Pike trouble perch fishing

[adam11]

I've only just seriously targeting perch on lobworms, much as I knew pike will take worms I'll admit I didn't know to what degree.
I've been float fishing with a 5lb mainline and 4lb hook length which is perfectly adequate and I'd imagine pretty much a go to for my target species from what I've researched ( okay looked on the Internet) however I'm getting bitten off a lot by pike
I'm well aware of the light wires available but can't get my head round using wire in this situation, am I wrong, is getting bitten off just a hazard of this sort of fishing or is there feasible precautionary options please?

[paintman]

Given the information you need to use wire.
As I'm sure you're aware carrying on regardless & leaving hooks in fish is a non starter.

Plenty of info on the forums, try a 'Search' using 'wire trace for perch'.

[adam11]

Yeah that's obviously why I've asked mate but all the info I've happened on seems to be lure related which I understand and practice, I've never found anything related to float fishing though and can't get my head round it being as straight a transfer.

[delboy]

How often do you get bitten off then ?If you get bitten off then you have left a small hook in the pikes mouth, if you use a wire trace and get snapped up on 5lb line, you have left a hook and a trace in the pike. You obviously care, that's why you are asking, good on you.

[delboy]

Lure fishing is another thing as far as I am concerned, I don't lure fish, but if I did I would always use a wire trace, the thought of leaving a lure in a pike's mouth sickens me .

[paintman]

Yeah that's obviously why I've asked mate but all the info I've happened on seems to be lure related which I understand and practice, I've never found anything related to float fishing though and can't get my head round it being as straight a transfer.

Fair comment. Much of the online perch float stuff advocates light bs mono as you are using & I can understand why you've gone that way.
But I think with the pike problem you've got it's just asking for trouble. If it was a water without pike then maybe not such an issue.

If you want to keep line thickness down then perhaps a braid of equivalent diameter might be a better bet & would give you around 20/25lb bs?
Together with a flexible knottable multistrand wire as a trace so you can tie/twizzle the hook on & not have to use crimps?
The cannelle soft wires I use for pike deads knotless knot perfectly & as it's been difficult to get hold of I've got some AFW which does the same. (Both also fine flyfishing for pike)

What's your lure setup & have you had a quick play to see if it would work?

[Mark_Houghton]

It`s a bit of a dilemma, as delboy says if you use wire with the light setup you risk leaving a hook AND wire trace in a lost pike due to breakage, or end up playing a decent pike for too long and tiring the fish unneccessarily. Both not ideal. If you stick to mono you`ll leave a lost fish with just the hook, again not ideal but maybe not as bad as the previous two situations, provided the hook isnt too big. If you up the tackle strength to cope with pike, and combine it with wire leaders, then your perch fishing might suffer as a result. Its a tough call.

Perhaps one solution might be to stick a pike rod out when you start getting pestered by pike, in the hope that will catch them before they descend on your worms?

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

Its surprising just how many pike can be landed on single hooks baited with worms and tied to light mono as the hook more often is round in the scissors with the shank outside the mouth, I have found that the vest majority get landed.

What method are you using, float ledger?

Cheers, Alan

[fossil-fish]

If you are continually hooking pike, and you really want to catch perch, maybe you should simply move spots.

[Pikerd74]

I had the same issue a few years ago, I switched to a ledger rig in that area and the pike takes reduced, not altogether though if I used a longer hook length the issue increased. I think the pike are attracted by the movement so the float rig and the long hook length on the ledger facilitate that.

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

Do pike ever take prawns?

Cheers, Alan

[Mark_Houghton]

Do pike ever take prawns?

Cheers, Alan

Probably Alan...they`ll take pretty much anything when you dont want to catch them

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

Do pike ever take prawns?

Cheers, Alan

Probably Alan...they`ll take pretty much anything when you dont want to catch them

the little pike that generally take worms are switched onto the movement worms make, a prawn may be more selective?

Cheers, Alan

[Mark_Houghton]

Do pike ever take prawns?

Cheers, Alan

Probably Alan...they`ll take pretty much anything when you dont want to catch them

the little pike that generally take worms are switched onto the movement worms make, a prawn may be more selective?

