A couple of weeks ago I had a very interesting chat on the same river bank with Archie Braddock, the old Trent stalwart, about Trent perch. That inspired me to use this short session to try my luck for them. I bought 2 pints of red maggots and some large maggot feeders. I rigged up with a long hook link and a size 6 hook loaded with a couple of lobs. Casting every few minutes I was able to deposit a good few maggots and soon started getting indications.
I had 3 good bites which I duly missed when I struck at them. I can't say that they were perch, but I am pretty sure that they weren't barbel. Just before the light went I change to a size 10 hook and loaded it with maggots. Within a minute of casting in the rod went round and I lifted into.....nothing. The hook was missing so I think the culprit may have had teeth, possibly a pike or a zander.
Nothing was caught but I saw enough for me to want to try maggots and worm (or prawn) again on this stretch of the river which is accessible to all. While the river is not carrying extra water it is very fishable with traditional tackle. I took a couple of shots of the river, one just before the sun had set and one after I had packed up.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/IOHgWYy.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/B64ZShk.jpg)