Unhooking pike.

[rayner]

I've said on numerous occasions I have never shown any interest in predator fishing. I asked what I deemed a simple question regarding rigs from experienced predator anglers that received virtually no response on the predator corner of the forum. Perhaps my question was a little ambiguous or even dim. For one reason or another, my question was almost ignored. It only attracted a couple of responses.
Having said that I've decided to use my own initiative drawn from nearly sixty years of angling experience. Even though predator fishing is virtually foreign to me it is after all just a different species that I'm sure I will get to grips with. I've caught the odd perch like everyone else. They are said to go to 4lb in the venue I shall be fishing, I know to encounter such a specimen would be as lucky as winning the lottery.
My first choice would be to fish a feeder rod. A jig head is sure to be used.
I already have an array of drop-shotting gear that I use to use on the canal. Now it would be too much of a stretch for me to venture on to the canal again there's too much walking. A day on the 65-acre lake may be a little bit daunting having never seen the after but it is only fishing.
My thinking of predator fishing is all to do with my daughter buying a home close to Talkin Tarn in Cumbria. A water that holds only perch and pike.
Other gear I bought was wire for incase I snag a pike, a larger landing net for the same reason, a larger pair of forceps for extracting hooks, the main thing is a gadget for holding the pikes gob open when unhooking the toothy critters. I had an idea that my son in law may be able to help with unhooking pike but he flatly refuses to sit on the banks for if I hook a pike.
I shall just bite the bullet go and start from scratch fishing as it were blind.
To say there could be more than a little trepidation, having never seen a pike bigger than about 10" that was caught from the canal on the bank that took a jelly worm by mistake I'm sure I will cope with no trouble.

 

[108831]

Pike are easy,confidence is key,forefinger carefully into the gill,slid down until you can lift it,the weight of the fish keeps the mouth open,thus allowing unhooking,has always worked for me,but I have no fingers left...

 

[rayner]

I'm confident I can chin a pike with my left hand, my problem is I'm short another hand to unhook the fish.
I have a gadget now to hold the pike's gob open so all is good.

 

[108831]

Sorry Gary,I forgot your issues,it must be another world thinking of how to deal with a toothy critter...

 

[rayner]

I could stand on the pike's neck that could make it easier. or use an?

 

[liphook]

Use an unhooking mat and turn them on their back and straddle with a knee very loosely supporting either flank is one way. The lower jaw will simply open upwards and they tend to lie doggo. Pike are actually one of the most delicate of fish and need very careful kid glove treatment. It's only the skull and teeth that are hard.

 

[rayner]

Having a pike between my knees is absolutely impossible for me.
My best option would be to not hook a pike, sods law, says I will. One way or another, I will cope.

 

[mikench]

I wish I could help Gary but my experience of catching a pike is limited as opposed to trying to. Good luck.

 

[Philip]

Your question on the predator corner appeared to be related to lure fishing rather than general Pike rigs which is probably why it didnt get too many responses. You could ask the new article writer Robbie Northman his opinion if its lures/jigs and so on your interested in.

If the contraption your talking about to hold the Pikes mouth open is a gag, basically a pair of arms that springs open then I dont think they are such a good idea...depending on the spring & size of Pike they can force its mouth open too wide or they can slip and spring into the sides or back of the mouth causing problems for the fish.

The best way to unhook a Pike by far is with the gloved hand technique…basically what Whitty describes. However if it really is impossible for you to use two hands then there are some large hook/treble hook disgorgers available that may help. They have a sort of cone shape on the end that you slot onto the line then slide down until it masks the hook and you push it out..so very similar to a normal disgorger just bigger. You will still need to keep a tight line (hold it between your teeth for example and use disgorger in the other hand) however for anything other than small jack Pike I cant see how your going to manage if you cant kneel down as larger Pike will have to be on the ground as you unhook them.

Given your situation its probably better to try and avoid Pike altogether. Stick to worms and maggots for the Perch…still not foolproof of course but should avoid a lot of problems.

 

[rayner]

Thanks, Philip, that is the sort of information that can help me.
I know it's difficult to stop pike from intercepting my baits even with worm or prawn, it would not surprise me to catch pike.
Even the gag I have will be used if I struggle to remove any hook, I know how they are not PC but if need be I will have no option.
Just because I may encounter the sods will not prevent me from using my drop shot tackle as it is a method I really like.
Perch is my only target, I can not avoid pike I know.

 

[Richard Bartlett]

Thanks, Philip, that is the sort of information that can help me.
I know it's difficult to stop pike from intercepting my baits even with worm or prawn, it would not surprise me to catch pike.
Even the gag I have will be used if I struggle to remove any hook, I know how they are not PC but if need be I will have no option.
Just because I may encounter the sods will not prevent me from using my drop shot tackle as it is a method I really like.
Perch is my only target, I can not avoid pike I know.

