"I think one of the reasons for the demise of Fenland pike are the zander"
First time I've posted in a while and yet again it is one of Ron's comments that has induced a take...... care to back up your ridiculous comment with some facts then Mr Clay?
You might want to consider the following as alternatives of course........
water authority / EAdrainage attitude on the Fens, farmer's crop spraying, the huge increase in pike fishing and subsequent bad handling, the huge increase in easy access to waters due to housing / road expansion, the demise of certain food species e.g. eels, cormorants, illegal fishing by immigrants and others blaming immigrants etc etc etc
Pike waters fluctuate, fact.
Apart from a short stretch, the 40 foot is virtually unfished.
"Ithink they need thinning out and that's why I occasionally have zander and chips when I'm down in the fens" - How on earth you can come up with such a ridiculous statement is beyond belief. Peter Collins eat your bloody heart out.