Fishing safe at historic pike venue
A YORKSHIRE stillwater famous for producing a huge 46lb 11oz pike will continue to allow angling despite plans to add more watersports facilities to the site, developers have said.
The trout lake at Wykeham near Scarborough is part of the N Yorks Water Park complex, which has three fishable lakes. A wakeboarding course is soon to be installed on the neighbouring Water Park Lake, but spokesperson Elena Bunbury said:
“Fishing will still be a core part of the business.”
This huge pike was caught back in 2014 at 46lb 11oz from the venue
Only bite is a monster pike!
This immense pike left seasoned specimen angler Keith Wesley stunned. Weighing in at 38lb, the fish came during a trip with Angling Times columnist Martin Bowler to an unnamed chalk pit.
It was Keith’s only fish of a two-day session, and it took a further day for the catch to sink in.
“I was blown away by the fish – it was so fat!” he told us.
“In the water, Martin and I both agreed it looked to be around 25lb, but its depth was tremendous.
“To catch such a fish is always special, but to do it with my old mate Martin by my side was really the icing on the cake.”
Keith Wesley and his giant 38lb pike
Huge river pike is a "fitting reward" - Leigh Laffar
“I headed to a spot on my local river at sunrise and baited close to the near-bank snags with chopped sprats before casting out my floatfished roach deadbait over the top.
“By 4pm I’d not had a take, so I nicked on a fresh bait and cast it next to one of the snags. The float buried within seconds.
“Straight away this heavy weight charged downriver on a savage run. After 10 minutes of steady pressure I started to gain line and drew the pike to the surface, where I could see it was only lightly hooked on the bottom treble.
“Thankfully it went into the net on the first scoop, and at 29lb 4oz it was one of the proper ones, a rich and fitting reward for all those blanks I’ve endured this winter.”
Leigh Laffar – 29lb 4oz pike
Have we created the most cautious generation of pike ever? - Dom Garnett
I’m not going to lie to you, recent fishing has been a grind. My results wouldn’t flatter Sheffield United right now, especially when it comes to trying to catch a better pike or two.
It would be nice to think that after 30-odd (sometimes very odd) years of pike angling, these fish would be a formality. But no, they seem as moody as I’ve ever found them.
Pike seem as moody as I’ve ever found them
Have I got worse as an angler? Probably not. What I lack in free time, I ought to make up for in experience. But the one massive culture shift since I first started casting plugs and spinners in anger is the huge increase in fishing pressure. When I was growing up in the 1980s, it was a genuine novelty to see a pike angler. Devotees of the species were seen not so much as specialists as ‘a bit special’.
The far better tackle and greater respect for pike we have decades later should be welcomed. However, the massive increase in angler numbers has taught us that pike are not as daft as we thought.
Have we created the most cautious generation of pike ever? From fish that have a phobia of lures, to ridiculously gentle takes on bait, this would seem to be the case. If anything, it probably helps protect them against poaching – not that it’s much consolation when you’re sat by a canal contemplating a third blank on the trot!
Maybe you could argue that picky fish force us to be better anglers. Fly fishing has been a revelation on waters peppered with lures, while groundbaiting, popped-up baits and even night fishing have also helped me avoid blanks.
The real magic bullet, however, is to find venues and spots that haven’t been relentlessly fished. Easier said than done when the options are limited by Covid rules, or you live in an area with quite underwhelming pike fishing.
My results speak for themselves in terms of sheer desperation! Perhaps three-quarters of my pike have been caught on a fly rod after increasingly long walks from popular swims. Meanwhile, it’s also telling that I’ve really struggled on standard deadbaits. Or, at least, the only times I still seem to catch much are when the weather is horrendous or I stay on the bank into darkness!
Another cold day on the canal, where I have failed spectacularly so far
One thing you can say about pike is that on any venue with deep margins they will still feed close to the bank if you can only find ‘bite o’clock’. Just don’t expect them to feed at sociable hours or send line spilling of the reel like a runaway train.
The incredibly feeble bite my last double gave is symptomatic of this new school of pike fishing – to succeed, you need to cast away your assumptions, walk further and fish smarter than ever before.
