That First Fish Over 20lb

I've been fishing since the tender age of eight (back in 1970).

As with most anglers I 'got hooked' early on and although my initial results were not very impressive, it grew on me. I watched and read all that I could about fishing and I loved all types as well.

By the mid eighties, I still had not caught a fish of 20lb's or greater and not for the lack of trying.

This particular story is the highlight of what had been a pretty unproductive three days stint at Peckhams Copse Fishery near Chichester, Hampshire.

I had fished Peckhams on a great many occasions for Tench, Carp, Pike, Roach, Rudd, Bream Eels and Trout. I'd managed several double figure carp and pike and some near double Tench. In addition I had caught some impressive Eels from 'Deep Lake and Ivy Lake' at the venue, some of which were also near double figures.

At the time, the venue was looked after by a man and wife called Tom and June Chapman who also ran the onsite cafe aptly named 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'

After three almost fishless days, I was having a fried lunch at the cabin. June's scoff was always worth leaving your peg or bivvy for a while. Tom was there and was commiserating with my friend and I. He suggested we give a few hours over to lure fishing on Ivy, Triangle and Copse lakes. My mate Chris and I both agreed that this could offset the poor record thus far and lift our spirits somewhat.

A third friend, Aaron, elected to stay and watch the carp rods. I think he just wanted a sleep...

So, Chris and I set off with rods set up for lure fishing. Back then my knowledge of lure fishing was limited as was my tackle. I did not want to re-set up one of my carp rods (such as they were) and elected to use a 13ft match rod and 6lb line. I can almost hear the pike anglers of today cringing at the thought...

We both had a couple of Jack Pike (small pike) to about 3 or 4lb and a Perch of about 2lb. I said I would have a bash at Copse Lake and went off to try my luck.

I don't know if it's there now, but there used to be a semi-submerged tree stump along the back that borders the caravan park. My lure was an old Mepps Spinner with a red wool tail running a little below the treble hook. I did have a wire trace, although a little inadequate compared to what I'd use today.

The very first cast and retrieve past the stump seemed at first to snag up... But then the 'snag' moved off and a bend in the rod indicated that the fish was not small by any means.

I called Chris over and indicated that it might be double figures. The fish then took off for the dense American Pond Weed that abounded Copse Lake. I held as much as I dared and to my surprise, turned the fish at the last moment. It then launched almost completely out of the water with a great deal of thrashing. 'That's mid teens' I yelled to Chris who was now running over to watch.

After about 10 minutes the pike was near ready to land. I said to Chris that it was not going to fit into the small landing net we'd brought with us, so he took off to fetch the 'specimen net'. He legged it there and back and returned out of breath and just in time for me to draw the pike over the net.

Unhooking mats were not commonplace back then, but we had the good sense to use some deep, soft grass instead. The spinner fell out as we both looked in awe at the beautiful pike that lay before us. Another angler appeared with a weigh sling and a set of scales and after deducting the slings weight, announced the my first clonker pike weighed in at 24lb 12oz's

The camera was back at the bivvies but a very nice elderly couple photographed her for me and some weeks later they forwarded two excellent prints on to my home address.

I took the both to a photographers who enlarged them for me. I kept one and sent another to my grandfather who proudly hung it on his study wall.

I've since caught many more pike and carp over 20lb's but you never forget your first one...

The photo is a scan of the original. There was some damage but I've digitally corrected most of that.