Cheers, Alan

I think they also find the scent of worms attractive Alan, not just the movement. Not just small pike either, I had quite a few doubles on worms back when i fished for eels briefly, up to 18-8 from memory, many of them in the dark. I`ve mentioned this place a few times in the past, but one small water i fished a few times, the pike would only ever take worms....lures were followed without taking, theyd sit and look at livebaits them swim off, and deads only resulted in carp. See a pike sat in the margins though - big or small - and drop a bunch of lobs in front of it and it would be on them immediately. Never seen anything like it before or since.
As far as prawns go, they might prove less appealing to pike than worms, but sods law dictates the first fish you`ll catch on them will be the species youre using them to avoid. Pike seem to relish in being pains in the a**e when fishing for other species

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

Do pike ever take prawns?

Cheers, Alan

Probably Alan...they`ll take pretty much anything when you dont want to catch them

the little pike that generally take worms are switched onto the movement worms make, a prawn may be more selective?

Cheers, Alan

I think they also find the scent of worms attractive Alan, not just the movement. Not just small pike either, I had quite a few doubles on worms back when i fished for eels briefly, up to 18-8 from memory, many of them in the dark. I`ve mentioned this place a few times in the past, but one small water i fished a few times, the pike would only ever take worms....lures were followed without taking, theyd sit and look at livebaits them swim off, and deads only resulted in carp. See a pike sat in the margins though - big or small - and drop a bunch of lobs in front of it and it would be on them immediately. Never seen anything like it before or since.
As far as prawns go, they might prove less appealing to pike than worms, but sods law dictates the first fish you`ll catch on them will be the species youre using them to avoid. Pike seem to relish in being pains in the a**e when fishing for other species

I have had a few to low dub on worms but "generally" its been smaller fish.
Had a few on luncheon meat, boilies and bread that I can think of

Cheers, Alan

[Mark_Houghton]

Do pike ever take prawns?

Cheers, Alan

Probably Alan...they`ll take pretty much anything when you dont want to catch them

the little pike that generally take worms are switched onto the movement worms make, a prawn may be more selective?

Cheers, Alan

I think they also find the scent of worms attractive Alan, not just the movement. Not just small pike either, I had quite a few doubles on worms back when i fished for eels briefly, up to 18-8 from memory, many of them in the dark. I`ve mentioned this place a few times in the past, but one small water i fished a few times, the pike would only ever take worms....lures were followed without taking, theyd sit and look at livebaits them swim off, and deads only resulted in carp. See a pike sat in the margins though - big or small - and drop a bunch of lobs in front of it and it would be on them immediately. Never seen anything like it before or since.
As far as prawns go, they might prove less appealing to pike than worms, but sods law dictates the first fish you`ll catch on them will be the species youre using them to avoid. Pike seem to relish in being pains in the a**e when fishing for other species

I have had a few to low dub on worms but "generally" its been smaller fish.
Had a few on luncheon meat, boilies and bread that I can think of

Cheers, Alan

Yep...can add sweetcorn and pellets to that list too

[paintman]

Its surprising just how many pike can be landed on single hooks baited with worms and tied to light mono as the hook more often is round in the scissors with the shank outside the mouth, I have found that the vest majority get landed.

What method are you using, float ledger?

Cheers, Alan

Not used them with worms but wonder if small circles might be an option?

[stubbojo]

i perch fish a lot , but mainly on small lives or freshly killed deads , far better for perch in my opinion , because thats exactly what they are eating and chasing about ..

when perching i fish 15lb mono to a paternoster rig with at least 20lb wire , but most of the time i fish a lot heavier as i have found perch dont shy off heavy lines and thick wire .
just be ready when that float goes and strike as early as you can .......feeding maggots and groundbait around your float keeps the silvers around ,and if i pike takes it happy days
just teach yourself you dont need to go ultra light for perch .........i catch quite a few good perch on pike tackle targeting pike .

regards steve

[stubbojo]

20241111_152353.jpg

had this on a pike session 30lb wire

[peteren]

Sovereign 49-strand Nova silk wire is the finest I've seen, would probably present worms ok:-
this is the Rolls Royce of all wires, as limp as cotton, thinner than braid, available in 6lb, 12lb, 24lb, 32lb. This wire is natural coloured, satin finished to lower reflectivity, can be knotted or crimped, is ideally suited for any fishing application. It’s superb limpness makes it a first choice for live / deadbaiting for Zander and it’s ultra thin diameter makes it excellent for ultraliting. Available in 5m coils with 12 black copper crimps.
https://www.sovereignsuperbaits.co.uk/A ... -wire.html

And, whilst bite-offs are not ideal, leaving a smallish single hook in a pike's mouth (and maybe not, with a bite-off), is probably not too damaging; I've removed others' rusty trebles from pike that still look healthy.

