Each winter, pike anglers in their droves make the pilgrimage to Somerset’s legendary Chew Valley Lake, harbouring dreams of encountering one of its huge predators. On his latest trip, Rich Collins managed to do just that when he landed this fish weighing 31lb exactly.
After his smelt deadbait was picked up, Rich lifted into a heavy fish that fought hard, making explosive lunges and tail-walking on the surface.
It then snagged him in some reeds and, knowing that he could well be attached to something a little bit special, Rich was left with little choice other than to wade through the reedbed, rod in hand and followed by his friend with the landing net, to try and free it.
Water began to spill over the top of Rich’s waders, but undeterred, he managed to ease the fish out. After a few more powerful lunges, it lay in the bottom of the net, and he soon forgot about his wet feet!
MAKE SURE ALL YOU KNOW HOW TO HANDLE PIKE WITH THIS HELPFUL GUIDE...
