Chew pike smashes personal best by more than 30lb!
FEW ANGLERS have held a 30lb pike so when Alyssa Williams’ second cast of the trip produced this immense 34lb 14oz specimen she couldn’t believe her luck!
The huge predator, which completely annihilated her previous pike best of 8oz, was tempted from Somerset’s Chew Valley Reservoir during a day session with her husband Sam Jones.
Speaking to Angling Times, Sam revealed that the tremendous catch would never have happened had he not let Alyssa have a go with one of his rods.
Alyssa’s pike weighed an incredible 34lb 14oz
He said: “Alyssa had been pestering me for ages to have a go but when I finally caved in I didn’t expect her to catch a monster!
“She did it all herself: mounted the small herring on two single hooks, drove the bait boat 80 yards out and dropped it before eventually landing the fish.”
Prior to hooking the pike Alyssa missed a take from a trout but wasted no time making sure her bait was back out on the spot.
“When she had the take from the trout I gave Alyssa a bit of advice on how to hit the bites,” Sam added.
“After the pike took the bait Alyssa picked up the rod, wound down and hit into the fish, and straight away it took off across the surface.
“The pike then began to kite behind a small tree so I waded out a bit to guide it away before slipping it into the net.
“I knew it was over 30lb, and when the scales spun round to 34lb 14oz we couldn’t believe it – Alyssa was over the moon!”
Alyssa’s pike is one of the largest caught from Chew this season and just one of a handful of fish caught by the American in the UK.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2007 Newcastle-based Lynn Baker banked what’s believed to be one of the largest UK pike ever recorded by a female angler. It weighed 39lb 8oz and devoured a sardine deadbait during a trip to Scotland’s Lake Menteith.
Lynn Baker’s giant 39lb 8oz pike caught from Lake Menteith, Scotland
Giant 36lb 12oz pike banked at Chew Valley Reservoir!
A 14-YEAR quest for a giant Chew Reservoir pike finally ended for Ivan Newton with the capture of this immense 36lb 12oz predator.
Fishing the famous Walley Bank with his grandson Josh, the 69-year-old had no idea he was about to battle the fish of his dreams when his herring hookbait, legered 50yds from the shore, was picked up.
Ivan Newton’s 36lb 12oz personal best pike from Chew
Speaking to Angling Times, Ivan admitted to still being shocked over his catch of such a special fish.
He said: “My grandson Josh had just released a 3lb rainbow trout when my alarm sounded a few bleeps, and line began to peel from the reel.
“I picked up the rod and it was solid – I’d never felt anything like it.
“At first I thought it was a rock or some weed, but then it started to move – the sheer weight and power of the fish was incredible.”
After a few minutes the frame of a huge predator appeared on the surface 20 yards out and the pair knew they’d hooked a monster, but the fight was not over yet…
“The pike almost drifted across the surface as if it didn’t know it was hooked,” Ivan added.
“As I edged the fish closer Josh questioned whether it would fit in the net – it was gigantic!
“Thankfully the huge pike was safely landed and I was left completely stunned by the experience.
“I was so over the moon with this catch.
“We wanted to dispel some of the rumours that Chew doesn’t have the fish it once had anymore, and I think we did just that.
“I would also like to say a huge thanks to my grandson – without him it wouldn’t have been possible.”
Did You Know?
The Chew Reservoir pike record was banked in 2014 by Liverpool angler Paul Millar at a staggering 44lb 6oz. Fly expert Mike Green has also registered a 40lb 8oz fish from the venue, which is believed to be one of the biggest pike ever caught on fly tackle.