[adam11]

Its surprising just how many pike can be landed on single hooks baited with worms and tied to light mono as the hook more often is round in the scissors with the shank outside the mouth, I have found that the vest majority get landed.

What method are you using, float ledger?

Cheers, Alan

Just float tactics Alan, though have had the same problem fishings the tip for them. I also land as many as I loose when hooked in the scissors or the front upper lip though.
I am finding pike often give very vauge indication with both methods, sometimes unnoticeable if there's a fair bit of wind and ripple on.

[Mark_Houghton]

Its surprising just how many pike can be landed on single hooks baited with worms and tied to light mono as the hook more often is round in the scissors with the shank outside the mouth, I have found that the vest majority get landed.

What method are you using, float ledger?

Cheers, Alan

Just float tactics Alan, though have had the same problem fishings the tip for them. I also land as many as I loose when hooked in the scissors or the front upper lip though.
I am finding pike often give very vauge indication with both methods, sometimes unnoticeable if there's a fair bit of wind and ripple on.

Are you fishing large whole lobs Adam? might be worth trying chopped worm. Smaller baits might not attract the pike as readily, but will still catch you big perch.

[adam11]

Its surprising just how many pike can be landed on single hooks baited with worms and tied to light mono as the hook more often is round in the scissors with the shank outside the mouth, I have found that the vest majority get landed.

What method are you using, float ledger?

Cheers, Alan

Just float tactics Alan, though have had the same problem fishings the tip for them. I also land as many as I loose when hooked in the scissors or the front upper lip though.
I am finding pike often give very vauge indication with both methods, sometimes unnoticeable if there's a fair bit of wind and ripple on.

Are you fishing large whole lobs Adam? might be worth trying chopped worm. Smaller baits might not attract the pike as readily, but will still catch you big perch.

Yes Mark, I'll try halfing them. Being a Yorkshire lad that appeals to me
Thanks

[Mark_Houghton]

Its surprising just how many pike can be landed on single hooks baited with worms and tied to light mono as the hook more often is round in the scissors with the shank outside the mouth, I have found that the vest majority get landed.

What method are you using, float ledger?

Cheers, Alan

Just float tactics Alan, though have had the same problem fishings the tip for them. I also land as many as I loose when hooked in the scissors or the front upper lip though.
I am finding pike often give very vauge indication with both methods, sometimes unnoticeable if there's a fair bit of wind and ripple on.

Are you fishing large whole lobs Adam? might be worth trying chopped worm. Smaller baits might not attract the pike as readily, but will still catch you big perch.

Yes Mark, I'll try halfing them. Being a Yorkshire lad that appeals to me
Thanks

[stubbojo]

pike trouble today .....




steve

[Gary Coggon]

Sovereign 49-strand Nova silk wire is the finest I've seen, would probably present worms ok:-
this is the Rolls Royce of all wires, as limp as cotton, thinner than braid, available in 6lb, 12lb, 24lb, 32lb. This wire is natural coloured, satin finished to lower reflectivity, can be knotted or crimped, is ideally suited for any fishing application. It’s superb limpness makes it a first choice for live / deadbaiting for Zander and it’s ultra thin diameter makes it excellent for ultraliting. Available in 5m coils with 12 black copper crimps.
https://www.sovereignsuperbaits.co.uk/A ... -wire.html

And, whilst bite-offs are not ideal, leaving a smallish single hook in a pike's mouth (and maybe not, with a bite-off), is probably not too damaging; I've removed others' rusty trebles from pike that still look healthy.

Having extolled the virtues a few times over the years, Amen to that. Reliability second to none, too, and certainly never had a bite-off.