Giant perch ends lea angler’s run of tiny stripeys

Sometimes in fishing you’ve got to kiss a few frogs to get a prince. Adam Perna certainly did that before slipping the net under this pristine 4lb perch.

The Blakes Baits-backed angler fished lobworms tipped with maggots on the River Lea and had 11 bites before the big stripey struck.

Adam said: “I ended the session with 12 fish – none of the others were bigger than my hand! 

“After those 11 tiddlers the swim I was fishing went quiet, and the next time the tip wrapped around I was attached to this brute!”

Adam used a running leger set up with a quarter-ounce lead and a foot-long 5lb fluoro hooklink to a size 8 hook.