Keith Arthur’s views on the news

NO surprise that yet another very big pike has come from a water that is basically only fished seriously for carp (pages 6/7).

All coarse fish, but especially predators, thrive on neglect. If I was a serious predator angler, then rather than follow the trout water trail I’d explore waters that are carp-exclusive.

I’m quite surprised that more fisheries don’t offer winter predator tickets when carp anglers are off the banks.

Perch and pike don’t need stocking. At our tiny GHoF ponds in Northala Fields no perch went into newly-dug lakes on what was previously just grass – yet within three years of them opening a perch of 2lb was washed up dead. Subsequently, tiny perch started to be caught.

My original thoughts were that someone had stuck it in from the Grand Union, which is about half a mile away. In 2014, the following year, we stocked some 6ins perch in an attempt to control the numbers of rudd, and within two years they were being caught at over 2lb.

It is highly possible that first fish arrived either as a stowaway or even naturally, and thrived on the abundance of rudd fry.

We haven’t yet found a pike, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve caught a pike from Gold Valley, where they have never been introduced, and I’m sure it wasn’t on its own. Some of the famous Colne Valley and Blackwater Valley pits must have pike and perch populations that spend their time feasting on fry, yet have never been targeted.

While the Bristol Water lakes, Blithfield and the Anglian reservoirs provide quality pike and perch fishing, predator anglers will flock to them. But for those prepared to speculate time rather than cash I’m sure there are great alternatives out there – and you’d be a prospector rather than just a miner.