Truly big perch are incredible fish to see on the bank, and while walking his dogs around a local stillwater, Scott Shepherd spotted an enormous fish patrolling the margins, and the angler in him just had to try and catch it.
After taking a break from fishing due to the bereavement of his father, Scott certainly got the buzz for fishing back when he saw the perch and returned the following morning, managing to bank the spectacular fish at an enormous 5lb 7oz.
"A year ago, my father passed away unexpectedly, which had a massive impact on me as I lost all will to go fishing," Scott expressed to us.
"At the turn of the year, I had the odd dabble locally for pike and had results better than I was expecting, and then decided to commit to tench fishing at the same venue, putting in about a dozen sessions without a touch!"
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"I walk my dogs around the lake a few times a week, and on one of my morning walks, I saw a huge perch in the margins patrolling a big weed bed. So, I got up there the following morning before first light with just a float rod and some maggots."
"The fish was still around and very mobile, so I was trying to be as stealthy as possible whilst following its movements, casting on its route, hoping it would find my bait."
"Frustratingly, every time it got near my bait, it would just swim straight past, and I became increasingly concerned I was going to spook the fish and miss my opportunity," Scott added.
"I was running out of time as I had to get home for work, and decided on one last cast. To my amazement, it took it straight away!"
"It didn’t realise it had been hooked at first, not really doing anything, then it bolted for the weed bed and stuck solid.
"Gentle pressure from all angles didn’t work, and I thought I’d lost it. I decided to put more pressure on in the hope it was still there, then it kicked free, and the fish rose out of the weed bed covered in weed. I scrambled down the bank and netted it before it could free itself."
"I was only using 4.4lb bottom and a size 16 hook, so I'm really surprised I didn’t lose it. It was in mint condition, with a perfect dorsal and weighed 5lb 7oz, a true monster but still 1oz shy of my PB," he said.
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