A BIG Thames pike got a helping hand after being caught by skip truck driver Michael ‘Jock’ Morrell, who lives in Bicester.
Fishing with his mate, Duncan Strange, from Charlbury, Jock had caught a six-pounder from the Wolvercote stretch.
Then he latched into something considerably larger when the big predator took a liking to his float-fished smelt bait, fished on a wire trace to 30lb line.
The fish was successfully landed and while Duncan was helping to unhook the specimen, they noticed another trace further down the pike’s throat.
Some careful work was required to remove it and it was then gently returned to the water.
Because they didn’t want to keep the fish out of the water any longer, they did not weigh it, but it was reckoned to be between 20-25lb.
Scotsman Jock, 43, fished for salmon and trout in his younger days before moving down south. He is no stranger to big fish, having caught carp to 22lb, but the Thames pike smashed his previous best fish of 7-8lb.
He said: “I don’t know whether that trace would have affected the pike’s ability to feed, but it certainly wouldn’t have helped and we were happy to give it hand.”
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