Durham’s consistently successful specimen angler Simon Ashton christened his new set of Pike rods with some cracking Pike last week, including this beauty photographed at sunrise.

Simon invested in a set of the new E-Sox Piker Bait 12ft 3lb+ rods and on his first trip out to a tough North-West stillwater, bagged three fine doubles, at 15lb 12oz, 16lb and 17lb 4oz.

He fished Smelt and Herring deadbaits on 24 inch 40lb E-Sox Super traces with size 6 semi barbed trebles, positioned just beyond a very steep rocky drop off on a deep, daunting venue!  By cleverly incorporating a Large Drennan Subfloat up the mainline, Simon was able to keep his 15lb mono away from the sharp and dangerous rocky bed.

For full details on the E-Sox Piker Bait 12ft 3lb+ rod as used by Simon, click here.

For full details on the very useful Drennan Subfloats, click here.