Pike fishing tackle can be a real challenge for beginners. Where do I even start I hear you cry. Well of course you need a rod and reel, some strong line (braid or mono) and some hook lengths and/or lures. But does the type of fishing you’re doing change what type of equipment you need? Spoiler alert, it does.
Fortunately, we’ve broken down the pike fishing tackle basics alongside fish care equipment, lure fishing tackle and deadbaiting equipment. Lure fishing tends to pack light as you need to cover more ground and fish in tighter spaces. Deadbaiting (or fishing with live baits if you’re so inclined) requires a larger, more powerful setup.
So follow our guide to pike fishing tackle so you can save money and only buy quality essentials.
A Guide to Pike Fishing in the UK
Table of contents
Pike fishing tackle
Regardless of what type of fishing you’re doing for pike, there are some non-negotiables when it comes to the type of tackle you need to bring. The rod type will vary depending on whether you’re fishing with lures – which requires a faster action, shorter rod – or fishing with baits – in which you’ll need a longer carp-style rod.
Whatever type of pike fishing you’re doing will need a wire trace, strong line, leader and all the fish care equipment listed below. Number one on the list is having the know-how and the equipment required to look after the pike and yourself.
- A rod. Carp fishing rods tend to be a good choice for deadbaiting. Longer, more powerful rods with moderate to fast action are good for deadbaiting. You’ll need a higher casting weight to accommodate bait casting. Whereas lure fishing needs a shorter rod. You can find our favourite lure fishing rods here.
- A reel. A 4000-size reel with a 6:1 gear ratio is a good starting reel for pike.
- Strong braid. 25 – 30lb if you’re fishing for big pike. 15 – 20lb if you’re lure fishing for jacks,
- Leader material. Fluorocarbon tends to be the leader material of choice.
- A wire trace. Typically a wire trace of around 12 – 18 inches long with two semi-barbless hooks if you’re deadbaiting or a lure clip if you’re lure fishing.
Fish care equipment for pike
Whilst pike looks like an ultra-dominant predator, they’re actually very delicate fish that need to be handled with care. With particularly delicate mouths and a capacity to become deep hooked -particularly when deadbait fishing – ensuring you have the right fish care equipment is absolutely vital.
When pike fishing as a beginner it’s really important you go with someone more experienced so they can teach you how to handle the fish safely.
- A landing net: You can find one of the best fishing nets here
- A landing mat
- Forceps. Long forceps that help you reach into tricky spots in the pike’s mouth.
- Long-nosed pliers. Fishing with treble hooks can lead to some tricky unhooking scenarios. A personal favourite is pistol pliers for reaching deep into a pike whilst saving your fingers.
- Fishing gloves. Particularly useful for beginners, but tough fishing gloves can really save your fingers.
- Wire cutters. Sometimes the pike can get tied up in your wire trace and mitigating their time out of the water at the expense of your equipment is a no-brainer to us.
Lure fishing tackle for pike
The fantastic thing about lure fishing for pike is how simple the setup is. All you need is a relatively fast action rod, a spinning reel, and line and leader material to combat the pike’s incredibly sharp teeth. You can find out more in our top pike fishing tips.
When bait fishing, pike will pick the deadbait up, swim off with it – occasionally cautiously – and swallow it whole. This leads to substantially more instances of the fish becoming deep-hooked. When lure fishing for pike, the take is typically aggressive and instant, minimising any chance of damage to the fish.
The above fish care essentials are must-haves for whatever type of pike fishing you are doing.
- A rod. A moderate to fast action spinning rod of around 7 – 8 feet with a casting weight of 15 – 40g is perfect to start with
- A spinning reel. A 3000-size reel with 150 + yard line capacity and a gear ratio of around 6:1.
- Wire trace
- Leader material. Fluorocarbon or mono leader of around 20lb. Fluoro leader tends to be the best option, particularly in clear water, as it is less visible than mono
- Strong braided line. 25 – 30lb line is suitable for the largest pike
- Surface lures, sub-surface lures, soft plastics, spinners and creature baits will set you up for any eventuality. You can find the best pike fishing lures here.
