Pike Fishing Tackle – strength of fishing gear examined
For anybody considering pike angling then it would be useful to read this post about buying tackle specifically for hunting specimen sized predators. The tackle generally used by many experienced anglers who seek this elusive quarry can on occasion be somewhat heavy. By that I mean that the tackle is very strong and could safely handle large pike up to say 30 or 40 pounds in weight.
That is very well, but it can take a bit of the pleasure from your angling to sit by the river or lake with a broomstick connected to rope!
On the other hand, it would be irresponsible to go fishing knowing that there is a chance of catching say at least a 20 pound fish equipped with a sporting one pound test curve spinning rod and five pound breaking strain line!
So selection of the strength of your pike fishing tackle can add tremendously to the enjoyment of your sport. I tend to go to my local water where I have caught pike up to 21 pounds with two rods with 1.5 pound test curves. These are relatively light items as pike fishing tackle goes but I have found will handle the fish comfortably while feeling responsive in the hand. These rods are ideally loaded with 12 – 15 pound breaking strain (nylon – or equivalent diameter of braid or fluorocarbon) and will feel balanced.
The fashion is for a 12 foot long rod which I actually like unless I am stalking a river bank. Then I will use my ancient fibreglass 9 foot ABU spinning rod that can cast a few ounces of dead-bait happily.
The reel is less critical in my opinion – I use Shimano Bait Runners that will take around 200 metres of line. This is more than enough. A few years ago when I started specimen hunting for pike I bought one of these bait runners and paired it with an old Mitchell Match with automatic bail arm. I used a deep spool of course – you could probably only fit 10 metres of suitably heavy line on the special match spool! I caught many good pike, again up to 20 pound in weight, with this make shift partnership – even though it is definately not designed for the job!
The biggest factor in choosing gear – once you have read all the brochures about length, test curve, capacity of spool etc – is to simply get your preferred combination in your hand. Do you like them? As a committed tackle tart I must be in love with the gear. Remember what fishing is about – as long as the pike fishing tackle is up to the job the important thing is your satisfaction.