Second-ever pike breaks the landing net! - Matt King
“NOT having fished since my teens, I decided to take it up again and target barbel.
“As it got colder the fishing became harder, so I headed to a local stretch of the Trent to see if I could catch what would be only my second-ever pike.
“A few hours in I’d not had a bite so I moved to a point swim where I’d seen some lure anglers fishing earlier on.
“Out went my legered lamprey and half-mackerel deadbaits… and I only had to wait 10 minutes before something huge took off with the latter offering!
“This pike fought just like a barbel and took me all over the swim for 15 minutes before it surfaced at the net. It was the biggest fish I’d ever seen and as I scooped it up the net handle snapped as I shuffled it back!
“Thankfully, I was able to grab the net frame and pull it up the bank and on to my unhooking mat. It turned out that my second-ever pike went 28lb 7oz on the scales – I’m still giggling like a schoolboy now!”
Matt King and his 28lb 7oz pike
Could this be Britain's largest ever lure-caught pike?
A PREDATOR angler has banked what’s thought to be one of the largest UK pike ever to fall to a lure.
The impressive 45lb 11oz specimen was landed by Dan Hill (29) during a session with his friend Steve at a private stillwater.
Dan Hill and his 45lb 11oz lure-caught pike
The pair had taken several big fish from the venue over the past four years, but nothing to compare with Dan’s new 127cm-long personal best, which falls just over 1lb short of the current British record.
Dan said:
“After a bad day at work I planned to meet Steve down at the lake for 3.30pm and couldn’t wait to chuck some lures about. After clipping on my favourite white mouse lure, I cast it around 40 yards out, let it sink for 10 seconds, and it was taken instantly by this huge fish... which pulled me two feet closer to the water when I set the hooks!
“The lake is crystal clear, so we could both see it was massive from the off and Steve just kept telling me to take my time. When it finally folded into the bottom of the net I was a trembling mess.”
The Doncaster angler owes the success of his catch to his trusty mouse lure, which has since been encased with a plaque to commemorate the achievement!
Following the capture, Dan ‘retired’ his favourite white Miuras Mouse lure
Massive pike caught on film!
BOAT partners Ross Sneddon and Cole Milne couldn’t contain their excitement after filming the capture of a 35lb pike!
The Scottish Pike Anglers Alliance members were fishing an access day at the Lake of Menteith when Ross’ floatfished sardine was taken by the predator.
Visit scottishwildfishing on YouTube to see the film.
Ross Sneddon and his giant 35lb pike
Lure smashed by dream pike
CASTING his lure tight to a far-bank reedbed was the winning approach for Stephen Ayres’ dream 36lb 5oz pike.
The fine specimen set a personal best for the Norfolk predator enthusiast, who struck into ‘the fish of a lifetime’ during a roving session at a local lake.
He added:
“Just a few winds after casting out to the reedbed the lure was smashed into, but it was only when it surfaced that I realised just how special this pike was.”
Stephen Ayres – 36lb 5oz pike
Quest for first 20lb-plus pike ends with 30lb monster
AFTER spending several years in pursuit of a 20lb-plus pike, Wayne Coulson managed to go one better with this 30lb 4oz specimen.
The Boston and District AA bailiff was fishing a four-hour session on his local drain when his floatfished sardine was picked up just a few feet from the bank.
“I had a very slow run but as soon as I struck I knew this fish was extra-special as the rod just arched over into the heaviest weight I’ve ever been attached to while pike fishing!” said a delighted Wayne.
Wayne Coulson and his 30lb 4oz Boston drain pike
Second-ever pike is 30lb-plus giant!
MOST newcomers to predator fishing start with a small jack, so imagine Calum Lonsdale’s shock when his second-ever catch resulted in this 33lb 11oz fish!
Having caught a small pike on a trip to the Norfolk Broads, the 24-year-old from Derbyshire was eager to try his local reservoir.
He said:
“The fish hit my Salmo lure close to the bank and over the next 15 minutes my heart was racing!”
