Late March on Lough Erne can be challenging, but it can also produce some great perch fishing. On this session, the weather was mostly pleasant, although there were occasional spells of wind and rain throughout the day, adding a bit of variety to the conditions.
We fished from the boat and covered a large area to locate the fish. There were very few active shoals, so it was important to keep moving, searching, and checking different areas until we found perch holding in the right spots.
The fish were sitting on drop-offs in around 7 metres of water. In these conditions, presentation was very important, and a slower, more controlled approach worked best.
Lures and setup
Lures between 5 cm and 10 cm proved to be the most effective, paired with jig heads matched to the depth and conditions. The most effective lures on the day were Cannibal Shads from Savage Gear, Westin ShadTeez, and Qubi Lures Sliz, all of which produced consistent results.
Retrieve technique
The best retrieve was a classic jigging approach along the bottom, using short lifts, controlled drops, and keeping constant contact with the lure. Many bites came on the drop, so staying focused and feeling for even the slightest touch was key.
Tackle used
For this session, I used an Illex Pepper rod rated up to 25g, paired with jig heads between 7g and 10g and 0.16mm braided line. This setup provided excellent sensitivity and control, which was crucial for detecting subtle bites in deeper water.
Even with the difficult weather and scattered fish, it turned out to be an incredible session. We landed around 70 perch each, with almost every fish measuring over 30 cm. A proper day of quality perch fishing on Lough Erne.
