Two preserved and cased Perch caught by AE Hobbs in the River Thames in March 1922, weighing 2lbs 10 oz and 2lbs 3 ozs.
Hobbs was born in New Street, Henley in 1871 and lived in Henley all his life. Whilst working as an architect for Brakspear brewery in the 1930's he was responsible for designing many local pubs.
Hobbs claimed to have caught almost 900 Thames Trout, each over 3 lbs in weight, in 55 years of fishing. He fished in the non-tidal reaches of the Thames.
PERCH
Latin Name - Perca fluviatilis
Colour - Its flanks (sides) are pale green with dark bars ruiniing from the back. These bars vary in colour and number from 5 to 9. Its belly is silvery green.
Size - This depends what food is available. Adults are often bewteen 15cm and 30cm (6-12 inches) and weigh up to 2kg (4/5lb).
Characteristics - Its dorsal fin (on its back) is grey with a large dark spot at the back. Its second dorsal fin is yellowish. Its pectoral fins (on its side) are brown. The other fins and the tail are pink, orange or red depending on its age, the time of year and the water in which it lives.
Diet - It eats small fish either dead or alive, crustaceans and molluscs (animals in shells), insect lavae and worms. It is not fussy and will eat most living creatures that it can.
Habitat - The perch likes slow flowing rivers, like the Thames, and lives in large shoals (groups). It avoids cold quick waters.
How fished for - Anglers use live or dead fish as bait such as minnows and gudgeon but also worms or maggots or artificial baits called lures. Many anglers catch perch by float fishing but in deep water ledgering is used. Ledgering involves the use of lead weight to keep the bait near to the bottom of the water.
Interesting Facts - One of the perch's favourite food is its own fry (baby perch)
British Record - 2.52kg - 5lb 9oz
Preserved and cased Thames Trout fish, caught by AE Hobbs in the River Thames on the 4th June 1898. Weight 9.25 lbs.
Hobbs was born in New Street, Henley in 1871 and lived in Henley all his life. Whilst working as an architect for Brakspear brewery in the 1930's he was responsible for designing many local pubs.
Hobbs claimed to have caught almost 900 Thames Trout, each over 3 lbs in weight, in 55 years of fishing. He fished in the non-tidal reaches of the Thames.
BROWN TROUT
(When found in the Thames these are called Thames Trout)
Latin name - Salmo trutta
Colour - It is usually brownish or greenish with a darker back but the colour is variable. Greyish blue specimens occur and some are almost black.
Size - Growth is dependent on the surroundings and adults are often between 20-50m long. Trout can grow up to 140cm (55ins) long.
Charcteristics - The trout has many black spots on its head and body and some red spots. Its lower jaw is long and in old males becomes hooked. The younger trout are called parr and have around 10 marks (called parr marks) on each side of the body.
Habitat - The trout likes clean rivers which are high in oxygen.
Diet - It feeds on invertebrates, fish and crustaceans.
How fished for - Trout are today more often caught from stocked lakes than rivers such as the Thames.
Two preserved and cased Golden Orfe fish, caught by AE Hobbs in the River Thames on the 23rd October 1901. Weights 2 lbs 8oz and 2lbs 6 oz.
Hobbs was born in New Street, Henley in 1871 and lived in Henley all his life. Whilst working as an architect for Brakspear brewery in the 1930's he was responsible for designing many local pubs.
Hobbs claimed to have caught almost 900 Thames Trout, each over 3 lbs in weight, in 55 years of fishing. He fished in the non-tidal reaches of the Thames.
Preserved and cased Barbel fish, caught by AE Hobbs in the River Thames on the 8th July 1903. Weight 10 lbs 5oz.
Hobbs was born in New Street, Henley in 1871 and lived in Henley all his life. Whilst working as an architect for Brakspear brewery in the 1930's he was responsible for designing many local pubs.
Hobbs claimed to have caught almost 900 Thames Trout, each over 3 lbs in weight, in 55 years of fishing. He fished in the non-tidal reaches of the Thames.
BARBEL
Latin name - Barbus barbus
Colour - Barbel vary in colour, it is usually greyish brown on the back with greenish golden sides (flanks) and a creamy white belly. The fins are grey and the lower fins often have a pink tint.
Size - It grows up to 90cm (3ft) long.
Charcteristics - The barbel is a powerful fish with a long body and a pointed snout (nose) with four barbels. The fish uses its barbels to search by taste for food. There are two small barbels by the tip of the nose and 2 longer ones near the back of the mounth. The barbel is also a member of the carp family.
Diet - It feeds on the bottom of the river and usually at night. It eats insect larvae, molluscs, crustaceans and worms. It also eats small fish and plants.
How fished for - Anglers use either float or ledgering (when a lead weight is used to keep the bait near the bottom of the water) tackle. Dead minnow is known as a good bait when fishing for barbel.
Interesting facts - Barbel fishing was a very popular pursuit with Victorian ladies. They are native to the River Thames and have lived here since the last ice age.
British record - 14lb 6oz - 6.52kg