Pike fishing?

fishplate42 · Aug 28, 2017

My local commercial dedicates one lake to pike fishing from the beginning of October until March the following year. I have never (deliberately!) been pike fishing but I fancy having a go this winter. I was wondering what specialist gear I would need, if any.

I know I will need wire traces and I can look up rigs to use but what about rods and reels. Can I use my carp rods (3lb TC) or would I be better off using a match rod? I have no idea what sort of lures to use either. I have done a bit of dropshotting for perch but only with small plastic lures. I realise this is a totally different affair...

As far as technique is concerned a few pointers would be useful, but the guys on the lake will help me get going.

Any tips or advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Ralph.

flightliner · Aug 28, 2017

Any decant carp rod will be ok, I,ve used a couple of Shimano powerloops2.5tc for years (highly sought after by some dedicated Trent zander men at 2lb tc at the moment) . A 6000 size baitrunner would be fine but not entirely nessacery, an old mitchell 300 is ok if it were all you had.
Wire, trebles, big pike floats, drop off indicators , audible alarms, a big unhooking mat and some long nosed forceps should get you off to a good start but most of all find an experienced pike angler and either tag along or watch how they handle a fish when unhooking---- it's vital that you do it correctly.
lots of other tiny bits of gear to add to the list but lastly dont forget a few plasters, a finger or two bleeding for hours is the last thing you want on a cold winters day if you manage to find its gill rakers or the odd tooth

thecrow · Aug 28, 2017

flightliner said:
dont forget a few plasters, a finger or two bleeding for hours is the last thing you want on a cold winters day if you manage to find its gill rakers or the odd tooth

Much better than a bit cut off a fishing towel and some black insulating tape

flightliner · Aug 28, 2017

thecrow said:
Much better than a bit cut off a fishing towel and some black insulating tape

Lol, yes Graham, I have a foto of me holding a 17lb pike with a hand heavily swathed in blue rag that I applied with antiseptic hand gel prior to covering up a bad gash .
It looks for all the world like a bad case of mishandling the pike but in reality I had been on a very unused bit of the lower tidal Trent earlier and cut my way thro a thickit of white willow with a sickle but I slipped and made a kwik grab at a cut branch but one above hit me first. Blood everywhere and still no swim to use so I backtracked to a stillwater where I landed the pike--- the foto is one i've shown to the odd pike man but all they do is laugh

when I tell them the story

, Bar ----- stew ----- ards

mg:

john step · Aug 28, 2017

The PIKE ANGLERS CLUB website is a good place to start as there is a good section on handling, due no doubt to concerns about pike welfare.

Decide what type of piking you are keen to try.
Lure fishing. Less hassle with obtaining and keeping deadbaits and less gear and more mobile approach.

Deadbaiting and alarms etc.( You can actually use deadbaits like a lure in a more mobile approach. Look up SINK AND DRAW/ TWITCHING DEADBAITS)

GREYS do a dedicated pair of long nosed pliers for unhooking. Much less bendy and more stable than traditional long forceps.
To compliment this they do a long nosed/long handle cutter to match.

When I mentioned these on here some time ago I was taken to task by the opinion that why would you need cutters if you fished properly and avoided deep hooking.

Well.....I don't care how experienced a pike angler is there is always the very odd occasion when they are needed. When you need them, you really DO need them.
As well as the obvious deep hooking issue, if you are using double trebles and a pike(usually a jack) spins and tangles the mesh its so much easier to snip of the 2nd treble rather than risk getting it in your finger or damaging the fish.
You will if you are as clumsy as me get a hook in your clothing or finger. Great for freeing yourself.

You would find a dedicated rubberised predator net such as the Savage Gear
one much less prone to getting hooks entangled.
Whilst on the subject of unhooking. If you incorporate a link swivel above the trace you can unclip the fish and carry it to the mat without worring about carrying the rod as well.

Hope that helps.

fishplate42 · Aug 28, 2017

flightliner said:
Any decant carp rod will be ok, I,ve used a couple of Shimano powerloops2.5tc for years (highly sought after by some dedicated Trent zander men at 2lb tc at the moment) . A 6000 size baitrunner would be fine but not entirely nessacery, an old mitchell 300 is ok if it were all you had.
Wire, trebles, big pike floats, drop off indicators , audible alarms, a big unhooking mat and some long nosed forceps should get you off to a good start but most of all find an experienced pike angler and either tag along or watch how they handle a fish when unhooking---- it's vital that you do it correctly.
lots of other tiny bits of gear to add to the list but lastly dont forget a few plasters, a finger or two bleeding for hours is the last thing you want on a cold winters day if you manage to find its gill rakers or the odd tooth

Thanks! My plan is to get some appropriate gear together and initially see if there is anyone fishing that I can tag along with. If not I will just go and fish as I would normally. I have no intention of going it alone. I know there is a lot to learn about fish handling and I don't want to risk harming the fish though my ignorance.

I was thinking about lure fishing so I won't need floats (will I?) unless I go down the dead/live bait route.

