.  However over an hour later things weren’t going according to plan.  With only a handful of moderate sized roach things were a little on the quiet side.

With other anglers experiencing the same lack of action a quick change of tactics were in order and I wondered whether the venue’s perch population might respond.  I tackled up a running paternoster and positioned a small live roach across to the far bank cover where I thought the perch might be laying in ambush. 

Thirty minutes after casting and the float slid away.  I wound down and struck instantly feeling a good fish pull back.  After a tense battle I was soon netting a nice perch, which weighed smack on 3lbs.  I soon repositioned the rod and after a cagey bite another perch was soon being scooped up.  This one a little smaller weighing 1lb 14oz.  After a missed bite it was time to pack up and head home pleased with a couple of bonus perch for the day.

Understandably I was keen to get back.  I arrived early on Boxing Day to find the gates still locked.  I returned the following day and after a cold start I knew it would be hard going.  After what seemed like ages I finally caught a couple of live baits which accounted for one small fish around a pound and I lost what felt like a very good fish where the hook had turned into the live bait, a rare occurrence and a gutter. 

However the best fish of the day fell under my 17foot Preston Carbonactive float rod.  Positioning a small pole float over the marginal shelf and feeding regularly with chopped worm and red maggots brought a bite on dusk resulting in a perch weighing 2lb 10oz.