Probably best to wait until autumn or even winter, before pike fishing on the broads. The fish are in the best condition then and generally at their heaviest weight too. Summer can sometimes be a bit dodgy for pike fishing, particularly in shallow water areas, or where there is little flow. In periods of warm weather, the dissolved oxygen levels in such places can be significantly lower. Although they can seem fit and well conditioned, pike have a tendency to suffer after the exertion of the fight, with low oxygen levels this is exacerbated. Even with careful handling and quick release, post capture mortality levels can be high, particularly for the larger fish, during the summer months.
Some 16-17 years ago we were on a boating Holiday on the broads and i was fishing from the boat catching a lot of roach perch , the odd hybrid and skimmer bream but a pike kept taking my swim feeders.On its last attack i felt the full weight of this beast and decided right now thats your last one and rigged up my carp rod with 12 lb line wire trace and a live Roach . After a few minutes wait off went the float and bang . Some 10 minutes or more later i landed a monster 36 lb Pike . During the fight she tail walked jumped and went right over our dinghy,my heart was in my mouth it was massive . I kept her in the margins in a large keepnet for her to recover before releasing her safe and well .Pretty sure had i caught her in winter she would have been well over 40 lb,she was 5 ft long and a head like an alligator .
.png.5ff10cca1d0967e44a17e4a2edde2a80.png)
Reedham St Olaves Somerleyton
in Fishing on The Broads
Posted
Some 16-17 years ago we were on a boating Holiday on the broads and i was fishing from the boat catching a lot of roach perch , the odd hybrid and skimmer bream but a pike kept taking my swim feeders.On its last attack i felt the full weight of this beast and decided right now thats your last one and rigged up my carp rod with 12 lb line wire trace and a live Roach . After a few minutes wait off went the float and bang . Some 10 minutes or more later i landed a monster 36 lb Pike . During the fight she tail walked jumped and went right over our dinghy,my heart was in my mouth it was massive . I kept her in the margins in a large keepnet for her to recover before releasing her safe and well .Pretty sure had i caught her in winter she would have been well over 40 lb,she was 5 ft long and a head like an alligator .