pike baits from the supermarket?

[chrislee342]

Hi all. The topic says it all really.

 

Can you buy bait from the supermarkets that is suitable for pike fishing?

Or is it best to keep to the deadbaits from tackleshops?

 

Thanks

[AddictedToScopex]

Sardines and mackerel etc are much cheaper from the supermarket in my experience. I buy coarse fish from the tackle shop as you cant get them at the supermarket but i get sea fish from asda etc.

[Ken L]

My local Tesco sells a good variety of frozen "Bangladeshi freshwater fish". Some are in steaks and some are whole 4 - 6" fish.

They're frozen in a block rather than individually blast frozen so they might be a bit soft when thawed but it's handy to know that they're available.

The Chinese supermarkets have loads of options for both fresh and saltwater baits and for the most part these are individually blast frozen and should be every bit as good as frozen baits from the tackle shop.

[chrislee342]

Thanks guys. I will go into my local tesco after work (yes im working good friday, isn't my boss nice to me) and have a good look.

 

I have seen the fish steaks but wouldnt these be too soft when thawed and just fall apart? Or is this dependant on the type of fish?

[Emma two]

I get my sardines, herring, mackrel and sprats from Sainsbutys ('cos I'm posh), they are sold fresh and I can bag them up to be frozen at home in session sized quantities. I prefer then to the already frozen tackle shop baits. However I like to use smelt and lampreys too, espesially the latter and with they would come into fashion for eating so they would stock them too. Perhaps Jamie or Hugh will do a programme on cooking 'em?

 

I use the reminants of any raw fish bought for the kitchen as 'feed' to pre bait and it works.

[Steve Burke]

I find blast frozen baits much fresher than "fresh" baits bought from the supermarket, and with some species (particularly smelt) this can make a big difference to catches.

 

I used to catch my own mackerel or get them direct from the boats as we lived close to the beach where they were landed. Having now moved I use my local tackle shop, thus helping to support them.

 

For species like lamprey I always used my local tackle shop even before moving, plus I can get blueys from the tackle shop as well, not to mention mackerel and smelt. All these are blast frozen..

[Dave H]

I have caught so much Pike on lamprey . I think were it is so bloody the smell travels a long way especially on rivers and they are vacuum sealed. Smelt has always done well and again it has to be vacuum packed too. Strangely enough i have caught zander on Smelt as at times it can be an estuary fish which is why it might be the case they take it.

 

I never use supermarket baits although i did once about 25 years back when the pike on this river just loved sprats. Never knew why?

[Dales]

I buy all my Sardines and Trout from the Supermarket. I will buy Mackeral for Catfishing or river Pike fishing but if fishing a still water or someplace I would class as a little more difficult then I would buy the Mackeral from a tackle shop as I find it far betetr quality then the super market stuff.

 

I tend to stock up on the Sardines when i see them cheap in the Supermarket or if they are a good bait size. If I don't use them in the winter for Piking they mash up well for Catfish groundbait in the summer.