Want to catch a monster pike and not have to travel to Chew Valley to land it? Then you best check out our top waters to try this winter and land yourself a new PB.
Pike are an interesting fish that are essential to their aquatic environments, with a really big fish still being a rarity in the UK. All of the venues below contain pike over 25lb and are dotted all around the country.
Esthwaite Water, Hawkshead, Cumbria
This huge Lake District venue holds fish to over 45lb and regularly produces fish well into the thirties, with a 20lb fish nearly always possible. They allow fly, lure and deadbait fishing in season which runs from the 1st October to 31st March.
Contact: 015394 36541 or www.esthwaitewater.com
Wykeham Lakes, Scarborough, N Yorks
Predator angler Wyndon Coole netted a colossal 46lb 11oz pike from the nine-acre predator lake at this Yorkshire venue. There are plenty of fish between the 20lb and 30lb bracket with the chance of breaking your pb with every cast! The predator lake is now syndicate only but you can find more information on joining below.
Contact: 07515 992981 or www.northyorkshirewaterpark.co.uk
Loch Lomond, Balloch, Scotland
Arguably the best pike fishing water in Britain, Lomond has repeatedly produced monster fish of 40lb or more. Recently Andrew Carson bagged a 40lb 5oz specimen from this historic 24-mile-long venue. Run by Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, you can fish Lomond on a day ticket.
Contact: Ticklers Tackle 01436 675044 or www.lochlomondangling.com
NEW TO PIKE FISHING AND AREN'T SURE WHERE TO START? READ OUR ARTICLE AND GET SOME GREAT TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT SESSION.
Rutland Water, Oakham, Leics
This huge water may be famous for its zander sport but it also holds some monster pike rumoured to be in excess of 40lb. You can fish from a boat for them on a day ticket, too. If you fancy fly fishing for pike, the season is open much longer than a lot of waters, running from 1 May - 31 January, with deadbeats and lure fishing allowed to at specific times of the year.
Contact: 01780 686441 or www.anglianwaterparks.co.uk
Ten Mile Bank, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
This long, featureless water holds a good head of pike with the odd fish to over 30lb. Fishing the reedy margins with lures and wobbled baits is a good way to explore a stretch of this wide Fenland drain. Try the section at Modney Bridge.
Contact: Shipshape Tackle, 01553 764058 or www.klaa.co.uk
Grafham Water, Huntingdon, Cambs
Boat fishing on this large Anglian Water-run reservoir regularly produces pike to 25lb-plus. They catch them on the fly, lures and bait here. The fishing isn't always easy on such a vast and deep lake but the rewards are there for those who persevere. There are other predatory fish here too like big perch and zander.
Contact: 01480 810531 or www.anglianwaterparks.co.uk
BIG WATERS OFTEN RESPOND REALLY WELL TO LURE FISHING, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PIKE LURES IN YOUR BOX!
Rudyard Lake, Leek, Staffs
Run by Stoke on Trent Angling Society but available on a day ticket, this 180-acre lake in the Peak District holds pike to 32lb-plus. Locating fish is key, but you can hire boats for fishing, however a lot of fish are caught close to the margins, especially early in the season.
Contact: 01538 306280 or www.rudyardlake.com
River Wye, Goodrich, Herefordshire
The lower River Wye is one of the best areas for a river thirty, but location is key. The Angling Dreams-run Thomas Wood stretch is a hotspot. Look for the deep pools and be prepared to fish into dusk.
Contact: Angling Dreams, 07976 908985 or www.anglingdreams.co.uk
LOOKING FOR MORE PREDATOR FISHING VENUES? CHECK OUT THIS WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
Llangorse Lake, Brecon, Powys
The premier pike water in Wales, Llangorse offers a chance of boating specimen fish in excess of 30lb. Being a SSSI area, unfortunately there is no fishing allowed from the banks so you must use a boat that can be hired as part of your ticket.
Contact: 01874 658226 or www.llangorselake.co.uk
Farmoor Reservoir, Farmoor, Oxon
Lake 1 of this huge Thames Water-run reservoir holds pike to over 30lb. Last February fishery manager Ben Farley landed a 36lb 4oz fish on a lure here.
Contact: 07747 640707 or www.thameswater.co.uk
Hampshire Avon, Royalty Fishery, Christchurch, Dorset
This famous fishery comes alive with pike in winter, when some monsters inhabit its gravel-laden runs. The Little Weir, House Pool and Railway swims are hotspots.
Contact: Davis Tackle, 01202 485169 or www.swlakestrust.org.uk
RIVERS CAN BE HOME TO SOME ENORMOUS PIKE, CHECK OUT SOME OF THE BEST RIVERS TO TAME A BIG CROC.
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