As the coarse fishing seasons I recall how as a boy, I spent many happy hours fishing in my local common pond, not only catching fish but watching them too was equally important.

The pond was well stocked with a wide variety of species including roach, tench, perch, gudgeon, sticklebacks and even minnows, the latter usually associated with running water.

There was also a healthy population of large predatory pike with heads like crocodiles and mouths full of needle-sharp backward facing teeth.

I liked to sit in a low tree overlooking the water watching shoals of fish skittering about below.

I remember several incidents concerning pike.

One day I watched fascinated as half a dozen large pike stationed themselves in a semi-circle a few metres from the bank and literally 'corralled' shoals of small roach which appearing mesmerised swam frantically in circles to be picked off at will as they tried to escape.

Another curious incident took place on several occasions on sunny days.

Suddenly a pike would turn on its side causing a golden flash to be reflected off its flank, clearly visible below the surface.

Not only one pike would 'flash' but several did so all at the same instant ranged right across the pond over a wide area.

What unknown stimulus sparked that spontaneous collective reaction and just how did they communicate?

The answer remains a mystery. The illustration shows a pike.