“The form of Somerset’s Chew Valley Lake has been no secret this year, with anglers travelling from far and wide hoping to catch one of the venue’s huge pike.
Hertfordshire angler James Crosby was one of the lucky anglers to get in on the action at the end of the season, with this 38lb 8oz specimen.
Fishing a shallow part of the lake, he’d just landed a fish of 26lb 12oz before having the take from the near ‘forty’. The big one put up a great fight in the margins and was taken on a smelt deadbait. James switched to these smaller baits after receiving very tentative takes on larger offerings, as well as going down to smaller trebles, with the switch resulting in positive runs.
Well done James!