The best big pike water in the country has had its predator record smashed by a fish weighing a colossal 42lb 4oz.
Caught by Staffordshire angler Ed Matthews, the fish was captured from the bank after taking the 30-year-old’s legered half mackerel bait.
As well as breaking the famous south west reservoir’s best for the species, the specimen is also the biggest pike reported this season – and for the fishery manager Bob Handford, it’s no surprised that it came from Chew.
“I’m not surprised to see a fish of this size come out, the big surprise though is that it hasn’t been caught before during this year’s trials, it’s done well to avoid all those baits” Bob told Total Coarse Fishing. “A lot of anglers think that all of the pike in Chew have been caught at least once before, but this just goes to show that there are still some surprises in there, and I’m pretty sure there are a few more and possibly bigger fish out there too.
The previous best pike weight to have been captured from Chew is shared by two fish, both weighing 40lb 8oz.
Caught in May 2009, the first of these fish was boated by fly angler Mike Green. The second was caught in February 2010 in similar circumstances to this recent capture, with the 40lb 8oz fish falling to mackerel fished from the bank by Staffordshire angler Andrew Charmer.
The big question those is, ‘is there still better to come’. Bob Handford certainly things so.
“Ed’s fish was in pristine condition when it was caught and there’s a good chance it had never seen a hook before in its life,” continued Bob. “We’ll be opening up again in February for more pike fishing and who knows what size it will be then, and it’s only 4lb 9oz off the record now. February will be a very exciting time.”
Mike Green's previous Chew record weighing 40lb 8oz and caught on fly tactics in 2009.
