What a waste of a good pike...

[Baz T]

My first piking trip was to Exeter canal, a couple of weeks ago, with my 14yr old son. We ended up under the M5 bridge, and were having a quick cuppa and sandwich when a cyclist came racing up the towpath, and skidded to a halt. He asked us if we were pike fishing, and I said yes. He then asked if we had any long nosed pliers etc, as it turns out 2 young kids about 12yrs old had hooked and landed a huge pike further up the canal, but the lure was well down its throat, and the kids couldnt get it out. I gave him 2 pairs of forceps (short and long forceps), and long nosed pliers, and he raced off back up the towpath. My son and I picked up our gear and walked the 600 yards along to where the cyclist had stopped.
2 young lads were standing there, looking sheepish, staring out into the middle of the canal. I looked accross and saw a pike, which was into double figures, lying belly up in the middle of the canal. They had taken so long to get the hook out, that it had died. A boat passed shortly after, washing the pike into the reeds, so I clambered down, getting wet feet into the bargain, and pulled it into the bank with my landing net, to check for any signs of life, but unfortunately it was dead. I told the 2 lads, in no uncertain terms that they need to have the correct tools for unhooking pike etc. They did have a pair of pliers with them, as it happens, but they were small pliers and not much good at all. They were obviously upset about the pike dying, and had suffered several cut fingers trying to get the lure out. Shortly afterwards they packed up and went off home, so I think they have learned their lesson, though it is a shame a cracking pike had to die. I took a picture of my son holding the dead fish, though aint sure how to upload them yet, as new to this forum stuff, but am sure the pike was 15lb or so (didnt think to weigh it at the time). It put a damper on the rest of our days fishing, made even worse by the fact that we blanked, and the only pike we saw was a large dead one!

[ctwhitelaw]

That is unfortunate lets hope they have sense in future to bring the correct unhooking utensils so that the same thing doesn't happen again. Unlucky on the blank mate better luck next time

[Noel]

That is a shame. People don't realise how fragile pike are. They're fine if you know what to do but people with no experience have no skill or confidence in unhooking them.

It's something that needs to be taught. Kids (and adults) need to be shown.

The local PAC used to have pike teaching days but there isn't one at the moment.

[barbelblanker]

Glamorgan Anglers (my old Cardiff club) are holding specific events to deal with just this issue. I feel sorry for these kids though, I think they'v elearnt a hard lesson there.

[pingu]

unlucky baz, unfortunately all too common, found one about 10lbish a couple of weeks ago myself

hope didnt deter son though

dave

[fishypaul]

its very sad that a pike has to suffer so that inexperienced anglers can learn how to deal with them

[dave fish]

they must feel bad i had a small roach die on me when i first started fishing it had swallowed a whole hook right down to the belly and i tried for 20 minutes to get the hook free using the smallest disgorger i had unfortunatly it had been out to long and died i felt terrible and even thought about giving fishing up incase it happened again ,luckily im still fishing and no more dead fish but a pike of that size they must be devastated i would be

[Baz T]

Thanks for the replies and comments lads. Nice to see some clubs etc are showing people how to fish for pike, and more importantly - how to unhook pike. As long as there are plenty more doubles left in the canal for me to try and catch........

[CANCATCH]

Great shame. You've got to feel sorry for the two lads, they probably hadn't thought about what they'd do if they actually caught a pike, let alone one of that size! I remember the first time I saw a pike when I was a kid - scared the life out of me! Although, probably not as much as it scared the little roach on the end of my line!!!

[Baz T]

I have found the pics of the dead pike, didnt weigh it, but perhaps someone can hazard a guess?