Kenny Sloan reports that although the conditions are not ideal for pike fishing at present, Anna Cizmarova from Slovakia. while on holidays in Mayo, landed a nice pike on the fly.
Poppers among the reed beds accounted for several smaller pike with many more lost.
Go fishing with Kenny…
Kenny Sloan has become synonymous with big pike in the Foxford area. Kenny can guide you on the big wild waters around him Conn and Cullen but he also has a lot of smaller waters at his disposal and even if the wind blows he always has some where to fish making your break as productive as possible.
Web: www.pikemania.co.uk
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.
