C
Charlie Bettell
Guest
If you hand-land pike, as I often do, you can support the hooked pike with two hands as you lift it from the water.
When I have a pike at boatside, I take hold of the main line just above the wire trace and place my rod, with open bail arm, accross the gunnels. I hold the main line just as I would if holding a fly line - i.e. very loosely.
If the hooked pike should shake its head or dive, I let the line slip through my thumb and index finger - I then ease the pike back again, using two hands, gently gripping the line between the thumb and index finger until my right hand is positioned just above the wire trace. I will then endeavour to take hold of the pike with my left hand, gripping it firmly just behind its head.
With a good grip behind the head, I then release the line from my right hand and 'very carefully' slide my fingers (all four of them) behind the gill cover - until the knuckle of my index finger comes into contact with the pike's 'V bone'.
As I start to lift the pike from the water with the right hand, I slide my left hand down the left flank of the pike - supporting it with two hands as I take its full weight from the water.
Personally, I never ever let people do this when fishing with me for fear of them ending up up the hospital - putting pay to the days fishing!
Personally, I have had to rip three treble hooks out of my fingers over my years of pike fishing - hence, this is why I will not let any client, however experienced they may be, hand-land pike while fishing aboard my boat.
Note: Big pike, i.e. over say 17lb, I much prefer to net.
When I have a pike at boatside, I take hold of the main line just above the wire trace and place my rod, with open bail arm, accross the gunnels. I hold the main line just as I would if holding a fly line - i.e. very loosely.
If the hooked pike should shake its head or dive, I let the line slip through my thumb and index finger - I then ease the pike back again, using two hands, gently gripping the line between the thumb and index finger until my right hand is positioned just above the wire trace. I will then endeavour to take hold of the pike with my left hand, gripping it firmly just behind its head.
With a good grip behind the head, I then release the line from my right hand and 'very carefully' slide my fingers (all four of them) behind the gill cover - until the knuckle of my index finger comes into contact with the pike's 'V bone'.
As I start to lift the pike from the water with the right hand, I slide my left hand down the left flank of the pike - supporting it with two hands as I take its full weight from the water.
Personally, I never ever let people do this when fishing with me for fear of them ending up up the hospital - putting pay to the days fishing!
Personally, I have had to rip three treble hooks out of my fingers over my years of pike fishing - hence, this is why I will not let any client, however experienced they may be, hand-land pike while fishing aboard my boat.
Note: Big pike, i.e. over say 17lb, I much prefer to net.