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Independent archive. This site is not affiliated with the former operator of Bury Hill Fisheries. The fishery is permanently closed; no bookings, tickets or memberships are offered or processed here. Content is gathered from public historical sources and reader contributions. Read the Closure Record

Species note 02 · Pike & Zander

Pike and zander

Bury Hill was one of only a handful of still waters in Britain with a resident head of big zander. Pike ran to almost 30 lb, and the predator season ran from 1 October to 31 March.

An angler holds up a pike by the water, its spotted flank and long jaws catching the light
Photo: Bury Hill Fisheries, from buryhillfisheries.co.uk

Figures

At a glance

A rare zander water

“Bury Hill is one of only a handful of still waters in Britain with a resident population of huge zander.” In 2002 the lake record stood at over 16 lb, and the fishery suggested the British record of 19 lb 5 oz “could even be in danger” [Archive, 24 March 2002].

The same page described “an impressive head of pike to almost 30lb” [Archive, 24 March 2002]. For corporate days the fishery quoted pike averaging 16 lb and reaching close to 30 lb, and zander “the biggest in the South of England” averaging close to 10 lb [Archive, 12 December 2001].

Reported in the newsletter

The fishery’s BHF Predator email newsletter announced notable catches. On 24 February 2009 it reported “a stonking 13lb 12oz zander” for 11-year-old Bradley Gibbons, alongside a 20 lb pike for John Price [Archive, 14 April 2009].

On 31 October 2011 it reported the largest zander of the season so far, 14 lb, caught by Greg Boothright during a day session on Halloween [Archive, 4 January 2012]. Every surviving issue is in the BHF Predator archive.

How they were fished

Predator “Big Fish” days ran from October to March, from both bank and boat [Archive, 12 December 2001]. More on the season and the swims in predator season.

From the old site

Restored original pages

These pages are restored at their original addresses. See the full index of restored pages.

Also at Bury Hill

Other species

Species note 01 · Carp

Carp

The 33 lb 1970s record, the 30 lb 8 oz mirror of 2001 and Temple Lake’s fish over 40 lb.

Species note 03 · Tench, Bream & Crucian

Tench, bream and crucian carp

Tench and bream to 10 lb, crucians to 5 lb on the Old Lake and nearly 4 lb on Milton.

Species note 04 · Silver Fish

Roach, rudd and perch

Roach and rudd to 3 lb, perch to 4 lb, and mixed bags over 200 lb.

Questions

Frequently asked

When was the predator season at Bury Hill?

From 1 October to 31 March.

How big were the zander at Bury Hill?

The lake record was over 16 lb in 2002, and the fishery quoted an average close to 10 lb for its corporate days. Newsletters reported a 13 lb 12 oz fish in February 2009 and a 14 lb fish on Halloween 2011.

How big were the pike at Bury Hill?

The fishery described pike to almost 30 lb, averaging 16 lb on its corporate days.