Lure fishing for pike is one of, if not the most, exciting way to fish for pike. And one of the most enjoyable fishing experiences in the UK. Particularly for the coarse fishing angler.
The autumnal months tend to create the best conditions when lure fishing for pike. The warmer waters and increased amount of dissolved oxygen in the water make the pike ultra-aggressive. But the cold winter months and warmer summer climes don’t tend to sit well when pike fishing.
So whether you’re fishing in private stillwaters, canals or rivers, pike are fantastic predators. With cannibalistic tendencies and a propensity to attack a multitude of animals – fish, birds, frogs, rodents – there are few angling experiences in the UK like it. If you’re just starting out, then our guide to pike fishing for beginners should be helpful.
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Can you lure fish for pike?
Yes you can lure fish for pike. Lure fishing is one of the most exciting and trusty ways to catch pike, particularly in the autumnal months when pike are more aggressive thanks to the higher water temperature.
Just make sure you’re aware of the coarse fishing season and how it affects the body of water you’re fishing. A fishing license is another non-negotiable.
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How do you catch pike on lures?
To catch pike on lures you need to have a spinning rod, reel and a variety of lures to help you attract the pike once you’ve located them. Pike are typically territorial fish and will reside in areas rich in structure and/or in pools of slack water that run parallel to faster-flowing currents. Think of the inner bend of a meander, overflow channels or locks and weirs.
Once you have the right gear, an area of water and a basic understanding of watercraft, you need to be ready to cover ground. Once you’ve fished an area for 10 – 15 minutes and tried a few different lures it’s time to move on. Use the pike’s natural aggression to your advantage.
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What gear do I need to lure fish for pike?
Of course, you need the right sort of rod, reel, line and lures to fish for pike. But you also need some quality fish care equipment and to make sure you spend your money wisely. Our guide to essential pike fishing gear should help.
What’s the best pike lure fishing setup?
The best pike lure fishing setup for beginners involves a moderate to fast action rod with a casting weight of somewhere around 15 – 50g, a fixed spool 3/4000 size reel with a gear ratio of around 6:1, 20 – 25lb braided line, a wire trace and a variety of hard lures, soft plastics and creature baits of varying sizes and actions.
In terms of knots to use, the best line-leader material knot is unquestionably the FG knot. Briggsy (of Briggsy Sport Fishing) ties a particularly strong one which he uses to fish for GTs. So you know it’s strong enough to cater to pike and UK-based snags. Then make sure your wire trace comes pre-prepped with lure clips. Otherwise, be sure to buy yourself some.
What type of lures are best for pike fishing?
There are multiple lure types that are tremendously effective when it comes to pike fishing.
- Soft plastic imitation minnows
- Hard surface lures
- Poppers
- Spinners
- Creature baits – pike will eat rats, birds and frogs and these imitation baits can be extremely effective. Particularly in areas with topwater lilies and structure.
- Jerkbaits
Our go-to starting lure for pike fishing is a naturally-coloured soft plastic of around 25 – 30g in weight. These tend to be excellent when targeting both jack pike and larger pike in the autumnal months and can be scaled up or down effectively.
As a top tip, it’s worth bringing multiple different colours when fishing with soft plastics. Murky waters can fish best with brighter-coloured lures – pinks, oranges and fluorescent blues – as pike are – at least in part – reliant on their eyesight for hunting. So standing out can have a real impact.
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What is the best time of year to lure fish for pike?
The autumnal months – specifically late September to mid-November are the best time of year to lure fish for pike. Compared to the winter months, the warmer waters increase the pike’s activity, and aggression.
The post-summer months reduce the buildup of lactic acid the pike has become accustomed to thanks to the lack of dissolved oxygen in the peak of summer. The days tend to become a little less bright and a little more overcast.
The coarse fishing season runs from March 15th – June 15th which puts paid to pike fishing outside of canals and certain stillwaters. Pike also tend to spawn between March and May each year, so it’s better for the fish population to be left in peace during this period.
Temperature limits the amount of oxygen water can hold. The higher the temperature, the less dissolved oxygen the water can support. When coupled with excessive algae growth (and the subsequent decomposition) typically seen in the summer months, the lack of oxygen makes pike lethargic.
Lure fishing for pike in the winter
The winter months are not the best time to lure fish for pike as the colder water temperatures force the pike to deeper, warmer pockets of water and reduce their aggression. To conserve energy during this time period the pike move around less and their metabolism slows down due to this change in behaviour. That’s not to say you can’t catch pike on lures in winter. It just isn’t as prolific as autumn.
However, this does depend on the prevailing temperatures throughout the year. With global temperatures rising thanks to global warming, the pike lure fishing season could extend into the winter months.
What Is The Best Weather For Fishing?
Lure fishing for pike in the summer
Much like the winter months, the bright, hot summer days are not best suited to lure fishing for pike. Typically overcast, low-pressure fronts with mild temperatures are best suited to catching pike on lures. Conditions that are not commonplace in the summer. Hence the pike fishing season tends to start in October.
The lack of dissolved oxygen makes the pike sluggish and can lead to a ‘gassed-up’ pike. A condition synonymous with lactic acid buildup and fatigue – both exacerbated by a lack of oxygen in the water.
