If you’re eager to reel in some pike, you’ve come to the right place. As an experienced pike fisher, I’ve caught countess pike and always enjoy catching them in the winter. When its cold and slow going for the carp I always have one rod out with a dead bait on for pike.
Top Pike Fishing Tips
Here are the key points to understand about pike:
- Pike are aggressive predators and inhabit freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
- They prefer weedy areas, submerged vegetation, and ambush spots near structures like fallen trees.
- Pike are known for their explosive strikes and powerful fights.
- Pike are actually very delicate, you need to follow the right care when you catch them to protect you and the pike.
Pike Fishing Equipment:
To gear up for pike fishing success, consider the following essentials:
- Opt for a medium to heavy action fishing rod paired with a sturdy reel that can handle the power of pike. Pick the rod for the type of water and size of the pike. I use a light spin rod when fishing for jacks. Its light enough to feel the bites but has enough power in the rod and reel to pull pike to 12lb+
- Use a braided line for strength and sensitivity.
- Select appropriate hooks, such as treble hooks for dead baiting to jig heads for lure fishing. Some trebles come as 1 barbed hook for the dead bait and 2 barbless for the pike. This is the way I like to fish for pike.
Techniques and Strategies:
Master the art of pike fishing with these proven techniques:
- Casting: Cover large areas by casting and retrieving various lures, mimicking wounded prey. A mixed od speed of retirees will get you more action. Let the bait drop and move through the water rather than a steady retrieve. The vibrations on the bottom will attract the pike.
- Rainbow cast: If you are on a peg imagine a rainbow in front of you and cast through the swim to find the pike.
- Trolling: Use a boat to drag lures behind while cruising at a slow speed, targeting different depths.
- Jigging: Drop a jig bait vertically and jig it up and down to entice strikes from the pike. This is best at close range and around features like fallen trees. If the lake has raised platforms drop one under your feet, you’ll often find a pike hiding in the dark there. This is the same for areas of overhanging grass in the water, these are perfect areas for pike to strike on fish swimming past.
Key takeaways:
- Employ casting, trolling, and jigging techniques to increase your chances of hooking pike.
- Vary your retrieval speed and experiment with different lure presentations.
- Adapt your technique based on the pike’s behaviour, weather conditions, and water temperature.
Bait Selection and Presentation:
Choose the right bait to tempt pike into biting:
- Live Bait: Check the lake you re fishing for the rules regarding dead baiting or live baiting. IF buying from a supermarket mackerel is m choice of bait, very small and oily and the like love it. If you have time in advance, and the rules allow, you can buy dead roaches in to fish with – these are amazing for getting bites.
- Artificial Lures: Experiment with spoons, spinners, swimbaits, or crankbaits in vibrant colours and sizes to mimic pike’s natural prey. I personally like anything that looks like a roach or a perch.
Landing and Handling Pike:
Successfully land and handle pike with these guidelines:
- Use a sturdy landing net to secure the fish safely. A rubber one is essential to protect the fish and stop your hooks from getting caught in the next when fishing with trebles.
- Handle pike with wet hands or gloves to protect their delicate slime coating. You can use predator gloves in order to handle the fish safely.
- Practice proper catch-and-release techniques to ensure pike’s survival for future anglers.
Here is a great video from the ginger fisherman showing how to care for and unhook a pike.
Key takeaways:
- Carry a reliable landing net to safely land pike.
- Wet your hands or wear gloves to handle pike gently.
- Release pike carefully, supporting their body and allowing them to swim away strongly.
If you’ve never tried it before give pike fishing a go and see how you get on. I’ve been carping for over 20 years but have only got into pike fishing in the last couple of years. It’s a really enjoyable way to fish in the winter months.