Lakes or rivers for starter

[Fishery Pokery]

Hi everyone,
I am just getting into my piking and am struggling a bit!
I have been trying rivers that have loads of pikey looking haunts but have not had a sniff.
The river looked canny coloured up to my untrained eye and I was trotting baits down to the likely spots.
I know locating the fish is the biggest part of the battle and was wondering if, as a starter I'd be better of fishing lakes instead of the rivers as fish location would be a little easier and the water would be clearer?
I thought I could leger a bait casting around during the day and use a drifter on another rod.
Which type of venue would you recommend, and have you any tips?

Cheers in advance,
Geoff

[Jimk2]

My advice would be to start on lakes, rivers hold snags and unless you have the right gear 20 lb+ mono or 50lb+ braid with the correct rod you will encounter problems. Plus the rivers are moody, rain and colour means no fish

[Fishery Pokery]

My advice would be to start on lakes, rivers hold snags and unless you have the right gear 20 lb+ mono or 50lb+ braid with the correct rod you will encounter problems. Plus the rivers are moody, rain and colour means no fish

Thanks Jim.
I do have braid loaded reels and stiff rods as I have bought some bits and bobs and had a lot of gear from my sea fishing.
Where do you normally find the river state before travelling or is it just a case of having a look, as the local rivers are quite a drive.
Someone did suggest I should have legered to give the pike time to locate my bait, but I was travelling light and hadn't took the necessary gear. Think I will have to carry more gear next time.
Cheers.

[Jimk2]

I have a couple of mates who constantly monitor the river levels, you can do it from the EA web pages. Just google the river of choice and you will find it.

I personally wouldn't fish the rivers in flood or coloured. You want a good low level without colour and fish the slacks. The last time I fished a river was September, I think they have been out of sorts since. I did have a session down south planned for tomorrow but had to cancel due to flooding.

[Bushwhacker]

Here you go mate,i use these for my Salmon fishing.
I mostly use the Wear ones but you can find all other rivers as well.

Environment Agency - River levels station data

Farson Digital Watercams - Hi-def webcam on River Wear, at Durham City

[Fishery Pokery]

I have a couple of mates who constantly monitor the river levels, you can do it from the EA web pages. Just google the river of choice and you will find it.

I personally wouldn't fish the rivers in flood or coloured. You want a good low level without colour and fish the slacks. The last time I fished a river was September, I think they have been out of sorts since. I did have a session down south planned for tomorrow but had to cancel due to flooding.

That's a great help Jim.
Is the rivers colour directly linked to the water levels?
I will try a lake this weekend and try to keep an eye on the rivers levels so I can have another bash if the water clears.
Thanks again Jim!

[Fishery Pokery]

Here you go mate,i use these for my Salmon fishing.
I mostly use the Wear ones but you can find all other rivers as well.

Environment Agency - River levels station data

Farson Digital Watercams - Hi-def webcam on River Wear, at Durham City

Thanks very much, will keep checking from now on.
I did check before I went last time, and the site said it was at average levels, but maybe I misunderstood.
Cheers.