Specimen Fishing Tips | How to catch 'picky' pike with Paul Garner

Do pike wise up to deadbaits?

My experience, backed up by some scientific evidence, is that they can, and avoid certain baits. If you are fishing a venue that sees a lot of pressure it can be worth trying unusual baits, or adding oils and dyes to alter their appearance.

There are often a couple of signs to look out for that I think might indicate cautious feeding. If you start getting dropped runs, or fish fall off during the fight, this can be a sign that they are not feeding confidently. Similarly, very gentle bites that only just move the float can also sometimes be from picky pike.

Fortunately, there are plenty of alternative baits to the ‘old faithfuls’ that you can try.

Bluey is a favourite of mine. These large baits are best used chopped in half and their soft, oily texture and bright blue colour make them ideal for pike.

Going natural with a roach, perch or skimmer bream deadbait is also a good idea.

I pick a bait that’s likely to be a big part of the pike’s natural diet, as they will be tuned in to feeding on these fish. Another trick to give you a completely different bait is to use a head section instead of the normal tail. This is particularly good with big mackerel and herrings. It looks different, and the head end also contains more blood, giving more attraction.