Get on your pike

I'M chasing pike on the fly on Menteith this week. My boat partner is full of optimism, he's guaranteed himself a 20.

- BY LOUIS FEROX

DIFFICULT Fishing for pike is a good test of your angling abilities

We've been fishing together for years but pike in particular brings out the bold claims in good humour.

When we used to get the train down out of the city, dressed for the worst weather and laden with deadbait gear, there was always talk of big fish.

Walking to our favourite swim we'd declare that it would probably be a double early then maybe some jacks before the big gun showed up.

"This cast" would be shouted out with a guesstimate weight of a fish we hadn't caught yet, often before we had reeled in anything at all.

There was a mystical lunchtime bell that would coincide with lots of runs. Of course it shifted as the clocks went back.