ON a trip to a new stillwater venue in his home county of Essex, Liam Stephens connected with this 4lb 14oz perch on a copper spinner.
Soon after arriving he had a few small perch on the spinner and decided to stick with it, and 45 minutes into the session he hit into a fish that felt heavier, but almost as if it was snagged in weed.
Liam was unsure what he was into – however, when he saw a ‘colossal’ perch emerge from the depths, shake its head and flare its gills, he realised he was into the biggest stripey he’d ever laid eyes on.
Liam admits his legs went to jelly, but before long he had the fish in the net and he could see immediately that it had smashed his previous
3lb 8oz PB. He says the shoulders on the fish were immense, and that it was a ‘true sergeant’ that he’ll never forget.
