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*NEW COLOUR EDITION* *Now only available from 1 Nov 2005 as an E-Book on disk |
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The Fenland 30’s - A History of Fenland Pike 1851-2004 Email enquiries: moules@btinternet.com |
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 Some time ago I had a long and interesting chat with Stephen Harper.Stephen had almost completed his excellent book “Broadland Pike” – A History of the Largest Recorded Captures. Stephen asked me how many Fenland 30’s, I knew of and after a bit of thought I came up with the figure of about 20. Not many compared to Broadland. I then began to compile a list of Fenland 30’s, and spoke to many of the captors. Some of the material I have used in my “Fenland Pike” slide shows, and many people providing me with photographs and graphical accounts of these magnificent captures. Many of these epic tales have been published before and the captors have become Fenland legends The following are extracts from this excellent book. No.20, 31lb.Ooz, 1982 Steve Richardson Land Drain  I'd made up my mind that I was desperate for fresh air. At least that was my excuse for getting some Pike fishing in on the Fens. When I telephoned Adrian, a fishing colleague, I discovered that he was suffering from the same symptoms and required treatment. The water I had in mind had produced some low ‘doubles” for me and I had heard on the grapevine of the odd lower ‘twenty” being caught. We agreed to meet at about seven-thirty the next morning. Problems arose just before seven, when I found not one, but two deflated tyres on my car and my popularity stakes dropped to rock bottom with my neighbor when I roused him to borrow his foot pump. Arriving at the venue an hour late, I wasn't surprised to see my colleague fishing but it was only a matter of minutes before I had a half-mackerel in the water. I also ran up a float rig to catch some roach live bait, which normally oblige in the mild weather. Just after 11 o'clock, Adrian struck a fish, and after a short rather disappointing fight, it was netted. The Pike weighed 20lb 2oz and after a photographing session it was returned.Discover the full story and find out more why there was the cry of “Its a thirty” by getting your copy of this excellent book!  No.45, 32lb.6oz, Nov. 2001 Peter Ely Fen Drain Peter, a 38 year-old bricklayer from Linton, Cambridgeshire had only been a serious Piker for a season or two, but already he had an impressive tally of Pike to his name. Peter was a member of Cambridge Fish Preservation and was fishing one of their popular Fenland waters. Setting up on a bend of the river. Peter saw some small fish scatter, and cast a popped up mackerel tail to the area, on size 8 Partridge trebles, on a 25lb Drennan soft strand trace with 15lb Fox main line. After 20 minutes, the bait was taken and Peter was into a good fish, which after a hard fight was safely landed. It was weighed and found to break the Club record. Club Officials were called and the fish witnessed and returned safely. Peter deservedly won an Anglers Mail / Fox £50 award for this fish. Several Fenland Pikers were targeting this Pike but on this occasion it was 11/2 miles from previous captures, returning to home ground to be captured by Messrs. Hurren and Fogg. Denis Moules |
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