Calum Lonsdale and his 33lb 11oz pike
Angler brought to tears by dream pike catch
LEE Wilson shed tears of joy when he banked his first 30lb-plus pike after a 20-minute battle.
Lee Wilson and his 33lb 2oz pike
The angler, from Dumfries and Galloway, struck into the 33lb 2oz pike on his local loch when his mackerel hookbait was engulfed from a deep spot 50yds from the bank.
Lee said:
“When I looked down at what I’d caught, the tears started coming as I realised I’d had my first ‘thirty’ after six years.”
This huge pike brought the captor to tears
Monster River Trent pike goes over 30lb!
THIRTY-pound pike from the Trent are rare, but James Wainwright hit the jackpot on an early-morning trip with this 33lb 6oz fish.
The Leicestershire-based rod float-legered a popped-up pollan deadbait into a slack off the main flow.
“As I set the hooks the water boiled on the surface before all hell broke loose,” he said.
“After a 15-minute battle she was netted on the third time of asking.”
James Wainwright and his 33lb 6oz River Trent pike
Season's biggest pike smashes 40lb barrier!
A RELATIVE newcomer to pike fishing has become the envy of seasoned predator anglers nationwide by banking the largest specimen of the season at the jaw-dropping weight of 41lb 10oz.
The 41lb 10oz pike is the biggest caught so far this season
Despite only taking up this arm of the sport two years ago, 67-year-old Jock Galloway had a pretty decent personal best for the species of 29lb prior to attending last week’s ‘pike experience day’ at Loch Ochiltree in Dumfries and Galloway.
But halfway through his seve-hour session Jock obliterated his old PB when the popped-up chunk of sardine he’d cast around 30 yards from the bank was picked up by the giant predator.
He said:
“Line started to peel from my reel at a rate of knots. By the time I struck it had already taken a good 50 yards, so I knew I was attached to something special.”
It wasn’t until the fish neared the net 20 minutes later that Jock’s friend Jimmy Costley got a glimpse of the fish.
“Judging by the look on Jimmy’s face, it was a much larger pike than we’d first thought,” Jock said.
“It then made three or four surging runs before eventually sliding slowly over the net cord. The relief at that point was immense. At this point another club member, Martin Cluckie, came over to help us with the weighing.”
Wary of having such a large pike out of the water for too long, the trio quickly weighed it before Jock asked Martin to hold his catch up for the camera. Although he didn’t manage to get a picture with his prize, Jock wasn’t disappointed.
“The memory of just seeing a pike of that size is more than enough for me,” he added.
A 40lb pike is a truly rare fish
12-year-old and Father left speechless by monster pike
ZANE’S dad Leighton said: “With the pandemic going on, it’s not been safe for my 12-year-old lad, Zane, to get out of the house, so I treated him to a few hours’ pike fishing on the local river.
“I cast out a legered Bluey deadbait close to the bank for him and sure enough, the rod was away half-an-hour later. It was clearly a big pike and gave him an awesome fight – taking him all over the swim.
“He really struggled to hold the rod at first and I thought he was going to lose it, but he got there in the end and managed to guide it towards me and the net.
“As soon as I scooped it up he just looked at me, speechless – the size of it was ridiculous! His largest fish before this was an 18lb common carp, so this will take some beating.”
Zane Ryan and his 25lb 8oz pike
Monster pike in harsh weather
TREE surgeon Jamie Barnes had poor weather to thank for the capture of a 34lb 5oz Chew Reservoir pike, after heavy wind forced him and his boat partner to target a sheltered bay.
Within two hours of fishing sprat deadbaits in the new spot, the 33-year-old managed six pike to 19lb before something much larger pulled his float below the surface.
“After an epic battle, which felt like a lifetime, we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the sheer size and length of this pike,” Jamie told us.
“I’m still on cloud nine!"
Jamie Barnes and his 34lb 5oz Chew pike
Biggest lure caught pike of the season is landed at Chew
A PERCH imitation lure has produced the largest reported pike of the season so far at 37lb 8oz.
The remarkable specimen was a new personal best by nearly 10lb for its captor, Andrew McNicholas, who watched as the pike engulfed his lure just feet from the boat during a trip to Chew Reservoir.
