Schoolboy banks shock 35lb pike

Schoolboy Thomas Pinchin became the envy of predator anglers across the nation after his first ever pike tipped the scales at 35lb.

The Surrey-based 12-year-old had been on the trail of a pike for two years and made the long journey with his dad from their home in Surrey to the family owned Manor Lake in Norfolk.

Using a floatfished mackerel hookbait, the junior achieved his long term goal early in the day when he banked an 11lb fish.

He quickly reset his trap and shortly afterwards he gained a lot more than he bargained for when he latched in to one of only a handful of specimen pike in the venue.

A spirited battle ended with the fish sliding over the net, with the sheer weight of the beast smashing the landing net handle as it was lifted onto the bank.

Manor Lake owner Stephen Burroughes told Angling Times: “This is a lake record by some way and an incredible specimen.”

“He was obviously delighted at his achievement and it’ll certainly be a tough personal best to beat.

 A nine year old boy caught a 26lb pike a few years ago and we suspect this could be the same fish,” he added.

He wasn’t the only junior to show off their predator skills this week as teenager Thomas Moore hooked a monster 29lb pike during a tournament on a Cambridgeshire drain.

The 13-year-old from Yaxley-based angler was fishing with his dad during a pairs pike match on his local Whittlesey Angling Association controlled drain when the giant fish took his coarse deadbait.

Another smaller specimen was added to the bag to give the duo first prize in the competition, with Thomas gaining the individual honours thanks to the memorable catch.

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