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I'm thinking of taking up pike fishing!


Peter Waller

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Just see how many postings that we get over the next few months that start that way. Shouldn't be a problem though, should it?

 

'I have an Argos Kingfisher Carp Rod, will this do for pike?' Well, yes, but will you be up to it?

 

Deadbaiting for pike in the summer is arguably not a good idea, even less so if the angler is relatively new to angling.

 

The 'I have an Argos Carp Rod', not rods, rather suggests that the angler has not yet succeeded at carp so thinks pike will be a good / easy alternative, and is probably fairly new to the game.

 

Am I being unfair? I'm sure that some of you will think so! But last summer saw a huge increase in pike angler numbers down my way. And, regretfully, the level of angling ability was not, in general, very good.

 

Why not 'I'm thinking of roach fishing this summer'?

 

Why not master carp fishing before moving up to piking?

 

Piking is not the easy option. There is more to piking than swopping a boilie for a deadbait. No watching TV and sleeping between takes for one thing :D !! No, not digging at Wordbender, honestly!

 

The 'I'm thinking about starting pike fishing' thread fills me with a tinge of dread. If you have to think about it first then you are not ready!

 

Unfair? I don't think so!!

 

[ 22. March 2004, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: Peter Waller ]

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I think that there is a very strong case for having 'coaches' Colin. But commercial guides, and that is not aimed at anyone in particular, that constantly hammer one area, and constantly draw attention to it are not working for the best interests of their local piking. I think recent events on the Yare add serious weight to that opinion! Another trouble is that by offering guiding services we are adding to piker numbers, a real Catch 22 situation if everthere was one.

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I think its the storm before the calm, if you know what I mean.

Every few years there's a surge towards one species or another. Once it was Chub this, Chub that and all the magazines were filled with Chub. I'm sure the 'proper' Chubbers were mortified at the thought of every Tom, Dick and Betty having a go at thier treasured fish. The same can be said for Barbel too. They went through a popularity overhaul not so long ago and so have Tench etc.

At first I'm sure there are loads of wannabes. They inevitably use the 'wrong' gear (probably OK for the job...just not specialised) and worry the hell out of the experts. Some have little success and move on, some fair better and then spend the cash, buying that Super-Boron-Pro-Carbolite-X weave-spanky-doo-dah rod they always wanted from the start but didn't buy until they had a little success. The ones that did take it seriously are no longer a threat. They've learned how to wipe thier own a**e and the old 'pros' have little to worry about.

I'm sure Pike fishing is just going through the motions. We'd like to see all Pikers with Powermesh rods, Shimano reels, unhooking mats, a toolbox full of unhooking gear etc. etc. but noone really does that when they start, unless they're loaded. Of course we'll see Beach rods, wonky reels, short traces and all the stuff that learners do but that is, by nature, what learners do. Like Chubbing, Piking will go through an upsurge in popularity before many drop out through boredom or lack of success most probably. The ones that are left over, will get better and they will buy those Powermesh rods, those Shimano reels etc. That means that in a few years, there will be far more 'experts' on the banks, teaching the new starts, than there ever was. The clubs will be bigger, the noddies won't get bank space, the fish will go back alive and everything should settle down, like all fads.

The internet may have caused this boom in Pike popularity but it could turn out to be its saviour, in the long run. Never before, has there been so much free information available on fish species. Most households have a computer these days and everyone knows, if the internet doesn't have it, it probably doesn't exist. It's become the primary source of information for everyone and anyone. Type 'Pike' into a search engine these days and you'll be bombarded with sites like this one and we do a fine job, showing folk how to do it correctly.

The first thing I do now, when I meet an anging newbie, is ask,

"Do you have the internet..do you have an E-mail address I can contact you at?"

After that, it's up to me to make sure they get the correct webages, the correct info. and some encouragement.

I didn't grow up with the internet, noone came along and showed me how to fish, noone gave away free information and noone even knew I existed. Basically, I learned the long boring way and to some degree I grudge the ease at which some newbies can access techniques and rigs that took me years to discover but that's the way ahead for fishing.

Like I say, surely all things get worse, before they get better??

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quote:


The internet may have caused this boom in Pike popularity
I think I agree with that sentiment, every where you look there are "Pikers" initiating threads like this!

 

Reminds me of when I was a lad and sex was treated in the same manner, all the warnings(and threats)did was make us all the more eager to dangle that maggot as well!

 

Perhaps if there were less posts trying to turn newcommers away from pike fishing there would be less trying to see what you're trying to keep to your selves!!

Alive without breath,

As cold as death;

Never thirsty, ever drinking,

All in mail never clinking.

 

I`ll just get me rod!!!

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Pike angler numbers will drop, when the species is no longer so easy to catch, 'cause there are less of 'em. So Andy is quite right is his thinking that it is a cyclical phenomenon, it will happen. Infact it is happening in my local area. Fish numbers have dropped considerably in the last year or two. Pikers have moved on.

 

Eddie is also quite right about these 'don't go piking' propaganda threads. The anti-summer-piking thread is the more usual one.

 

There is no easy answer!

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Pete

 

living in broadlands (The Norfolk and Suffolk broads) you will notice an increase of anglers for any species as the broads are like a magnet to ANY type of angler.

How many complete and utter uneducated people do you see every year for their week or two mini cruise on the p!ss with a bit of fishing thrown in?

When I had a week on the broads every day I saw complete idiots on the beer by 10am with a couple of beachcasters over the back contected to lures.

 

There were plenty of anglers who looked like they knew what they were doing.

The river police/authorities were only interested in catching people speeding (yes they have boats with speed cameras).

Not once in all my years of fishing any where have I had my licence checked.

I bet if the EA had a purge all over the broads on a summers day they would catch hundreds of unlicenced anglers.

 

Maybe the numbers of anglers is now on the increase. Improve your course fishing sales are up by over 1000 a month (published in Aprils edition) to over 69000.

IYCF is aimed at novices/newbies or anglers looking to branch into another area of the sport.

 

Isnt it a good thing that numbers are on the increase??????????????????

 

The average age in my local club is 53 !!!!!!!!!

We try to encourage youngsters to join as in years to come we could face a shortage.

 

All that is needed is more coaching and education for all areas of the sport.

 

That would take ONE united angling organisation.

 

I dont think there will ever be one as there are to many anglers focused at their area of the sport who dont't seem to want to look at or be part of the bigger picture.

RUDD

 

Different floats for different folks!

 

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I'm affraid you can pike fish by substituting a boilie for a deadbait, that's what most pikers in this country do.

 

I actually find that most 'experienced' pike anglers are not actually that impressive - many seem to derive their enjoyment from siting motionless slagging off anyone who doesn't have the right tackle.

 

BTW Peter - when we had the old pike season, I bet you carried on fishing for perch with a wire trace incase pike took the lure?

 

How many anglers are there on the braods these days?

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I think all of the above points have merit, but every journey starts with a first step, and its easy for experienced anglers who have been through the mill to look down thier noses at newbies. How about educating novice anglers when you spot poor technique rather than observing from a distance and criticising. Most novices would appreciate the wisdom of the time served and ammend thier ways accordingly. I know I would appreciate any pearls of wisdom thrown my way, and yes, I am going to take up pike fishing eventually, but not before I have learned how to fish properly for the less exotic species of the moment.

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totally agree with you nick us novices have to start somewhere just as the expert had to do at one point. i do agree that people should find out as much info as posible about the species before fishing for them. and you do get idiots that cast a beach caster with a lure on it have done it myself when younger.but thats how i started out using anything i could to catch fish that cost as little as poss as most anglers started out.

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