Frosty reception for Sheffield Star angling expert from pike of Loch Ken

Last week I made a long trip up to Scotland in search of pike.
Bob Roberts with a pike - and below, his frosty rod at Loch KenBob Roberts with a pike - and below, his frosty rod at Loch Ken
Bob Roberts with a pike - and below, his frosty rod at Loch Ken

I met up with Daiwa marketing assistant Kriss Smith and Scottish Pike Anglers Alliance General Secretary Stuart Mcmath to fish the legendary Loch Ken. What a place! It is a pike anglers’ heaven but as luck would have it, as is always the case with these anglers’ tales, I turned up on the wrong weekend.

High pressure and flat calm conditions are the kiss of death at the best of times but by heck it were cold! I’m talking so cold that half the loch, which is nine miles long, froze over during the night. If that wasn’t bad enough then perhaps I should mention we were camping out under the stars next to the water. And I have never, ever slept out in colder temperatures.

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Despite the excuses we didn’t blank. Far from it. We indeed caught a few pike but the big old girls we were hoping for managed to escape our attention. Doesn’t matter though because I’m hooked. I want nothing more than to go back and have another crack.

* Get Grass Roots every week for a full angling round-up including latest Daiwa/Green Un Club Anglers Champiionship results.