Perch species guide • Freshwater fish • Very easy (3/10)

Perch junior fishing guide

Perca fluviatilis

A clear, plain-English guide to perch for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Perch catch
Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons
Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Very easy (3/10)

Perfect for first-ever fishing trips with young juniors.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

4–12 oz common in many waters; specimens over 2–3 lb possible.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

🐟

Beginner baits

Lobworm, Prawn / shrimp, Worm (dendrobena) …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Canals, rivers
Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.
Catch your first perch with confidence

Catch your first Perch in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

  1. Step 1

    Find cover and features

    Pick a safe peg near features like overhanging trees, boats, platforms or shelves. Perch love shade and structure.

  2. Step 2

    Simple worm rig down the edge

    Use a small float rig with 0.12mm mainline, 0.10mm hooklength and size 16–18 hook. Fish a single red worm or half a worm just off the bottom close to cover.

  3. Step 3

    Let the float settle then lift

    Feed a few chopped worms or maggots now and then. Perch bites often make the float slide or slowly pull under – lift the rod smoothly rather than striking hard.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

👉 Swipe sideways to view different setups.

Drop Shot Rod

Beginner tip: Encourage short, controlled casts and working lures near features like reeds, boats and overhangs.

IDEAL

Rod: 6–8 ft light spinning or ultra-light lure rod (3–15 g rating).

Reel: 1000–2500 fixed spool reel.

Line: 6–8 lb braid with 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Small spinners and plugs"
  • "Soft plastic lures"
  • "Dropshot rigs with size 4–8 hooks"]

Extras

  • ["Polarised glasses"
  • "Unhooking mat"
  • "Forceps"]

Light lure fishing setup for perch, chub and small predators.

Pole

Beginner tip: Start with a short pole length, ship in and out slowly and keep the top kit over the net when unhooking fish.

IDEAL

Rod: 8–13 m elasticated pole with top kits matched to species size.

Reel: Not used; pole uses elastic and rig only.

Line: 0.12–0.18 mm main line with lighter hooklengths through elastic.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Pole float"
  • "shotting for slow fall"
  • "fine wire hook size 18–22"]

Extras

  • ["Pole roller"
  • "pole socks"
  • "landing net and side tray"]

Elasticated pole setup for silverfish and light carp work on stillwaters and canals.

Ultra-Light Lure Rod

Beginner tip: Encourage short, controlled casts and working lures near features like reeds, boats and overhangs.

IDEAL

Rod: 6–8 ft light spinning or ultra-light lure rod (3–15 g rating).

Reel: 1000–2500 fixed spool reel.

Line: 6–8 lb braid with 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Small spinners and plugs"
  • "Soft plastic lures"
  • "Dropshot rigs with size 4–8 hooks"]

Extras

  • ["Polarised glasses"
  • "Unhooking mat"
  • "Forceps"]

Light lure fishing setup for perch, chub and small predators.

Junior Combo Rod

Beginner tip: Let juniors practice casting on grass first, then start short and close-in on the bank.

GOOD

Rod: 7–9 ft soft-action junior combo rod.

Reel: Small fixed spool reel pre-loaded with mono.

Line: 4–6 lb mono mainline.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Small waggler or simple bomb rig"
  • "Size 16–18 hook"
  • "Basic split shot"]

Extras

  • ["Ready-tied hooklengths"
  • "Plummet"
  • "Disgorger and unhooking mat"]

All-round junior combo – simple, forgiving and safe for first sessions.

Spinning Rod

Beginner tip: Start with simple spinners or small soft lures, cast past features and retrieve slowly to keep the lure working.

GOOD

Rod: 6–9 ft spinning or lure rod, 5–30 g casting weight depending on species.

Reel: 2000–3000 size fixed spool reel or small baitcaster.

Line: 6–12 lb mono or braid with fluorocarbon or wire trace as needed.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Snap link for quick lure changes"
  • "small swivels"
  • "appropriate lure clips"]

Extras

  • ["Polarised glasses"
  • "landing net"
  • "unhooking mat for larger fish"]

General spinning rod setup for lures and small spinners for perch, pike, chub and some sea species.

Waggler Rod

Beginner tip: Cast just past your feed area, sink the line and watch the float carefully for small lifts and dips.

GOOD

Rod: 11–13 ft light waggler rod.

Reel: 2500–3000 size fixed spool reel.

Line: 2–4 lb mono main line with lighter hooklength for silverfish.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Insert or straight waggler"
  • "shotting pattern matched to depth"
  • "small hook size 18–20"]

Extras

  • ["Rod rest or seat box arm"
  • "landing net"
  • "disgorger"]

Waggler float rod setup for fishing midwater or near the bottom on calm or slow moving venues.

Whip

Beginner tip: Keep the whip short to start, swing small fish gently to hand and always use a landing net for anything bigger.

OK

Rod: 3–5 m whip or telescopic pole with soft tip.

Reel: Not used; whip is fixed line.

Line: 0.10–0.14 mm main line to light hooklength for small fish.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Simple whip rig"
  • "fine wire hook size 20–24"
  • "small pole float"]

Extras

  • ["Small side tray"
  • "disgorger"
  • "landing net and handle"]

Simple whip setup for small silverfish and junior friendly fishing on canals, ponds and commercials.

About the Perch

Perch are striped, spiky predators with bright orange fins. They gather in small shoals and hunt around cover. They are great fun on float fished worm or small lures.

Junior tip

Fish a small worm or prawn close to features like reeds, boats or weed beds. Keep a firm hold as perch bites can be sudden and positive.

Logged a Perch recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

Fish Health & EA Advice

Linked conditions and guidance for Perch.

Argulus mongolianus
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Argulus mongolianus

Argulus mongolianus is a newly discovered fish louse recently found in the UK. It attaches mainly to the gills, mouth, and head of fish, causing irritation, stress, and sometimes deaths. It has already been confirmed in carp, roach, and bream, and may infect all freshwater species. Because it is new and potentially harmful, reporting any suspicious lice or fish behaviour is very important.

Read full advice
Blackspot
Parasite 🟢 Low risk

Blackspot

Blackspot is a common parasite that forms tiny black cysts on the skin and fins of freshwater fish. It looks alarming but is normally harmless and part of a natural cycle involving snails and birds. Only very heavy infections or small fish are affected. In most cases, blackspot is nothing to worry about.

Read full advice
Chilodonella
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Chilodonella

Chilodonella is a fast-spreading parasite that attacks the skin and gills of freshwater fish. It can cause heavy mucus, grey patches, breathing problems, and even death if untreated. It thrives in poor water quality, overcrowded waters, and when fish are stressed. Good fishery management is the best way to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice
Ichthyobodo necator
Parasite 🟠 High risk

ichthyobodo necator

Ichthyobodo necator (Costia) is a rapidly spreading parasite that attacks a fish’s skin and gills. It causes lethargy, breathing problems, weight loss, and can be deadly—especially for young or stressed fish. It thrives in both cold and warm water, so good management and low-stress conditions are essential to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice

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