two perch over 4lb on same trip

A perch of 4lb is reckoned to be the fish of a lifetime, so imagine how specimen hunter Paul Faint felt when he landed two over that magical mark.

They weighed 4lb 1oz and 4lb 7oz respectively and were banked from a Lea Valley gravel pit in Hertfordshire. Speaking exclusively to Angling Times, Paul said: “After hearing about a few perch being caught, I decided to do a night targeting them as well as the bream, which run to a good size. I was well aware that this might be my last chance before the perch spawned.”

The 48-year-old used leger tactics with a rig consisting of a 10lb X-line fluorocarbon mainline, a running lead, a short Drennan braided hooklink and size 8 Pallatrax hook.

He said: “My hookbait choice was a pair of lobworms directly hooked with the tails nipped off. I baited the swim sparingly during the day with chopped worms, mindful of the fact the pit holds a substantial number of crayfish.”

Despite having set the trap, the Essex rod was made to wait for his first signs of action. He added: “Nothing stirred until just after midnight – there was a single beep followed by a quick pull, and to my surprise a large perch soon graced the net.

“It was a new pb at 4lb 1oz, a great feat considering they say perch don’t feed at night!”

This was to be the start of a flurry of action for Paul, who was awakened a further four times during the early hours. All these bites were from bream, the biggest weighing 11lb 14oz.

His previous perch catch was about to be bested not long afterwards, however, when has alarm sounded again at first light. “I had only gone and caught another pb, this time at a weight of 4lb 7oz,” Paul said.

“This was the final fish of the session, but what a great pair of perch for an overnighter persistence does pay off!”