Stunning Stour pike on only bite

IAIN McDonald kicked off his pike fishing campaign in fine style this week by catching this stunningly marked 23lb 3oz specimen.

The Kent-based angler netted the impressive predator from a stretch of his local River Stour after it took a floatfished sardine deadbait.

An elated Iain told Angling Times: “It was the only take of the afternoon and came completely out of the blue. The float just sailed off and the fight was epic!”