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Angler pours heart and soul into catching exceptional perch

by Freddie Sandford |

Updated on22nd January 2026 at 3.06pm

With there being only a short winter predator season on a large Midlands water where he purchased a ticket, Dave Mower knew that he’d have to put his ‘heart and soul’ into the fishing if he was to earn ‘a result’.

Over his first 12 sessions, the largest perch he landed was a big ‘three’, leading him to wonder if he was wasting his time. But then, on his last trip, his efforts were rewarded in spectacular style when he landed this amazing specimen of 5lb 5oz.

Dragging a Rapala Crush City NED slowly along the bottom, pausing for up to 20 seconds at a time, Dave had a delicate bite – his first in what seemed like forever – and struck into a heavy fish. After an intense fight, during which the fish made powerful lunges and stripped line from the reel, he finally saw bright red fins and dark stripes near the surface.

Once in the net, Dave called a mate over to witness the weighing, with the fish measuring 48cm and boasting impressive width across the back.

HEAD TO ONE OF THESE VENUES FOR QUALITY WINTER PERCH FISHING.

Dave with the cracking perch he has tried so hard to catch!

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