Caister angler Alan Waldron had the shock of his fishing career when he discovered he had hooked an enormous pike while fishing for carp in the Taswood Lake last week.

Caister angler Alan Waldron had the shock of his fishing career when he discovered he had hooked an enormous pike while fishing for carp in the Taswood Lake last week.

This particular specimen lacked a bottom set of teeth and that possibly was the reason why this monster was tempted by the smelly fish-meal boillie that had been cast into the lake intended to attract a giant carp, writes Roy Webster.

It turned the scales to 27lb 4oz, by far the heaviest of its species caught by the accomplished match angler and carp fishing expert. Fishery boss Richard Ellis said: “This pike because of its lack of teeth in its bottom jaw possibly has been living on carp boillies but nevertheless it was a tremendous fish. Alan Waldron also had three carp over 20lb on the same day but it was the pike that excited him most.”

Prolific Taswood which can boast seven mature lakes with an eighth added during its close season that runs from January 1 to early April, was re-opened last week for season ticket holders with day permits starting this weekend.

One of the other local rods to have a brilliant start was Darren Stamp of Caister who heaved out a magnificent common carp of 32lb 9oz along with a ghost scaling 22lbs, a mirror 22lb and a common 26lb 1oz. Chris Neave of Hemsby recorded a 22lb mirror and a 20lb common while Geoff Benson of Stalham netted a 23lb 8oz common.

Waveney Valley Lakes last week produced a number of catfish up to the 35lb mark. Hall Farm, Burgh Castle, continued to produce and once the temperatures rise further quality tench may be expected from this fishery.

On the match scene Ray Kent of Jolly Boys won the Mill Farm midweek open with 51lbs and Ormesby's Stephen Rouse was runner-up at the same venue on Monday with 39lb 3oz.

Gorleston rod Clyde Leggatt won the Sam Hook League warm-up along the Gorleston beach with 8lb 4oz, mostly small codling.

This week brings the final round of the East Anglia Division of the National Sea League at Orford with a number of town rods representing EA Baits and North Norfolk Lads battling for the title and places in the national final later this year.

On the club scene husband and wife Alan and Carol Waldron made the top two at Melton Ponds respectively with 59lb 7oz and 46lb 10oz followed by Alan Browne with 23lb 12oz.

Stalham's visit to Barford resulted in J Brookfield 45lb 10oz, D Agass 39lb 15oz, K Patterson 32lb 2oz. Lacons' club match at Barford finished K Barfield 98lb 7oz, D Cook 38lb 5oz, P Nicholls 38lb 1oz.

Zenith Windows were at Holly Farm, South Walsham where S Barnes recorded 59lb 12oz then P Smith 54lb 12oz, and J Rowell 52lb 14oz.

Freshwater anglers should note there have been changes at Fritton Lake regarding close season fishing. This 175-acre water will be open only weekends until the children break up for summer holidays when it will be business as usual seven days a week.

The temperature of the lake is well below normal and until the thermometer reaches 15 degrees centigrade or more, visiting Fritton is a waste of time anyway unless pike or perch are the quarry for most certainly the double-figure bream in there are not winter weather feeders.

Beach anglers had a few decent bass from local beaches and the harbour, but for reliable cod fishing the advice is still to head for Aldeburgh and Southwold, where there are genuine reports of individuals catching a dozen or more codling up to 5lb apiece.