The Pike is the largest fresh water predator native to the UK, they are also present in other European countries as well as northern parts of the America. The Pike is a perfect predator and has been around for many years, they are built for stealth and speed supporting a very powerful tail, with one flick of this, the pike can cover many metres in distance making it the ultimate predator fish. The eyes are on top of its head which only adds to the stealth ness properties the pike holds. The pike attacks its prey from the underneath position hence the reason why the eyes are on top of its head, their eye sight is excellent and possesses sensors located on top of its head and under its jaw as well as the lateral line. These sensors detect various signs such as pressure, vibration, temperature, scent and finally danger. Before you attempt to go fishing for pike its a very good idea to consider the following factor-Health & Safety to the fish.

Experienced or not you have to think of the safety of the fish, this includes a good quality unhooking matt and a long pair of forceps, (it's not acceptable to go pike fishing or any other kind of fishing without a mat). You never know the size of the fish you are going to catch and therefore attempting to unhook a pike or fish without the aid of a quality mat will damage the fish causing infection and possible death. I have seen carp anglers in the past unhooking 30lb carp on unhooking mats of about 2feet long and 18 inches wide (Not Good). Example the fish lashes out on the undersized unhooking mat thus making the fish prone to injury by foreign objects such as stones or glass which are on the floor, my advise is if in doubt, then make sure your with somebody who is experienced in pike angling.

Baits to use whilst pike fishing

They are many different baits to use for pike fishing, I have listed a few of them below for your attention, each and everyone are good baits. However a little research into the venue you are about to fish can help you decide which to use for your session. Some baits can be very soft like Sardines and difficult to hold on the trace if you find yourself in this position try wrapping an elastic band around both trace and dead bait, this will stop the hooks pulling out of the dead bait once cast out.

Best Baits for Pike Fishing, Fresh & Salt Water Pike fishing Baits.

I only started pike fishing a few years ago, pike fishing was of no interest to me until I was approached by an old friend who asked if I would like to try it out. Since then I try to go pike fishing at least once every week, in that time I have tried many different types of dead baits and found to have had more success on Sardines, Lamprey & Smelt. I have also caught pike on other baits listed above such as Roach, Skimmer Bream etc however I tend to stick with the ones I have had most success with. You can also use fresh water fish as live bait! there are certain rules which apply when fishing a live bait. You should always make certain that the live bait you are using originates from the water you are fishing, failure to adopt this practice could or will contaminate the water and spread disease amongst other fish resulting in death and loss of fish stock. The other important factor to take in to consideration is that you must also make certain the fish you are using as bait should be over 25cm in length. Also an ethical issue to address whilst adopting this method of fishing. Is it is cruel to use live bait to catch pike? A friend once said to me 'to stick a hook in a fish is to stick a hook in a fish'. Fishing for pike using live bait can be very prosperous to your session however at the end of the day the decision to use live bait is up to you. Did you know Pike help to keep healthy fish stocks in our waters There are other ways to catch pike and these are to use artificial baits like plugs and spinners which are both very successful methods, one of my favourite tactics using this method is to attach a plug to my main line and walk up and down the length of my local canal allowing the artificial bait to lure behind me and jig it along the canal bank. They are many different kind of artificial baits, you will find that they are also very good value for money as well because of the durability properties they hold. Not only can you catch pike using both dead baits and lures, you will also catch Zanda too. The picture below is Rob who was fishing the British Pike Championships and was rewarded with a nice looking Zanda.

LURE FISHING is one of the most exciting ways to catch predatory pike, they are also very good for catching perch and Zanda. Lures are made from all different kinds of materials including metal, wood, plastic and each one holds their own catching capabilities. Before purchasing any type of lure have a think what you are actually buying it for, don't make the mistake of adding it to your basket just because you like the look of it. Pike have got great senses and the lure you purchase should resemble one of the waters natural fish, the kind of detail you need to look for when purchasing artificial lures are scale patterns, how real the eyes look and if possible one with a gloss finish as this will glitter and help attract your pike. When fishing lures try and be creative with your retrieving technique, this will help the lure imitate a injured fish which is what you are trying to achieve. Some of the best places to catch pike are under over hanging / fallen trees, weed beds under bridges and sometimes right under your feet. October is a great time to hang your up your carp rods and get your pike fishing gear out of the attic/shed. You may have never fished for pike before however its still a good time to start. If you are like me, you will like to use dead baits for catching pike, other anglers prefer to use fishing lures and spinners to catch the pike, both methods are very effective. Although using dead baits will normally produce bigger pike, small pike (Jack pike) feed ferociously and will take lures fast and furious. The bigger pike tend to be quite lazy and find it can be hard work chasing lures. Not only is autumn / winter time good for pike fishing its also very good for Zanda, Zanda are a perch like fish and habitat in drains and rivers. Although I have never caught a Zanda before I don't think I will be to bothered about it because they are mean looking fish. Pike are usually at their biggest weight in the colder months and can be fantastic sport when caught.

