Norfolk Fishing Network 2004 - 2024 - British Coarse Fish Species H

Distribution: One of the most widespread of all freshwater fish. Found throughout Northern Europe and North America, the pike is a fish of the temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. In the UK, pike can be found in every county of England, except Cornwall and throughout most of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Being the main apex predator found in freshwaters, pike are not as common as other fish. It has previously been estimated that, on average, most fisheries can sustain one pound of pike for every pound of fodder fish.

Features: Pike cannot be mistaken for any other fish in British waters. From their mottled green appearance, sleek body and armoury of razor sharp teeth, the whole body of the pike is designed for hunting down live fish. Pike are ambush predators, mounting a lightening quick attack that lasts only a few seconds. All of the fins of the pike are positioned well back on the body, giving them maximum acceleration from a standing start when lunging at prey.

Diet: Once pike reach a length of approximately 10 centimetres they become almost totally piscivorous. Large pike may also take the occasional water bird, or frog, but for the most part their diet is made up of fish up to one third their own body length. In extreme environments pike may feed almost exclusively on their own kind. In some Highland lochs, where pike are the only fish species present, the small pike will feed on invertebrates and the larger pike will feed upon the small pike. In such environments the pike are very slow growing and reach much smaller maximum sizes than their lowland cousins.

Spawning: Pike spawn during March and April in the shallow weedy margins of lakes and in the tiny overgrown backwaters of rivers. Male pike tend to arrive at the spawning sites a few days before the females and jockey for the best positions on the edges of the weed beds. When the females arrive they rest up in deeper water until conditions are perfect for spawning. The much larger females make their way up the marginal slope into shallow water attracting a number of small males. The males follow the female into shallow water where spawning can take place in water less than 15 centimetres deep. In large lakes pike will often spawn on grass that has been inundated by high water levels. By spawning on this temporary habitat the eggs are relatively safe from predatory invertebrates and receive the full force of the warmth of the sun.

Growth: In most fisheries pike grow very quickly. From the time they hatch to the end of growth in October they will reach a size of fifteen centimetres and be feeding solely on other fish. Pike are relatively short lived, living for perhaps only fifteen years. The fish effectively double in weight during the early years, only slowing in most fisheries when they reach a weight of ten pounds or more. In exceptional circumstances, generally where food is very abundant, such as in trout fisheries, the large fish will continue to grow right through their lives.

Male pike rarely reach a weight of more than eight pounds. All large pike are females. As female pike may contain several hundred thousand eggs; their large size is essential to store such a huge mass. Even so, the eggs may account for 25% of the weight of the fish during the Spring period.

Although most pike fishing is carried out in the Winter months, pike feed hardest and put on their weight during the Summer. Like all river fish, growth cannot take place during the cold conditions found in Winter. Pike are much more active in the Summer and may become highly nocturnal, or crepuscular, feeding when light conditions are low and they are best able to creep up on their prey.

When you have purchased or caught your baits whether Live or Dead there are a few things you should know to keep them in tip, top condition. I will start with Livebaits.

Livebaits should be kept in the following ideal conditions, plenty of oxygenating water and preferably not more than 50 in a single tank. Do not feed them particularly if you do not have sufficient filtration as the build up of toxic water will occur, also do not handle them until you are ready to take some fishing. 20% of the water should be changed twice weekly to refresh but no more than this. Here is my set-up at home for keeping livebaits. No scimping on money here as this Livebait tank set up in my shed caters for everything as there is a drain behind the wall to drain off water and re-fresh, a filter system is incorporated with a pump for re-circulating the water and also a pump for oxygen, you can't beat fresh baits. There are 3 compartments, one on the left and one on the right for keeping baits, and the centre compartment is the filtration and oxygen set up.

When fishing overnight on those weekend sessions what I will do is lay one of these bait traps out with some bread inside and in the morning there are usually some baits caught.

