Pike Fishing Delight

Pike fishing is very popular in many parts of the world, especially Europe and N. America where pike are abundant.

The pike, with their long, torpedo-shaped bodies are built for speed. These meanest freshwater’s fighting machines can be caught with baits or lures.

Pike can grow to weight of 50 lbs. and a length of over 4 feet long. But common catches are below 20 lbs. and fish of between 10-20 lbs. are considers worthwhile catches. And fish above 30 lbs is a catch of a lifetime—very rare.

Habitat

All sorts of waters can contain pike, as long as there is enough food to sustain their voracious eating habits. They can be found in almost all types of water, from deep, clear-watered big lakes to shallow streams, ponds and rivers.

Diet

Their main diet consists of fish that are found in their surroundings, and that also includes their own because pike are cannibalisms. Occasionally, it may include frogs, roaches, snakes, birds, and ducklings.

They are able to attack and eat large food items 1/3 or even half their own length with their numerous and sharp teeth pointing backwards well designed to grab and hold on to their prey.

They are solitary and lazy, preferring to wait near weed-covers or other cover to ambush prey. But they will also move up of covers, stirred by hunger to hunt when they need to.

Tackle

Baitcasting or spinning outfits are all suitable for pike fishing, although spinning gear are better suited to bait-fishing and baitcasting gear are better suited to lure-casting.

An 8-10 foot, medium-fast action spinning rod with a matching fixed-spool reel is ideal for bait-fishing with dead or live-bait.

For lures casting a shorter baitcasting rod of 51/2-7 feet long with a matching multiplier is much preferable over a longer rod to enable you for longer periods of casting. And shorter rods have more lifting power to deal with exceptionally hard-fighting heavyweights.

Pike rods should have a stiff butt and mid-section with fast tip action or rather a curve of 2.5 or more.

As for line I recommend 15 lbs. test braided line or even higher. Monofilament line of the same strength can be used, but it will not be able to set the hook as well as braid, because mono line can stretch.

A 12-15 inches long wire trace leader of about 20-30 lbs. test is a must to avoid cut-off from pike’s numerous and razor-sharp teeth.

Bait and Fishing Tips

Pike are not choosy feeders. Use any natural bait dead or live, including dead saltwater fish such as mackerel, herring, mullet and sardine.

Most pike anglers’ fish with dead or live baits. Both baits work effectively for pike with live baits account for more catch.

Float fishing and ledgering with dead or live-bait using a simple running or fixed paternoster rig are very popular methods with pike fishing.

As for artificial lures a great variety of lures can be used successfully to catch pike. It’s a matter of the right lure to suit the situation at hand. Vary your lure colors, and do not get stuck by repeatedly casting to the same spot with the same lure. Just changing the color and lure type sometimes can made a big difference. It’s advisable to carry a good selection of lures to cover all depths — surface, shallow running and medium and deep divers.

Some other essentials that you need to carry with you are: a big landing net, a glove to protect your hand when unhooking, a long-nose pliers, a pair of forceps and an unhooking mat.

Pike fishing is exciting and nothing beat the feeling of returning your pike back to the water — alive!

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