Braving torrential rain and strong winds can be challenging at times, but it certainly paid off for Edinburgh angler, Garry Christie, who landed this 32lb pike from a stillwater in mid-Scotland.

Fishing a popped-up joey mackerel on a leger setup, Garry had a very faint take, and upon striking he thought he was snagged, only for the fish to wake up and then proceed to take him on a real run-around. When he finally landed it, Garry was astounded by the size of the fish’s solid, muscular body, saying it appeared to have ‘swallowed a whale’. Measuring 43” and with a massive girth, it’s Garry’s first thirty-pounder, as well as his first fish of 2023.
Well done Garry!