River nene perch record smashed!

The River Nene perch record has been obliterated with the capture of an incredible
4lb 12oz specimen. 

It fell to predator fanatic Harry Langley from a Cambridgeshire stretch of the waterway, and smashed the previous venue record of 4lb 4oz, taken in 2015 by local angler Paul Smith, by half-a-pound. 

Speaking exclusively to Angling Times, Harry described his recent pursuit of big stripeys from the River Nene – a waterway that isn’t famed for its perch sport. 

He said: “I decided to target the perch after stumbling across a few bigger ones chasing fry in this particular stretch. 

“I set up two rods – one with a maggot feeder with maggot hookbaits and the other with worm on the bomb. 

“At my first attempt of trying with a worm hookbait I was lucky enough to smash my personal best with a specimen weighing bang on 3lb. 

“It was an exceptional catch for the Nene, but I knew there were bigger perch out there. 

“This was confirmed a couple of days later when I hooked and lost a much better fish. 

“I simply had to return, but I had no idea my next trip was going to produce something altogether more special.”

A week later Harry set up in the same spot and cast out his bomb and worm set-up. 

A few hours passed without a bite, but then the 23-year-old’s perseverance was rewarded.

“The bite was a hard one  and pulled the tip round towards the surface,” Harry said.

“The fight was fantastic – especially for a perch – as the fish started to take line, followed by those classic heavy headshakes. 

“At first I thought it might have been a small zander, but when I got it to the top and saw it for the first time I just couldn’t believe what was heading for the landing net.

“I even managed to get some GoPro footage of the fish. 

“It’s certainly a catch I won’t forget in a hurry!”