I've only fished a couple mate and I've never even had a fish on the big 'uns so I'll be the first to admit they aren't my cup of tea. I'm hopeless at boat fishing big waters.
There's a book on Greatest Pike Waters or allegedly great pike waters or something like that - Lomond, Bala, Mask, Wincermere, Hickling, Slapton Ley (!) etc etc.