Ken good research on this one.

A European pike, no wonder there were a lot of opinions about it. Caught early in the year very probably a pre-spawn female, thus the oversized abdomen laden with eggs. Also no doubt the fish was in prespawn mode in shallow water and much more vulnerable to typical lure fishing techniques used by many anglers.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management