Look After Your Catch!!
Possibly the most important aspect of
pike fishing and probably the least talked
about is the time the pike you catch spends
on the bank.
Without doubt pike are the most
maligned and most abused fish species
that swims in or waters(apart from perhaps
the eel)I suppose the look of a pike has
a lot to do with this as all types of
fishermen believe pike to be the most robust
of fish.Sadly the opposite is true and many
pike are injured or even die purely through
bad handling.
The handling of pike is best learnt from
an experienced piker.Many feel they know how
best this is undertaken,and I have often
witnessed a situation on the bank that has
left me shaking my head in disbelief.As long
as basic rules are followed the unhooking of
a pike can be an easy exercise for the piker
and a safe one for the pike.
Essential Equipment
1.Forceps
Sold as artery forceps,long nosed pliers also
used,no piking without a set of these to hand.
2.Large landing net
Triangular nets should have at least 42" arm
length,round nets I feel are unsuitable.
3.Unhooking mat
Standard tackle item for specimen hunters,now
considered essential for all large fish.
4.Confidence!
The above items are all you need to unhook
pike of all sizes.If in doubt ask your local
fishing shop,they all have local knowledge
but most important of all experienced staff
who can give advice.Even if you have pike fished
before experience is the key,never be afraid to
ask fellow fishermen for advice.Only after
many pike captures and all unhooking situations
will you feel completely at ease handling pike,
at least in the meantime you have lots of pike
to catch...
Handling
A pike is hooked - you play it out using all your
skill and good strong tackle until you feel able
to draw it over your already sunken landing net.
It slides across the surface,over the rim of the
net.At that moment you raise the net and the prize
is yours.It is now, everything can and often
does go wrong.Before the pike was hooked you had
time to organise yourself for just this moment.As
you look around now you see unhooking mat ready to
accept both net and it's fragile prize.With net on
mat you are in complete control of the pike.The entire
time any fish is on the bank it is relying entirely
on you.You now peel away layers of fine mesh and find
yourself face to face with a mouthful of teeth.
This is the next stage where things can go pear-
shaped as fingers are not fond of teeth but by rolling
the pike onto it's back(always on the soft matting)you
will subdue the pike.In this state you will find that
pike are much easier to handle.With small pike a hand
on the body is all that is needed to keep it on the mat
but larger fish over about 8lbs need to be "straddled".
Hands-on now as you lift the lower jaw from underneath
with your weaker hand,you detach your forceps(always to hand)from your
clothing and remove the barbless hooks
from the pikes jaw(usually one at a time)
at
This is a good time to remove rod and all end tackle to a safe place.The unhooked pike can be returned at this
time although you may want to weigh or photograph larger
specimens.
All the above actions would not have taken
longer than a few minutes,and is quicker if two work as
a team taking it in turns to land/unhook each others
fish.
