fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 As its such a awful day , I was sitting looking back at some of my old photo albums . I used to be mad about my pike fishing and back then the fens could offer some fantastic sport , unfortunately those days seem to be gone . Though there are still good fish to be had , there are just not the numbers , without starting a debate we all know why . My best season included 20 fish over 20lb . The two photos are of my most memorable catches The first was a brace of fish caught within ten minutes of each other and at the time were put in angling times and anglers mail as the biggest brace of pike in a single session ever caught in the uk they weighed 28.12 and 27.4 , this was long before trout water piking days remember. The next photo was my one and only 30lb fish from the fens weighing 30lb 6oz and took me 15 years of targeting big fish . What was really remarkable was the fact this fish was caught at the beginning of november, it would have smashed the fens record had it been caught Feb / March. Also as you can see the fish was so long and lean it was like a torpedo and gave the best scrap I have ever had from a big pike. Sorry about the quality but they are photos of photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Awesome fish, well done. I am hoping to have on last session before the close of the river season. I would be happy with any size double! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Nice pike , my son fishes the fens when he can . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckytrigger Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 (edited) In the 90's i was obsessed by Pike and zander fishing on various fenland drains. My p.b was a 31lb 4oz fenland drain caught esox pictured. This took me over 10 years to achieve. Edited March 11, 2013 by luckytrigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigman Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 All I can say is Wow they are some impressive pike , Iv spent many days on the drains over the years just hoping for something like them , pb 21lb and as you don't need to say the chances get slimmer and slimmer Iv seen the scales and foil Bbq at the side of the bank plenty of times even seen them purse netting Used to love getting out after the Zs too but since falling in love with being out shooting the fishing has been put on the shelf also tired of blanking time after time Thanks for sharing them , Atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 In the 90's i was obsessed by Pike and zander fishing on various fenland drains. My p.b was a 31lb 4oz fenland drain caught esox pictured. This took me over 10 years to achieve. A cracking fish that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pike fisher Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Nice pike fanboy were you dead baiting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Yes , the fish were caught on dead bait . I have had over 80 fish of 20lb or more from the fens and can only remember having one on a live bait . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckytrigger Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 (edited) A cracking fish that . Thankyou. Yours brace of upper twenties was very impressive too! Ive got some cracking memories of my time piking but dont think fishing the fenland drains will be the same nowadays.? Good old popped up herring tail did the business on the pike pictured after a morning spent peg hopping. Just edited my post as Pike fisher just asked what you caught your brace on! Edited March 11, 2013 by luckytrigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckytrigger Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 (edited) Yes , the fish were caught on dead bait . I have had over 80 fish of 20lb or more from the fens and can only remember having one on a live bait . Thats a good tally of 20's! I only managed 32 twenties in total as i had some lean seasons fishing my local river Witham inbetween fishing the drains! Edited March 11, 2013 by luckytrigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Thankyou. Yours brace of upper twenties was very impressive too! Ive got some cracking memories of my time piking but dont think fishing the fenland drains will be the same nowadays. By the way what did you catch the brace on? Good old popped up herring tail did the business on the pike pictured after a morning spent peg hopping. By far my favorite bait was a decent sized whole herring . The largest of the brace was caught on one , the other took a small dead roach . The 30 I had was caught on a dead rudd of about 1.1/2 lb !! ( collected after a fish kill on a local lake) I always proffered the big bait big fish approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenny Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Fenboy cracking pictures a man of all talents in the country pursuits cheers Fenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Fenboy cracking pictures a man of all talents in the country pursuits cheers Fenny Yeah apart from shooting woodcock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Brilliant Fenboy good pictures well done, used to fish the Delph in the 70's biggest pike 28.12 and Zander 11.06 . The good old days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab10 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 some nice pike those , proper big heads on them not like the trout water stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Brilliant Fenboy good pictures well done, used to fish the Delph in the 70's biggest pike 28.12 and Zander 11.06 . The good old days Had a few fish from the delph no 20s though , I have had some good fish from the old bedford though . I think the hey day of the delph was a little before my time , it certainly threw up some good zander. My PB zander was 12.6 from the middle level , but again the best seems to have passed , hopefully things will one day return to there former glory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 (edited) Great pictures of good catches of pike there. I had one day of a lifetime fishing for salmon in Cumbria many years ago. I caught 12 fish on the fly, the largest was 19.25 lbs. I am quite convinced that it was a trout! Edited March 11, 2013 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Not a monster but my best pike. I love fishing for pike and its my goal to catch a double figure one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Great pictures of good catches of pike there. I had one day of a lifetime fishing for salmon in Cumbria many years ago. I caught 12 fish on the fly, the largest was 19.25 lbs. I am quite convinced that it was a trout! Wow that's some bag of salmon You would be lucky to get 12 in a season now days. Not a monster but my best pike. I love fishing for pike and its my goal to catch a double figure one day. Pike that size are great , perfect bait for a bigger one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Serious? Wow that's some bag of salmon You would be lucky to get 12 in a season now days. Pike that size are great , perfect bait for a bigger one Would a bigger pike really take a fish this big, I usually use sprats or smelt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Serious? Would a bigger pike really take a fish this big, I usually use sprats or smelt Yes absolutely serious , especially at this time of the season , a small jack pike is a very good bait for a big fish , to give you some idea of how big a bait a pike will take , I had a 17lb fish on a 3lb jack dead bait . If you want bigger fish (as long as they are in your water ) then swap your sprats and smelt for good sized whole herrings or mackerel (I prefer herring) , freeze them and ***** them with a baiting needle to help the oils get out , cast them while still frozen a herring of 1lb or so is nothing to a big pike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pesky pigeon Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Not a monster but my best pike. I love fishing for pike and its my goal to catch a double figure one day. We all start somewhere mate cracking fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Thanks boys, I'm going in two weeks, ill give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Sorry Fenboy but on reflection I have hijacked your pike fishing thread. I should have started my own entitled.......' A ridiculous catch for an ill-deserving fisherman'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Sorry Fenboy but on reflection I have hijacked your pike fishing thread. I should have started my own entitled.......' A ridiculous catch for an ill-deserving fisherman'. No problem at all JDog, never caught a salmon myself but nice to see such a bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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