Reconditioned boat helps find a monster PB perch - Mark Hewett

“Recently I bought and reconditioned a boat to explore the River Lea this coming winter. A mate and I took it out for a recce, but after travelling a fair distance we still hadn’t caught anything.

“Eventually we got to a bridge and I lost what felt like a perch on a lure straight away, so I switched tactics and cast a small roach livebait under the bridge tunnel to see if a bigger one was in the area.

“Twenty minutes later I struck into what felt like a small jack but then, after 10 seconds or so, I could see this huge perch gliding through the water.

“I went from saying ‘please don’t be a pike’ to shouting ‘please don’t come off’ in seconds, and grew weak at the knees when it bolted off on a short run. 

“Extra pressure told as I drew it to the surface where my mate was ready with the net. At 4lb 1oz it was a PB and the perfect start to my autumn campaign.”

Mark Hewett and his 4lb 1oz River Lea perch