There’s a few threads popping up about pike fishing so I thought I’d put something together for a novice pike angler. Or just to give the basics to an occasional pike angler using dead bait tactics.
Pike are a very delicate fish even though they are a ferocious predator in their habitat. Good handling of pike is very important and the ability to unhook them is a must. Ideally this should be accompanied by an experienced piker.
Bite indication is also very important, on ledgered baits a tight line must be achieved with a front alarm and drop back indicator. This is to prevent deep hooking as pike are known to swallow bait quite quickly which can ultimately kill the fish if the hooks cannot be removed. Float fishing is also a good method with correct sinker gives good visible bite indication providing it is watched at all times.
Tackle
Rods- Any carp rod will be suffice for basic pike fishing. Usually a 12’ rod with a test curve of 2.5 pounds will be adequate to throw baits and leads and have the back bone for short to medium range fishing.
Reels- Any 6000-10000 sized reels or pit reels capable of holding 15 pound or greater mono of a decent quality. You cannot beat shimano baitunner 10000 ST RA at £45
Line- Minimum 15 pound mono, Even 20 pound wouldn’t be out of the ordinary particularly on snaggy and weedy venues. You want to have the ability to pull your hooks out of a snag rather than snap your line and leave a baited pike trace behind.
Landing net- Minimum of 42”, You just never know when a lump might grace your net. It happens and most waters will hold one or two big fish and the last thing you want is to lose a fish of a life time because you cannot land it.
Snap tackle- A steel trace must be used for pike and a minimum of 18” and Ideally make your own. Use SEMI BARBED treble hooks and attach the bait to the barbed treble. If you don’t make your own buy decent ready made snap tackle like greys or fox. Size 6 is a good hook size but remember to match the bait to the hook gap. No double size 4 hooks with a large gap on a sprat! It will be swallowed with the bottom treble.
Including the above these items should be carried as a minimum.
1)Forceps, A good sized pair of forceps with the ability to grip and remove deep hooks.
2)Unhooking mat.
3)Hook cutters, required more so in lure fishing I find. But if your struggling just cut the hooks they will be easier to remove.
4)Long nosed pliers to achieve more grip.
Unhooking
More information is available on the PAC website.
Place the pike on the unhooking mat in between your legs, place the pike on its back and if your right handed slide your left hand into its gill flap (be very careful of the gill rakers) They are sharp and very delicate. Your hand should head toward the mouth of the pike and if you lift the pikes mouth will open with a lever effect. You should have full control here. Using your right hand remove the hooks using forceps.
If you are struggling, put the pike back in the net and give yourself a break and the pike a breather.
Another tip I would give is a rule I instil with myself “Always fish and expect the chance of catching a 20 pounder”
This makes me always take the essentials mentioned and stringent care is taken with tackle including line and knots. Even on a stalking session take your large net, scales, unhooking mat and camera
Pike are a very delicate fish even though they are a ferocious predator in their habitat. Good handling of pike is very important and the ability to unhook them is a must. Ideally this should be accompanied by an experienced piker.
Bite indication is also very important, on ledgered baits a tight line must be achieved with a front alarm and drop back indicator. This is to prevent deep hooking as pike are known to swallow bait quite quickly which can ultimately kill the fish if the hooks cannot be removed. Float fishing is also a good method with correct sinker gives good visible bite indication providing it is watched at all times.
Tackle
Rods- Any carp rod will be suffice for basic pike fishing. Usually a 12’ rod with a test curve of 2.5 pounds will be adequate to throw baits and leads and have the back bone for short to medium range fishing.
Reels- Any 6000-10000 sized reels or pit reels capable of holding 15 pound or greater mono of a decent quality. You cannot beat shimano baitunner 10000 ST RA at £45
Line- Minimum 15 pound mono, Even 20 pound wouldn’t be out of the ordinary particularly on snaggy and weedy venues. You want to have the ability to pull your hooks out of a snag rather than snap your line and leave a baited pike trace behind.
Landing net- Minimum of 42”, You just never know when a lump might grace your net. It happens and most waters will hold one or two big fish and the last thing you want is to lose a fish of a life time because you cannot land it.
Snap tackle- A steel trace must be used for pike and a minimum of 18” and Ideally make your own. Use SEMI BARBED treble hooks and attach the bait to the barbed treble. If you don’t make your own buy decent ready made snap tackle like greys or fox. Size 6 is a good hook size but remember to match the bait to the hook gap. No double size 4 hooks with a large gap on a sprat! It will be swallowed with the bottom treble.
Including the above these items should be carried as a minimum.
1)Forceps, A good sized pair of forceps with the ability to grip and remove deep hooks.
2)Unhooking mat.
3)Hook cutters, required more so in lure fishing I find. But if your struggling just cut the hooks they will be easier to remove.
4)Long nosed pliers to achieve more grip.
Unhooking
More information is available on the PAC website.
Place the pike on the unhooking mat in between your legs, place the pike on its back and if your right handed slide your left hand into its gill flap (be very careful of the gill rakers) They are sharp and very delicate. Your hand should head toward the mouth of the pike and if you lift the pikes mouth will open with a lever effect. You should have full control here. Using your right hand remove the hooks using forceps.
If you are struggling, put the pike back in the net and give yourself a break and the pike a breather.
Another tip I would give is a rule I instil with myself “Always fish and expect the chance of catching a 20 pounder”
This makes me always take the essentials mentioned and stringent care is taken with tackle including line and knots. Even on a stalking session take your large net, scales, unhooking mat and camera
best about 6/7lb
but
