This Pike Was Absolutely Massive 😱

After three and a half hours battling cold winds in the UK countryside, endlessly casting lures and setting dead baits, I was starting to question my choices. A few half hearted takes came and went… then something serious arrived.

The Pike followed the lure not once, not twice, but three times before finally committing. When it hit, it was violent and completely unexpected. The strike was so aggressive it genuinely made me jump...one of the most adrenaline fuelled moments I’ve had while fishing.

I hold access to several stretches of this river, but this particular section doesn’t get much attention from me. It’s prone to flooding, so opportunities to fish it are limited. With more rain on the way, I decided to take the gamble and give it another go while conditions allowed.

Although I’ve been targeting Pike for many years, it’s been a while since I landed a proper specimen. Most of my recent time has been spent chasing Sea Bass and Carp, so I felt slightly rusty going into it.

Many anglers wait until after the first frost before switching to dead baits, but I’ve never fully bought into that idea. I usually begin dead baiting from the 1st of October and have consistently had success well before the frost arrives. Lures are always my preference, but as winter approaches, Pike become less willing to expend energy chasing them. You can still catch on lures, but placement becomes critical...often the fish will only commit if the effort required is minimal.

What made this capture so interesting was the behaviour. This Pike actively hunted the lure, making repeated passes before striking. Was it tracking it for hours before finally deciding to attack? Or did it only notice it moments before? That uncertainty is a big part of why fishing never gets boring.

Thanks for reading 🧡

Video below if you fancy watching it unfold.