Friday 19 October 2018

The Big Bite Theory


You can catch pike anytime of the day or night, but they definitely have distinct feeding spells when your swim suddenly comes to life, I’ve noticed it pike fishing full days on The Wye with my brother and while out on the boat with James.

Nothing for hours then 3 or 4 pike in quick succession - have they suddenly moved in or were they there all the time? I have a theory they switch on about 3 hours before sunset and actively hunt for about 2 hours, completing their hunt an hour before dark.


Getting a few pike on the scorecard recently, and photographing every one for my 50 Pike Challenge I’m going back over the time stamp on my camera and seeing how accurate my theory is. I mostly just fish in the afternoon, so not a full picture but it’s a start.

Obviously there are lots of other factors; conditions, venues, time of year etc. But it would be great to work out even a rough Pike Time, where you stand the best chance of getting a run. So I need to collect more stats... A great excuse for more pike fishing!


Edit: I've added the first 40 pike above - time before sunset. So now I’m going to do some dawn raids to see if the graph is the same in the morning! Probably proving what any fisherman with a couple of seasons under their belt knows - dawn & dusk are best times to fish!

7 comments:

  1. Change in light, eoecialy from dull to bright.

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    1. I think it's from light to dull, and there is one time everyday that that always happens.

      Going through the times now building a graph (I do love a graph), got a sample group of 40 pike - when I get 50 - or end of Oct whichever comes first - I'll blog it...

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    2. I’ve added a graph of the first 40 pike, the time before sunset they were landed (or at least photographed).

      The last 3 hours look a lot more productive than the three ours before that, but would need to fish sunrise to sunset to find their peak feeding spells...

      Anyone know where I can apply for a research grant :-)

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  2. I've always found the first few hours of winter daylight to be prime pike time with a shorter feeding spell in the late afternoon.

    Having said that - on Cheddar Reservoir I used to catch at 1-2 pm.

    Maybe pike just can't tell the time??

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    1. Yeah, need to do a few mornings, perhaps like most fish dawn and dusk are the best times and I’m just over complicating it - but it’s an excuse for a good graph :-)

      Also catching them between 1-2pm - hang on - they’re just having breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

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  3. as sight feeders,i would imagine it mirrors that of perch,so early should be good.did have one on spam at midnight on the h.avon many years ago.so that's breakfast,elevensies,brunch,lunch,tea,dinner,supper,tiffin,midnight snack...

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    1. I’m sure they have a meeting in the mornings “right lads peak feeding time today will be afternoon tea” an for some reason in my head they sound like Eddie Izzard!

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