| #1  09-03-2007, 05:33 PM | |||
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| Any tips on bait, rigs and how to unhook? As you'll see from my introduction in the New Members forum I've recently returned to fishing after a 10 year gap and have just joined a society that gives me access to a couple of rivers with Pike in them. I've only ever caught 3 or 4 Jack Pike in my life, think the biggest was 5lb, one of which was on a spinner the rest were on dead baits (don't agree with live baits) but would like to have another crack at them in October after I return from holiday. The problem is that I can't really remember much about what I did in the past. I like the idea, simply because it gives me two chances and keeps me busy, of having one rod out on a dead bait whilst I'm spinning on another rod, is that a good idea or would spinning spook a fish that might be more interested in a free meal? In terms of dead baits, I think in the past I just used Mackerel cut in half, is that okay or should I present whole but smaller fish and if so what kind of fish - I don't want to catch a bait fish to kill and use as bait. This is probably going to sound like a really silly question but for the life of me I can't remember, I know for dead baits I always used a wire trace snap tackle with two semi barbless trebles but for the life of me I can't remember if I also used a bomb. I used to just use one of my carp optonic bit alarms with a bobbin to detect bites on my dead baits (is that okay or would a float be better and if so how do you use a Pike float?) but although a dead bait would be heavy enough to cast out on it's own I can't remember if a bomb was needed in order to keep the bait on the bottom. So far I've been very lucky and always hooked my Pike in the jaws and so have never had to worry about getting too near the teeth but that may always be lucky so can anyone tell me how best to retrieve hooks that are deeper inside the mouth without damaging the pike or me! I seem to remember a technique where the Pike is placed on it's back but can't remember any more than that and whilst we are on the subject how is the best way to hold larger Pike (if I get lucky  ), I seem to remember people appearing to pick up big Pike by the gill cover??? is that right, surely that would damage the delicate gills????As for spinning (spinners, plugs, spoons) I am a complete novice. I know pretty much how to do it and I know how to make my own traces etc but I have no idea about what spinners, plugs and spoons to use so any tips on these would be greatly appreciated. Cheers     |
| #2 09-03-2007, 07:04 PM | ||||
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| Re: Any tips on bait, rigs and how to unhook? right then mate,you have asked a lot of questions, first of all perhaps the easiest answer to all your questions would be to find a friend who is an experienced piker and fish with him for a while until you get confident in what you are doing, if no friends are forthcoming perhaps i can help you, mackerel is still a superb bait for pike as is herring but dont neglect some of the other fish on the fishmongers slab, sprats and sardines are both first class baits , squid has caught a fair few pike as well, tackle shops now sell a great range of excellent frozen dead baits, with lamprey, smelt, and scad high on my favourites list,you can also buy frozen coarse fish for dead bait in most good tackle shops these days,the choice my friend is endless. you mention about using a bomb,i would advise you to use one,the best bite indication is obtained by keeping a good tight line to the bait , giving you superb bite indication,and if you strike immeadiately you get a take the chances of a gut hooked fish are minimal. unhooking fish as you describe is very straight forward,with the pike on its back you sit astride it and gently pull its bottom jaw open,trebles are easily removed with a good set of forceps, make sure you crush the barbs on two of the hooks on each treble,it makes for much easier unhooking , the uncrushed one is the one you stick in the bait, it might seem you are picking the fish up by the gills but it is not so,it is not really something you do if you are not experienced at it, you slide your hand into the gill covers ensuring you dont touch the gills and move your hand down towards the point of the jaw,you will get a hand hold through the bottom jaw,don't try it until you are confident otherwise you might find a cut or two on your hand,those teeth are mighty sharp. as to spinners etc,there are no hard and fast rules about what works and what doesn't,a lot of it is whether you feel confident using it,some of the old faithful lures like the creek chub pikie will always catch but very often its not the lure that catches the fish its the action you put on it, try a few out,the trend these days is for large colourful plugs and jigs,but the old abu tobys still catch plenty, one of my favourites is the spinnerbait,it looks like nothing natural at all but they sometimes drive pike mental, have an experiment,there is no right or wrong artificial they will all catch on their day,above all though make sure the hooks are sharp,you will catch nothing if they are blunt or the point is turned over, best of luck wherever you go and whatever you try,let us know how you get on. |
| #3 09-04-2007, 08:38 PM | |||
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| Re: Any tips on bait, rigs and how to unhook? Many thanks for your reply Paul, lots of great info there! Just one other thing, I keep reading about Pike fishing were people say that you should get a glove but I don't think I've ever once seen anyone use them. Are they necessary / worth it? It just seems more cumbersome to me. |
| #4 09-04-2007, 08:47 PM | ||||
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| Re: Any tips on bait, rigs and how to unhook? Quote:
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| #5 09-05-2007, 05:17 AM | ||||
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| Re: Any tips on bait, rigs and how to unhook? Great info paul  __________________ Richard Fishing Tackle | Sea Fishing |Carp Fishing| Spud Gun | Zander fishing | Fishing Reports | Hunting Reports |
| #6 09-07-2007, 10:32 AM | ||||
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| Re: Any tips on bait, rigs and how to unhook? Quote:
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