It did occur to me I could try jigging for smaller pike with my LRF gear using 2-3 inch plastic lures in jig heads.

As you can see, I am all over the place with this. I have watched lots of videos and read up on it but to be honest, all I have succeed in doing is confuse myself even further.

I just need a starting point, if I enjoy it (and I am sure I will!) I can modify my technique/technique accordingly.

Plasters is a good point!

Ralph.

flightliner · Aug 28, 2017

Ralph, take care, that 17 lb pike I mentioned earlier came out of the blue, I was actually targeting perch and took it on a tiny yellow and red Manns grub with the usual curly tail.
Minutes earlier it took a big perch that I was playing in the margins, letting go at the last minute it decided to try something a little smaller.

fishplate42 · Aug 28, 2017

john step said:
The PIKE ANGLERS CLUB website is a good place to start as there is a good section on handling, due no doubt to concerns about pike welfare.

Decide what type of piking you are keen to try.
Lure fishing. Less hassle with obtaining and keeping deadbaits and less gear and more mobile approach.

Deadbaiting and alarms etc.( You can actually use deadbaits like a lure in a more mobile approach. Look up SINK AND DRAW/ TWITCHING DEADBAITS)

GREYS do a dedicated pair of long nosed pliers for unhooking. Much less bendy and more stable than traditional long forceps.
To compliment this they do a long nosed/long handle cutter to match.

When I mentioned these on here some time ago I was taken to task by the opinion that why would you need cutters if you fished properly and avoided deep hooking.

Well.....I don't care how experienced a pike angler is there is always the very odd occasion when they are needed. When you need them, you really DO need them.
As well as the obvious deep hooking issue, if you are using double trebles and a pike(usually a jack) spins and tangles the mesh its so much easier to snip of the 2nd treble rather than risk getting it in your finger or damaging the fish.
You will if you are as clumsy as me get a hook in your clothing or finger. Great for freeing yourself.

You would find a dedicated rubberised predator net such as the Savage Gear
one much less prone to getting hooks entangled.
Whilst on the subject of unhooking. If you incorporate a link swivel above the trace you can unclip the fish and carry it to the mat without worring about carrying the rod as well.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for that John, and yes that is a great help.

Good advice about pliers and cutters there. I have a few pairs of forceps that I keep in my tackle bag just in case I do catch a pike by mistake but I can see how the long ones will flex if dealing with a bigger fish. I caught a pike while retrieving a flat-backed method feeder on one occasion. It managed to cut the line and drop the feeder before I had to 'deal' with it.

Ralph.

---------- Post added at 12:38 ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 ----------

flightliner said:
Ralph, take care, that 17 lb pike I mentioned earlier came out of the blue, I was actually targeting perch and took it on a tiny yellow and red Manns grub with the usual curly tail.
Minutes earlier it took a big perch that I was playing in the margins, letting go at the last minute it decided to try something a little smaller.

Yes. That is exactly why I don't want to go it alone, at least until I have had some experience and I am confident I will be able to handle a bigger fish properly. I am keen to learn, but not at the expense of the fish. I am in no hurry, I will wait until I find someone experienced to fish with. There are plenty of friendly, experienced, pike anglers at the venue I have in mind.

Ralph.

Ralph.

steve2 · Aug 28, 2017

I find the Fox Pistol Grip Pliers work well for unhooking when using lures. I also use Baker hook out pliers. Savage gear also do a copy of Baker hook out pliers.

keora · Aug 29, 2017

Have you considered lure fishing for pike?

It's a good method, it doesn't need much kit and I get more takes than when deadbait fishing. Since I fish dozens of swims in a typical session then I quickly find the swims preferred by pike. From September to early winter is the best time for lure fishing in my view.

The items you need are a 9ft spinning rod, any medium sized fixed spool reel, 30 lb braid or 15 lb nylon, 30 lb trace, cross lock swivels and a few lures.

I suggest spinners, spoons, plugs and jigs no longer than 5 or 6 inches. I avoid lures with more than one treble hook. I squeeze flat two of the three barbs on the treble.

As for unhooking, I have a pear shaped landing net about 30 inches long with a rubberised mesh. I wear a pair of gardening gloves when unhooking pike, and use a pistol grip unhooker (baker hook out) which can be bought here:

Baker Hookout - Standard

There's further advice on unhooking pike on this link:

Coping with deep hooked pike - The Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain

I wouldn't wait until you can find someone to take you, just get the right gear, read up about pike fishing on the net, and then go fishing.

As for fishing with deadbaits, if you've got a carp rod and a suitable reel, then that will normally be suitable. Deadbaiting can be rather slow in the middle of winter. If I don't get takes in a swim, I move to a new one after about an hour. This method is more likely to result in pike than sitting huddled up in one swim all day.

fishplate42 · Aug 29, 2017

keora said:
Have you considered lure fishing for pike?

It's a good method, it doesn't need much kit and you'll probably get more takes than when deadbait fishing. Since you fish dozens of swims in a typical session then you'll quickly find the swims preferred by pike. From September to early winter is the best time for lure fishing in my view.

