5lb 2oz Great Ouse perch landed

A Decision to switch target species midway through the day paid off for Jamie Cartwright when he slipped his net under this superb 5lb 2oz perch.

The 41-year-old began by targeting roach on the Great Ouse, but after several hours without a bite decided on a change to a lure rod in pursuit of perch. Northampton Specimen Group (NSG) member Jamie said: “Shortly after arriving in my second swim I had an aggressive take, and hooked into a heavy fish.

“On seeing it I thought ‘that’s the biggest perch I’ve ever seen!’ I bundled it into the net, zeroed my sling, and the needle spun straight round past my previous pb of 4lb 9oz… and kept going! Fellow NSG member Ryan Hayden was fishing locally and came over to witness the fish and take a few pics!”

Jamie later added two more perch weighing 2lb 6oz and 3lb 2oz. All his fish fell to Savage Gear 4play lures mounted on 7g jigheads and 8lb Drennan E-Sox fluorocarbon leaders.