42lb Chew pike tops off a great week for the species
Another incredible week for big pike has seen a giant fish of 42lb 12oz topping an impressive list of predators.
Many experts believe that the current British record that stands at 46lb 12oz will be broken this winter – and this latest catch, one of the biggest pike ever from Somerset’s Chew Valley Lake, proves why.
It was boated by local angler and venue regular Matt Bridgwood, from Bristol.
He and other visiting pikers braved rough conditions at the venue that’s produced more than 30 fish over the 30lb mark since the pike trials began.
The 46-year-old carpenter smashed his personal best for the species by 6lb when he floatfished a small, fresh sardine in around 18ft of water.
“This is the pike fishing version of winning the lottery…you know what Chew is capable of but never dare to dream of catching something like this,” Matt told Angling Times.
“As the fish took the bait it ripped line off the reel and my rod just hooped straight over.
I knew straight away it was something special.
“It didn’t help my nerves one bit when it jumped clear out of the water… I’ve never seen anything like that and probably never will again,” added a delighted Matt.
Still at Chew Valley, well-respected pike angler Kevin Shore described the moment a 39lb 4oz pike slid over the frame of his landing net as ‘one I will never ever forget.’
The specimen hunter from Cheshire tempted the impressive predator with a floatfished smelt.
Chew’s sister water, nearby Blagdon Lake, has also been hitting the headlines since it opened its doors to pike anglers for the first time ever in 2017, and it was there that Kent rod Paul Sharman banked his fish of a lifetime on a pike fly – the only tactic allowed to be used here during the trials.
It tipped the scales at 39lb and was fooled with a goldfish pattern fly fished in conjunction with a 12 weight rod, an HD7 fast-sinking line and a 40lb wire trace.
“This fish is the pinnacle of my fly fishing career,” he said.
“I will probably never better it, but that won’t stop me trying.”
Also fishing Blagdon Lake’s first pike trial was Woking, Surrey rod Dave Sproston, who smashed his pike personal best by 4lb when he boated a 37lb 6oz fish.
Having being shown the best areas by experienced local guide John Horsey on a previous session, he put what he’d learned to devastating effect.