The stuff you'll need are a 9ft spinning rod, any medium sized fixed spool reel, 30 lb braid or 15 lb nylon, 30 lb trace, cross lock swivels and a few lures.

I suggest spinners, spoons, plugs and jigs no longer than 5 or 6 inches. I avoid lures with more than one treble hook. I squeeze flat two of the three barbs on the treble.

As for unhooking, I have a pear shaped landing net about 30 inches long with a rubberised mesh. I wear a pair of gardening gloves when unhooking pike, and use a pistol grip unhooker (baker hook out) which can be bought here:

Baker Hookout - Standard

There's further advice on unhooking pike on this link:

Coping with deep hooked pike - The Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain

I wouldn't wait until you can find someone to take you pike fishing, just get the right gear, read up about pike fishing on the net, and then go fishing.

As for fishing with deadbaits, if you've got a carp rod and a suitable reel, then that will normally be suitable. Deadbaiting can be rather slow in the middle of winter. I find that keeping tackle to a minimum and moving swims regularly during the day is more likely to result in pike than sitting huddled up in one swim all day.

Thanks for that!

I was initially thinking that lure fishing for pike was a good method - See my previous post HERE. I think this is the way to go for me, at least initially. I do like the idea of fishing light, just rod/reel, unhooking mat, landing net and a few lures. It looks like I will have to invest in (yet another) landing net and a spinning rod as my HTO LRF rod is probably far too light for the job in hand. Any recommendations regarding specification? Not necessarily make.

Ralph.

103841 · Aug 29, 2017

Plenty of pike here in Canterbury just waiting for you Ralph.

steve2 · Aug 29, 2017

I do a lot of lure fishing like all fishing it depends on where and when, size of lure etc. My own rods vary from 2-6gm casting weights up to 120gm from various makers.
Welcome to the world of lure fishing. Be careful lures can become a bit like floats you end up with far more than you will ever use.

fishplate42 · Aug 29, 2017

s63 said:
Plenty of pike here in Canterbury just waiting for you Ralph.

I was thinking that, John. Have you ever gone after them?

Mind you I think I will stick to trying to net the big chub, but I guess I am just as likely to catch a pike at certain times of the year. I only started this thread because my brother was going on about pike fishing and that Beaver Fishery is getting one of their lakes ready for the pike fishing season.

The knowledge is good to have in the bank, so to speak.

Ralph.

---------- Post added at 11:39 ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 ----------

steve2 said:
I do a lot of lure fishing like all fishing it depends on where and when, size of lure etc. My own rods vary from 2-6gm casting weights up to 120gm from various makers.
Welcome to the world of lure fishing. Be careful lures can become a bit like floats you end up with far more than you will ever use.

Tell me about it, although I have not done much, I do enjoy jigging and dropshotting for small perch using 'soft plastic fish'. Anybody reading this should NOT look at the AGM website

mg:

Ralph.

103841 · Aug 29, 2017

fishplate42 said:
I was thinking that, John. Have you ever gone after them?

Ralph.

No I haven't, but one has been coming for me! Read my HDYGO post on how one particular pike tried to snatch every fish I caught a few days ago, huge creature and it's been in the pool all week.

keora · Aug 30, 2017

Here's a spinning rod I can recommend:

Drennan E-Sox Spinflex Pike Fishing Rods All Sizes! - PS44.95 A great range of Drennan Esox Spinflex Pike Fishing Rods All Sizes from Tackle-Up

It's a Drennan Spinflex, the 9ft version, casting weight 12 to 50 gms, monofil lines up to 15lb. I've used it for about 20years, in fact it's my second one.

You could try the shorter 8ft rod, which casts up to 30 gms and will be good for perch, chub and pike.

Anything shorter and you don't have much control when playing fish from steep overgrown river banks.

As for a landing net, I've used this for a few years in the 30 inch version:

Korum Latex Folding Spoon Net - Johnson Ross Tackle

Alan Tyler · Aug 30, 2017

If you're allowed two rods, try a deadbait close in on one and spinning with the other. Several times I've seen the flash of a pike turning away from the lure and had the float sail away seconds later; it's now my standard gambit.
It's also much more mobile than waiting for a miracle behind a pair of buzzers; once you've cast fan-wise around the swim a couple of times, you may as well move on to the next likely spot. Bearing in mind that pike's eyes face upwards, I start with the deadbait at about one third the depth, changing in the light of evidence, tip-offs or no bloomin' pike.
A side-benefit of this system is that you only need a few lures - you only need the pike to get curious, not convinced.

steve2 · Aug 31, 2017

One thing I would say about landing nets and lure fishing is don't take one of those 42" triangle, 3ft deep things when wandering the banks. They get tangled in all the bank side vegetation.
I find Latex nets are best for all types of pike fishing.

Incidentally I always have 2 lure rods set up I don’t believe one rod will cover all may days lure fishing.

Pike fishing?

fishplate42

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flightliner

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thecrow

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john step

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