New to Pike fishing

[Chris W]

Thanks guys,

 

We are going to the tackle shop tomorrow to get some bits and a couple traces. Hopefully we can catch a some pike this Sunday, going to a fishery. I assume that we should be able to catch there. (Near St Albans)

 

Will let you know how it goes.

Chris

[Anderoo]

ANother reason to use a long (18" minimum) wire trace is that pike sometimes roll on the line, and if the trace is too short the mono mainline can catch on a tooth or two, and ping! Pike gone, probably to die slowly.

[Chris W]

This is going to be a long one so please bear with me.... (its a rant as well, sorry).

 

Ok, so went "fishing" today... I have to say that the people at the fishery were very unaccommodating, being new to fishing in the UK ( a point we stress when ever we ask for help) we are just given basic instructions and then get left to it, and have to guess whats what and where we can fish. Now, we are used to having a dam to fish, and can fish where ever you can get to (climbing boulders, what ever it takes) unless it is too dangerous (e.g. in a Game Reserve where Rhino are common).

We are now told we have to fish a swim, which confusing to say the least since, this one is open and the next one is closed but explanations of these are random and make no sense unless you understand them. I do agree with for "sit and wait" fishing like Carp, Catfish etc. but for lure fishing for the Pred's its frustrating and doesn't seam logical.

 

I don't use bait, as I want to "hunt" my quarry, and try and best them in the game that is sport fishing. To me using bait and waiting is about getting the fish to you, and I don't have the patience for that, as long as I am busy (walk, cast and retrieve) I am happy, even I catch nothing all day.

 

With that all said, I would like to appeal to the lure anglers out there to please help me to get into this sport. Where can I fish where I can fish "properly", does it need to be rivers and canals, or are there lakes where I can do this fishing (not being confined to a single swim all day)? If rivers/canals are the only options available to me, how do I get permission to fish these?

 

I have been told before that I cant fish a certain stretch of river as I have to be a member of a club, this again is confusing to me as I never new someone could "own" a river.

 

Any help would be much appreciated, I am getting to the point where I am tempted to pack the rod away and not bother, but since Pike are such a big predator I really want to catch at least one.

 

Also, from what I understand is the bigger Pike are the ones caught using dead bait, even if this is the case I am still not tempted to do this as its not my idea of a fun day out.

 

Thanks for reading my rant, any help can save my fishing....

Chris

[Neil G]

Where are you based? Have you got any good reservoirs or rivers nearby?

 

As for licences best thing to do it to check your local tackle shop and ask in there, will be able to point you in the right direction of clubs and most sell day tickets for waters. Reservoirs can be good (although big) but a lot of water companies allow fishing on them and they can produce some big fish.

 

Commercial fisheries aren't the best places to lure fish....most are usually very busy and so there is little room to move about and there's also the fact that they think your a bit mad throwing artificial fish about! Personally I'd be starting on the rivers where there are plenty of swims to explore and less people, usual places to target woud be wiers etc where a lot of bait fish reside.

 

Hope you stick with it, big fish can be caught on lures as you only have to look at some of the big fish(including the UK record) stats to find out.

[Chris W]

Thanks Neil,

 

I live in Highgate (North London), and have to use public transport from now on (had a lift the last 2 times), untill I get a motor bike in the coming months.

 

I have heard that fishing is possible in Hampstead Heath, but dont want to go and end up stuck on a platform again. I dont mind joining a club if it means I can fish, but some say "no day pass", which is dumb (imo) since how can you know if you want to spend a season fishing there if you have never been able to do it.

There are some resiviors close to home, by Manor House and Tottenam hale, my questions on those are: are there fish there, and is it safe to walk around there?

 

Local tackle shops seam to be in short supply, but I need to look a LOT harder to find them... havnt put much effort into it.

 

I will try and keep at it, thanks for the advice on the fisheries... those are off the cards now.

 

 

EDIT: Fixed link

Edited September 22, 2008 by Chris W

[Anderoo]

Don't bother with day ticket places.

 

A club is good idea. They are usually very cheap (compared to day tickets!) and give you access to several waters, often a mixture of stillwaters and river stretches. Once you've bought the club book, you're free to come and go throughout the season. Where are you based?

[Chris W]

Sorry for the delays in replying, my messages still go thru the admins.... not sure when that goes away.

 

EDIT: 15 posts, which I have now reached... having a technical help section is great when you are in IT =P

Edited September 22, 2008 by Chris W

[Neil G]

Don't bother with day ticket places.

 

A club is good idea. They are usually very cheap (compared to day tickets!) and give you access to several waters, often a mixture of stillwaters and river stretches. Once you've bought the club book, you're free to come and go throughout the season. Where are you based?

 

Ressies on day tickets are worth fishing though, it all depends on how much your planning on fishing somewhere doesn't it.

 

Have to admit though, sometimes can be a real pain waiting for a shop to open to get a ticket while you know all the club members have been out since day break probably bagging all the good spots!

 

Let us know how you get on