Mc Fudge

So piking isnt quite as easy as you first made it out to be Rabbit. When you are on a good water and the pike are feeding I admit they are pretty easy to catch. The trouble is that there is not many good waters around these days and these big pike dont feed as often as many think. Why were you fishing a venue in such bad conditions? Tying your hands behind your back before you even started IMO. Maybe its not the pike that are the thick ones????

Hi Peter, the fish in my pic was actually only about 8" from my body. I am on my knees as you can see in the pic. Im 6ft standing and probably about 4" kneeling. The pike was almost 4 feet in length so its not as decieving as you might think. I have got a couple of good shots holding it vertically if anyone can put them on for me. Thanks for the kind words Peter.

As you say Chris it is undoubtably a very big fish indeed. Was there any measurements taken???? It looks like it could have the length, but its the girth that gives me doubts. Like you say its impossible to say either way by looking at a picture alone.

Hoppy, I dont think that you are telling lies. I do think you have made a mistake somewhere during the weighing of the fish though. You would not have been the first and certainly not the last to do this. It is a tremendous fish though and a very big well done.

And a wide angle lens was not used. I have some shots of it held horizontally which are close to my body too. If anyone would like to put it on I can email one to them. Thanks

Peter, the picture of my fish is not being held away from my body. If you look closely I am holding it with two hands. One chin held and the other hand grabbing my wrist as it was so heavy. The fish is only a few inches out from my body. This fish was 47" long and had a girth of 29.5 inches. What exactly were the measurements of this pike?

Take the advice mate its good advice. Theres never been a 9lb pike swimming that should take 10 mins to land. Your are either not using the correct tackle or you are not bullying the fish enough. The longest i would expect to play a fish of this size is about 3 mins tops. I have found pike around the 18lb mark to be the best scrappers, but even then the fight shouldnt last more than 5 mins. 12lb line is not strong enough for a start. Please take this on board mate, if you care for your quarrie you will.

I dont waste my time or money with oils. Theres nothing better than the real thing IMO. If I go down this road I use bait balls. I make these up myself by chopping small chunks of fish (usually rainbow trout) and then mix them with gravel. I then place them on polythene sheeting and then roll into a ball and tie at the top. They then go into the freezer until they are solid. Once frozen simply unwrap and throw around your hook bait, I like to put one in every hour or so. Especially good on rivers or big waters where theres an under tow. They can also give you the edge on coloured water. Hope this helps.

He actually phoned me today wanting details for the next book, hes not a bad one is our Nev, but dont let any of those big fish men kid you on they aint bounty hunters. His first words to me after the catch were "congratulations, welcome to the bouny hunters"

Need to keep them all off my trail now mate Mr Fickling was on the Lake of Mentieth today asking almost everyone if they knew where I caught the fish from. He wont find out, not in the near future anyway.

My sentiments too Chappers, im a good mate of Gords and he is the most entertaining and knowledgable pike angler that lives in the UK. Having fished with him many times on big waters he nearly always produces the goods even when most others fail. Fishings not all about catching fish, a good laugh is essential at times IMO.

Well if some people on here think like that they obviously havent got much of a clue about Pike fishing mate. The venue will remain secret.

Thanks for the kind words lads, still on cloud 9 here. iT WILL BE IN THE tIMES AND MAIL THIS WEEK.