Pike

Long, torpedo-shaped body, olive-green with rows of pale cream spots. Flat, duck-bill jaws full of sharp teeth. The top fin sits far back near the tail, which gives the pike its explosive burst of speed.

Small pike under about 5 lb are called jacks.

Lakes, gravel pits, reservoirs, canals, drains and slower rivers.

Pike ambush their prey, so look for cover: reed beds, lily pads, weed edges, sunken trees, drop-offs into deeper water and slacks off the main river flow. In winter they follow the shoals of small fish, so find the roach and bream and the pike won't be far away.

Pike eat fish, mainly roach, rudd, bream and smaller pike, plus the odd frog, duckling or rat. They're opportunists and will happily pick up a dead fish from the bottom.

Feeding comes in short spells, often at first light, at dusk or when the weather changes.

Don't fish for pike until you've watched someone unhook one. You'll need a big landing net, an unhooking mat, long-nosed forceps and wire cutters. Lay the pike on the mat, slide two fingers under the gill plate to the chin to open the mouth (never in the gills themselves), and remove the hooks quickly. Return it as soon as possible.