Match Fishing columnist Lee Kerry had a session to remember on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal this week, after banking a 25lb 12oz pike. What makes the capture even more remarkable is that Lee landed the fish on just a 0.08mm hooklength!

He explained: “I have recently gone down to four days a week at work, which gives me a day in the week to go fishing. I decided to sit at Stanilands Marina, and have a day fishing on the waggler. On my first cast of the day, I had a 3lb bream, and shortly after, had a roach intercepted by a fish that felt very, very large!

I nursed it back towards me, and it came to the surface by my keepnet- it was huge! Fortunately, it fitted in the pan, though I could hardly lift it out of the water. My mate fetched some scales and it went 25lb 12oz- a monstrous fish- the biggest I have ever landed in fact!

To be honest, I am amazed that I managed to land it as my 0.08mm line was nestled in between two of its teeth, and I have no idea how they didn’t cut through it.

The pike was the icing on the cake, but I had a great days fishing, catching over 25lb (without the pike!) of roach and skimmers all on the waggler, with several individual roach over 1lb. One of the things that I love the most about fishing is the amount of suprises that it throws up- and this was one of the biggest that I have ever had. I was buzzing when I came off the bank!”