He was fishing with his dad, Chris Miles, when the fish hit a 12cm Salmo Slider lure in perch colours – a favourite of pattern for Ben. The pair started the day in the deeper water, in the middle of the lake, but after catching nothing moved to a shallow and reedy bay, which the Fox-backed angler worked his lure around.

Soon after casting, Ben’s lure was hit on the pause, and he connected with what he was sure was a small jack. That was until it swam under the boat in the crystal-clear water, and Ben realised he was connected to the biggest pike of his life. With his strong tackle, Ben quickly subdued the fish, before his dad expertly netted it. The fish is his 10th ‘thirty’ and completes a grand slam of landing them on deadbait, fly and lure tactics.

Well done Ben!