Pike Fishing with Matt Hayes  

Watch Matt Hayes as he explains what fishing tackle you need and how to go about fishing for pike (essox).Using Rudd ,Smelt deadbaits on a gravel pit in a weedy corner. Will sea baits out fish freshwater deadbaits. Here Matt Hayes uses a simple sliding float running on the line using a bead above the float and a stop knot to control the depth as he drifts the bait out over the bay hopefully over the waiting pike.He explains how you do not always need to be fishing at distance for the pike as sometimes these predators are patrolling the marginal shelf of gravel pits and the like. How the pike pen the baitfish into shoals especially in the autumn and early winter months in the corners of the water to make catching them that much easier.

Watch as Matt Hayes shows you what to do when a pike picks up your bait first dont panic .Let the pike take some line then if you are using a baitrunner type reel (freespool ) point your pike rod  in the direction of the pike and start reeling in fast this will take up any slack line between you and the pike and then strike into the pike.If you are using braid rather than fishing line you can feel every movement from the pike as there is no stretch in it.When you have got the pike in your landing net and on the unhooking mat you will notice if you are using barbless trebles or semi barbed trebles how much easier it is to unhook the pike.

There is a right way to unhook a pike you need to lay it on its back and sit astride of it .

Place your hand behind the pikes gill cover without touching the gill rakers.To stop it thrashing around just lightly clamp it in your legs so that you can open its mouyh and work inside to remove your hooks.As long as you pay attention and do not wait too long after the initial bite you should never have the problem of a deeply hooked pike.

Matt Hayes Pike Fishing Video

Before you go pike fishing make sure you have all the pike fishing tackle that you will need and the best bit of advice is go with a pike angler till you are confident

A landing net big enough to fit pike in and they do grow big .If you can afford it there are special nets out there with bigger holes so less chance of your trebles getting stuck in the landing net.If you have ever caught a pike and used a carp net to land it and it has decided to spin in your net. I am pretty sure after that you will have gone out and bought a proper pike landing net.

An unhooking mat as pike even though they look like prehistoric monsters  are easily damaged.

Wire traces as the pikes teeth will cut straight through fishing line

Some long handled unhooking pliers / forceps because you do not want to be putting your fingers near the pikes teeth

A set of small bolt cutters just in case you have to cut your treble hooks if you are unable to remove them from the pike for whatever reason

An unhooking glove that I found invaluable .It is a chainmail glove that stops the teeth and gill rakers cutting your hands

No doubt there is a lot more pike accesories you will want and need best way is to click the link below and you will find everything that you need

Pike Tackle and accessories