'Drop-shotting' proves downfall for big perch

If you're targeting big river perch the popular ‘drop shotting’ method is hard to beat - as proved by James Stevens when he slipped the net under this huge specimen.

He struck gold when he targeted a local stretch of river and worked his lure close to a moored boat situated on the far bank of the waterway.

Unfortunately the Hertfordshire-based rod’s scales were faulty so he and his good friend and fellow all-rounder Dan Sales estimated the fish to weigh around the 4lb mark.

The impressive predator was beaten with 15lb braid and he also managed to fool two smaller perch, while Dan banked a chub and a brown trout, both over the 4lb mark.