big pike baits?

[alphaa]

ive recently heard of big pike being taken on big pound plus roach etc dead and alive..

whats your thoughts on these big baits? is all the work in catching and keeping these worth the effort during winter?

[pingu]

even a small fish will go for a big bait
i do prefer medium baits though, sort if 1/2 mackeral. herring etc as sometimes have to cast to other side canal

but lees big beasty came on a whole sardine and not a small one either

dave

[Lman]

As dave said big pike will take small baits so to small pike will take big baits if its presented correctly in the right place it will catch. As Dave said i was using large sardine yesterday, i have found that sardine is a good bait at Chew so to is Smelt nice smelly baits.
I suppose as pike hunt a lot by sight a big bait will catch there eye better

[CarpMadAdy]

My biggest pike came to a manky sprat - it was the last bait i had left and had gone mushy, its stomach was hanging out and i couldn't hook it properly so i had to use elastic bads to keep the hooks in place

I've noticed that in the last few years, the majority of my doubles have fallen to large baits!

If im not roving then half a very large mackeral is put and and left all day to break down - i normally re-cast during the last few hours of my session as this is when i feel the bait is at its best i.e stomach hanging out and looks like a rotting fish (which pike love) - seems to induce the bigger pike!

Normally if a get a run on this bait, its the biggest fish of the session

[Martopp]

yep, big baits do work, however pike are greedy even an 8lb fish will swallow a large baits, my best pike of 34lb came to a 12oz bream deadbait.. But have had numerous 17lb plus fish on 8oz roach deads and half mackerel baits

[PikeHunter]

I've gone off using sardines as bait from the weekend there. They are far too soft and keep comin off when I was casting! I was gettin them really cheap in tescos too! Hate paying almost a fiver for 4 baits from the tackle shop. The only other thing tescos do is mackerel - which are too big and herring - which are pretty much the same as sardines in tht they're too soft.

Next tme im goin out im goin to buy a pike pack. At least theres a range in there. Although does anyone else find tht when placing hooks into a roach bought from a tackle shop, its really hard to get them in? When u fianlly break the scales the skin is real soft and never works for me either?

[Maddison_Twatter]

Originally Posted by PikeHunter

I've gone off using sardines as bait from the weekend there. They are far too soft and keep comin off when I was casting! I was gettin them really cheap in tescos too! Hate paying almost a fiver for 4 baits from the tackle shop. The only other thing tescos do is mackerel - which are too big and herring - which are pretty much the same as sardines in tht they're too soft.

Next tme im goin out im goin to buy a pike pack. At least theres a range in there. Although does anyone else find tht when placing hooks into a roach bought from a tackle shop, its really hard to get them in? When u fianlly break the scales the skin is real soft and never works for me either?

you tried half mackerel m8, as for the sardines have you tried freezing em, I know it reduces the smell but you can always glug em just before you cast

[PikeHunter]

Yeah mate mackerel seem to be one of the best baits for staying on the hook. Lucky i brought some at the weekend as the sardines were doing my head in!

[CarpMadAdy]

sarnudes can be a bith to keep on the hook, however there are a few things you can do that may help!

1. Use them from frozen, hook in the normal manner and tie the exposed trace onto the bait using bait floss.

2. Use them from frozen, hook them in the normal manner and use small elastic bands instead of bait floss.

3. Use them from frozen, hook in the usaul manner then squirt the hooks with "plumbers freeze pipe spray".... this "welds" the hook to the bait as it freezes down to -50. This will give you an exceptional hook hold fo casting soft/softer baits!

Here's a link for plumbers freeze pipe spray ( mods, sorry if links aren't allowed - please feel free to delete if not acceptable)....

http://www.powertools2u.co.uk/sealan...paign=Shopping

N.B WHEN USING FROZEN OR PART FROZEN BAITS MANY HAVE A TENDANCY TO "FLOAT" UNTIL THEY HAVE THAWED OUT. TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM SIMPLY MAKE AN INCISION IN THE SWIMBLADDER OF YOUR CHOSEN BAIT - THIS WILL HELP IT SINK!

[Lman]

If i'm not using the baitboat i use bait elastic with the softer baits sardine and herring for casting distances seems to keep them on the hooks ok and if the baits slightly frozen this keeps it in good condition on impact.