THE season’s biggest pike was landed at 39 lb 8 oz by Andy Flint - whose mother’s funeral was the following day.
Pike fan Andy Flint had arranged the trip last January from his mother Thelma’s house but forgot about it when it came to the funeral arrangements.
But Norwich, Norfolk-based Andy decided a bit of angling therapy would help him deal with the loss so went ahead with the long trip to prolific big predator water Chew Valley Lake in Somerset, and was rewarded with a PB esox going 39 lb 8 oz.
The 50-year-old Angling Direct shop manager said: “I don’t usually publicise my catches but the fish was extra special as it will always remind me of mum and I’m convinced she was looking down on me and brought me luck.
“It has been a very difficult spell and even the fishing had its problems but there was a fantastic outcome at the end of our second day as I had the fish just as I was packing up.
Huge pike catch will ‘remind me of mum’
Andy continued: “I was fishing from the bank 80 yards out using a bait boat with a smelt in about 14 feet of water. I had a problem getting it to drop, but persevered rather than retrieving it – lucky I did as the boat ran out of battery immediately after.
“We believe it is the same fish that came out two years ago at 42 lb and it did feel quite empty so goodness knows what it will weigh come when the pike fishing re-opens there in February.
“The fish will always mean more to me because of the circumstances surrounding the capture and it will always remind me of mum,” he added.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the brilliant weekly magazine and win great prizes.