The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Yes you can Mark. I've successfully used dead minnows, bleak and gudgeon for perch. Although far from being a small deadbait, last year I had a good one on the tail half of a joey mackerel and this year have done it again but a little smaller this time. Both whilst Piking.

Stewart Bloor has had perch from the Staffs & Worcester canal on half-gudgeon deadbaits - both heads and tails.

http://www.sicm.org/anglingdiary/0303.May162009.html

They are also good for big winter chub. Some years ago in December, my son (then 12) had a 5lb 12oz chub on 1/2 a mackeral meant for pike. But I suspect one would not catch perch on sea baits.

Isis wrote:Yes you can Mark. I've successfully used dead minnows, bleak and gudgeon for perch. Although far from being a small deadbait, last year I had a good one on the tail half of a joey mackerel and this year have done it again but a little smaller this time. Both whilst Piking.

Further to my input on deadbaits. I have found the pic I took of the second perch I mentioned. It took a half mackerel , I tightened on it , set the hook and reeled it across the top whereupon there was a great swirl and it went solid for a second or two. Then it came in with the marks you can see on its flank! Reckon the pike was really p***** off that it's breakfast had been snaffled by a stripey.

Davyr wrote:Stewart Bloor has had perch from the Staffs & Worcester canal on half-gudgeon deadbaits - both heads and tails.

http://www.sicm.org/anglingdiary/0303.May162009.html

The same location I have had my PB perch at 3.5lb on a spinner.

For some reason the perch in the Macc Canal won't look at spinners!

What a revelation. I never thought about dead baits for perch! I always assumed the perch respond to the movement of live baits and lures. I bet you get less perch and more pike using dead baits though?

Even if you are after perch I would still advise using wires traces. I have landed pike before with a treble hook tied straight to line stuck in their mouths before I caught them with my lures. Obviously the pike bit through the line and was stuck with a hook and a three foot of line its its mouth before I took it out along with my lure. It was lucky that the line didn't stop the fish from feeding!

I`ve had Perch on large white bait, it doubles my odds where I fish, as there are also chub present.........Other than that I`m with Jerry..

Yes, I would always use a trace if there is any chance of pike or zander in the area. The Staffs Worcester canal, which is where I have done most of my intense perch fishing over the years, does not have any pike or zander in the areas I fish. There are some reports of pike much further towards the Worcester end of the canal together with zander creeping closer. I shall be looking at the new 'Lynx' range of traces when I get the chance to visit my local tackle shop. These have been highlighted by Des Taylor (love him or loathe him...) on his Facebook page. For me they need to be as supple as possible with wire diameter then coming second.


*edited due to incorrect spelling and bad grammar, sorry*

It has been said above that perch in some waters will pick up dead baits. I have caught them by design from the only 3 waters I have tried to catch perch on dead baits from. Certainly perch are triggered by movement and vibration but they will still pick up a static dead bait on the deck.