October 1st is the start of the pike and predator season on many venues up and down the country, and anglers have been making the most of it.
Mark Holt caught this stunning pike weighing 28lb exactly during a recent trip to a Lancashire syndicate lake.
“I was targeting big perch at the time, using a Westin Ricky the Roach lure. However, my fishing partner had seen a pike strike at a rudd of around a pound that he was reeling in, approximately 20 yards out from the bank."
“So, I quickly cast my lure to the area and within a few seconds it was grabbed!"
“A really good tussle then ensued before I slipped the net under a new personal best pike. It’s my first over 20lb.”
HERE ARE SOME EXCELLENT LURES TO USE FOR BIG PIKE.
Chris Doyle travelled from his home in Manchester to Lancashire’s River Ribble, targeting pike.
“There are some big fish in this river, and I spent time looking for slack areas of deeper water, close to my own bank. In one spot, I saw silverfish topping and felt there might be a predator nearby."
“So, I cast a deadbait fished on a simple running leger rig with a 3oz lead into the area."
“It only took 15 minutes for a bite to develop, and I hooked what felt like a powerful fish. The culprit was this very long and lean river specimen, weighing 20lb."
FOLLOW THESE TIPS IF YOU WANT TO CATCH PIKE FROM THE RIVER.
Ian Hannaby had a great first session this autumn targeting zander on a Midlands canal.
“Six fish came to the net, five of which were around the 2lb mark, but this one of 9lb 10oz really stole the show.
“Fishing deadbaits, which the crayfish certainly took a liking to, I persevered and had a bite just into dark. Hitting into the fish, I soon realised it was in a different league to the others, and when I saw it surface, I knew it was a good fish for the canal!”
IF YOU HAVE NEVER CAUGHT A ZANDER, THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU!
For sea anglers, a bass over 10lb is the fish of a lifetime, but a young lad has just landed a fish well over that mark from one of Britain’s most famous coarse angling fisheries!
Jacob Cluskey (14) was pike fishing on the Hampshire Avon’s Royalty Fishery when he hooked and landed this 11lb 4oz bass, alongside another weighing 8lb.
He’d cast a sardine into a deep slack when he had a positive take.
“I was fishing with my dad, hoping for a 20lb pike, when I hooked the first fish, which fought well,” he said.
“I was amazed to net a big bass, but before I could lift it onto the bank my other rod screamed off. That fish battled very hard and was even bigger than the first!
“My dad’s been after a ‘double’ for years, so was properly jealous!
“We also caught four pike and some good perch.”
