DISCLAIMER: These fish were caught before March 15th 2025.
The perch has been described in the past as the "biggest fish of them all" by legendary angler Richard Walker, and it is hard to disagree when they get to specimen sizes. While they aren't technically the biggest, their formidable and imposing look not only shocks small prey fish, but also those anglers who are lucky enough to catch them, as seeing a big perch in the flesh is a sight to behold. In recent weeks we have seen some incredible perch caught and they just seem to be getting bigger and bigger every year!
Kane Hammond enjoyed a fantastic perch session on the River Thames just before the season’s end, landing this fish of 5lb 1oz, along with a couple of four-pounders and a pair of ‘threes’ for good measure!
Having located the fish the previous evening, Kane headed straight to the area the next morning.
He caught all his perch in an incredible hour’s fishing, presenting a worm on a drop shot rig twitched along just off the bottom.
His set-up comprised a light lure rod, 8lb leader and two SSG shot. Kane was sure the five-pounder was a pike, but after a few runs and a dogged fight under the rod-tip, the colossal stripey surfaced.
He admits that the rest of the session was a bit of a blur!
IF YOU WANT MORE TIPS ON CATCHING BIG PERCH, THIS ARTICLE IS FULL OF USEFUL TACTICS.
A day afloat on the Thames near Marlow turned out to be a memorable experience for Mark Fox, who landed this 4lb 15oz perch.
He and a friend had landed several pike before the perch moved in, and his angling companion had taken a perch of 3lb 1oz just before Mark’s big fish struck.
Floatfished roach livebaits, presented on 8lb fluorocarbon hooklinks and size 4 hooks, were the successful approach.
STUCK FOR SOMEWHERE TO FISH NOW THE RIVERS ARE CLOSED? TRY ONE OF THESE GREAT VENUES.
On a session late in the evening on a private stretch of river, Jason Ostler caught a couple of perch weighing 4lb 6oz and 3lb 12oz.
“A few nights prior to that trip I’d had a few other big fish, all of them switching on just after 6pm."
“This was clearly their feeding window and, when I returned, I had the two biggest fish on lures which I cast into a 6ft deep hole at the end of a shallow bend."
“I started the season with a perch of 4lb 1oz, which I was happy enough with, but to finish the season with a brace for 8lb 2oz was just unreal."
“I’m still shaking now!”
THESE ARE THE BEST LURES TO USE IF YOU WANT TO CATCH PERCH!
