Grafham sees record perch hit the bank

Predator fishing haven Grafham Water hit top form this week when a trio of huge specimens were landed from the on-form fishery.

Seasoned specimen angler Gareth Goldson led the way after he enjoyed one of the greatest weeks of his career while targeting the Cambridgeshire venue.
The Dynamite Baits rod set his sights on landing a big perch from the 1,500 acre reservoir and struck gold when he slipped the net under an immaculate 4lb 7oz venue record specimen.

Having spent years analysing the feeding habits of the fish in the water, he was convinced that his best chance of success would come at first light and within 15 minutes of casting his jig out the line tightened up.

“My initial thought was that it was a zander but its head began to shake I had a feeling I was into a massive perch,” explained Gareth.

“Once it was in the boat I couldn’t believe what I’d landed and I even thought it was over 5lb. It was a truly remarkable fish and showed that doing your homework can pay off.”

But Gareth’s run of form didn’t end there as he revisited the water with a completely different target – a new personal best zander.

A campaign on his local Fenland rivers hadn’t produced any major successes so he hooked up with venue expert Adam Perna to try and break his duck.

Bites were hard to come by but with the light drawing in they were given a welcome boost when Gareth landed a 2lb 15oz perch and shortly afterwards he was in action again: “I felt a couple of subtle plucks before I made contact with what felt like a pike. It felt so heavy bringing it up on the tiny rod and I just prayed the jig stayed in place,”

“I wasn't surprised to see the scales spin round to 15lb 1oz and it made a frustrating day more than worthwhile,” added Gareth, who used 10lb braid and an 8lb fluoro leader to a small Savage Gear shad.

He wasn’t alone in enjoying the frantic sport as Paul Douglas banked a new pb pike of 27lb 2oz.

The Northampton rod used mackerel deadbaits in deep water to land the big fish before taking his first ever double figure zander of 10lb 10oz and another weighing 10lb 12oz.