I have been fishing the DCAC Lower Derwent stretch for two seasons now and one of the pleasing aspects of this water is the very healthy head of perch, including some very big fish indeed. So far I have had five Derwent fish over 2 lbs, the biggest being 2 lb 12 oz which came from the Nooning Lane stretch. I know there are much bigger fish than this in the river because I've seen them! I have also had a lot of fish in 1 to 2 lb category and it is possible to catch this stamp of fish in numbers. I thought it might be helpful to share what I have learned regarding Derwent Perch for any anglers who want to target this predator species.

Whilst it is possible to catch perch when the river is up and coloured, using maggots and lobworms, I have found I have usually done better when the water is clear. It should be noted that after a lengthy spell of rain, particularly in the winter, the river can be 12 or 18” above normal level and yet still be relatively clear. My fish have come to either half a float-fished or quiver-tipped lobworm, with the hook nicked into the cut end, or size 3 Mepps spinners. Using a small spinner lends itself to a roving approach and it's surprising how far you can travel in just a couple of hours. As I have a sit-down job and need the exercise I try and lure fish when I can.

I am convinced that the feeding behaviour of Derwent perch, and perch in other waters, is governed by what I call “passive mode” and “killing mode”. Let me explain. When the fish is in passive mode, the perch is often deep in cover or is resting on the bottom, occasionally striking at bait fish and other food items that present themselves as an easy meal. The killing mode is when the perch comes out of cover and up in the water, often in a pod of 3 or 4 fish to chase its dinner aggressively. This is when you see the bait fish scattering, with perch herding the bait fish hard against the bank and then picking off its prey one by one. Whilst this is more common in the summer, it still happens in the winter, particularly if it's mild. Not surprisingly, if you see evidence of the perch in killing mode, that's the time to target then with a spinner. Worm hard against cover is likely to be more successful if the perch are in passive mode.

What is interesting is that I think you can sometimes trigger a “mode switch”. I have, for example, been fishing unsuccessfully with worm for a couple of hours, and then a switch to a spinner has brought an immediate response resulting in a good perch on the bank. When fishing with a lobworm it pays to feed maggots even though you might not be using them as a hook bait. The maggots will attract silver fish, and when these build up in sufficient quantities, the perch will be attracted - very often in killing mode. In fact one of the best times to fish for perch is when a stick float fisherman has just vacated a peg. I've had a couple of “dog” perch on spinners that have immediately coughed up maggots under these circumstances.

Whether you are bait fishing or lure fishing, the last two hours of daylight are always the best. So if you can't make an early start, you can always go perch fishing for a short afternoon/evening session, and you don't need much kit. I just keep my tackle in a waistcoat with lots of pockets and carry a big plastic bucket that's strong enough to sit on. I keep my kit in the car boot all the time. The car smells, but that's the price you pay for a quick get away!

If you catch a Derwent perch in clear water conditions the colours and stripes will be absolutely stunning. Perch are pugnacious fish that quiver with aggression; if fish were eligible for ASBOs, perch would be the No 1 culprit! The late Dick Walker noted that the biggest fish of all is a big perch and when you have a Derwent perch in excess of 2 ½ lbs in your hands you will understand these sentiments exactly. The mouth or a perch is huge; I have taken a perch that had absolutely no problem with a Super Shad Rap plug (meant for a big pike); this lure is a good 6 or 7 inches in length.

Two final pieces of advice – always use a wire trace when spinning for perch; there's loads of pike in the Derwent and I‘ve had them to 15 lb 12 oz this season just gone. Secondly, although perch are conventionally associated with eddies and slack water swims, don't ignore the faster water – particularly in summer. So why not have a go for the perch this summer? The Derwent fish are in prime condition at the moment and there's plenty to go at. In fact, given the huge numbers of fish in the 8-12 oz category, I'm surprised that the match lads aren't targeting them more.

I've only just recently got a digital camera and I hope to provide pictures of a 3 lb + Derwent perch next season. In fact a 4 lb fish is probably a realistic target. This 3 lb 12 oz fish below didn't come from the Derwent; it's a stillwater fish, but its capture was based on a consideration the passive/killing modes I've described here.