Success or failure by the tiniest of margins

Dropped in on an occasional water with the intention of checking out the silvers potential in this unseasonal (relative) mildness whilst drowning a bluey and a roach, also on the off chance.  Both of which turned up a pike apiece, the bluey fish being quite a plump 'un.

Found some roach just over the pronounced ledge and worth returning in future with more than a handful of old maggot and manky caster. One cast and it all changed. Just back over the ledge, bang and the roach had been taken by a lurking pike.  A serious pike given the length of back from head to dorsal.  My 13 foot progressive action Drennan Waggler rod, rated for 2-3lb reel lines and the 3.2lb Drennan Float Fish line straight to a Kamasan B520 whisker barb spade in #16 was sorely put to the test with one heart stopping plink and brief slackness as the line pinged over that far slung dorsal.  The feared line slicing headshake never came and into the onion bag she finally went after what must have been nearly 10 wrist bending minutes. This is all that held her. Bent but resolute. And there is a nick in the line an inch above the hook too. Balanced gear Buh. 

20lb bang on the nose.

So of course a drop to celebrate.