|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
BAITS
Baits come in 3 main types
Live Bait Dead Bait Lures
Live Bait
Live baiting is one of the most affective but also the most controversial method of pike fishing. Any live freshwater fish can be used as long as it comes from the water you are fishing and it is less than 20cm long, as it is illegal to move a fish from one water to another and to be used as live bait over 20cm long. This is only sensible as there is a good chance of spreading disease from one water to another. There is also an ethical issue to, whether it is cruel to use live fish to catch pike, but that is what pike eat all the time and it is the pikes natural food. I have live baited in the past and I may again, My club water does not allow it and you must check the rules of the water before live baiting. It is not down to me to tell you what to do, it is down to you to decide where you stand on this issue.
There is a saying that the trout fishermen use and that is " match the hatch " and this is true for pike as it is for trout. All this means is, if the pike are eating roach then use roach as bait if the pike are eating perch then use perch as bait whether it is live or dead or it is a lure in perch colour.
Here is the livebaiting code of practice
Dead Baiting
Fresh water dead baits
Fresh water baits can be roach, perch, skimmers, eel, in fact any fresh water fish, even smaller pike as pike are very cannibalistic. I find baits 3" to 5" long work best for me and roach and perch are my favorites. I slit open there belly's from frozen so when the bait defrosts it oozes out the scent. This can bring in the pike in quite quickly. To my mind there is no better method to catch a pike. The pike will use less energy eating a dead fish than trying to catch one. This is what makes it such a good method.
Salt water dead baits
Smelt- is one of my favorite baits, it holds the hooks well and has a good odor and smells a little like cucumbers. strange but they do work very well.
Eel - is a popular bait to, it can be cut into sections and bleeds well.
Sardine- these are hard baits to keep on the hook as they are a very soft once they defrost but a rubber band will do the trick. I haven't done to well on these but some people swear by them.
Mackerel -these are a good all rounder and is a very popular. It can be cut in half and the tail section work best for me.
Lamprey- these are the so called wonder bait, just like smelt was a few years ago. I must admit they hang on the hook like a good'en and bleed for hours.
Herring- these are not bad but don't do much for me.
These are the sea baits we get in the UK but you can use any fish that is small enough. As long as the bait is not covered in spines or are poisonous.
Most good tackle shops do a selection of frozen baits. You can also bulk buy from places like:
One of the biggest lure company's in the UK is Harrison
Angling and they do a great catalogue. To go there just click below