Rayner - there's a reason for gags not being PC - they have the potential to cause very substantial damage to a pike. Consider this: a gag is essentially a spring which will exert a certain pressure - this force is in no way sensitive to the size of the pike you may catch - use it on a small pike & you could very easily break its jaw (I've seen it done, albeit in the dim & distant past). Use it on a large pike & it could well not be up to the task & your fingers may pay the price!
As mentioned above, sliding fingers under the gill cover & into the chin notch (NOT into the gills!) is a very reliable method, although a bit of experienced guidance & practice is recommended. Also gloves - I must admit I've used gloves in the distant past but no longer do so at all - you lose a vital sense of touch & can more easily & inadvertently damage the pike. By going under the gill cover you are well clear of the big nasty teeth & the worst you are likely to experience is a multitude of tiny tiny scratches from the gills - commonly known as raker rash! Its an occupational hazard for pikers, looks like gravel rash, doesn't really hurt, although tends to bleed impressively!
As for chinning pike out - I know loads of people do it successfully but its not for me - too many trebles around at that end for my taste

 

[rayner]

Let me make things very clear. I have no intention of catching a pike. I do know that may well be impossible.
An alternative to using a gag would relinquish my need to use one.
The only thing that seems to come is reasons not to use a gag, no mention of an alternative to holding the pike's jaw open with my limitations.
Philip made mention of a pike disgorger that could help me, that would still leave me with the thought the pike still needs to oblige by opening its toothy gob. Real fish I can manage pike could be a little tricky.
I can either chin the pike or use a disgorger, not both. The water I intend fishing holds both perch and pike. I will fish only for perch so any pike is bycatch. Even so, they will still need to be dealt with.
There's no way I will not fish the intended water just because I may encounter a pike.

 

[sam vimes]

Rayner,
I'm not much of a pike enthusiast. However, I can't see how you could realistically manage to unhook a pike safely with essentially just one hand. Safely unhooking pike is beyond plenty of anglers with the full use of two hands. It does appear that the use of gags is considered almost as barbaric as using gaffs. At the very least, it's frowned upon. Many clubs and fisheries totally banned their use years ago.

You won't like it, but I suspect that you might want to reconsider whether fishing methods/venues that are likely to result in pike captures might be worth avoiding when/if you are fishing on your own.

 

[mikench]

One of these is worth having Gary and not expensive. I use it for sea fishing when I want to return the fish.

 

[rayner]

Rayner,
I'm not much of a pike enthusiast. However, I can't see how you could realistically manage to unhook a pike safely with essentially just one hand. Safely unhooking pike is beyond plenty of anglers with the full use of two hands. It does appear that the use of gags is considered almost as barbaric as using gaffs. At the very least, it's frowned upon. Many clubs and fisheries totally banned their use years ago.

You won't like it, but I suspect that you might want to reconsider whether fishing methods/venues that are likely to result in pike captures might be worth avoiding when/if you are fishing on your own.

The water I intend to fish is in Cumbria, it's water that holds only perch and pike as mentioned above.
I refuse to let pike denote how and where I fish. Of course, I would ideally like to avoid encountering any pike,
I am realistic enough to know that would be virtually impossible to not hook a pike. If all else fails my option of using a gag is still there.
I would love to hear from whoever it is that thinks the use of a gag is barbaric and why. After all, it is just a way of extracting the hook.

 

[rayner]

One of these is worth having Gary and not expensive. I use it for sea fishing when I want to return the fish.

It looks a little two-handed for me I think Mike. A good idea though, I could probably hold the line in my teeth. I'll look into it. Thank you.

 

[sam vimes]

I would love to hear from whoever it is that thinks the use of a gag is barbaric and why. After all, it is just a way of extracting the hook.

Rayner,
please yourself, I've no intention of arguing about it. I'm no real fan of pike and even less of specialist groups like the PAC. However, you might want to take a look at the PAC code of conduct. It certainly isn't law, but speaking from experience, some pikers do behave as if it is.

 

[rayner]

Pikers are a similar breed as carp folk. they treat fish as pets. I would never intentionally injure any fish. The thought of any fish getting injured is too far from my mind to cause any concern to me. Sh1t happens.

 

[rayner]

I read the pike chaps code of conduct.
Well that's not strictly true I started reading then my eyes became extremely heavy and somehow I nodded off and when I woke the page had changed, I did try though. ?

 

[Richard Bartlett]

I would love to hear from whoever it is that thinks the use of a gag is barbaric and why. After all, it is just a way of extracting the hook.

I hoped I'd made that clear in my post above, but perhaps not. To reiterate, gags can and do cause immense damage to pike, damage that is wholly avoidable by use of a more effective & safer unhooking technique. Now I accept you have limitations which may prevent you adopting that technique & clearly I can't really advise a solution. However, I'd strongly recommend your trying to adapt safer techniques to your needs to minimise any potential harm.
As for gags being just a way of unhooking a fish - no they're not, they're simply a very crude tool to hold the mouth open whilst you unhook the fish & avoid the teeth.