Whole mackerel too much for this pike

A crafty hookbait modification resulted in the capture of this 26lb 8z pike for warehouse operative Tony Bennet.

After having a take an hour into the session, Tony’s whole mackerel hookbait was dropped after being carried about 20ft.

Tony admitted:

“I think I might have been a bit too optimistic with the bait size, so I reeled in and cut the mackerel in half before casting it back to the same spot.

“Five minutes later the float was away, resulting in a new personal best from a northern river.”