My first (proper) pike season 24/25

As the above line suggests this is a quick introduction and summary, including some learnings about Pike fishing, particularly my pike fishing season of 2024/25. Why? It was to scratch an itch. Commercial fisheries were getting slightly boring, and I wanted a challenge. What could be more challenging than targeting the water ecosystem’s natural apex predator? So like any sensible angler, before I dived in I did some Googling and started asking friends of mine (yes, I have friends… some) who are pike specimen hunters, a few questions.

Pike fishing isn’t like normal fishing. Regular coarse anglers aren’t overly secretive — if you ask where they caught fish, you’ll generally get the response you expected: “I was at X, used Y, caught Z.” Pike fishing is like a secret society. True, regular pike anglers move in the same circles and have cultivated relationships over many years, yet even they don’t openly share information — and for good reason. Pike are precious. These savage killers are actually delicate little buggers. Too long out of the water, caught when it’s too warm, not nursed back properly after capture, poorly unhooked, struck too late, damaged gill rakers — everything is stacked against them. Pike anglers, while generally helpful, are a cagey bunch. They’ll offer advice on hardware and terminal tackle, but venue tips or catch reports? Think again.

Before the season started I asked on a few key forums and was told, in a variety of ways, to bugger off. Others kindly suggested I walk the banks, get a map out, and put the hours in. Having now come through a full season, I can see exactly why. Too many visiting anglers, and these specialised predators suffer for it. What’s also amusing is how divisive pike anglers can be — some are purists who only target natural venue fish, others will happily chase the biggest fish swimming. I’ll take either.

So after my first season, what did I learn?

• Use bait that is as fresh as possible.
• Invest in warm, waterproof boots or wellies.
• A good flask is non-negotiable.
• Prepare yourself for long days and limited bites.
• You’d be surprised where pike actually live.
• Barbless hooks make unhooking considerably easier.
• Watch your fingers — gill rakers hurt.
• Do your own research; don’t rely on others to hand it to you.
• Don’t leave your prep to the bankside.

All of that, a season’s worth of sessions, and enough notes to fill a small folder – distilled into one tidy graph. Here it is.