Roger's Angling Pages
The Perch Perca fluciatilus		Perch family Percidae

In coloration this is one of the most beautiful freshwater fishes. It frequents the reaches of river, lake or dam where Bream and Barbel are found. It can be found almost everywhere in Europe, even in places where it did not originally exist, for example in Scotland. It has a sizeable double dorsal fin, the first or larger part of which is supported by sharp spiky thorns. The ventral, anal and caudal fins are orange, edged in blood red. The back part of the arched body is a dark, blue-green. Five to nine dark stripes start here and extend to the light lower third of the body. Hard, comblike, ctenoid scales give the body a rough surface. This roughness is caused by small spikes on the outer edge of the scales. The opercular bones are equipped with a sharp thorn, which has to be watched when the hook is being released from the Perch's mouth.

Perch stay in shoal near the bottom and around bushes or groups of stones. They chase their prey in shoals too. The largest shoals are formed by small Perch, as the larger ones move about in smaller groups. They breed in April or May near the river banks where the female lays long bands of 15,000 to 20,000 eggs. Cannibalism is quite common among them and one-year-old Perch often eat their own fry. Until they are 15 cm long they live on invertebrate organisms. Then they start their predatory existence. The rate of growth is determined by their numbers and the food available in the reservoir or river. Fifteen year old Perch can weigh 3 lb, but cases of both slower and faster growth are known, for example in the U .S.S.R. and Finland they can weigh up to 9 Ib. Sometimes they multiply too much and compete for food with other species of fish. Near the shore in large expanses of water, slow-growing Perch are found and in open water they grow much more quickly. Fish economists wage a protracted war with this fish. In Ireland, Sweden and Scotland there are Trout lakes, where the population of Perch had to be removed to restore the original character of such lakes.

Large sized Perch are a favourite, much sought after fish. It is possible to fish for them by rod all year round. A light, springy rod with a reel and fine line is used and the float and weight are quite small. The bait should be about 15 cm above the bottom; in this connection slow-moving maggots have proved to be effective and in summer grasshoppers, but small bait fishes are best at the end' of the year. The bait need not cover the whole hook, but it must be moving. The catch is sometimes accompanied to the surface by another two or three Perch.

For normal purposes a spinner is the artificial lure selected. The Perch likes a red colour, but can be attracted equally well by golden and black speckled or striped lures and by those with red beads or a fringe. During fishing the angler must move about from place to place and actively search for the Perch.

Fishing for Perch under the ice is widespread in northern countries. Winter fishermen are equipped with chisels, drills and perforated scoops to remove the drift ice. Short rods with a bait in the form of a one-hook lure are used. They are raised and let down into the hole. Several holes in various places are prepared and the haul from such fishing is substantial.