He said:
“This pike frightened the life out of me when it came up, took the lure then dived back down to the depths – causing my clutch to scream!”
Andrew McNicholas and his 37lb 8oz pike, which fell to a perch imitation lure
Stunning canal pike strikes at dawn - George Sparkes
“AN HOUR before sunrise I arrived at my local Louth Canal and, with the water having a nice chocolate colour and a bit of a flow to it, I was confident of a few bites.
“Just before sunrise I dropped in my popped-up lamprey head on a running rig and sat back to enjoy the dawn surroundings, but was interrupted half-an hour later by my screaming bite alarm.
“I struck the rod and hit into a pike that I knew was a decent size, because for 10 minutes it fought hard and wouldn’t budge from the bottom.
“Finally it surfaced and revealed its beautiful colours, but the nerves set in, as this was a pike I really didn’t want to lose.
“On my first attempt at netting it, the fish decided to jump and motor back down the canal and I thought I might have lost her, but with a little persuasion she was soon back in front of me and heading towards the net.
“At 22lb 3oz it wasn’t the biggest fish I’ve caught, but it’s one of the prettiest, and the best of nine landed that day.”
George Sparkes and his 22lb 3oz canal pike
100lb of pike topped by cracking twenty - Jon Neafcy
“With bad weather forecast all week, I had a very small window of opportunity to get out and fish a Scottish loch for pike.
“Thankfully, my timing was spot-on, and I enjoyed an unbelievable session, catching more than 100lb of pike!
“By the end I’d taken 11 fish, including 10 doubles and two 20-pounders, by legering deadbaits into a couple of deep areas.
“The trip meant I’d now caught more than 30 pike over 10lb in just a few sessions so far this season. I can’t wait to see what the rest of autumn and winter brings!”
Jon Neafcy’s 21lb 2oz pike. Part of a 100lb-plus haul of the species
Monster pike takes a boilie! - Andrew Rockley
“By trade I’m the boilie line manager at Dynamite Baits, and recently a few of my colleagues arranged to fish a weekend social on a lake not far from where we work.
“We’d not long finished rolling some new pop-ups which are due for release next year, so I thought it would be rude to not take some with me on this trip.
“We got to the lake after work on the Friday, but none of us had received a single take by the time Saturday morning came around. However, I was sat having a brew when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a fish roll. Immediately I wound in one of my rigs with the new pop-up attached and cast it to the spot.
“Five minutes later the line tightened and started to trickle off the spool, so I hit into what was a very heavy fish.
“I thought I had a new PB carp on the cards but after a few good runs, when I
had to slacken off the clutch as it nearly pulled me in, this huge pike jumped clear of the water!“After a few more runs up and down the margin my mate Trev managed to scoop it up in the net.
“By the time we’d rested it, all the lads had come round to have a look and the sheer size and length of the fish was hard for us all to take in!
“On the scales she went 31lb exactly, which beat my previous PB pike by a good 12lb.
“I’m still in shock over this catch!”
Andrew Rockley and his new 31lb PB pike, which took a boilie hookbait!
Enormous pike landed on a tiny trout fly
A TROUT angler experienced the fishing fight of his life last week after a 30lb-plus pike grabbed his tiny size 10 damsel nymph fly.
Gareth Griffith, from Barmouth, was targeting the stocks of brown and rainbow trout at Llyn Cynwch lake in Dolgellau, Wales, when he connected with the immense predator.
“There wasn’t a single moment in the 50-minute fight where my rod wasn’t bent double,” Gareth explained.
“It went on several long runs in that time and I tried to play it carefully so my 8lb line didn’t snap like cotton!
“I only had a small trout net with me, so I had to wedge its head into it and grab the tail with my hand – it was then that I could see my tiny fly was just nicked in the scissors. It was a fight I don’t think I’ll ever forget,” he added.
It’s not the first time this summer that an angler has landed a giant pike on an unconventional approach, as Spencer King (71) proved in June when he landed a 31lb specimen from a West Sussex lake after it snatched his floating bread off the surface!
Not quite the trout Gareth Griffith was expecting!