KAJ BUSCH (Bushy)

Kaj Busch better know as Bushy around the fishing traps is one of Australia's most respected fishing journalists.

Former Co-Presenter on the Rex Hunt Fishing Show, Bushy's talents as an all round fisherman have enabled him to fish in a wide variety of situations and places that most people only dream about. Bushy is a regular contributor to Modern Fishing Magazine, is saltwater editor for Fly Life Magazine and contributes to many other publication around Australia.

Currently producing Hooked on Fishing, a Western Australian TV show for the 7 network, together with long time friend and fishing companion Steve Starling, Bushy is again expanding his knowledge of the Australian coastline, fishing potential and returning his knowledge to people via a multitude of media channels.

Having such a wide knowledge of fishing makes him a great ambassador for Halco Fishing Tackle.
 


Silver Perch
Bidyanus bidyanus
Other Names: Macca, Grunter, Black Bream, Silver Bream
 

Silver perch, especially in the jumbo sizes, are a notoriously difficult fish to catch on lures. There is a theory doing the rounds that their diet changes from fish and crustaceans to include a lot of weed and other vegetable matter as they get older. In impoundments, these fish often suspend in midwater around the plankton blooms and you can sometimes find them with a good depth sounder.

Silver perch prefer small lures that get down under the surface. I have enjoyed the most success on silvers with a green Tilsan Minnow trolled in deeper areas of large impoundments. When the fish are young they live alongside weed-beds and also favour the cover of downed timber. Scorpion 35 and 52 lures as well as Halco Combats, Poltergeist in green tiger, brown trout, frog and fluoro green work well. Poltergeists are only just small enough, but their crash diving characteristics will put them down in the silver perch strike zone in a hurry.

By Kaj Busch