Why I’m hooked on perch

I went fishing the other day. The plan was to catch pike by spinning for them from my canoe. I knew there were a lot of smallish pike in the bit of river I was fishing so I used small lures. The result was quite predictable - I caught no pike but quite a few nice perch.

Now it has to be said a nice perch is not particularly large. The Irish rod caught record is 2.75 kg (5lbs 8oz) but this was an exceptional fish. One a quarter of this weight is still a big perch and a ‘nice’ perch is probably only 200 to 300 grams.

But size isn’t everything and I’m fond of them. This is partly due to the fact that a perch was the first fish I ever caught, when I was eight years old. A lot of other Irish anglers would probably say the same. They are a very handsome fish, with a high, olive-coloured back, four or five vertical black stripes and red or orange fins and tail. They are also quite spiny, particularly in the front dorsal fin, and quickly teach a young angler to handle them with care.