Steve Phillips

Bang! As the unseen predator engulfs the lure deep in the clear water, Mauro Pittori’s rod lifts to set the hooks. Bucking and bending, his perfectly balanced set-up soon has the fish on the surface, spraying water in all directions before it’s brought into the folds of the waiting net. Held up in the early morning sunlight the fish looks incredible, its yellowish tinge and detailed markings (different to those us usual Northern pike) signalling the opening of a very exciting Italian pike adventure.