New PB Perch After Nearly Seven Years

A few days back, a true UK river monster beat this 4lb 6oz perch that had held my personal best for so long. Strangely the new PB made me reflect on this fish, the beast that features in the Ned Rig video.

The perch that opened doors

It’s nearly seven years since I posted my Ned Rig video, featuring that incredible 4lb 6oz fish. The video has now had over 133,000 views, which still feels rather bonkers. Looking back, it wasn’t just a memorable catch; it seemed to open a few doors creatively.

A hand holds three ribbed soft-plastic fishing lures in olive green, translucent pearl and bright orange, with exposed hooks against a grassy background. — My three soft-plastic options for tempting a perch.

I started working with my beloved Snapper brand — RIP — then Korum, Sonubaits and later Fox Rage. That fish and that film feel like a significant moment in my fishing story. It’s funny how one session can end up meaning far more than you expected.

Close-up of hands holding a pale, curved soft-plastic fishing lure with a hook visible beside its body. — A closer look at my soft-plastic lure.

There’s more about that later chapter in my move to Fox Rage. Fishing and making videos have become so closely linked for me, and that old Ned Rig film is a lovely reminder of where some of those opportunities began.

A man wearing a dark knitted hat, black-framed glasses, a grey fleece and green fishing bib trousers faces the camera with trees behind him. — Wrapped up warm with my fishing kit on.

Nearly seven years of chasing perch

Since then, there have probably been another hundred perch videos, thousands of perch sessions and a zillion casts. All right, I haven’t counted the casts! But it’s been a proper wait, and finally one landed in front of a fish that has blown my mind.

A hand in a grey fingerless glove holds a cork-handled fishing rod and spinning reel over rippled water beside a lichen-covered platform. — My view over the water, rod in hand.

Unsurprisingly, the cameras were rolling. Most of my fishing involves a GoPro and camera these days, so it feels fitting that this moment was captured too. I’ll obviously share photos and write a blog post about the new PB once the Fox Rage video has been launched.

Close-up of a perch on a landing net over grass, with a fingerless-gloved hand holding its lower jaw and a green soft-plastic lure beside its mouth. — A closer look at my perch and its lure.

I was actually on the bank trying one of the new Combo Kits being launched by Fox Rage. You’ll be able to see the whole thing unfold on their YouTube channel soon. A tackle filming session turned into something I’ll remember for a very long time.

Always check those old spots

This wasn’t easy fishing. The river spot had produced good fish for me before, but I hadn’t checked it for a while. That’s the biggest reminder I’m taking away: don’t forget those old areas. They’re worth another look, even when the fishing is tough.

An angler wearing glasses, a black beanie and olive chest waders looks down with one hand on his head beside grass and brambles. — A hand-on-head moment for me on the bank!

Blimey, the sessions in that old Ned video were tough! And big up the Korum Snapper Squirmz: I still have a few rattling around in the bottom of my bag on a cold day.

A smiling man wearing glasses and a black beanie holds a large perch with dark vertical stripes and red fins in front of brambles. — The Ned Rig perch - no longer my PB but still a significant capture for me