October - March Pike Angling

If you're a newcomer to Pike & Predator fishing and need advice, you can ask in here
Post Reply
Angler Dangler
Gudgeon
Gudgeon
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Sep 05 2017 20:16

October - March Pike Angling

Post by Angler Dangler »

Hi all,

For those that fish for Pike through the colder months in the uk I'm wondering how you go about it. Would u fish live/dead baits straight through or would start by lure fishing and then switch to live/deads when it gets really cold. Or alternatively would u lure fish straight through. Have you got a rough plan that you work to in terms of months and expected temperatures ?

I'd like to start by using lures whilst the temperature is still ok, how long would you expect pike to chase for ... Would I get away with lure fishing until Christmas and then going over to deads for the remainder of the season ?

Thanks in advance for your replies.
User avatar
dannytaylor
Barbel
Barbel
Posts: 4603
Joined: Mon Aug 29 2011 05:00

Re: The October - March Pike Angling

Post by dannytaylor »

Its hard to put a specific timetable on things. Weather patterns are different each year. As a general rule on stillwaters i will use lures and deads early season moving over to exclusivley fishing deads from about november onwards. I will use livebaits throughout the season but have done little the last couple of years. Its a shame as float trolling a live is one of my favourite methods.

On rivers i will use both deads and lures right through the winter depending on water quality. If the water is low, clear and dropping lures are a good shout. Try to avoid rivers that are rising but as they are dropping back to normal level a dead fished in a slack when there is still colour can be deadly..............
Angler Dangler
Gudgeon
Gudgeon
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Sep 05 2017 20:16

Re: October - March Pike Angling

Post by Angler Dangler »

Thankyou for the advice. I will be mainly targeting still waters, Would I be right in thinking with warmer temperatures the pike will hold higher in the water column ? With that being a said a surface lure would be better for warmer temperatures ??

I'm doing abit of window shopping now and am looking at the surface frogs .... Please advice me against them if they are not a good choice ...

Thanks
User avatar
dannytaylor
Barbel
Barbel
Posts: 4603
Joined: Mon Aug 29 2011 05:00

Re: October - March Pike Angling

Post by dannytaylor »

Personally as we move into the autumn and the water cools i would stick with subsurface lures. Jerkbaits, swimbaits, softplastics etc.

Spring into summer is generally when surface lures will be at there best. With pike there are always exceptions to any rule...............
User avatar
Mike J
Ferox Trout
Ferox Trout
Posts: 11094
Joined: Wed Nov 09 2016 09:26
Location: Wessex

Re: October - March Pike Angling

Post by Mike J »

Frog lures will catch when the frogs are spawning in early spring but its a short window so hardly worth the effort or cost of specialist lures.

Try this surface method, which will catch at any time.
Get a sprat or small herring and bend it into a gentle curve, then balance the curved part to lay on or just under the surface, fish it near weedbeds or over drop offs with gentle twitches and long pauses, especially if there is a bit of a chop, remember to use a greased line and watch the bait carefully.
What this technique does is to replicate a dead/dying fish which any pike nearby will almost always come for.
Takes can be explosive or almost unseen as the bait just disappears in a ripple on the surface, either way the line is going down a hole with the pike dragging it down behind it so a contact is usually assured.
If the bait just sinks, keep a gentle contact on the line and wait for the bait to be taken, if not lift it gently off the bottom for a slow retrieve but be preparred for the 'oh so gentle tap' on the line as a stealthy (often large) fish takes the bait.

Always think about doing something nobody else has tried.

:thumbs:
'No Man Ever Fishes The Same River Twice, .... For It Is Not The Same River, .... And He Is Not The Same Man' Heraclitus of Ephesus
Post Reply