By Ollie Jenkinson
There's something about fishing the last few hours of daylight. The pace changes, the light softens and, as the day begins to fade, predatory species like perch can become increasingly active.
For me, a large weir pool has become the perfect after-work escape. The objective is simple: travel light, cover water and make the most of those precious few hours before dark.
My setup of choice is the Agitator Z-Series 7–21g spinning rod, paired with a 3000 Agitator spinning reel loaded with 15lb braid. It's a compact, versatile combination that gives me everything I need for this style of fishing without weighing me down. That's part of why lure fishing is so appealing to me - you're unencumbered by mountains of kit and the ability to explore at will is really refreshing.
Find the shoal. Find the bigger fish.
My first session started with plenty of action. Small crankbaits cast into the foaming white water at the base of the weir were producing perch after perch – mostly hand-sized fish, but enough action to keep me searching.
Watching the smaller perch compete for the lure got me thinking; "If there were this many fish holding in the area, surely there has to be something bigger amongst them?"
Then came the answer.
A solid thud stopped the crankbait in its tracks. The fish immediately felt different – heavier, more powerful – but after a short, hard fight, the hooks pulled.
One big perch had gained the advantage. This battle was lost but the war was far from over!
I wasn't about to make the same mistake twice so changed tactics, switching to a chatterbait teamed with a creature-bait trailer. It was a bigger, more aggressive presentation, offering plenty of vibration and movement to stand out amongst the turbulence of the weir pool.
A three-pounder on the mat - what a sight!
It didn't take long. Another sharp thump was followed by a solid hook set, and this time the fish stayed connected. The rod loaded up as the perch powered away, and as it came closer I caught a glimpse of that unmistakable spiky dorsal fin.
Big, big perch.
The net went underneath it moments later and I breathed a sigh of relief. At 42cm and 3lb 1oz, it was a seriously impressive fish – and one that proved the theory that the bigger perch can be sitting right underneath a shoal of smaller fish.
Back for more
A few days later I was back. Same pool. Same lightweight setup. Same target.
I started with the chatterbait that had produced the first big perch, working the water thoroughly but getting no response. Rather than sticking with a lure that had already produced, I decided to change things up.
This time, a small jerkbait went on. Its erratic action is perfect for a stop-start retrieve, allowing me to twitch the lure aggressively before pausing and letting it hang in the water.
I made a cast straight into the white water at the bottom of the weir and began working it back with short twitches and pauses.
Then… Thump!
The rod loaded up again. Another big perch was attached. Once more, the rod handled the fight perfectly as I carefully guided the fish towards the net. As it came into view, it looked every bit as good as the first – perhaps even bigger.
A quick measure on the Agitator mat and a weigh confirmed it - 44cm and 3lb 5oz.
Two evenings. Two big perch.
3lb 5oz and 44cm - a huge perch in anyone's book.
Neither session lasted more than a few hours, but both produced fish that would have been worth travelling a long way for.
That's what makes this kind of fishing so addictive. You don't need a huge amount of tackle, a complicated approach or an entire day at the water. Sometimes, the best sessions come from simply grabbing a light setup, heading out after work and seeing what's waiting in the last few hours of daylight.
Travel light. Think differently. Make the time count.
