Pike species guide • Freshwater fish • Easy (5/10)

Pike junior fishing guide

Esox lucius

A clear, plain-English guide to pike for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Pike catch
Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons
Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Easy (5/10)

Great for coached juniors and confident beginners.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

5–15 lb common; specimens over 20–30 lb possible.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

🐟

Beginner baits

Bluey (blue whiting), Herring / sprat, Lamprey section …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Rivers, drains
Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.
Catch your first pike with confidence

Catch your first Pike in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

  1. Step 1

    Only with pike-qualified adults

    Pike require specialist unhooking skills and tools. Juniors should only fish for pike when a pike-experienced adult or coach is present, on safe banks with good access.

  2. Step 2

    Strong tackle and unhooking kit

    Use appropriate rods, wire traces, barbless trebles or singles and big landing nets. Long forceps, side cutters and large mats are mandatory for pike welfare.

  3. Step 3

    Teach safe unhooking and quick returns

    Focus on showing juniors how to keep pike low, support the head and avoid gill rakers. Keep pictures brief and return fish quickly to recover.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

👉 Swipe sideways to view different setups.

Deadbait Rod

Beginner tip: Predator fishing must be supervised – focus on fish care, correct unhooking and never leaving rods unattended.

IDEAL

Rod: 10–12 ft 2.75–3.25 lb pike/predator or deadbait rod (or 6–7 ft jerkbait rod for lures).

Reel: 4000–6000 size fixed spool or small multiplier.

Line: 15–20 lb mono or braid with wire or heavy fluoro trace.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Wire trace with semi-barbless trebles"
  • "Sunken or float ledger rigs"
  • "Safe semi-fixed leads"]

Extras

  • ["Large knotless landing net"
  • "Big padded unhooking mat"
  • "Long forceps
  • side cutters
  • glove"]

Specialist predator rod for safe pike/zander fishing with wire traces and unhooking gear.

Jerkbait Rod

Beginner tip: Predator fishing must be supervised – focus on fish care, correct unhooking and never leaving rods unattended.

IDEAL

Rod: 10–12 ft 2.75–3.25 lb pike/predator or deadbait rod (or 6–7 ft jerkbait rod for lures).

Reel: 4000–6000 size fixed spool or small multiplier.

Line: 15–20 lb mono or braid with wire or heavy fluoro trace.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Wire trace with semi-barbless trebles"
  • "Sunken or float ledger rigs"
  • "Safe semi-fixed leads"]

Extras

  • ["Large knotless landing net"
  • "Big padded unhooking mat"
  • "Long forceps
  • side cutters
  • glove"]

Specialist predator rod for safe pike/zander fishing with wire traces and unhooking gear.

Pike Rod

Beginner tip: Only fish for pike with an experienced adult, use wire traces and keep fish low over a big mat when unhooking.

IDEAL

Rod: 10–12 ft pike rod, 2.75–3.25 lb test curve.

Reel: 4000–6000 size reel or small multiplier for pike work.

Line: 15–20 lb mono or braid with 20–30 lb wire trace.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Wire trace with twin trebles or single circle hook"
  • "deadbait or large lure"
  • "large float or ledger weight"]

Extras

  • ["Unhooking mat"
  • "large landing net"
  • "long unhooking tools"
  • "gloves"]

Pike rod setup for safe deadbait or float fishing for pike and other large predators.

Carp Rod

Beginner tip: Make it clear this is a compromise setup and that proper predator unhooking skills are essential.

GOOD

Rod: 12 ft carp rod around 2.75–3.0 lb test curve.

Reel: 4000–6000 fixed spool reel.

Line: 12–15 lb mono mainline with wire trace.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Running or semi-fixed lead"
  • "Wire trace with barbless or semi-barbless hooks"]

Extras

  • ["Big landing net"
  • "Padded mat"
  • "Long forceps and side cutters"]

Carp rods can double up for simple deadbait predator fishing where dedicated pike gear is not available.

Spinning Rod

Beginner tip: Start with simple spinners or small soft lures, cast past features and retrieve slowly to keep the lure working.

GOOD

Rod: 6–9 ft spinning or lure rod, 5–30 g casting weight depending on species.

Reel: 2000–3000 size fixed spool reel or small baitcaster.

Line: 6–12 lb mono or braid with fluorocarbon or wire trace as needed.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Snap link for quick lure changes"
  • "small swivels"
  • "appropriate lure clips"]

Extras

  • ["Polarised glasses"
  • "landing net"
  • "unhooking mat for larger fish"]

General spinning rod setup for lures and small spinners for perch, pike, chub and some sea species.

About the Pike

The Pike is a long, torpedo-shaped predator with a big, toothy mouth. It lies in wait among weed and snags, ambushing unsuspecting prey fish. Pike are powerful and must be handled with appropriate gear and care.

Junior tip

Only target pike with a coach or experienced adult. Use proper wire traces, unhooking tools and a large net, and always unhook fish safely on a padded mat.

Logged a Pike recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

← Back to all species

Fish Health & EA Advice

Linked conditions and guidance for Pike.

Ergasilus sieboldi
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Ergasilus sieboldi

Ergasilus sieboldi, also known as the gill maggot, is a tiny parasite that attaches to the gills of freshwater fish. The adult females have long white egg sacs that trail behind them, making them easy to spot. They feed on the fish’s gill tissue, blood and mucus, which makes it harder for the fish to breathe and stay healthy. Heavy infections can cause fish to become tired, lose weight, grow slowly, or even die — especially in warm weather. This parasite can spread quickly through a fishery, so good fishery management and strong biosecurity are really important to keep fish safe.

Read full advice
Argulus mongolianus
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Argulus mongolianus

Argulus mongolianus is a newly discovered fish louse recently found in the UK. It attaches mainly to the gills, mouth, and head of fish, causing irritation, stress, and sometimes deaths. It has already been confirmed in carp, roach, and bream, and may infect all freshwater species. Because it is new and potentially harmful, reporting any suspicious lice or fish behaviour is very important.

Read full advice
Chilodonella
Parasite 🟠 High risk

Chilodonella

Chilodonella is a fast-spreading parasite that attacks the skin and gills of freshwater fish. It can cause heavy mucus, grey patches, breathing problems, and even death if untreated. It thrives in poor water quality, overcrowded waters, and when fish are stressed. Good fishery management is the best way to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice
Ichthyobodo necator
Parasite 🟠 High risk

ichthyobodo necator

Ichthyobodo necator (Costia) is a rapidly spreading parasite that attacks a fish’s skin and gills. It causes lethargy, breathing problems, weight loss, and can be deadly—especially for young or stressed fish. It thrives in both cold and warm water, so good management and low-stress conditions are essential to prevent outbreaks.

Read full advice

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