Angling: Record pike mystery is solved after recapture

Wyndon Coole with Wykehams best English pike at 46-11, recaptured by Coole to end speculation over the fishs death.

The capture ended rumours that the fish had died after becoming the English record in 2014 at a weight of 46-11, just 2oz short of the UK best of 46-13 from Welsh trout water Llandegfedd.

The Yorkshire pike – known as the Wykeham monster – first hit the headlines in 2011 after Wyndon Coole banked her at 45-14.

Andy O’Connor caught the same fish a year later at a straight 46-0 before Coole managed the historic recapture to set the new record in February 2014.

Knowing now that the fish is alive and well and also on the prowl looking for food, if she is caught again after just one good meal Wykeham could easily be the home of a new British best.

After retiring my match rods, poles and continental seatbox and replacing them with barbel, carp and cat gear together with a comfy chair, it’s only recently I became aware of how important, records, personal bests and even double-figure fish are to lots of anglers.

I know some wouldn’t like me saying it, but these goals are much the same as the match anglers’. Top of the list in match results or top of the list on a barbel record – what’s the difference?

A match win is a record for the day just like a double or PB can be beaten on the very next visit. With the British record fish committee in the hands of the Angling Trust and its lists in places contradicting themselves, it’s much harder for the specimen guys to know what they have to beat.

With the exception of Wykeham’s pike no other Yorkshire fish figure on any national lists and, realistically, only the dace, grayling and maybe a freak chub could get close.

Hopefully over the next few months, with the help of the YEP, a few trusted contacts and anglers on the bank, I will compile a full and up-to-date Yorkshire Rivers and Stillwater Record Fish list – format and procedures to claim details later.

The recent floods set new unwanted match records this winter, causing, for the first time in its history, the Yorkshire Winter League to be deemed null and void with no team champions.

Sunday’s planned final match was cancelled on the Friday with the river classed as dangerous. But, as the river dropped, a match was arranged using just the safer upstream Aldwark section. With the match under way and the unexpected deluge proving that the river can rise by over a metre in an hour and parked cars don’t float, organiser and failed weather forecaster Dave Miles set another new record by abandoning the match at half-time.

Bradford’s Pete Barron – fishing under the Tackle 2U banner – came out on top with a single barbel of 8-12 caught on double lobby from the well-known whisker hotspot, Howard’s peg.

Second-placed Dave Robson completed the feeding frenzy with a magnificent 1oz! Looking on the bright side, at least they didn’t have to work out section prizes.

Dryer, colder weather looks to have come at about the right time with notice just received that both the Leeds & District Saturday and Sunday end-of-season series will be up and running as usual.

All matches will be held on the Ure/Ouse from Hunters Lodge through to Linton bottom.

Results

Mirfield AC, Great Heck, Aire & Calder: 1, A Miller, Tackle 2 U 11-11; 2, S Edson, Leeds 7-11; 3, W Shillito, Selby 7-10; 4, N Thewliss, Mirfiled 7-00

Turner Open, Kippax Park: 1, A Barker 32-00; 2, R Clarke 19-04; 3, B Hill 18-03

JT Rodgers Winter League, Moor Monkton Pools: 1, A Gallant 35-14; 2, O Hewitt 31-09; 3, R Worsnop 31-06.

Wakefield AC, Calder & Hebble Canal: 1, D Armitage, Cleckheaton 9-15; 2, J Verbruggen, Tri-Cast 9-00; 3, B Reah, Wakefield 7-14; 4, J Briggs, Wakefield 5-12.

Toms Pond Winter League, Round 5: 1, J Mills, Forrest Lane 57-02; 2, K Trevors, Keighley 53-09; 3, D Harrison, Team Jigga 39-11; 4, J Redmond, Gratan AC 38-10; 5, A Barker, Kippax 28-10; 6, S Armitage, Team Glum 28-04.

Woodlands Thirsk, Wagtail/Curlew: 1, S Sharples 39-14; 2, S Walker 36-12; 3, V O’Connor 34-08; 4, T Neeson 25-06.

Woodlands Thirsk: 1, S Keane 115-10; 2, V O’Connor 82-06; 3, A Richards 56-11; 4, K Golightly 47-06.

