Return to an Old Haunt in Search of Perch

An early morning start was executed, off to an old schoolboy haunt of mine that once held a good stock of hefty perch, unfortunately its only recently that the perch have again become established having disappeared from this pond some years ago, why is any ones guess as the water has always been healthy and food a plenty? The carp here have previously reached near 30lb but many of these fish have died of old age and a younger generation are now packing on the weight, will there be twenty's? The pond in question is delightful, very under fished, somewhat neglected and not of any particular size and still offers a bit of the unknown.
Arriving in the dark i made the small ramble towards the pond only to be ambushed by a flock of hedge hopping pheasants! i think they were as startled as me shrieking aloud as they dashed for cover. After settling down in a swim a fat float fished worm was placed in the margins and bites galore were inevitable as this pond is stuffed with Rudd, even if i had a worm of abnormal proportions these greedy little buggers would attempt to eat it.

As it started to get lighter a few hand size perch were caught along with a carp of around 10lb, a stunning common that made an account of itself on my 6lb float tackle. Another three immaculate double figure carp were caught and then my target fish, a Perch of just under 2lbs,

a nice fish that i doubt has been caught before and i honestly believe if you can get pass the Rudd, bigger Perch could be there for the taking.

One other highlight of the trip was the awakening of a toad under my bait tub, funny fat fella he gave me a pose on some old timber in the autumn sunshine.