Pike (Esox lucius)
Current record: 46lb 13oz
Water: Llandegfedd Reservoir, Llandegveth
Pike (Esox lucius) are the apex predator in most UK freshwater systems, "water wolves" is no exaggeration. That reputation comes from the whole package: an elongated, torpedo-shaped body, a mouthful of sharp teeth, mottled olive-green camouflage, and a dorsal fin set right back near the tail, all built for one thing, lying dead still in weed cover before exploding into a short, violent burst of speed.
They'll eat almost anything that fits: fish mostly, but also amphibians, small mammals, and the odd unlucky waterbird. Young pike are genuinely cannibalistic too, which is exactly why they rely so heavily on dense weed cover to hide from bigger fish, including their own species.
Pike favour weedy shallows in lakes and reservoirs, slower stretches of river, and cold, clear, stony water alike, really, anywhere with enough prey and enough cover to ambush from. Seasonal movement matters for anglers: in spring, big females move into the shallows to spawn, then often stick around afterwards to feed hard on other spawning coarse fish and recover condition, making shore fishing genuinely productive at that time of year. Smaller jack pike tend to stay shallow year-round, safety in numbers and easier prey. Bigger females retreat to deeper water or heavier cover through summer heat and inactive spells, which is when boat anglers with access to deeper water tend to keep catching while bank anglers struggle.
Deadbaits, lures, and jerkbaits all take fish, and pike have a deserved reputation as a hard, aggressive fighter once hooked.