Landscaping

Pike are a formidable predatory fish that displays different behaviour in different seasons. During the summer months the pike are generally quite active and can often be seen chasing after small fry and silver fish. Whether the pike are chasing them because they are hungry or whether it is the aggressive killer instinct that is being displayed no one really knows, however if you see small silver fish jumping out of the water it is likely there is a pike close by.

During the winter months, when it is cooler, the pike are generally more sedate. Whilst they will still chase fish they tend to do so less frequently and are more likely to lie in ambush, such as some reeds or weed, and strike at unsuspecting fish as they swim past. During the winter months pike will also become scavengers and will pick up injured and dead fish of the water’s bottom.

Because of the different behavioural patterns of pike the best method of fishing for them will depend upon the season and the angler needs to adapt the approach accordingly.

When pike are more active, i.e. during the summer months, a great way of fishing for them is to use a lure. When using a lure the angler is not trying to entice the pike to feed, instead the idea is to play on the pike’s natural aggressive instinct and prompt it in to attacking the lure and becoming hooked in the process. This method means the angler may catch a pike even if it is not hungry, which is a great bonus.

Pike are said to be a territorial fish, therefore they are unlikely to travel too far even when they are at their most active. However, it is up to the angler to go and find the pike, as opposed to letting the pike come to them, and lure fishing is perfect for this. Lure fishing is an active way of fishing and allows the angler to explore an awful lot of water. The constant casting out and retrieval of the lure means the angler can fish the lure at all depths, from right near the water’s surface to pulling the lure along the water’s bottom, and all depths in between, in order to seek out the pike.

A good way of exploring the water with a lure is to make the first cast to the left, before retrieving the lure, before making each subsequent cast a bit farther to the right until the final cast is over to your right. This ‘fan’ casting method ensures the maximum amount of water is covered. Once one fan is complete, the angler can repeat the pattern but vary the retrieval speed of the lure so it is at a different depth to the first series of casts. Once the first swim has been fished at different depths the angler should then move swims and repeat the process. If the angler catches a pike in a particular swim it should be released and the angler should then move to a different swim because, as a result of their territorial nature, it is very unlikely there is another pike in the same area of water. Pike tend not to be a shoal fish.

Landing a pike in the summer can be an exciting experience. The pike tend to fight very hard and there is often lots of head shaking and, on occasion, tail walking which is where the pike leaps out of the water and shakes in mid air. Fighting a pike in this manner really gets the adrenaline pumping through the veins and provides a wonderful and memorable experience.

Once a summer pike is on the bank the ‘fight’ is unlikely to stop there since they are a very lively fish that will thrash around. Because of this it is important all pike anglers have the correct kit, which consists of a large landing net, an unhooking mat and a long pair of artery forceps or blunt pliers for hook removal. The kit not only protects the pike from damage by potentially being dropped, but it also protects the angler and helps to ensure the pike doesn’t bite. The best way of holding a pike is to put your stronger hand under the gills and hold it head up, with the weaker hand supporting the body. This method helps to keep the head stationary, hence preventing the bike from biting, so the pike can be photographed and returned to the water to fight another day.

During the winter months a lure can be used, but because the pike are more sedate it is unlikely a pike will chase the lure. The angler may be fortunate to pull the lure past a pike’s hiding place where it may dart out and take the lure, however this is a game of odds. If an angler does prefer to lure fish during the winter months a good tip is to seek out weedy areas and reed beds and pull the lure past these potential pike holding spots.

The most suitable method of winter pike fishing is to fish either a live bait, which of course will be tethered by the line, or a dead bait.

When using live bait it is important to use bait fish that are caught in the same water as where they will be used to try and catch pike. Moving fish between waters is a big no no since it may lead to cross contamination of diseases that may wipe out the population of fish where the live bait is used. The idea when using a live bait is to keep the bait fish as alive for as long possible therefore it is advisable to hook the bait either through the lip or through the back. When using multiple hook rigs one hook can be put through the lip, and the other through the back to ensure maximum hold.

Some anglers don’t like using a live bait and prefer to use dead fish as bait. When using a dead bait the angler can enhance the bait further by injecting it with some fish oil before breaking the skin of the bait fish and casting it out. Hopefully, this will result in a slick of pungent oils that will lead right to the dead fish. Hopefully, any pike will follow this trail to the fish before devouring it.

When using live bait or dead bait the pike is likely to turn the fish around to swallow it head first, therefore it is important not to be too keen when the rod tip begins to quiver or the bobber goes under the water. If the rod tip quivers or the bobber goes under wait a few moments to let the pike turn the fish around before striking in to the fish. Striking too early will result in a dropped fish.

Fighting winter pike is not normally as exciting as fighting summer pike. Whilst it is likely there will be some head shaking, although this is likely to be reduced, tail walking does not usually happen. During the winter months a pike will tend to hug the bottom and kite from left to right in order to get away.

A winter pike is unlikely to thrash around on the bank as much as a summer pike, however the angler still needs the same kit of large net, unhooking mat and forceps or pliers. In addition, winter pike should also be held under the gills with its head up. Winter pike may still bite so the angler still needs to take care with the fish.

Regardless of whether the angler is lure fishing or using a live bait or dead bait there are a few other items that should be used, including;

Treble hooks. In addition to the rows of teeth, pike have bony mouths and hooks may bounce off the bones and not take hold of the mouth, which will ultimately end up in a sot fish. To increase the chance of a hook hold treble hooks, i.e. three hook points coming off one shank, should be used. In addition to this many pike rigs, and lures, will have more than one treble hook.

A wire trace. Because of the and rows of small and razor sharp teeth which can easily cut through monofilament line, so a wire trace of about a meter is used to overcome this.

Both summer and winter pike fishing is very rewarding but in totally different ways. Catching a pike in the summer involves a lot of moving around and locating and then catching a pike is rewarding. In the winter the reward comes from knowing that you managed to outwit the pike in the battle of wits.

Find More Weed Killers Articles