This page is dedicated to tactics for catching pike,also shown is diagrams of hooking arrangments,unhooking techniques and a guide to the tackle/equipment needed for safe capture and handling of the pike
the main tackle you need is powerfull rods,specialist pike/carp rods are best usually 12 foot long with a test curve of 2 1/2lbs to 3 1/4lbs,however the test curves can vary from 2 1/4lbs up to 4lbs but for most piking rods with a test curve2 1/2lb or 2 3/4lb are more than enough to see you get by,also a reel capable of holding 200 to 300 yards of line varying in weight from 15 to 25 lb,preferably with a free spool facility(bait runner),you may get away with using a fairly cheap rod but i would not recommend you try the same with the reel! it must have a good drag(clutch) to cope with the powerfull runs of a big pike....
other equipment needed is as follows,a large knotless mesh net with a head size of approxomately 42 inches should be fine,an unhooking mat to lay the fish on as this prevents the removal of the pikes protective slime from coming into contact with stones,gravel dry grass etc..
in the event of not having an unhooking mat either lay the pike on some long WET grass or preferrably unhook the pike in the water if possible,also to improvise an unhooking mat you could take a piece of carpet underlay which must be wetted before coming in contact with the fish
Other items needed are a decent set of scales preferrably with a large handle to grip with both hands and a weigh sling again in knotless mesh or made of nylon, DO NOT PLACE THE HOOK OF THE SCALES IN THE PIKES JAW TO WEIGH THE FISH!!,this causes some serious damage to the pike
At the buiseness end a wire trace of 18 inches is used with two trebles of size4 or size6, the hooks are barbless or have the barbs crushed down flat,spaced about 3-5 inches apart(depending on the size of bait to be used at the end of the trace is attached a strong swivel to which is tied the reel line which in turn has a free running bomb weight of usually 2-3oz,the fact that this is a free running ledger allows the pike to pick up the bait and run with it without feeling any unatural resistence....it is important to set the hooks at the first indication of a pike taking the bait as delaying the strike will result in a deep hooked pike,after netting the pike it is carried in the net to the unhooking mat where it is placed on its back with the angler straddling the pike with the legs straddling the pike and exerting gentle pressure to restrain the pike,two fingers are inserted into the bottom jaw from the gill covers taking care not to touch the gill rakers and a little pressure is used to force the pikes lower jaw open,forceps are inserted through the mouth and clipped onto the main shank of the hooks and the hooks are removed,now the fish can be placed in the sling for weighing and then carried back to the water still in the sling for releasing,
there are diagrams at the bottom of the page that show the unhooking procedure
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