..with his efforts recently culminating in this 38lb fish. It was caught from Blagdon Lake near Bristol, where they recently opened for eight days of pike fishing for the spring.

He told us “The weekend started a little tricker than usual for me, as I netted five twenty-pounders for my friend Andy and feared it might be one of those sessions! Next day the conditions were terrible, but we fished on undeterred. Whilst stripping a 12-inch fly through angry water, I had a solid thump on the rod. A hairy fight followed in the wild weather, before Andy returned the favour of Alan netting his fish the day before and expertly scooped the massive pike. There was a remarkable calmness in the boat as we carefully unhooked the big pike. My PB stood at 36lb 8oz, and at 59 years old, I was beginning to think I’d never beat it but was elated when this fish pulled the needle of the scales round to 38lb. Catching it on the fly made it that bit more special.”

Well done Alan!