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Probably the simplest way to fish for pike is by legering with small to medium sized dead baits, these may be small dead coarse fish or for those not able to acquire such baits then sea baits such as smelts, sardines, sprats, herring and small ‘joey’ mackerel will suffice and are readily available today pre-packed and frozen and kept in tackle shops all over the country. Using the typical rig shown in diagram above, will allow you to cast a reasonable distance, if you need to, with bite indication being via the plain or semi-loaded pencil float, attached via its loop or swivel at the base, (remember here the reason discussed earlier in Getting Started, as to which float you should choose to suit the prevailing conditions).

In setting the tackle up you should attach the hooks to the bait as shown in Hooking Dead baits diagrams:(1 and 2) the hook trace (18” 20lbs BS wire) is attached via a ‘Croslok’ link clip to an up-trace of 24” 20lbs BS wire, to which you will attach you 15lbs BS reel line, following slipping on a bead and the float. Once this is complete you will need to set the fishing depth by having plumbed the depth earlier or by trial and error, plumbing first being preferred and tying in 15lbs BS Powergum, a sliding stop knot above the bead and positioning this knot say 12 inches deeper than the swim depth, this will allow for any minor variations in the bottom and ensure that the float can react if and when your bait is picked up. To effect such registration and to aid casting you will need some weight on the tackle and you can achieve this with swan shots (1, 2 or 3 SSG’s) fixed onto the hook trace just below the swivel or by attachment of a 18 to 25 gram, Fox quick change egg sinker on the up trace, either will do, the swan shot might be easier for the start.

After casting with either float set up you should tighten the line from rod tip to bait, enough to cock an unloaded float or to settle the semi-loaded float deeper in the water so that either will register a change in attitude if the bait is moved or picked up! Depending on how this takes place will probably be indicated by the float raising and falling flat, by it moving slowly in any direction at the same time or completely disappearing. You should keep you eye on the float(s) all the time to observe such indications as a bait may be swallowed in the few moments after a float pops up and lies flat if the pike are feeding confidently and not running off! (you may in the course of time combine this method with an audible indicator (Optonic or similar) with a drop off indicator on the back rod rest to help register such activity and possibly avert to a degree the risk of deep hooking, these alarms should not replace your vigilance and observations though!).

Watching the float(s) closely though in the early days will help you understand more about the feeding habits of your quarry!

Live baits can be fished using this method should you wish, providing the fishery allows this and you can catch your bait on the water being fished. If in doubt ask first!

NB: it is illegal under Environment Agency By-laws to move fish from one water to another with out consent and Pike Online supports this restriction on the translocation of fish wholeheartedly and recommends each angler observes this ruling and any that may apply on the individual fisheries you may visit.