Westin predator expert pinpoints monster pike with Finland’s ‘hottest’ sonar

A predator expert for Danish tackle brand Westin has landed the biggest fish in the history of Finland’s largest pike tournament, the Hauenkalastajat Open.

Hannu Vesaranta located the fish, which measured 139cm and weighed in at 17kg, using what Antti Zetterberg, Angling International’s Finland correspondent, has described as one of the hottest products on the market, the Garmin Livescope sonar. He said: “It has opened up possibilities for both pro and amateur anglers alike.”

Vesaranta said: “We found a fish 4m deep lying on the bottom. I threw a lot of different lures at it with no response. Then I picked up a 24cm Bulteez-coloured Baltic Pike for the end of the line and it immediately hit the lure with terrific force.”

Zetterberg told Angling International that fishing continues gain in popularity across the Scandinavian country during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people take advantage of the great outdoors. “Autumn has been mild this year so more people have gone fishing than normal. However, those numbers will fall as the temperatures drop.”