PIKE
Where to look for a pike?
It is a common fish. Its range is very wide, from the lowland region of bream to the border of the land of trout, It is also often found in trout waters, Although it prefers warmer and wider basins and cut off things, we can also find it in Podgórze, narrow streams, in small cut-off rags, as well as in large dam reservoirs, especially in the first years after flooding. However, we meet him primarily in episodes full of hiding places, with water and marsh vegetation, with washed out edges, with the roots of coastal trees and shrubs immersed in the water, with obstacles in the river bed, with trees overturned and submerged, dangling branches. When catching this fish, we shouldn't miss any, even a small handicap, which may be a place of its hiding. The presence of pike is also conditioned by the presence of small fish. It willingly sets itself in the shade. Usually he is in his permanent positions, travels short distances. We are looking for him in deeper bays with calm water, which are related to deep current and countercurrents. In summer, it never stays near the surface in flowing waters that are not too deep, in autumn, it remains in the area of its hiding places at medium depth and near the bottom; after a stronger cooling of the water and the descent of small fish to the depths, it also stays in quiet parts right next to the bottom. In Poland, it is generally abundant in most lakes, especially in the bream and rope-pike types. The largest specimens can be found on the lake's surface, around the underwater hills, at a depth of several meters. In late summer and fall (often until an ice cap forms) pike flock to the coastal zone, going deeper into the vampire.
When to catch a pike?
The intensity of the bite depends on the season. In June and July, when there is a lot of food, pike takes very little. At the end of July and in August the bans improve somewhat, September and October are typically pike months. August, September and October are also among the best pike fishing months in dammed reservoirs and natural lakes. In the summer months, the pike is best picked early in the morning or late in the evening, in the fall all day long. At the end of the pike season (in November) it feeds around noon. Higher water levels have a beneficial effect on pike bites in summer, cloudy days with light wind and drizzle, causing cooling. In autumn, the opposite is true - warmer fishing is favorable, bright days with foggy mornings and evenings. Clean is unfavorable in summer, low water, just like it was overflowing and cloudy, heat and sun; in the fall, it is not worth fishing before the weather suddenly worsens or in the cold, north or east winds. Pike catching on the cross-pass in December is a real allure, only narrow ones when they freeze, coastal strips of the river bed.
Pike fishing equipment.
The equipment must be suitable for the fishing methods. A spinning rod is required for the spinning method (at an overgrown shore, it should be long 2,5 m, when the water is clear and when fishing from a boat - 1,8 m), line 0.30-0.45 mm, carabiners, swivels, steel leader, spinning, wielohaczykowe systemiki. For cross-flow fishing, the rod should be a bit longer - about 3-4 m, stronger, line 0.30-0.45 mm, larger float, pilot floats, Italian hooks 1 / 0—4 / 0, 3—3 / 0 three-arm treble hooks. Double hooks as unsportsmanlike (when catching a pike) not deliberately discussing. Steel is also required (or other) a delicate leader, 30-60 cm long, hamster or other systems for arming live animals. Various designs are also useful, like for example. paternostry.
Pike catching methods.
There are three basic methods of catching pike: on a flow with a float, for a starter with a float and spinning. The first two have so many variations, that they cannot even be described in general terms. Spoons are used for spinning, dead fish on various systems, wobblers and other artificial lures. This method also includes vertical spinning, which consists in pulling the bait from the depth towards the surface, vertical spinning with picking up the lure as well as raising and lowering it. The guiding principle in all fishing methods should be this, in order not to unnecessarily injure undersized individuals, so that they can be released back into the water without additional injuries. It is best to use lures of such a selected size, so that they are not caught by undersized pikes.
Pike lures.
As long as the methods of catching pike are complicated, the lures are quite simple. All kinds of spinners are used for spinning, different colors, 5-10 cm in size, dead fish - fresh or canned (do 8—12 cm) and all types of wobblers and rapals. In the case of fishing per flow, only livestock from 8 do 15 cm in length, sometimes bigger. As live animals, we mainly use these fish, which live at the catch site and which last the longest on the hook, not only alive, but also lively. Crucian carp is one of the specially resistant fish. The effectiveness of all types of artificial lures should be tested in the intended fisheries.
Other comments.
Pike, even though it is a ruthless predator, he is skittish and careful, that's why we have to hide well on the shore when catching it. Frightened, he sometimes swims some distance from his hideout, but he stays close to her and is on guard; as a rule it does not take. Pike does not hunt like other predators, who are actively looking for their victim over a large space, but he catches it from his position or, at best, swims slowly in its immediate vicinity. He is a typical coastal fish and that's where we mainly look for him. Always remember, that the pike has a permanent position and forages relatively regularly. Only this angler will have good fishing results, who will observe the water for a long time and recognize the pike's position and determine the best feeding time. Take care when towing, so that the fish does not get into a nearby blockage, and then we do not allow it to jump out of the water on a stretched line. The pike may jerk its head like this when it jumps, that he'll get his hook (even with bait) out of the mouth. We should not position ourselves like this when towing, for the pike to notice us, for a frightened one can make sudden and unexpected, a liberating spurt. Release the undersized pike carefully. To protect them from unnecessary cuts, we should use feeds no less than 15 cm. In autumn we place the bait in the middle or on the top 3/4 the depth of the fishery, later - 20-30 cm above the bottom. While spinning the lure is pulled to the very edge, because very often a pike follows her for some time, and it attacks only at the very shore. Distance, on which we throw the spinning bait, it should be like this, that it always allows a strong and effective jam. Be careful when fishing and landing.
In Poland, the pike stock is constantly decreasing. The reason for this is the increasing pollution of rivers and the very accelerated aging of lakes, which is related to:. in. with the decrease in water transparency and the disappearance of vascular aquatic vegetation. Pike is one of the few fish that actually spawns on soft vegetation, the lack of which cannot be compensated for. So anyway, that intensive stocking with pike fry is constantly carried out, its slow extinction must still be taken into account. Recently, the regulations related to the protection of this species have been tightened; the safeguard dimension is now in force 50 cm and the conservation period, which lasts from 1 January to 30 April. Its daily catch is limited to 4 pcs, including aching, zander and catfish.