Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water...

An angler caught one of the largest freshwater fish he has ever seen on the River Itchen at Twyford.

Simeon Hay (pictured), who works as a river keeper and fishing instructor, first spotted the 14-pound pike in mid-June.

At the time, he was standing in the water up to his chest when he suddenly noticed the fish looming towards him.

"I was cutting weeds and this thing scared the living whatsits out of me."

Mr Hay fired a spear gun at the pike, but it missed, and the fish escaped.

However, he returned to the same stretch of river near Finches Lane in Twyford a few days later on Friday, June 22, to track it down.

Using a spinning rod, baited with a rubber trout', Mr Hay nearly landed the pike twice.

He added that it seemed hungry, having eaten just about every other fish on that stretch of the Itchen.

Third time lucky, he brought his nemesis out of the water, which tipped the scales at 14lbs.

It was the same weight as another pike that he caught in Alresford ten years ago, which was his previous personal best.

He added that the Twyford specimen would have been heavier if it had eaten more recently.

Mr Hay, who is based at The Rod Box in Kings Worthy, has placed his prize catch in the deep freeze.

He is now speaking to a chef in the Test Valley to see if he wants the fish for his kitchen.