Pike fishing is one of the most popular in France. It is one of the mythical and emblematic species of our regions, in the same way as trout. It is the stuff of dreams for many anglers, who eagerly await its opening. With rod in hand or line taut, many anglers dream of catching a metre fish for a souvenir photo.
You can opt to use hard bait. Whether jerks, swimbaits, lipless, stickbaits or poppers, you'll be spoilt for choice. You'll need to learn to master theanimation of each model and understand their positioning in the waters you fish.
The other option is soft lures. Ultra-popular and more economical, they also come in a wide variety of models, all of which are suitable for finding master esox. The range of colours will often be very varied to suit the season and the colour of the water. You are likely to catch other species, notably pike-perch. All this equipment is of course available in our pike lure collection.
You can also opt for spoons. Not just for rivers or mountain lakes, spoons are a very effective lure, whether undulating or spinning. It's easy to use, although a few tips may be useful to get you started.
All you need to do is scan the surface of the water, sharpen your hook and test the drag on your reel to be ready to record your first bites. Don't forget to read our article: Which lure should you choose for sea bass?
Fishing with hard bait
There are a number of models that will enable you to stalk pike. In fact, this fish doesn't attach much importance to its prey. It's a predator that will easily pounce on forage, large insects or even amphibians.
The jerkminnow is therefore an essential lure to have in your tackle box. In sizes ranging from 10-12cm to over 15cm, our selection is packed with models, each as effective and well finished as the next. We particularly like brands such as Lucky Craft and Illex.
Swimbaits with their multi-section body are also models that this species of predator fish is particularly fond of. Depending on the designer, you can count on a linear animation, but also many variations. Both technical and easy to use, this is one fishing lure you won't want to do without.
The Jerkbaits are surely one of the references not to be forgotten. A low rod with small tip strokes will quickly give you your first, often very powerful, bites. Note that there are series available, notably from Westin, which offer a typical linear retrieve action. The range of colours on offer is often very broad.
Crankbaits are relatively unknown to anglers. However, they clearly stand out from the crowd. Their stocky body enables them to move a large volume of water when retrieved, and this is not lost on predators. What's more, it's not unusual for you to get a pike-perch to react as well.
Discover swimbaits for pike fishing
The popularity of soft lures
When you know a little about the dentition offered by Maitre esox, it's a little hard to imagine using soft material to fish for it. However, once fitted with a hook, these models are often highly effective and can be used in a variety of technical rigs.
The Shad or swimbait is often the most popular. There is no real season for using it. You just need to adjust your retrieve speed to suit the water temperature. It's easier to opt for slow retrieves in winter and vice versa. You can choose from a wide range of sizes.
The grub or comma is also essential for stalking this predator. Available in a wide range of lengths, almost every manufacturer has a model to offer. They can be mounted on a jig head or screw head, or used as a trailer on a jig, chatterbait or spinner.
Not always close to the surface, this species also has a tendency to evolve at depth, or sometimes go into suspension. This is why soft jerkminnow or finesse lures are used. They make it easy to use advanced techniques such as vertical or pelagic fishing.
Finally, there's the family of frogs and creatures. Borrowed from black-bass stalking, these models are extremely effective. Rigged in different ways, they are more versatile when searching for several fish.
Discover soft lures for pike fishing
The essential spoons
Even if they are no longer the stuff of dreams for modern anglers, except for river trout specialists, they are still highly effective products. All the best advice is to keep a few in your tackle box so you can pull them out when you need them.
Spinners are still the easiest to use. With an easy rotation, all you have to do is change the retrieve speed to choose the depth at which it evolves. Numbers 5/6 or even higher with feathers covering the triple will sometimes allow you to catch more than you had hoped. You'll need to opt for a fairly slow retrieve reel and remember to check your line from time to time for twisting.
Wobbling spoons are more technical to use. They can also be retrieved in a linear fashion, but their effectiveness lies in another technique. This involves raising the spoon high in the water column and accompanying its descent to the bottom. This is where the majority of attacks will occur. To do this properly, you'll need to opt for a fast retrieve model so you can always control your line and feel the strikes.
With these few lures, you'll be ready to work wonders from the next time predator stalking opens.
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