Pike Master Derek Gibson
There are, I think, various ways by which a great angler can be defined. But to many it is the fish he catches that matters most.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Derek Gibson, one of Britain's most successful pike anglers. Most of you will have never heard of him; this man keeps himself and his catches very quiet and with probably very good reason. Pike, with all their aura of ferocity are the most delicate of species. They are top of the piscine pyramid and easily damaged by those who do not know how to handle them.
Derek has been a friend of mine since 1963. We met as a result of my involvement with the formation of The Sheffield based Northern Specimen Group, and although we fished together from time to time, Derek was not really interested in joining us.
Since then, we have made contact on odd occasions and even had the occasional fishing session together after Yorkshire barbel and Fenland pike. Sometimes we succeeded and sometimes we failed. However most of our meetings have consisted of long discussions at his Sheffield home on all matters angling, these debates often lasting well into the night, lubricated by bottomless pots of tea provided his wife Pat.
Then about 1997, I lost Derek - his phone number to be exact, and I nearly forgot about him. Quite recently I was sorting out my pike tackle when I came upon a Shimano Bantam Magnumlite baitcasting reel, an item of tackle I had purchased from Derek in 1996. It didn't take me long to locate his phone number again, my old mate Gord Burton coming to the rescue.
I phoned Derek and, thank goodness, he is still around, and piking just as much too. His list of pike, mainly lure caught, had also grown impressively. We arranged to meet and the result is the following interview, which I am sure you will find fascinating.
RC: Where and when were you born Derek?
DG: Langsett Road - Sheffield, 1943.
RC: Do you remember your first day's fishing?
DG: I was about 8 years of age and was taken out to Bardney on the River Witham in Lincolnshire. My Dad took me out there on a motorbike and side-car, I was in the side-car of course. We were pike fishing at the time, but I was not allowed to livebait, so I used a battered old Colorado and Kidney spoon, which resulted in a couple of jacks. But the sight of those two fish, which couldn't have been more than three pounds each, lit a spark, which refuses to die.
RC: You have caught many other fish to specimen size, do pike remain your favourite species?
DG: Without doubt - I have caught barbel, chub, big roach, big perch and zander, but no others species 'floats my boat' quite like old Esox.
RC: Who has been the greatest influence or inspiration to your angling?
DG: First and foremost, and although he didn't understand, nor like pike - Richard Walker. Secondly it would be J.W. Martin, the Trent Otter - a giant in his time. I also followed the exploits of the great Dennis Pye, and the legendary Ray Webb of course.
RC: Many pike anglers thought Dennis Pye told a few porkies regarding his catches, what do you think?
DG: I don't think it matters! If Dennis did exaggerate his pike captures, it was not intentional. The truth is that he caught a tremendous number of big Broads pike and he understood Norfolk Broads fishing better than any other angler before him or since.
RC: You have caught an incredible amount of big pike from Damflask Reservoir near Sheffield. Can you tell us a little bit about this northern reservoir?
DG: I knew Damflask from a child and long before it became a premier pike water. I have caught all sorts of species from Damflask, including big perch to over four pounds and roach to 21/2 lbs. I am fully aware how Damflask came to be a premier pike water, but enough said.
I look back at Damflask with great affection. It produced my biggest ever pike of 35 ¼ lbs as well as many other thirties and twenties. What many will not realise is that “The Flask” had a small number of pike hotspots. I and my great companion, the late Chess Taylor, identified these hotspots or lairs and milked them!
RC: During the past 20 years, you have been identified more with lure fishing than any other method, why is that?
DG: Quite simply because as an angling technique, lure fishing gives me far more pleasure, and let's face it, that's why we go fishing. Anyone can chuck out a deadbait or even a few livebaits on three rods and wait for a run behind a battery of alarms, but that is not for me. I prefer to hunt my pike, not trap 'em. Do you know Ron I've never used more than one rod at a time for my pike fishing for over 20 years?
18 years ago I might have believed the statement that big pike can only be caught on live and dead baits, and that only small pike can be caught on lures or spinners. Today, I know that statement is a load of bo**ocks! They would have to pay me to sit behind a rod pod these days. I'd rather be out catching lots of pike!
RC: I also notice that you only use baitcasting (multiplying) reels these days. Any comments?
DG: Quite simple - I fish artificial lures. I need accuracy and control. Fixed spool reels (coffee grinders) might be OK for some, and certainly I have no axe to grind with people who use them; but I prefer the proper reel for the job! Those who run down baitcasters, probably can't use them. They should learn!
RC: On baitcasting reels, which is the best?
DG: I have used most makes of baitcasting reel in my life, from ABU to Shimano, and I have to say that Shimano seem to be the best. I look for a smooth drag, one that does not chatter or jerk, and Shimano are masters at this.
RC: And the lures themselves, any personal preferences?
DG: Totally open-minded here, although if I had to pick a lure to catch a pike to save my life it would be a spinnerbait. I have also caught lots of big perch on spinnerbaits. But since this article is not to teach how to fish lures for pike, I will say no more.
RC: What sort of rods do you use?
DG: Mainly 8 to 9-footers with trigger grip handles. For jerk baits I tend to use stiff one-piece 6-footers, again with trigger grip handles. But remember I am not a boat fisherman. All my lure fishing has been done from the shore and a longer rod is more useful here.
RC: And now we come to the question that most readers will be asking. Just how many big pike have you caught, and by BIG pike, I mean fish of over double figures?
DG: Thanks for a sensible question Ron, I certainly classify any pike over 10 pounds as a big one and anyone who thinks such a fish is not worth catching, is not an angler. But fish over 10 pounds, I'm afraid I don't know. Certainly I caught over 200 twenty pound fish up to 12 years ago when I stopped counting them. As regards doubles, it must be many thousands.
RC: So what about 30s Derek?
DG: Ron, that is a question I refuse to answer. OK, I will answer it by saying: too many! You must understand that I have had certain advantages over many other anglers in that I have been able to fish 5 days a week for nearly 40 years of my life. My work has been geared around my fishing. I ran a successful industrial cleaning company for many years. This enabled me to dash off fishing when I wished and as any successful pike angler will tell you, getting on the right water at the right time is what it's all about.
RC: There must be a few pike anglers of the present day that you admire Derek?
DG: Yes, Mick Brown and Gord Burton. Gord particularly is great fun to be with, his enthusiasm is infectious.
RC: Regarding pike waters, what are your favourites today?
DG: Little obscure Fenland drains and the mighty River Trent.
RC: And finally, your hopes for the future?
DG: To carry on pike fishing, catching the odd big one and most of all enjoying it.
Cakey