Equipment needed for pike fishing:

Pike are very strong fish and need to be treated with the up most respect, therefore its recommended you have the right equipment when fishing for them. You will need...

A: 2.5 test curve rod or heavier

B: 15 or 20lb mono/60lb braid mainline

C: Good reel

D: 36" landing net

E: pair of pliers in case you have to cut the hooks

F: Long nose forceps

G: Quality unhooking mat

H: Bait

I: Rod rests

J: Pike glove (optional)

Terminal tackle:

A: Quantity of quaility hooks, either 8s or 6s pending size of bait.

B: Spool of 20-28lb trace wire

C: A selection of weights

D: Pike floats

E: Power gum

F: Quaility swivels

G: Pollyballs or bolsa sticks for popping up deadbaits.

H: And a full bag of confidence :)

Pike gloves are very important when it comes to unhooking pike, especially if you are a novice pike angler, pike gloves are used to help when unhooking fish. Most advanced pike fishermen know exactly what to do when handling pike and therefore avoid "Racker Rash". Racker rash, is caused by getting your hands caught on a pikes gill rackers when attempting to remove the hooks from its mouth, the rackers are sharp and tend to catch on your hand when unhooking pike, this happens especially with young jack pike due to the lack of room you have. Below is a picture of a friend of mine who caught his hand on a pikes gill racker. (Click the image to see the full picture)

Click here to see the video

Pike traces:

Pike traces can be purchased from your local tackle shop for just a few pounds however, if you decide you wanted to make your own pike fishing traces, it  works out a lot cheaper in the long run and gives you a sense of pride if you catch one on your home made pike rig. Have a look at this page, it will tell you what you need and how to make a pike fishing trace. Please note that an average pike trace should be between 18 and 22" in length, failure to follow this practice could amount to the pike snapping your main line snapping on the pikes teeth. (Have a look at this video) 

Pike Baits & Lures:

What is the best bait for pike fishing? As with carp fishing there are many different types of baits you could buy, either from your tackle shop or local market.I've only been pike fishing for two years so, I guess you could class me as a bit of a novice but I do have one or two 20+s under my belt.

• Lamprey
• Roach
• Sardine
• Smelt
• Bream
• Trout or Mackerel tail
• Frogs (Frogs are probably a pikes most natural bait)
• Leaches. (Mainly for jack pike)

The above baits are the ones which I've caught pike and would recommend to you, I've landed pike over 20lb including a lake record using some of the above baits.

Unhooking pike:

• The best way to unhook a pike is to turn it on its back and sit astride the fish taking care not to allow any sharp objects like grass or straw near its eyes, remember pike have no eye lids and can easily be blinded. Holding the fish firmly between your knees to keep it secure, slide your gloved hand under the gill cover towards its chin (Try avoiding racker rash). Feel for the chin bone and grip it firmly. Once you have your gripped it, gently lift the pike’s head upwards ready for the hook extraction. (Click here for a video)
   
• Don’t be scared of the pike, be sure and dominate the fish "and show the pike who is the boss or so to "speak!!!".
• If the hook hold is deep or awkwardly hooked, you can put your hand through the gill-racker with the forceps you have purchased. However you have to be careful and keep your hands away from the gill-rackers which are vital organs and can be damaged easily. Pike need the gill rackers to protect its self when feeding, gill rackers stop other fish from swimming in the pikes mouth when feeding.

Deep hooking a pike:

Sometimes when you hook a pike, the fish swallows the bait and the treble hooks, they lodge themselves deep in the pikes belly causing discomfort for the pike and panic amongst the angler (Horrific). When this happens you need an experienced angler with you. (DO NOT TRY THIS) if you are inexperienced. If the fish is really deeply hooked, you can pull the pikes belly into the mouth. By applying steady pulling pressure to your trace wire, the gut will pop out into the mouth. If at all possible ask other anglers to help you, once the hooks have been removed the belly will fall back into place. Below left is a pike gut with 6 treble hooks inside, pictured right are the removed traces. The pike was not harmed in anyway and was released back to the water. Click the pics below for a bigger image.

Returning a pike to the water:

Once you have caught your pike, its very important to return the fish back to the water as soon as possible, especially in the warmer months. If for any reason you need to keep the pike out of the water, try to ensure you keep it moist at all times with a wet cloth.

Click here to see a great pike fishing video clip

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