Deadbait Or Artificial?

[mikey-1001]

As we are now well into the cold months i was wondering what method works best all round the U.K., deadbait or lure? Now on my local pike water i personally find that in the winter months you are better off putting three or four 12ft deadbait rods in a pod and settling back for a waiting game with a flask of tea and occasionally changing swims if the one your in is un-productive.

On the other hand lures totally kill in the spring (just after spawning time) and summer months with jerkbaits being the prefered method , plugs and surface lures work well also but the jerks seem to drive 'em wild!!

Anyway hopefully with this poll we'll see what method is the best in winter and summer, should be interesting.

[Norfolkboy]

I prefer to use both normally, although I don't have the patience to whack a lure about for hours on end. So normally give it an hour then sit back and relax behind the alarms

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Must admit Im a lure man myself as I just get bored sitting there waiting for the bait alarm to sound . Plus it keeps me warm

Althought with lures with get smaller pike on average but thats not a bad thing on light tackle

[mikey-1001]

Yeah.....i always take my plugging rod with me and sometimes chuck a few but generally i find that they are more reluctant to chase a lure in the winter....unless of course you flutter a jerkbait about at depth near a shelf or drop off and it happens to land nearly on the pikes nose and sets off its attack response.