Des Taylor’s October Angling Tips

Lets go pike fishing

1) First of all, pike are like any other fish in that when the bait and hooks are in its mouth then you should wind into the fish that will eliminate deep hooking.

2) I rarely fish a bait on the bottom for pike always popping the bait up at least the height of the wire trace. Although pike will pick baits up from the bottom it is much easier for them to take baits popped up and since starting to pop all my baits up I have lots more takes.

3) Don’t throw any disused baits in at the end of the day for by doing this you and your friends are conditioning the pike to eat into the dark. If you are going to prebait or throw any bait in your water do it before work early in the morning that way the pike will get used to taking baits in the day.

4) My favourite sea baits are sardines, smelts and mackerel although I do like a big whole herring for a big old pike. Favourite course baits are roach and chub and I do like livebaits obtained from the water you are fishing to stop the spread of disease from one water to another.

5) I use strong braid around 50lb breaking strain as the main line so if you snag up you can get the gear back even if it straightens the hooks so not leaving rigs with baits on in the water which will harm the pike. The same goes for lure fishing.

6) Don’t always pick the most colourful lure for very often a black or dark coloured lure will out fish it.

7) When pike fishing a river don’t always fish the “slack” water for when pike are hunting they will be out in the main flow where the bait fish are. But whatever the venue you don’t always have to try and cast as far as you can for lots of pike are sitting only a few feet from the bank.

8) Don’t be afraid to fish into the dark or all-night especially on hard fished waters for most pikers go home as darkness falls.

9) Take plenty of hot drinks and food for yourself and a comfortable chair for you fish best when you are warm and comfortable that’s for sure.

10) Make sure you have all the correct unhooking equipment with you including large, strong forceps, long nosed pliers, wire cutters, an unhooking glove, unhooking mat and weigh sling. Pike are a very precious fish so look after them at all times.

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