Moorfields Farm, Match Lake: 1, A Johnson, Majestic 105-08; 2, D Lumbly, Marshlands 47-12; 3, T Hankinson, Moorfields 33-00; 4, L Gelder, Marshlands 27-00; 5, P Cannon, Mosella 19-00.

Oaks at Sessay, Silver Fish only: 1, R Minikin, Sonu Baits 32-10; 2, P Whale, Colmic 23-15; 3, A Richards, Browning 23-13; 4, T Watson, Mosella 21-12.

Oaks at Sessay, Cedar: 1, A Stock, Colmic 58-09; 2, R Minikin, Sonu Baits 45-05; 3, P Brunyee, Oaks 37-07; 4, D Smith, Bait-Tech 37-05.

Messingham Sands, Silver Fish only, Tripp Lake: 1, D Pattinson/J Green 43-07; 3, D Mountford 41-01.

JT Rodgers Winter League, Brafferton, Round 8: 1, T Biggins 44-04; 2, R Richardson 41-13; 3, A Smith 36-14.

JT Rodgers Winter League, Brafferton, Round 9: 1, I Jordan 24-01; 2, S Burley 21-09; 3, M Pearson 11-14.

BSR Open, Kippax Park Osprey: 1, P Clark 9-14; 2, J Wake 8-11; 3, S Jefferys 7-01.

Fryston Winter League (Viking Fox): 1, S Varley 10-10; 2, R Copley 10-10; 3, S Birch 6-10; 3, J Holmes 6-10.

Match Diary

Saturday

Leeds & District, Winter Series: Ouse/Ure, contact Stan Haigh 07542700743.

Kippax Park, BSR Winter League: details contact Sean 07814454271.

Poppleton Saturday Open: Pools, £15, draw cafe 10am, contact Roger 01904737279.

Aire & Calder Pollington: £15 all in, contact Kelvin 07779991483.

Birkwood Farm Fisheries, Emily’s or Oscars: Draw 8.30am, contact 01924 892251.

Woodlands: 72 pegs, tickets £18, contact 01845 520110.

Oaks at Sessay: 50 pegs, tickets £17, contact 01845 501321.

Langwith Lakes: 60 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01904 431874.

Kippax Park: 27 pegs, tickets £20, contact 07967000746.

Moorfields Farm: 54 pegs, tickets £16, contact 07710817150.

Fleets Dam: 50 pegs, tickets £15, contact 01226 292579.

Birkwood Farm: 60 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01132 80609.

Viking, Hawk Pond: 30 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01405 860764.

Tollerton Ponds: Open match, all ages, (Kingfisher 20 pegs, Coot 18 pegs, Heron 32 pegs), contact 01347 838115.

Listerhills AA, Leeds/Liverpool Rodley: £12 all in, contact Eddie on 07984597328.

Sunday

Leeds & District, Winter Series: Ouse/Ure, contact Stan Haigh 07542700743.

Woodlands: 72 pegs, tickets £18, contact 01845 520110.

Oaks at Sessay: 50 pegs, tickets £17, contact 01845 501321.

Langwith Lakes: 60 pegs, tickets £16, contact 01904 431874.

Oak Tree Leisure: 50 pegs, tickets £15.00, contact 01347 810686.

Leeds DASA: Moor Monkton Pools, contact 07967000746.

Poppleton Sunday Open: 50 pegs, draw 11am cafe, contact 07425 146677.

Monday

Woodlands over-50s: 30 pegs, tickets £15, contact 01845 520110.

Langwith Lakes over-60s: 30 pegs, tickets £10, contact 01904 431874.

Tollerton Ponds over-50s: Tickets £16 contact 01347 838115.

Tuesday

Kippax Park: 27 pegs, tickets £10, contact 07967000746.

Wednesday

Birkwood Farm Fisheries: Emily’s or Oscar’s, draw 8.30am, contact 01924 892251.

Woodlands: 72 pegs, tickets £18, contact 01845 520110.

Fleets Dam: 50 pegs, tickets £15, contact 01226 292579.

Tollerton Ponds: Open match, all ages, contact 01347 838115.

Glen AC Ouse Thrash: Contact D Miles 01133 910570.

Thursday

Kippax Park: 27 pegs, tickets £12, contact 07967000746.