What is the best time of day to lure fish for pike?
Dawn and dusk are the best time of day to lure fish for pike. As with most fish, the beginning and end of the day tend to yield the best results. And pike are no different. The first and last light provide enough cover to hunt for baitfish more effectively, whilst making the most of pike’s eyesight.
The best time of day to fish for pike depends on the prevailing weather conditions and the body of water you’re fishing. Pike in stillwaters tend to have a more consistent feeding pattern. Arguably because conditions are very consistent. Whereas pike in rivers and canals have a more always-on mentality.
Can you lure fish for pike at night?
You can lure fish for pike at night, but it certainly isn’t the best time of day to do so. From a practical perspective lure fishing requires you to cover ground. Which is significantly harder to do so safely at night.
From a fishing standpoint, pike are less active at night because they can’t rely on their eyesight. They get most of their hunting done around dawn and dusk, in lower light conditions. So unless you’re desperate, we wouldn’t recommend lure fishing for pike at night.
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What conditions are best for pike lure fishing?
The best conditions for pike lure fishing are:
- Low barometric pressure (or a pressure system that changes from low to high, when pike can feed furiously prior to the change in pressure)
- Overcast conditions
- Mild temperatures – both in air and in water
- Dusk or dawn
- Autumnal months – pike are more lethargic in both the summer and winter months thanks to the lack of dissolved oxygen (summer) and slower metabolism (winter)
Lure fishing for pike in the rain
Rain has an interesting impact on lure fishing in general and can have both positive and negative consequences. If rain increases the propensity of baitfish to feed, providing cover for both the bait and the pike, then it can have a positive effect on your fishing. Particularly as rain is more associated with periods of low pressure. Which are great for pike fishing.
However, if the rain is so heavy it detracts from the lure’s action and reduces visibility, then pike will be less effective hunters and less likely to see the lure. Let alone attack it.
The period just after the rain can be a real boon period when it comes to fishing for pike. If the rain has disturbed normal feeding patterns and caused a slowdown across all activities, then look to fish when the rain stops.
Lure fishing for pike in sunshine
Bright sunshine is almost never a good sign for any type of fishing. Lure fishing for pike in the sunshine is no different. When visibility is excellent, fish tend to be more wary of lures or baits. This could be because the line is easier to see (even fluorocarbon leader), the wire trace stands out or the lure looks unnatural. Impossible to say for sure.
The counterargument to this is that the sunshine can warm the water and – particularly in the later winter, early spring when the water is at its coldest – encourage the pike to return to shallower waters. In this scenario lure fishing for pike in the late afternoon, once the sun has had time to warm up pockets of water, can prove really effective.
Why can’t I catch pike on lures?
There are so many reasons why you may not be able to catch pike on lures. At the most basic level, you could be fishing a body of water that doesn’t contain any pike. But let’s assume that’s not the case. In our opinion, the most common ones are:
- The barometric pressure is too high
- It’s too cold – and has been for some time
- Overly bright sunshine
- Your pike fishing gear is unsuitable – you aren’t using a wire trace, don’t have a good variety of lures or strong enough line are the most common beginner issues
- You’re fishing in unsuitable conditions – to give yourself the best chance, lure fishing in autumn works best
FAQs
What colour lures work best for pike?
In clearer, calmer waters natural colours tend to work best. Silvers, blues and green / browns work well. In murkier conditions, brighter-coloured lures like pinks and oranges can be more effective.
In the right season – which tends to be autumn – pike are ultra-aggressive and will attack without any special dispensation. They’ll target other pike, rats, frogs, and birds. So the colour of lure has never been a high priority for us.
What colours are pike attracted to?
Both natural colours and brightly coloured lures have their place in pike fishing. Blues, silvers, greens, pinks and oranges all have a place in our pike fishing bag.
Pike are primarily sight hunters and – as one theory goes – can be put off by lures that don’t look natural. So in clearer conditions starting with more naturally coloured lures makes sense. Moving to brightly coloured lures in murky conditions, or when natural lures haven’t worked, makes sense.
Do pike like big lures?
Big pike do like big lures. That doesn’t mean you have to have big lures to catch a big pike. Sometimes quite the opposite. But you need to have larger lures in your bag, particularly in the winter months when the pike’s metabolism is low and they’re lethargic. Tempting a larger pike with a single large ‘feed’ is a tried and trusted strategy.
Can you catch big pike on lures?
Yes you can catch big pike on lures. This does depend on the body of water you’re fishing, the prevailing weather conditions and the time of year you’re fishing. But if you’re targeting big pike on lures in the winter months, you need some larger lures. When pike are less aggressive in colder water, it’s wise to fish with a larger lure to make the meal seem worthwhile.
We’d suggest starting with lures in the 10 – 12cm range and having some larger options in your lure fishing bag.
Do bigger lures catch bigger pike?
Bigger lures do not necessarily catch bigger pike. 10 – 12 cm lures are just as capable of catching larger pike and jacks, particularly in the autumnal months when pike are ultra-aggressive.
However you need to have some larger lure options in your bag to grab a larger pike’s attention when the water is cold and pike are less aggressive.
Harry
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.
