four perch over 4lb in ressie haul!
An Essex reservoir has produced one of the best specimen perch hauls of the season so far.
The remarkable catch, made up of 11 fish over 3lb 2oz to a best of 4lb 4oz, fell to the rod of tattoo artist Charlie Coppolo, who has been fishing the Hanningfield venue since the start of autumn.
The 32-year-old featured in last week’s Angling Times with a pair of 3lb-plus perch, but he was determined to go one better... and returned to slip his net under a 4lb specimen.
He said: “Following on from last week’s big fish I didn’t think it could get much better – but, amazingly, it did!
“We managed to locate a shoal of baitfish with a Deeper Chirp+ fish-finder, and once again the perch were there in numbers.
“Overall I managed to catch 11 stripeys, all of them weighing over 3lb 2oz.
“The haul also included four incredible fish weighing 4lb 1oz, 4lb 2oz, 4lb 3oz and 4lb 4oz.
“I’ve been trying for years to break the 4lb barrier and this time I’ve managed it four times in a day! I guess a five-pounder is my next target.”
Charlie’s fish were boated on a variety of lures, but a Gunki LS Kiddy in ‘Vairon’ colour mounted on to a 15g jig proved to be the most productive.
Lures also proved effective in Lincolnshire rod Ash Costa’s approach when he drop shotted a black Senko worm to bank plump 4lb 9oz specimen (left).
Ash was being plagued by pike during the morning of his trip to a murky drain near Boston, but a switch to a different venue soon put him on the perch.
He said: “A small group of fry had scattered in open water so I cast just beyond them.
“As the lure was falling through the water I had a very hard take, which I knew from the off was from a big perch.
“A short while later this huge fish lay in my net and I was one very happy and relieved man, because the hook came out straight away.
“It was a stunning fish with a huge frame, and my second perch over 4lb this season.
“It just goes to show how good black lures can be in very coloured water.”
Matchman Ricky Young proved that you don’t need big baits to catch huge perch when he tempted this 4lb 2oz specimen on a double red maggot hookbait.
The Cheshunt, Herts angler was fishing a contest on the River Lea at Nazeing when he received a powerful take on his quivertip rod.
He said: “I had cast a small maggot feeder loaded with chopped worm alongside a double maggot hookbait to the far bank, and had a strong bite moments later.
“This fish was huge, and ultimately helped me win the match!”
