Too Scared To Go Pike Fishing.

[A Worm OOE]

As this weekends Winter League match is on a carp puddle and my team actually have enough people who like fishing them to do with out me, I have a weekend off.

With the weather the way it is I thought that I might try a session spinning for pike. I thought to myself I have suiteable rods reels etc and can cobble together an unhooking mat or maybe buy one. It was at that point that I got scared.

I have not intentionally fished for Pike for some 20+ years. When I was a kid its all I could catch come the winter so each year at the end of October I would do little else. Now back then I dont remember having any problems handling and unhooking Pike. Admitedly I did a lot of pluging and when I did use a bait I always struck as soon as I saw an indication so I dont remember ever deep hooking a pike. With that in mind a bit of spinning should be no problem but with all the threads and posts I have read on here over the last year about Pike handling I am worried about not being able to cope should I catch something.

Should I stay (at home) or should I go.

Please help

[Tony U]

Are you Kent based worm? as I am willing to come and give you some help if you are interested, though I am not sure about this weekend.

Tony

[A Worm OOE]

Yes Tony

I'm In Tunbridge Wells. The rest of the team will be suffering the tightly shoaled carp of Hartley lands farm this Sunday, I will be roaming the Medway for the morning.

Thanks for the offer maybe we can go sometime although after this weekend I have matches through to Xmas.

[Casey]

Worm, no offence intended mate but stay at home yer confidence needs a big boost.

[Tony U]

Worm

Matt Baldwin, Sue and I are off to Yalding on the 10th December on the KAPS stretch I can get you a guest ticket for there if you can make it?

Do you fish with my old mate Kevin Pack he fishes for Tonbridge Cardinals I believe?

[Andrew Burgess]

I have not intentionally fished for Pike for some 20+ years. When I was a kid its all I could catch come the winter so each year at the end of October I would do little else. Now back then I don't remember having any problems handling and unhooking Pike. Admittedly I did a lot of plugging and when I did use a bait I always struck as soon as I saw an indication so I don't remember ever deep hooking a pike. With that in mind a bit of spinning should be no problem but with all the threads and posts I have read on here over the last year about Pike handling I am worried about not being able to cope should I catch something.

Should I stay (at home) or should I go.

 

I know how you feel - I was once like that but now a lot more confidence of unhooking pike everytime I go piking. The best bet is this that if you went with someone who is far more experience than you. Let him showed you how to do it and you will see and learn. But as you said in your first post you did all this piking twenty odd years ago so I can't see why not you should stay at home.

 

But there are plenty of website which show diagrams of unhooking pike and again I know it can be frightening when unhooking but once you feel confidence of doing it the is very easy to do.

 

Also use the necessary equipment when unhooking pike

 

http://www.fishingmagic.com/news/article/m...13328880232/v/1

 

Here are some useful website on unhooking pike.

 

http://www.hooklinks.co.uk/pike/navigation2/pikeframe.html

 

http://www.pacgb.co.uk/tips/landing.html

 

http://fjames.proboards6.com/index.cgi?boa...read=1096222881

 

http://www.pikezander.co.uk/handling.htm

 

Here one about spinning and plugging

 

http://www.pikezander.co.uk/lurespinners.htm

 

Best of luck

[A Worm OOE]

Thanks Tony I will look in the diary. I do know Kevin, I fish for Cardinals and he has started fishing with us again I am glad to say.

 

Andrew

Thanks for all the info. I think a refresher course based on that lot and I will be fine. I cant see the likely hood of a deep hooked fish on a plug and common sense should see me through.

 

One thing that did accur to me was that I might crush the barbs on the hooks on my Plugs. Does anyone have any thoughts on this.

Edited November 18, 2005 by A Worm OOE

[Gaz51]

Good on you worm.

 

OK you're a bit green when it comes to pike fishing, you wish to learn but are unsure about handling and unhooking etc.

 

I'm very glad you have asked for help instead of going it alone which would prove to put the fish at great risk if caught by a novice.

The best way to fish for pike is with an experienced angler. That way, they can show you the correct way to play, land, unhook and return the fish without harming it.

 

[Tony U]

Thanks Tony I will look in the diary. I do know Kevin, I fish for Cardinals and he has started fishing with us again I am glad to say.

Could you get him to give me a call tell him I am still in Walderslade, I will PM you my phone number and email.

[A Worm OOE]

Tony No problem I can give him a call tonight if you want to contact him quickly.

 

 

 

By the way I am going back through all the threads about Pike handling on here. It was that that prompted my post.