was spinning for pike the other night, at the end of one run I lifted my rod up to take spinner from water, as I lifted spinner out of water a pike took a flying leap up out of the water and tryed to get the spinner whilst in mid air, i'd never had a pike do this before. has anyone else had this happen to them, as it amazed me. mind you, I called the pike a few names for not getting the spinner whilst in the water

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I've had the very same thing happen but Arapaima, they are not.
I don't actually believe they target prey in the air and go for it, like the Arapaima do. I reckon Pike just build up so much momentum, chasing your spinner, by the time you go to lift the lure, it's bound to take flight.
The day I see a Pike take flight in order to catch an airborne or perched prey, I'll eat my hat.

Yep.
I've hooked line in mid river and been pulling for a break with the lure about 30cm above the river when a pike that must have been following exploded from the water and made a sound like a barking dog as it's jaws closed on thin air.
Great fun and I even caught the hyped up little bugger on the next cast - weighed about 6lb.

The same thing happened to me last summer. Half asleep, wound the lure back to the boat and I'm now looking at a point in the distance where the next cast goes. As I lifted the lure I momentarily stopped with the lure four feet above the water and dangling. A four/five pound pike launched itself straight up like a Polaris missile. Missed the lure by inches but my heart was pounding for a good while afterwoods.

quote:

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Originally posted by Andy Macfarlane:

...... I don't actually believe they target prey in the air and go for it .... I reckon Pike just build up so much momentum, chasing your spinner, by the time you go to lift the lure, it's bound to take flight.

The day I see a Pike take flight in order to catch an airborne or perched prey, I'll eat my hat.

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Well, Andy, for the sake of you and your hat, it's a good job you weren't with me a few years back when I was lure-fishing in the Avon...... I had cast to the far bank and neatly got my line and lure over a small branch quite close to the water, swinging gentle maybe about 2 or 3 inches above the surface.

As I wondered what to do next .. either to try to flick my lure back over the branch, or to try to wade over to retrieve it .... up came a pike, and grabbed my lure ..... striking rather tardily (as you can imagine) I managed to hook and land it ...... it weighed about 4 lb. Time to eat your hat :confused:

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DG


P.S. This is another technique that pike are using now the weather's warmer ......
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[ 15. May 2004, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: The Diamond Geezer ]

I did say, "The day I see....etc."
The hat is safe for now...lol....

Inevitably yours truly has had it happen. On one occasion I was looking stright down the pike's throat, it was completely open! As if the pike was ready to swallow without the meal touching the sides even! Wheird!

Yes it happened to me at Church Loch,Lochmaben. Was wading in the margins bout 4 feet out from reed fringe using a plug. Always fish them right to my feet and was raising the darned thing out of the water when a jack about 2lb launched itself out of the water after the plug. It actually came from the reed margins behind me and as I was wading very slowly and quietly I must have not disturbed it. It worked better than any laxitive I can tell you!

Yup done that - hope to do it again soon! I always let my lure 'dribble' before casting and have been 'brown panted' many times. Also Pike can often be seen chasing dragonflies (mostly unsuccessfully). I think they are fabulous opportunist munchers and when in the mood will have a go at just about anything (boat oars and children’s legs included!)- 'corse they won't take my baits when they have been out all day!

Never seen one take a childs leg; might be worth trying one though. What size is best?

But have seen them take the end of an oar! Have also seen one take a floating Coke can and also a floating condom. It was then that I realized the potential of soft rubbers!!! It also convinced me that eating pike was not a good idea.