Beginning Pike fishing.

Pike are the supreme predator in UK waters.  They are sleek and strong; very well adapted to ambush unsuspecting prey.  Their teeth face inwards, so that their prey cannot escape from their jaws.  So, how do we go about catching a pike? Read on to find out...

Kit for pike fishing

Before starting fishing for pike it is important to have a few bits of kit.  Now, this site is not on the web to publicise the latest gadgets and rods, so I will just go through a few essentials in generic terms.  

An unhooking mat is an important piece of kit to have.  Although pike might look fearsome, out of the water a pike is quite delicate.  (Check out the DIY section to see how to make an unhooking mat for around £3.) A large landing net is a good investment too, since pike can be very large and an average coarse fishing-sized net is not adequate.

I always take two pairs of 12-inch forceps when out pike fishing.  Why two pairs?  Well, I have lost forceps before I don't find the idea of removing a treble hook from deep inside a pike's mouth very appealing!

Well, that's the bigger items of kit out of the way.  A few more essentials are shown below:

• 13lb+ breaking strain line

• Wire traces - important as the sharp teeth of a pike can easily cut through normal mono.    .

• Semi-barbless hooks.

Deadbaiting is when a dead fish is used as bait.  It is a very effective method, especially in winter when pike can be loathe to chase after a lure.  

There are a two ways to fish a dead bait.  The first is float fishing.  The other way is to ledger the bait.  This is the method that will be discussed in this issue.

A simple ledgering rig can be seen below.  Click here to see how to set it up and what baits to use.

Before casting your rig out and waiting for a run with a book and steaming mug of tea, it is important to think about where likely fish-holding spots will be.  When deadbaiting in winter a good rule of thumb is to look for deeper areas.  Don't forget the margins and reed beds, as this is where prey fish can often be found.

Unlike float fishing, ledgering offers no immediate way of bit indication.  There are several forms of bite indicators available ranging from electronic alarms with bells and whistles on, through to simple bobbins mounted on arms.  Check out the tackle shops to find something that suits you. Find out how to make you own bite detector in a coming update of the website.

Click the next button below to see how to set up a simple ledgering rig, including the mounting of the deadbait.