| The PAC, being a club that has members
throughout Great Britain, realises that pike waters vary widely in their condition
and the amount and type of angling pressure they receive during the summer months.
A remote Scottish loch, deep, cold and fished by a few experienced pike anglers
will present a completely different scenario to the busy environs of a shallow,
weedy, water in the south of England being fished by numerous of 'casual' pike
anglers. To be fair to all pike anglers in Great Britain PAC does not seek to
recommend a national summer pike fishing close season. Each water should be looked
at as a special case and a decision regarding closed times made according to the
specific situation. The fishing and
handling guidelines which are outlined in the PAC Recommended
Code of Conduct and in these pages should always be followed when pike fishing,
but in the warmest months it is acknowledged that extra care needs to be taken.
We suggest the following guidelines to anyone thinking of pike fishing in the
summer: - Use strong tackle - a
minimum of 15lb mono is recommended matched with 2.5-3.5lb test curve rods for
bait fishing. Do not worry about going even heavier. Many experienced summer pikers
use 20 or 25lb mono when fishing rocky or weedy venues.
- When
bait fishing strike very quickly when a run develops. Pike swallow baits faster
in summer than they do in winter, and the time taken removing hooks which are
deep will increase the time the pike is out of the water.
- Do
not play pike for any longer than is necessary. Using strong tackle helps in this.
- Take pike from the water for the absolute minimum
period. Unhook them in the water if you can, and retain them in the landing net
in the water before weighing and photographing them. TIme out of the water is
the real killer of pike in summer time. Take as few photographs as possible and
return them straight away.
- When lure
fishing always be ready to cut hooks in order to speed the return of the
pike to the water.
- Do not retain pike
in tubes or sacks in shallow water, nor in direct sunlight. It is preferable not
to retain pike at all during the summer.
- When
releasing pike in the summer, always ensure they are fully recovered before
allowing them to swim off.
|
NEWS
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