Angling guide Peadar O”Brien reports that Tom and William Daly from Belfast booked a days pike fishing with him recently. With the water temp going down the pike were going on the feed and we had 12 pike and lost some as well. One big girl was lost right at the boat throwing the lure as she was being landed. Despite this we had a super day with all the pike being taken on lures.
If you fancy a days pike fishing with angling guide Peadar O’Brien why not drop him an email to obrienmariapeadar@oceanfree.net
Guidelines for handling pike
Download: Pike Handling and Conservation [.pdf 850 KB]
When landed, the fish should be laid flat preferably on a protective mat and the hooks removed with a suitable tool such as long handled artery forceps or a long nosed pliers. Anglers may find it useful to wear protective gloves. Sometimes it can be easier to release the hooks by working very carefully through the gill covers.
The use of pike sacks can be used for the short time retention of fish enabling them to recover prior to weighing or photography. When weighing and photographing fish, the pike should be cradled and supported properly to avoid injuring the fish. A pike sized weigh sling should always be used if the fish is be weighed.
When being released, the pike should be held carefully in the water to promote recovery until it is ready to swim away. At all times, the pike should be returned to the water in the shortest possible time.
