Beginner's perch at 3lb took a lure

Ryan Need only began targeting perch three months ago – but he’s wasted no time getting among the specimens, landing this 3lb 4oz fish from a Staffordshire stillwater.

The local rod adopted the popular drop-shotting approach and after an uneventful couple of hours he saw a large stripey hit his Fox Rage rubber jig.

He said: “I’ve been fishing for over 25-years but have only recently decided to have a go for perch. This fish came out of nowhere and it was awesome to see its gills flair up as it grabbed my lure.

“My previous best was a fish of 2lb 2oz from the River Severn and I was delighted to break the magical 3lb-barrier.”