For a limited time, Viaduct Fishery’s match-only water has been opened to day-ticket anglers... and it’s full of huge perch!
YOUR face lights up as you spontaneously plan a trip to a prolific fishery that is showcased in a magazine only for your hopes to be dashed when you discover that access is restricted.
Waters holding huge specimen fish are often responsible for creating the ‘closed shop’ mentality and numerous commercials have also reserved pools solely for match anglers.
In fairness to the owners of such venues, almost all of them make sure pleasure anglers have plenty of other options where the action is just as good, but that won’t entirely dispel the feeling of discontent if your appetite had been whet by a particular lake you cannot fish.
Somerset’s Viaduct Fishery is made up of six beautifully landscaped waters, with Campbell Lake put aside just for competitions.
The 200lb-plus carp hauls are what many anglers are after but the lake has revealed a very special secret that pleasure anglers are able to enjoy for a limited period.
Garbolino and Spotted Fin’s Dan White enters numerous events on Campbell each year and while carp make up the mainstay of the action, there is another species that makes a surprise, yet very welcome, appearance.
“You can be catching lots of carp and then all of a sudden the float will dip and a giant perch will be in the net minutes later,” explained Dan.
“Fish of 2lb are caught in most matches, 3lb specimens are not out of the question and the biggest ever landed was over 4lb!”
With fewer match bookings in the depths of winter, fishery owner Steve Long has now temporarily opened up the water up to budding perch anglers on weekdays when no competitions are taking place.
To celebrate the decision, Improve Your Coarse Fishing caught up with Dan to find out just how special the untapped perch fishing is.
Avoiding the carp
Denne historien er fra Issue 333-utgaven av Improve Your Coarse Fishing.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 333-utgaven av Improve Your Coarse Fishing.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Giant Perch For Everyone
For a limited time, Viaduct Fishery’s match-only water has been opened to day-ticket anglers... and it’s full of huge perch!
Whip Out A Roach A Chuck
Small rivers in built-up areas offer the best chance of winter redfins, says rising star John Newman.
Give 'Em A Bit Of Stick!
Korum’s Chris Ponsford doesn’t like to sit back and just let things happen on a river. Keeping busy is more his style,and what better way to do it than with a stick float?
The Long And The Short Of It
Ben Fisk takes the Ultra and Plus versions of the new 9ft Drennan Acolyte feeder rod for some short-range winter fishing.
Spring Into The Summer
On the cusp of a new season, changes are afoot above and below water.
A Rod With The ‘Wow’ Factor
You expect more than just quality in a flagship rod and Middy’s latest XK55-2 World Pro 11ft Feeder delivers the goods.
5 Deadly Tricks With Maggots...
...when barbel are the target, Alfie Naylor works his magic on the cheap grubs that can catch big.
What Happens To Fish When A Lake Freezes?
Ice is annoying for anglers but it can be a matter of life and death for fish. Here’s what’s going on when water stiffens.
Learn How To Bag-Up At 5m
Don’t fall into the trap of automatically fishing the long pole in winter. There’s still lots of action to be had close in, says Frenzee’s Jon Whincup.
Carry On Carping
Get it right and there’s still some great winter carp fishing to had, reckon Brian Skoyles and Colin Cutts.
