ANGLER Joel Kirkbride had to call on the help of fellow fishermen when he caught a monster pike on Wednesday.

Sixteen-year-old Joel, had only just cast his line into the Lothersdale Lake when the huge fish struck.

He hadn't even finished unpacking all his gear when the 30lb 4oz fish almost pulled him into the water.

"It put up a tremendous fight and was tailwalking across the surface of the lake and jumping clear out of the water to try and shake the hook out," he said.

Joel worked for a time at the Spar Shop in Cross Hills and now works at their store near his home in Colne.

"I have been fishing since I was four or five years of age, but this is by far the biggest fish I have ever caught.

"I had only just got to the lake and put my first line into the water about 5 or 65ft out from the bank. The water drops steeply to about 11ft deep and almost as soon as I turned my back the line took off.

"I managed to bring it in, but a fly fisherman who was at the other side of the lake had to come over and help me get it into the net."

He was fishing with a sardine bait on the bottom of the lake when the pike struck.

He followed up with another big fish, a 24lb pike just before he packed away for the day at 5pm which was caught on float fished trout. His first catch took the Raygill pike record.

"It's all a bit crazy really because I'm not a pike fisherman, I was really after carp," he said.

n The River Aire from Kildwick Bridge to Sutton Beck is to be closed to Keighley Angling Club members on Sunday because of a match booking by a visiting club.

The club s planning a series of matches on the canal in the New Year and details are available from KL Tackle or by ringing Nigel on 01535-646025.

n Joel Kirkbride (right) with the record 30lb 4oz pike.