Tackl

Pike Fishing UK

By Tackl · Updated 10 October 2026

Pike (Esox lucius)

Esox lucius

The pike is the UK's apex freshwater predator, a long, powerful, torpedo-shaped fish renowned for its aggressive takes and fighting ability. Instantly recognisable by its duck-billed snout and fearsome teeth, it's a prized quarry for anglers who appreciate its wild, predatory nature and potential for large sizes.

Photo: Jik jik, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Typical size
Typically 2-10lb (a 'jack'). Fish over 20lb ('a twenty') are considered specimens, with 30lb+ fish being a catch of a lifetime.
British record
46lb 13oz (1992, Llandegfedd Reservoir)
Found in
river, lake, canal, pond, reservoir, drain, gravel pit
Peak season
Autumn and Winter

How to identify a pike

The pike has an unmistakable long, muscular, torpedo-shaped body built for speed. Its head features a flattened, broad snout resembling a duck's bill, and a large mouth filled with numerous sharp, backward-pointing teeth. The body is camouflaged with an olive-green to dark grey back, fading to a creamy-white belly. Its flanks are marked with lighter, bean-shaped blotches or spots, providing excellent cover amongst vegetation. A key feature is the placement of the dorsal and anal fins, set very far back on the body near the powerful tail, enabling rapid acceleration. The eyes are positioned high on the head, providing superb upward vision for spotting prey from below.

Where it lives

Pike are adaptable predators found throughout the UK in a wide array of still and flowing waters. They are masters of ambush and favour locations that provide cover. Look for them around features like submerged weed beds, lily pads, reed margins, and sunken obstacles such as fallen trees or bridge supports. In rivers, they typically occupy slack water areas, eddies, and the creases between fast and slow currents, waiting for prey fish to swim by. While smaller pike often patrol the margins, larger specimens frequently inhabit deeper holes and drop-offs, especially during the colder winter months when they seek more stable thermal conditions.

What it eats and the best baits

A formidable piscivore, the pike's diet consists mainly of other fish such as roach, rudd, and perch. It is an opportunistic ambush predator, but will also actively hunt shoals in open water. Larger specimens are capable of taking substantial prey including bream, tench, and even smaller pike. They are not exclusively fish-eaters; frogs, small waterfowl, and unlucky mammals like voles that enter the water can also fall victim to this voracious predator, especially if regular food sources are scarce.

  • Spinners
  • Spoons
  • Plugs / Crankbaits
  • Soft plastic shads
  • Jerkbaits
  • Mackerel (deadbait)
  • Smelt (deadbait)
  • Sardine (deadbait)
  • Herring (deadbait)
  • Lamprey section (deadbait)

Best time of year

  1. Jan – good
  2. Feb – good
  3. Mar – good
  4. Apr – quieter
  5. May – quieter
  6. Jun – quieter
  7. Jul – quieter
  8. Aug – quieter
  9. Sep – good
  10. Oct – good
  11. Nov – good
  12. Dec – good

In England and Wales, the statutory coarse fish close season applies to all rivers, streams, and drains, preventing fishing from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. This period is to protect fish during spawning.

How to catch pike

Angling for pike is broadly divided into lure and bait fishing. Lure angling is an active method, involving casting and retrieving artificial baits like spinners, spoons, plugs, and soft plastics to imitate prey and trigger a predatory strike. It's a great way to cover water and find feeding fish. Bait fishing, conversely, often uses static deadbaits of oily sea fish (mackerel, herring, smelt) mounted on a wire trace. These can be legered on the bottom or suspended beneath a large float. A float-paternoster rig is also highly effective for presenting a bait just above the lakebed or weed. For all methods, a strong wire trace is non-negotiable to prevent bite-offs from the pike's sharp teeth. Robust tackle, a large landing net, and a padded unhooking mat are essential for the welfare of these powerful fish.

Legal notes

A valid Environment Agency rod licence is mandatory for freshwater fishing in England and Wales for anyone aged 13 or over. In Scotland, a permit from the landowner or controlling angling club is typically required. Specific byelaws govern pike handling; it is illegal to remove live pike from a water without prior written consent from the EA. Using live vertebrates as bait is illegal in Scotland; in England and Wales, livebait must have been caught from the same water body.

Rules change. Check current Environment Agency, NRW or Scottish regulations and the venue's own rules before fishing. Not professional or legal advice.

Where to catch pike in the UK

Counties with pike recorded on Tackl: Essex (10), Nottinghamshire (4), Hampshire (3), Somerset (3), Staffordshire (3), Berkshire (3), East Sussex (2), West Sussex (2), Hertfordshire (2), Bedfordshire (2), Dorset (2), Surrey (2), Lincolnshire (2), Leicestershire (2), Oxfordshire (2), Kent (2), Norfolk (2), Northamptonshire (1), Greater London (1), Monmouthshire (1), Stirlingshire (1), Devon (1), Worcestershire (1), Herefordshire (1), Cambridgeshire (1), Gloucestershire (1), South Yorkshire (1).

58 venues in 27 counties

Devon(1)

Where to fish in the UK · Fishing conditions today

Tackle for pike

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Pike fishing questions

Is a wire trace really necessary for pike fishing?

Yes, absolutely. A pike's teeth will sever monofilament or fluorocarbon line instantly. A wire trace of at least 20lb breaking strain is essential for fish welfare, preventing a pike from being left with hooks in its mouth.

What is the difference between a pike and a 'jack' pike?

'Jack' is a common term for a small, often immature pike, typically under 5lb. They are the same species (Esox lucius). The term simply distinguishes smaller fish from larger, more mature specimens which might be called 'doubles' or 'twenties'.

How do I handle a pike safely for unhooking?

Always use a large, soft, knotless-mesh net and an unhooking mat. Use long-nosed forceps or pliers to remove hooks. To immobilise the fish, slide your fingers under one gill plate (avoiding the red gills) and grip the bony lower jaw firmly.

What is the best time of day to catch pike?

Pike can feed at any time, but low-light periods like dawn and dusk are often most productive. On mild, overcast days in autumn and winter, pike may remain active and feed throughout the day, offering extended opportunities for a catch.

Can you eat pike caught in the UK?

While pike is edible, it is very bony and not a popular food fish in the UK. The vast majority of anglers practise catch and release to conserve stocks, as large pike are old fish and vital for a healthy fishery ecosystem.

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