What a great start to the pike season!
The pike fishing season has got off to a flying start with three 30lb-plus specimens landed in the space of a few days.
Somerset’s prolific Chew Valley Reservoir produced two of the three monstes, boated by mates Ray Brown and John Chester during a weekend visit.
They enjoyed a fantastic Saturday and Sunday of predator fishing on the 1,200-acre venue and hooked no fewer than 10 pike between them on floatfishing mackerel deadbaits.
It was garden centre owner Ray who hooked the first big pike, a 24-pounder, following it up with a 30lb 14oz beauty on the very next cast.
He said: “We were floatfishing mackerel just off the lakebed and when the float sailed away I struck and set the hook.
“The fish came in slowly to the boat and to be honest I first thought it was a jack.
“It was a good job I had my clutch set light, as when it reached the boat it shot off at the speed of light!
“I gave up fishing for around 30 years but I’m very thankful to John, who persuaded me to take it up again and enjoy pike like this one.”
After a quick move to another area the baits were recast, and it didn’t take long before John’s float was away with a slightly bigger fish.
Ray added: “As it approached the net we could tell it was a slightly bigger fish, which the scaled acknowledged with a weight of 31lb 4oz.
“We have been Chew regulars for at least 10 years and have caught numerous fish over 20lb, including an incredible seven over 30lb between us – but never two thirties on the same trip!”
Scottish Loch giant
Predator fanatic Luke Reed proved that Scottish lochs are still prolific for huge pike when he slipped his net under this 30lb 4oz beast of a predator.
Fishing an undisclosed water, the 29-year-old from Middlesbrough hooked into his new personal best when something huge grabbed his joey mackerel deadbait close to the bank.
He said: “It put up an incredible fight and I knew it was a big fish as soon as I struck into it. Almost instantly it tail-walked across the surface. I have fished for pike every winter for the last 10 years and I’m so happy that I’ve finally been rewarded with this monster of a fish.”