How many will fish

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

Just a question that popped up other day, as anglers do we really respect the Pike for what they are, if so should we not insist on a closed season during spawning.

[mudd dog 128]

difficult topic to reply to mate. i understand the view of respecting them when there spawning. the only problem is that most pikers want to get a big fish to beat there previous personal best. when there spawning theyre at there heaviest so if there was a closed season whether everyone adhered to it or not, would be another issue altogether. ive yet to see for myself any big fish that have been caught and released turning up dead threw either stress or a persons ignorance. i fish many small lakes and i believe i would have seen such evidence if this was the case. im not ruling it out though. if a female fish is caught full of spawn, being handled with care, a quick picture taken and returned to the water safely and asap. i personally dont see any big deal. good topic anyway.

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

Understand fully where you are coming from regarding the safe handling of Pike, but I afraid that some anglers don’t hold the same views. I agree that a Pike can be landed and returned to the water with out any damage caused to her, I would see the close season as a method to protect the spawning fish from the ill informed who just don’t care what happens to the Pike once they have yanked it from the water, and I am sure that you have come across these anglers. It is a touchy issue, but thanks for the reply.

[Guest ROUGH COATED]

The river's are closed from MARCH 15 till JUN 16 in the UK so there's no fishing on them ,you can fish canal's and lake's at these time's but i think they should be left alone,although im guilty of fishing lake's on a couple of time's with the LURE'S/SPINNER'S at those time's but not fishing the life out the place, i may do a couple of hour's on the lake and then start the serious PIKE FISHING as soon as the FROST LAND'S

You cant beat a good FROSTY MORNING DEAD BAITING FOR PIKE

Edited February 3, 2010 by ROUGH COATED

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

Yeah love a frosty morning on a lake, you can fish for Pike all year round over here, but sadly the Pike are not in the numbers that they were before our visiting friends came.

[events co-ordinator 353]

Nothing to do with the fishery board netting them then

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

Nothing to do with the fishery board netting them then

 

Yes the boards did slaughter pike in the great western lakes, so much to the point where a group of concerned Pike anglers formed a lobby group called The Irish Pike Society to try combat this netting and we did all in our power to raise this issue right across the angling world, and am proud to say that I was one of the founding members of this society.

 

But our other friends were clearing much more pike that the nets, believe me, so it was a combination of both evils that saw a huge dent in our Pike stocks.

[Guest ROUGH COATED]

I think it would be in everyone's interest in your badly hit PIKE AREA's to leave the pike from march onward's and let them spawn to the maximum without people risking injurie's to the PIKE being that they are one of the most DELICATE fish in our WATER'S especially in the SUMMER MONTH'S when there most INJURED

 

All the best in your PIKE FISHING

[Guest ROUGH COATED]

Do you let them rest during the summer people ?

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

I fish for pike during summer on the fly, I dont really do any other type of angling. I will try put up some pike that we caught on the fly, anyone else do it?

[niall_b73 41]

well i will be out looking for that big hen, as a matter of fact i'm heading out on monday to a little lake on a boat so hopefully i'll get her then.

i'll keep you all posted.

as for fishing for pike on the fly, i would love to give it a go but do not have the equipment.

i have a fly rod but it is only a #7 so i doubt if it would be strong enough.

 

niall_b73

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

Ya amight be in trouble with that rod if a big one hits you, I use a 10 rated rod and line, I can tie up a few flies for you if ya want to try it