After catching only a small jack pike on first of a two-day session to the iconic Chew Valley Lake during a session late Feburary, Daniel Horton wasn’t feeling overly positive when tackling up the following morning.

However, his fortunes changed in spectacular style when he landed this fish of 38lb 14oz. It fell to a smelt, packed with oil attractants, which Daniel dropped into around 10ft of water on a spot roughly 70 yards out.

After 45 minutes, just after sunrise, Daniel had two quick beeps on the alarm. He picked up the rod and could feel the fish slowly moving away. Lifting into it, the pike initially headed straight towards him and found the sanctuary of a reedbed. He freed it, with the fish making one last powerful lunge before coming to the net. When he lifted the fish onto the scales, Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes at the figure indicated. Amazingly, he returned the soon after and landed a fish of 31lb 12oz.

Well done Daniel!