BEN Bangham proved just how deadly fly fishing for pike can be this week by catching a true giant weighing in at 41lb 15oz.
It continues a remarkable six-month period for pike fans, in which countless fish over 30lb have been reported. Ben, a full-time fishing guide and former England International, landed the remarkable creature from Somerset’s Chew Valley Lake, completing a 20-year quest to catch a ‘forty’.
“I only fish Chew a handful of times each year, generally with clients,” he told us.
“This year, the big girls seem to have been feeding well, so I headed to a spot relatively close to the shore where I’ve had good fish in the past. It’s deep, with a pronounced ledge where the bottom drops away.”
Using a 10wt dedicated predator rod and stepped-up gear, Ben had been happily fishing when he noticed an ominously large shape following his hand-tied fly.
“I said to my boat partner that there was a big fish behind the fly, and when it engulfed it, I initially reckoned it was perhaps an upper-twenty,” he said. “The fish then rolled on the top, and I could tell it was over 30lb.”
As the 20-minute fight wore on, its true size became even clearer, as Ben explained.
“As it neared the net, it just got bigger and bigger! When my friend and I saw the depth of it, we just looked at each other. It was then that I knew the fish was over 40lb.”
Despite catching fish from all over the world, this one was extra-special for Ben.
“I’ve had a fair few 30-pounders, but I consider myself lucky to have been in the right area at the right time with this fish.
“It was a beautiful creature, and a personal best I’m pretty sure I’ll never beat.”
