4lb perch at dusk from River Great Ouse

Ashley Bugden is no stranger when it comes to big perch – he has caught numerous fish over 3lb this year and recently broke his pb for the species with this 4lb 1oz specimen.

The Stevenage-based 31-year-old targeted a tributary of the River Great Ouse and found success using a jig on a day where bites were at a premium.

“I was fishing with a friend, roving the banks of the river and neither of us had a bite all day so I returned to my favourite spot at dusk and, bang, I had a fish which at first I thought was a pike,” he said.

Ashley used a new Tronix Rockfish Light rod with 11lb Power Pro line and a 6lb flourocarbon leader attached to a Fox Rage Warrior Mini Fry soft plastic jig.