'Perch of a lifetime' falls to livebait

Alfie Russell struck into what he described as the ‘perch of a lifetime’ when this stunning 5lb 3oz specimen engulfed his roach livebait during a recent session.

The 22-year-old Londoner first targeted his chosen southern stillwater with lures, before returning for another session and switching to legered to livebait tactics once he’d discovered a shoal of big perch were present. 

“After a slow and steady take, I struck into the fish and instantly knew it was a good one as there wasn’t much headshaking going on and my 1.5lb Drennan twin tip rod was hooped right over,” he said.

“After a dogged fight she finally went into the net – I feel truly blessed to have seen a fish like that in my lifetime!”

Alfie Russell and his giant 5lb 2oz perch