TOP 10 TIPS TO CATCH PIKE

When the frost starts nipping and the paddleboarders finally pack up for winter, that’s my cue. The river changes — quieter, slower — and somewhere out there under the mist, a proper fish is waking up, it’s time to brave the cold and go pike fishing.

Pike are pure attitude — sleek, moody, built for ambush. You don’t just catch one; you earn it. Anyone can chuck a lure and hope, but to land a real one, you’ve got to read the water, time the weather, and carry the right kit.

Here’s what’s worked for me — ten honest tips to help you hook your next river monster. (And if you want another take, have a look at Angling Direct’s Top 10 Pike Fishing Tips).

1. Find the Baitfish — Find the Pike

Pike don’t roam around looking for trouble; they stick where the food is. Roach, perch, bleak — follow them and you’ll find your predators. As soon as the cold sets in, forget the shallows. Pike drift off into deeper, slower water, settling where it’s calmer and a few degrees kinder.

Keep moving, keep watching. A flash of silver in the shallows or a swirl in the reeds usually tells you you’re close.

2. Lures or Deadbaits — Know When to Switch

Some days they’ll smash a lure mid-retrieve, other days they won’t move an inch. When the water’s clear and the weather mild, lure fishing keeps you active. But when it’s murky, cold, and miserable — that’s deadbait time. An oily mackerel or half-herring sitting in the flow can work wonders.

Don’t let the bait sink into the sludge. I’ll usually pump a bit of air into it or clip on a float to keep it just off the bottom — makes it look more natural and easier for a pike to find.

Lamprey or Trout are other favourites. Keep a box in the freezer for your winter fishing, they cast better frozen, and if you haven't used them all, stick them back in the freezer when you get home.

The Rigged & Ready S-Mid Combo: Perfect rod if you’re on the move.

The S-Mid Combo sits solid for bait work and handles proper fish without fuss — plus it comes with the RR5000 baitrunner, perfect for smooth line release when a pike runs, it’s a perfect pike fishing rod.

3. The Best Bait for Pike

Smelt, mackerel, herring — can’t go wrong with any of them. Tough, oily baits that hold up well in slower rivers. If you’re on the lures, go large — big plastics, spoons, jerkbaits. I keep switching colours and speeds until something finally decides to hit.

Some days, a lure that has always worked on you usual water might not just hit the spot; you might need to mix it up or change the size of your lure.

4. Strong Tackle, always when you’re fishing for pike.

You’re tangling with something that can chew through rope if it fancies. Go strong or go home. Fifteen-pound line at the very least — better yet, 20–30 lb braid for most situations.

Whether you’re lure fishing or deadbaiting, always run a trace — fluoro or wire, whichever you trust. Fluorocarbon gives the lure a cleaner look in clear water, while wire’s bombproof and perfect for static baits. The main thing is simple: pike teeth don’t forgive mistakes.

Go barbless on your trebles. You’ll thank yourself when you’re unhooking a big, angry fish in half-light — and it’s also better for the fish. Quicker, cleaner, and far less stress on both sides.

Rod-wise:

Predator Max for lures.

S-Mid Combo for deadbaiting / distance casting big lures — its RR5000 baitrunner makes it ideal for deadbait tactics.

S-Max for the really heavy stuff — the best rod for big deadbaits, built to cast weight, hit distance, and still cushion a hard run.

5. Keep Moving

Blank spots stay blank if you never move. Pike are ambushers, not grazers. Cast, cover water, and keep stepping along the bank until you feel that thump. Stillwaters? Face the wind. Pike hang where the food gets pushed in.

On rivers, I’m always poking around the slacks or side runs — anywhere out of the main current where small fish can catch a breather. I've fished rivers where the flow was too strong to hold bottom, and a local told me to try the dyke behind the river. I ended up pulling out a 20lb from 2ft of water.

https://youtu.be/soqh_LxW93A?si=1U758uI0f8RdgffN
This pike was caught in 2ft of water using a small deabait aimed at catching zander.

6. Early Strikes and Fish Care

If you’re deadbaiting, don’t wait too long. Early strikes are a must. Pike grab and turn their prey before swallowing it, and if you hesitate, you’ll gut-hook them. Quick strike, tidy hook-up, safe release — everyone wins.

Have your gear ready before you even cast — barbless trebles, unhooking mat, long forceps, a pair of side-cutters. Get low, keep her level, maybe a quick snap if you fancy it, then back she goes. It’s never about the photo anyway — it’s about respect.

7. Match the Season and Structure

Weedbeds, drop-offs, moored boats — pike love cover. In autumn, they haunt the edges; in winter, they slide deeper, waiting for anything careless enough to drift close.

Each rod has its role:

The R&R Max CP — perfect for stalking drains or tight little rivers.

The Predator Max — ideal for working big lures across open water.

The S-Max — best choice for heavy deadbaits when the fish are deep and sluggish.

Read the season, swap setups, and you’ll start seeing patterns.

8. Think Seasonally

Hot days mean early starts or late finishes. Cold days? Midday warmth wakes the fish. After heavy rain, visibility drops — time for the smelly stuff. Note what works and when; pike are creatures of habit, and their rhythm repeats year after year.

9. Mind the Tides — Autumn Surges and Salty Trouble

If you fish tidal stretches, watch the forecasts. Autumn storms and low pressure can push saltwater miles upstream. That spike in salinity wipes out small fish and sends the rest fleeing for fresh water.

When it happens, the pike chase them. Most times you’ll find them stacked up near the weirs or further upstream where the water’s cleaner. And if you start spotting flounder or mullet way higher than they should be, that’s the sign — get yourself upriver, follow the bait, the pike won’t be far behind.

10. Respect the Fish

They look prehistoric, but they’re fragile when mishandled. Use a proper mat, wet hands, no vertical lifts. Barbless trebles make unhooking faster; a dab of fish-care antiseptic helps the marks heal. Quick photo, calm release, job done. That’s how you keep good waters healthy.

11. Keep Learning

No two sessions are alike. Some mornings they’ll hit a lure before you even settle, other days they’ll sulk until dusk. Stay curious, switch things up, and take mental notes. The best anglers aren’t lucky — they just notice more.

Catching big pike isn’t some secret trick — it’s about timing, watercraft, and knowing when to move. Some mornings you’ll be creeping along the drains with the Max CP. Other days it’s all about slinging lures on the Predator Max or hurling a lump of bait with the S-Max just to see what’s lurking.

Grab your rods, pull on your gloves, and step into that cold air — it’s the best feeling in the world.The river’s waiting and somewhere out there, that croc is waiting.