Deadbait fishing essentials
When deadbait fishing your setup is completely centred around the bait you’re using and is very similar to a carp fishing setup. Using a semi-barbless hook length that doesn’t drop out of the bait is fundamental.
If you’re not using a float, then some bait alarms are a good idea. Particularly if you don’t want to hold your rod and line at all times. Pike are pretty canny when it comes to bait fishing and if there’s any additional, unnatural resistance the fish will drop the bait.
Leaving the bail arm open or using a reel with an automatic bail arm that closes on the strike/reel is an excellent option for pike fishing.
- Bait. Oily baits like mackerel, sardines and herring are generally the bait of choice, particularly when river fishing. But lighter-smelling bait like smelt is an excellent option in lakes or reservoirs.
- Hook lengths. You need to use semi-barbless hook lengths when fishing with deadbaits to hold the bait in place.
- Rod rests
- Ledger weight. The size of the weight depends on the setup you’re using and the body of water you’re fishing in. Fast-flowing rivers are going to require a heavier weight to lock the bait in position. Stillwaters are fine with a 2 – 3 oz. weight.
- Bait alarm. A bait alarm isn’t essential, but it is preferable as you can keep the bail arm open or the drag particularly light.
Float fishing tackle for pike
When you’re float fishing for pike you will still need all the above essentials. A rod, reel, wire trace, bait and the same fish care equipment. Additionally, you need tackle that will help you set up a float fishing rig with a sliding float length.
- A rod, reel, line, leader and wire trace consistent with deadbait fishing
- Floats
- Beads
FAQs
What pound line should I use for pike fishing?
If you’re targeting large pike, then 25 – 30lb line will cater for any eventuality. If you’re lure fishing and primarily targeting jack pike, then 15 – 20lb line is ample.
What is the best rig for pike fishing?
If you’re fishing with deadbaits on rivers, then the paternoster rig (also known as a chicken rig or rosary rig) is a personal favourite when using a float. It provides good bottom stability allowing the deadbait to float just above the bottom, with the float acting as a bite indicator. If you aren’t fishing with a float then the running ledger rig is a great option.
Do you need a wire trace for pike?
Yes, you need a wire trace for pike fishing. Pike has incredibly sharp teeth and will easily bite through standard mono or braid, so a wire trace is required to stop this from happening. Whilst lure fishing and fishing with baits require different setups,
Do you need a leader with braided line for pike?
Yes, you need a leader with braided line when fishing for pike. Pike will easily bite through braid, mono or fluoro material and a wire trace is required. On clearer days using a braid with a length of clear leader between the trace and mainline is an effective way of catching the. Particularly when lure fishing.
Will pike cut braided line?
Pike will cut through braided line instantly. Whilst the material is excellent when it comes to pressure and weight resistance, a pike’s teeth will sever the material almost instantly.
Hi, I'm Harry. A keen, albeit exceedingly average fisherman. I've spent the last few years trawling London's waterways with - if I'm being kind - varied success and would love to help you avoid the mistakes I have made.
I feel like the quintesential pike reel is the Ambassadeur 5500 C3. It wont throw real light plastics and its not the best option for throwing stuff at the extreme upper end either. But its a excelent fit for most of what gets tossed at pike world wide, and if I could only have one rig for pike fishing, there would be a 5500 in the reel seat.
Hey Cal. Interesting – I’ve never actually owned the 5500 C3, but have heard a lot of good things. Another item to add to the list! Pike fishing is on my list to take more seriously this year, so I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Harry
If you already have a spinning setup that works for pike, I feel like the larger 6500 Ambassadeur is maybe a better companion. Its less than 1oz heavier, has a bait clicker and enough line capacity to catch much larger fish species. Got out pike fishing yet? I got a 39″ pike on the 15th (opener) and a half dozen or so around 36″ in the last couple weeks.