A 116 cm trophy pike on Åland: our biggest fish of 2019
Our biggest pike of 2019 measured 116 cm and overloaded our 12 kg scales, so we settled on 13 kg (about 28 lb 11 oz). She took a Megabass Kanata in a shallow bay, in 1–2 metres of water over last year's weed, in early April, which to my mind is the best window for trophy pike fishing on Åland.
At a glance
Date: 12 April 2019
Length: 116 cm
Weight: more than 12 kg (the limit of our scales); we settled on 13 kg
Lure: Megabass Kanata
Where: 1–2 m of water over a carpet of last year's weed, on the edge of the weed line
Why early April is the time for trophy pike on Åland
Early April is a remarkable time. This is the window when the chances of a genuine trophy are, I'd say, at their highest. But fishing always needs a bit of luck, and in April more than ever. Pre-spawn movements follow no timetable: nobody knows on which day the pike will push into this bay or that one.
So all you can do is check your favourite spots day after day, and hope that today is the day.
12 April 2019: the right bay on the right day
On 12 April 2019 everything came together and we were in the right place. That day there were plenty of pike, but only in that one bay. Most of them were holding in 1–2 metres of water over last year's weed and hitting a range of lures with varying enthusiasm.
Our boat worked the middle of the bay, at times edging right into the shallowest water, at times dropping back into deeper water. And it was there, on the edge of the weed, that this extraordinary fish took.
The lure and the landing
She took a Megabass Kanata, which is more or less a classic in our waters. As it happened, the rod and reel were Megabass too: a full matching set, entirely by accident.
The fight itself was nothing special. But we understood straight away that this was no ordinary fish, so we decided to use the landing net, which we rarely do.
116 cm, and then the scales ran out
Only once she was in the boat did it become clear: bingo. She measured 116 cm. The weight was another matter.
The scales we had on board stopped at 12 kg; beyond that the dial simply ends. When we weighed her, the needle swung quickly and confidently to the stop. The scales had run out.
I'll admit it was a real disappointment. This might be the fish of your life, and you will never know her exact weight. Thirteen? Fourteen? Perhaps even fifteen?
Why we settled on 13 kg
In the end we put her down as 13 kg at 116 cm. Have a look at the photo and compare the depth of her body with the thickness of my legs: both are the same distance from the lens.
Will she come back?
I hope this fish and her relatives keep returning to Finnö waters every April. Perhaps we'll meet there one spring? There's more about the water and the season on our pike fishing on Åland page, and you can see our boats before you decide. If you'd like to know who would be in the boat with you, here's a little about me.
If early April appeals to you, write to me and I'll tell you honestly how the dates look; the packages and April dates are on our prices page. See you on the water.
Read next: pike fishing on Åland in May, and the pike lures for Åland I rely on.
