Alan’s expert tips to help you catch Pike

I wished I had a tenner for every time someone asked me where they could catch a big pike.

If only it was that easy! The fact is, pike anglers are very secretive about what they catch and from where, to protect the Pike from those who can’t handle them properly.

However, learn about the habits of big Pike and movement of prey and you’ll soon be locating your own monster Pike.

Top tips: Big Pike are big because they’re fat and idle.

They did not get this way chasing fry so big baits can give you the edge.

As the water cools, prey fish head for deeper water where oxygen levels are higher, particularly after a few hard frosts.

The pike will not be far away.

Pike are very fragile when out of the water and need careful handling, and special tools for unhooking, so if you’re new to pike fishing, go with someone more experienced until you’re confident enough to go it alone.

Better still, join The Pike Anglers Club and learn all you need to know.

You’ll soon be catching more Pike.

Junior membership is now free so register online and get learning and catching www.pacgb.co.uk.

Match SCENE

Sherwood Forest Fishery: Tue Open, Sherwood Lake: 1st J Wooff, peg 47, 71-11-0; 2nd D Round, Woodhouse Angling Centre, peg 41, 71-4-0; 3rd M Rouse, peg 38, 49-10-0.

Wed Autumn Fun League, Holmedale: 1st S Binch, peg 31, 141-2-0; 2nd R Green, peg 19, 126-9-0; 3rd A Lakey, Worksop Angling Supplies, peg 42, 116-11-0.

Lodge Farm Fishery: Tue Open, Lily Pond: 1st B Richards, peg 67, 134-0-0; 2nd S Nemas, peg 70, 96-1-0; 3rd D Evans, peg 56, 68-7-0.


Wed Over 50s, Signal Pond: 1st R Turner, peg 6, 119-15-0; 2nd J Gunn, peg 18, 119-12-0; 3rd M Morris, peg 8, 90-0-0.

Thu Open, Field Pond: 1st G Brookes, peg 35, 134-0-0; 2nd G Jubb, peg 8, 118-10-0; 3rd R Edmund, peg 12, 118-8-0.

Daiwa Hallcroft: Mon Veterans Costcutter, Bridge/Croft: 1st D Whiting, peg B4, 86-6-0; 2nd R Holmes, peg B25, 80-14-0; 3rd R Turner, peg B22, 79-4-0.

Tue Pm Open, Moat Outer: 1st D Whiting, peg 47, 46-10-0; 2nd D Smith, peg 110, 44-12-0; 3rd A Bailey, Daiwa, peg 79, 39-14-0.

Thu Veterans, Bridge/Croft: 1st M Cordall, peg C10, 58-10-0; 2nd J Simms, Map Leegem, peg B17, 50-3-0; 3rd G Hiley, Peg One Angling, peg B31, 47-6-0.

Fri Pm Open, Moat: 1st S Clark, peg 15, 152-5-0; 2nd D Whiting, peg 35, 128-8-0; 3rd A Bailey, Daiwa, peg 98, 114-8-0.

Sat Open, Moat Island: 1st L Hewison, MAP Leegem, peg 38, 170-1-0; 2nd D Whiting, peg 41, 101-13-0; 3rd S Clark, Sensas, peg 11, 94-6-0.

Sunday Open, Moat: 1st S Marshall, MAP Leegem, peg 35, 106-10-0; 2nd A Sellars, R&R Sports, peg 37, 72-11-0; 3rd J Powell, Parkgate Angling, peg 2, 68-0-0.

CLUB NEWS

Worksop & District AC, Weirfield Open: 1st G Clark, peg 79, 62-8-0.

Worm on feeder proved the winning method for Geof, who bagged a good haul of 18 Bream; 2nd S Goulding, peg 78, 55-1-0. Stewart also opted for worm to net 15 Bream; 3rd J Urruty, peg 59, 52-10-0.

The third biggest weight of the day was not to be sneezed at with maggot feeder accounting for a good mixed bag of Chub and Barbel..

Grafton AA, Thorne Bank: 1st I Topham, peg 14, 71-0-0.

Ian fished pole with pellet for his winning catch; 2nd B Pool, peg 4, 62-0-0. Bob opted for paste to secure 2nd place; 3rd S Short, peg 10, 53-0-0. Simon is never far behind and alternated pellet and corn for an equally commendable weight on the day.

Kilton Inn, Lindholme Lakes, Beaches Pond: 1st Alan Foster, peg 30, 43-10-0, alternated between pellet and corn for mainly Carp; 2nd Toby Draper, peg 27, 40-14-0; 3rd Graham Bodis, peg 26, 26-14-0.

This concludes this seasons events for the Kilton Inn club.

Special thanks to organiser, John Brett for once again providing a good mix of venues.

Toft Newton: As predicted, catch rates are up. 108 rods caught a total of 512 trout for a rod average of 4.74. Good catches from boat and bank, with Daddies and Shipman’s accounting for many fish. Fly Ace, Trevor Ward bagged the specimen of the week, a 7lb 10oz Rainbow.

Grab a bargain: Worksop Angling Supplies and Retford Angling Centre have announced the start of their pre-winter sale, so it’s a great opportunity for local anglers to grab a bargain.

Your local tackle shop is also the best place to get free advice.

If you have an angling story email [email protected] or call 07815 308463.

Tight lines!