The only other pike book I’ve read with a greater sense of anticipation was Fred Buller’s ‘Domesday Book of Mammoth Pike’. This book, not surprisingly if you go by the title, is about big pike, massive, mega pike. Unlike Buller’s book, that recorded the stories of mammoth pike caught as long as 250 years ago, some of them truly monstrous fish that stretched the imagination to its limit, this book records the captures of mammoth pike caught in recent years; real, genuine, believable pike caught by two modern anglers who, until the publication of this book, have shunned publishing the captures. The stories are not the cold, clinical accounts that dominate many big fish books, but are told with a good dose of humour, with many of the asides that really do happen when we’re fishing with mates (unless you’re one of those anglers who think fishing is a matter of life and death). Although it is mainly an account of various piking adventures there is much in it to increase your knowledge of pike fishing. Hertfordshire angler Eddie Turner (ET) of course is already very well known for catching big pike, and has been for many years. He’s caught more pike over 30lb than any other angler alive or dead. Jason Davis, a police officer from Norfolk, is more of an all-rounder but he has the enviable record of having caught more pike over 35lb than any other British angler. One of the most significant chapters in the book is Jason’s account of his week in paradise; fishing the water that was to provide him with more big pike over 35lb than most other, even fanatical big pike anglers, have seen in a lifetime. And I must make special mention of the cover artwork by Chris Turnbull; what a wonderful picture it is, conveying all the spectacular excitement of a big predator hunting prey. It’s a book I read quickly from cover to cover, and one I shall pick up again and read more slowly and savour it. If you like pike fishing then buy the book. If you’re not into pike fishing, then buy it anyway; it’s a very, very good book. Rating: 10/10 |
