Summer Pike Fishing

[yorkpiker]

I 've posted it elsewhere as well, apologies for preaching but welfare of old esox is close to my heart.......all the best John

Please remember that despite their fierce looks Pike are perhaps one of our most fragile coarse fish, even more so in the summer months, they fight and give it their all but if oxygen levels are low caused by high water temps they wiil die if handled badly, I would therefore encourage you to fish for more hardy species such as Chub and Perch throughout the summer.
There are exceptions places such as the glacial lochs are fine because the water temps never rise too dramatically so oxygen levels are always pretty good.
As a rule of thumb if the water temp is above 58 F then give them a miss.
Please also remember to take all the correct kit to unhook - short and long nosed forceps - wire cutters - un - hooking mat and get a landing net capable of holding a Pike ( not one that bends the Pike in half as I have seen)
If you can un hook the by the side of the Yak thats great if not get them back in the water asap.
Don't fish for them if your worried about handling and un - hooking them, - you break a gill raker thats a dead fish - you cut an artery thats a dead fish etc.
I love my Pike fishing but I don't fish for them until the winter months when its better for them plus there at their biggest weights.
For more information I would encourage anyone interested in fishing for Pike to join the Pike Anglers club of Great Britain www.pacgb.co.uk
Hope this helps
All the best
John

[Izzetafox]

Very wise words John.

I fear at times we do not give our quarry the respect it deserves more through ignorance of the facts rather than being deliberately cruel.

Fish welfare should always be paramount.

Terry

[Daz]

good post John

[philpot]

I can only agree with the other comments John.

Phil

[deerphil]

Nothing wrong with fishing for pike in Summer ( what Summer ) in my opinion
You wouldn't stop fishing for Barbel or Grayling / Trout - all of which go belly up
very quickly if they are not treated correctly.

It's about getting the fish unhooked and back in the water properly and quickly
and then held until the fish is ready to swim off strongly.

This is easy from the yak when fly fishing with a single barbless hook. I release most in the water but can easily lift onto your legs for a quick pic. Contrary to popular belief a pike can be landed very quickly on a No.10 fly rod, they are a powerful rod built for fishing for enormously powerful fish like Tarpon for example.
If released in the water the fish should still be held for a short while just to make sure it is ready before release.

Totally agree with the fishes welfare being paramount, now KEEPNETS !! lets not go there.

[philpot]

I must admit Phil, the 10# really does have some power to stop the pike, only just found that out of course.

I have read that providing the fish is not played and brought to the net/hand quickly, they will be ok, it was a case of damage being done when playing them for a while to tire them when more harm is done.

I am new to pike fly fishing but if the other night is anything to go by, they were at the kayak in no time.

Phil