Hot spots and Feeding times

[Old Smoothound]

Hi fellow Predator Piscatores

I have been pondering over whether Pike have specific feeding times during the Winter months, and whether there are specific feeding “Hot Spots” to find on lakes, drains, rivers and reservoirs. I know BM has given his views on typical Pike swims already, but the question is still rolling around my brain.

In my limited Pike fishing experience I have found that on the King Sedgemoor drain for example the Jack Pike feed at any old time, proving to be real opportunists and the larger Pike of over 8lbs tend to have specific feeding patterns. Could this be linked to the weather and bait fish activity or is it just a localised event?

As to feeding “Hot Spots” the normal snaggy looking swims with overhanging trees and bushes just don’t seem to hold big Pike, plenty of smaller ones up to 7 or 8 pounds. My pal who lives near the drain, tells me that the big females can literally be anywhere along the system and are generally caught post spawning period in “open” water near to the submerged inner or outer shelves and drop offs.

Are there any general rules of thumb that I should follow and what are your own personal experiences on these two very broad subjects.

I would be grateful to learn your views.

[mikey-1001]

Hey smoothy.....you seem to be picking all us serious pikers brains recently so i reckon that youre gonna switch to essox hunting which means we all better watch out 'cause by all acounts your a very able shore angler........LOL !!

There is a few theorys on pike feeding habits but i'm going to concentrate on the one which i think is the most important and the most relevant. The two major factors that govern pike feeding habits are the weather and the lunar cycle.....these can tell us how hard and how long the pike are also going to feed. I have found that on nights when the moon is full (or days when the moon is in its full phase) are much more productive than at half or quarter phases, this is not a study or theory i came up with myself but rather an agreement with an article in AT (jan 03) that contradicts a Dr Garners theory that pike get wise to certain baits or certain size of baits but i know this to not be true as i have used mostly the same size of bait in the same swim all day in the past and pulled out fish after fish some of which were the same pike.

I noticed this myself over the years that pike will feed harder in full moon phases over the years but i would also welcome other anglers observations but i also hope this has been of some help to you smoothy......!

[Old Smoothound]

Thanks Mikey, I did not realise tht Pike were so into munching by moonlight

So I will now have to plan my Piking sessions around the moon phases.

Great info and thanks.

Cheers mate

[mikey-1001]

No probs smoothy.......i dont think its 'totally' foolproof but it can only help and gives you a better idea how to plan your session.

[mikey-1001]

Originally Posted by Old Smoothound

Thanks Mikey, I did not realise tht Pike were so into munching by moonlight

So I will now have to plan my Piking sessions around the moon phases.

Great info and thanks.

Cheers mate

Smoothy......i came across this site the other day and it also goes along the lines of moon phases, its called predator fishing-UK, hope it explains better than i did mate!