Nico Pike

My fishing journey started when I was around the age of 6 when my Grandad and Uncle used to take me places like Crystal Palace Park in London and Keston ponds. Where I would float fish for silvers and hand line for the crayfish. 

My Grandad was a pike angler mainly and I spent most of my childhood predator fishing.

At the age of around 14 my mum decided to move from London to Kent and having nobody to take me fishing I ended up slipping into the usual thing's teens get up to (girls, clubbing, cars, etc).

Now in my 20s I moved to Faversham in Kent. A small town absolutely surrounded by lakes, and my previous love for fishing was reignited.

I joined Faversham Angling Club which had the rights to the School Pool. A lake steeped in Kent carp fishing history. Carp was then what I wanted to target.

I spent a few years on the club but wanted to indulge in everything carp fishing both locally and in the surrounding areas.

I then joined Mid Kent fisheries. A place where I really threw myself into targeting the incredible fish they had to offer.

I fell in love with a small water also in Faversham called the Mill Pool. A crystal-clear spring fed lake. Extremely weedy and snaggy. A real test for any angler. It was here that I truly feel I rapidly progressed as an angler. 

A few years later I was approached by mid Kent and was asked if I'd like to become a bailiff looking after the 4 lakes in Faversham. Spending so much time round the lakes really got me in tune with the behaviours of the fish and my watercraft improved massively as a result of this. 

I'd been producing bait for a good few years by this point but as many anglers in the lakes we're using my bait I decided that I needed an edge to stand out from the crowd.

It was then when I stumbled across DT Baits, in particularly the Squid and octopus bait spray.

My results went from consistently good to absolutely incredible.

The then boss of DT couldn't believe the results I was having and lost his mind when I ordered a whole litre of bait spray. I like to think I know a good thing when I find something special like that. 

After an absolutely mega season on my syndicate I was offered a place on the team at DT.

I did struggle for a while to settle on a certain bait range, opting for custom mixes mainly. Still having great results mind.

Then the release of the Crustazia absolutely changed my angling, again for the better. And will forever be my go to bait range, doing me wonders even from the testing stages.

Nowadays I seek the adventure and the unknown.

Most of my fishing is across the pond. The odd pay lake but Public waters in both France and Belgium just have the fishing that we no longer have in the UK. Lots of water rarely stepped foot on by English anglers. Little slices of heaven. My happy place

PBs:

• Mirror - 53lb 3oz
• Common - 47lb 14oz

Favourite rig:

Stiff hinge rig, slip d rig and the good old fashioned free lined bread

Bait of choice:

Crustazia and the squid and octopus bait spray

Currently fishing:

Places full of adventure and the unknown

Carp fishing tip:

Everything depends on the situation. Pay attention and plan accordingly

Recent Fishing highlight:

I decided to hit a public water in France before heading home from a planned trip over there. It didn't take long to hit a flurry of action and I had  4 fish quickly 21lb, 27lb, 37lb, and 29lb! 

Countries fished:

UK, France, and Belgium

Socials:

Insta: @nico_pike_angling