Deadbaits have proved to be the number one Pike and Zander bait over the years for the biggest captures, although there are occasions when livebaits do have the edge - particularly where there is a high-pressure system looming. river fish, especially Roach and Eel sections, are the best deadbaits for Pike and Zander although the Lamprey is close behind over the past couple of years. Zander usually ignore sea baits such as mackerel, herring and sardines, although smelt do pick up a few fish. Zander prefer deadbaits that are around 4-6 inch long, and fished hard on the bottom.

Always puncture the swim bladder of your deadbait to ensure it sinks, fresh and frozen baits are equally effective. Livebaits should be on the small side 6oz is big enough for a specimen Zander, livebaits can be presented off the bottom, what we say is the pop up method 1-2ft is ideal. Place your baits as close as you can to any underwater structure if they exist, because fish feel more safe in these areas and will be more likely to feed confidently. Places to especially look for include sunken snags, depth variations, sunken reeds, and weed beds. these areas will help to pick up any patrolling zander using the feature as a point of ambush. Bear in mind though that tackle may need to be stronger in both the Line breakage and trace wire used, when you get a take you may have to bully the fish away from these structures. The drop-offs on most Gravel Pits, Reservoirs and Fenland drains from shallow to deep water are another particularly good area to concentrate on.

Leapfrogging your rods along the bank is often a sure-fire method of locating Pike and Zander, but as usual in fishing nothing is guaranteed. Try to find swims with indications of shoals of small prey fish, i.e., bubbling or activity of the surface and stick with them, pike and zander will not be too far away, usually you will locate them on the outskirts of these shoals and not in amongst them.

Eel sections 6 inch are a deadly bait particularly for Zander, try to keep bait size above 4 inch. An excellent slimy covered bait, great for casting long distances as they rarely come off the hook, they need to be hooked carefully preferably just nicked inside the skin so the hooks depart on the strike.

Half Mackerel baits are another excellent casting bait, plenty of oil escapes once in the water, my method is putting small slits along both sides of the bait prior to casting. Ensure one of the treble hooks is in the tail root if using tails. Both the heads and tails are good, I purchase mine whole in a crate of 40 from Billingsgate market in London, at a cost of £12. Tackle shops in my view are far too costly charging about £3.50 for two. Another substitute for the big baits are what we call the Joey or Horse Mackerel, which is just a smaller bait but can be hard to obtain.

Roach or Rudd are a natural bait for both Pike and Zander and probably account for most caught fish, size again about 6 inch are best. It's important that these baits are as fresh as possible as they can quickly go off.

Sandeels have taken fish on most venues, although I do not use them much but that's not to say they are ineffective, it is an under rated bait but very good on the fen drains. Try to purchase the larger type about 8 inch in length. My method using these is to air inject them with a couple of swan shot just up the trace so they are popped up off the bottom.

Sardines are probably the most oily bait that I use and for this reason tend to make sure I have a few when going on a fishing trip. They require a bit of care in the hooking and casting procedure as they quickly become very soft and are easily cast off the hook. I tend to use from frozen with one of the treble hooks through both lips to gain a good hold.

Spratts are an excellent, cheap bait and have accounted for three of my 20 pound Pike that I have caught, hooking method that has worked best for me is one treble mid-flank with the second hook in the tail.

Frozen packs of Mackerel are undoubtedly one of the best baits to use for deadbait wobbling as they do not break up on the cast. Do not neglect the naturals though, like Roach, Chub and Rudd.

My baits are mostly bought at Billingsgate fish market as it is on my way home from work and alot cheaper to buy, for instance a crate of Herring / Mackeral /Sardines or Spratts cost about £12 and you roughly get 40 Herring or Mackeral, 70 Sardines or about 400 Spratts. The worst bit I hate although essential is wrapping them in cling-film to prevent frostbite in the freezer.

Norfolk Fishing Network 2004 - 2024 - British Coarse Fish Species H - R