Shock 3lb 2oz perch

Jeff Smeeton had a welcome surprise when a tench session produced this 3lb 2oz personal best perch.

The Surrey-based specialist was fishing Horcott Lakes when his hair-rigged imitation maggots, fished in conjunction with a bolt rig and 10lb fluorocarbon fished straight through to a size 12 hook, produced the perch.

He lured the fish into the swim with a bed of casters and dead maggots that he spodded over a spot at 32yds.

“I caught a few tench during the day, but this perch really was the icing on the cake because there aren’t many more impressive fish than a big perch like this.”