THE River Thames is widely regarded as one of the country’s best venues for big barbel, chub and perch, but Gareth James highlighted the waterway’s undoubted pike potential last week when he landed this 31lb 8oz beast.
He was fishing in overcast conditions, and after catching a few small pike, decided to try a different stretch in search of something rather more substantial.
The move paid off after just a few casts, when he had a solid take. That signalled the start of what he described as ‘an almighty scrap’ over the next 15 minutes. The boat he was fishing from was even dragged off its anchor before Gareth coaxed the fish into the net!
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