gravel pit piking

[commonhunter86]

im currently fishing a pit of 40-50 acres average depth is 5ft-7.5ft alot of weed in it what would be the best method to fish for pike ?

so far caught pike to 19.8 on float fished mackeral but not catching many

[Tim_Kelly]

Wait until the weed dies down. Much easier, and safer for the pike than trying to contend with a lake full of weed. Lures over the top of the weed would be the only method I'd use in this situation, but would more likely go to a river or less weedy venue otherwise.

[mr_penetrator]

Forget baits in the summer and as Tim suggests, walk the lake with surface lures (50lb braid in weed) and have fun. Keep an eye out for working grebes etc and also plot the thick beds of weed, pads etc to use as likely points come October. Travel very light in Winter and leapfrog your rods around the Lake until you're happy with your hotspots, don't just sit behind 3 rods in a cosy swim, you'll miss out big time.

And if you can find a nice drop off close in, give it a bit of attention. Use an assortment of baits to start with, if using 3 rods I tend to use a roach, a half mackeral and a popped up joey or herring. It's often easier leapfrogging with two though, one coarse, one sea.

Good luck mate, what I've just told you catches me shedloads of good fish.

[Tim1]

I would not summer pike fish, save it for the winter then choose 3 areas and bait them with deads and some hallibuts, then fish the spots and see, and dont tell no ****er

[mr_penetrator]

Not even lure fish Tim?

[Tim1]

No, have lure fished in summer but not my cup of tea, do a bit in oct and nov around the dead bait rods, which is good fun, seeing them take the bait is unreal.

[The Doc]

You've certainly got the right method. I have yet to find a gravel pit where mackerel won't score, but it is far too early in the season to even think about piking. I would leave it until November. Even October is too early these days. The fish are very skinny, out of condition and at their lowest weights at this time of the year and the water is too warm with low oxygen levels.

I would also check out the fodder fish position before fishing a new pit. Most pits in the south of England have had the fodder fish decimated by cormorants and many waters that produced thirties back in the eighties are now just full of skinny jacks and low doubles.

[mr_penetrator]

Can't see the problem with lures during summer myself, I hook them, land them with minimal fuss (chinned, no net), hooks out in the water and off they go. In 22 years I've had the odd one need a bit of coaxing to regain strength but I've had that in winter.

[Tim1]

Each to there own, if i did lure fish in summer it would be on waters that received no presure and i would not hammer them and only fish at peak oxygen times, shallow weedy pits id pass on and i dont start proper dead baiting till nov due to our climate i guess up north would b different due to temps and deeper lakes etc.

[Tim1]

Pike are fragile at all times of the year, but with a few simple steps thay will go back ok, i just hate catching skinny out of condition fish.

[quinny]

Caught a pukka pike during the summer about 10 years ago (this thread just bought back the memory), from a 6 acre weedy gravel pit.

Bright, hot summers day and my mate had just got back from The States with one of those baby lure rods and reels. We were just messing about and I had a go after he had a few casts. Was quite funny as I cast to the exact same spot where he had and then SLAM Pike on! My mate had his head in his hands and yelling out loud how unlucky he was LOL. Fought like a demon and went loopy. Weighed about 17lb and was in perfect condition and not skinny at all. I then handed back his rod and reel, thanked him and slapped him on the back! He wasn't amused.

I didn't realise pike couldn't cope with lower oxeygen levels back then (was only 19 or so). Must admit this pike seemed fine.

[commonhunter86]

went during last week after carp but ended up havin a few hours on the lures ended up wiv a few biggest just over 14lb mate ad 1 at 14lb and also got bit not nice finger was a mess

[Tim1]

Take care when unhooking, your hands dont need to be by there teath, let the forceps do that, i think there are unhooking gloves available, dont know if enygood but worth a look on the PIKE ANGLERS WEB SIGHT, maybe for good unhooking techniques ans handling.

[commonhunter86]

just a lack of concentration by my mate which resulted in him getting bit he is experienced enough to no better

[piker1]

Hi, any of you guys know anything about North Hykeham, at the minute the plan for late october is to start leap frogging but its a massive 200 acres?!!