Totally agree with you about the limitations of drop off indicators. I used to use the ET version, which just had a standard line clip. What I did was to get an adjustable line clip (sold by Gardner?), and fix it to the existing clip with a large split ring through a hole at the back, pushed into the indicator's line clip, and held in place with a very small 'O' ring (a bit difficult to explain in words, but I can't do a diagram on TH-cam). What you would end up with was a much less rigid set up, so if a pike was just mooching about and picking the bait up off the bottom, you'd get the initial bleep on the alarm, but as the adjustable clip wasn't fixed rigidly, you'd have a pivot point where it was fixed to the end of the arm. It would tend to move back and forth about 1/4" whilst not getting anymore bleeps from the alarm, which would let me hit into it straight away.50% of the time I'd be into a fish, the other 50%, I'd rather be into nothing rather than be into a fish that was deep hooked. As I said, a bit difficult to put it over without a diagram, but it does work, and probably saved a few pike.
We should all try and eliminate deep hooking when pike fishing, striking immediately at any signs, even if it isn't a pick up. You're obviously a thinking, considerate angler, thank you for your comment...
Once again Duncan your all round knowledge and experience has given me something to think about. Even a 75 year old life time angler like myself can still improve my skills.
Excellent tutorial - with regards to Live baits, you are right in what you say - live baits bring 'numbers' of fish but sooner or later, that big old girl will have it. Back in the 70's a friend of mine used a gudgeon probably the size of my little finger and hooked a Pike that I would estimate to be between 25lb-28lb - unfortunately, he lost it close in.
Thx for that informative vid Duncan I love my pike fishing being 62 years young I'm in yr age bracket you've given me some new info to take away and use 🎣👊
Thank you, another great video. Really like the lightweight drop off idea, but I could not see how you attach it to your bank stick, ? Please keep these videos coming TIA
Super sensitive bobbins and sensitive running rigs using a relatively heavy lead and then feathering the rig down so that lead is tight to the trace should eliminate any drop backs. The only time I get any sort of a drop back is when fishing a fixed lead, when using a live bait on a sunken paternoster rig. Will explain in a future video. Thanks for the comment, hope this helps.
Good info Duncan. You mention about using a spomb or throwing in freebies, a large flat block end feeder stuffed with fish bits / mash is a fabulous attractor. Tight lines.
Hi Jason, One of the next videos will be on enhancing hook baits and swim preparation and one of the methods I use, especially when river fishing is the Bait Bomber. All will be revealed soon.
Great stuff as always. Really like the look of that flipper setup, never seen that before. Perfect for the local lakes to me that are covered in silkweed year round.
These have to be some of the best pike intro tutorials out there. Thanks a lot for sharing all your knowledge! - out of interest, what alarms do you use please? Do they continue to sound after the indicator has dropped off with an open spool?
Hi Bradley, thank you for your kind words. I use Nash alarms and use them really just as a audible backup if I have been distracted for a few seconds, as much prefer to watch bobbins on long drops, or as you will see in my new video coming out this Fri at 6pm the rod tip when on the river. Rarely use drop-offs but if set up in the correct way, and if line is being taken over the alarm roller then the alarm should sound, yet not always so that's why Im always alert as somethings you just can't rely on.
That clarifies what I thought then, I’m using a near identical bite indication set up - all taught by my Grandad - very interesting to see, as the vast majority seem to use drop off indicators only. Thanks very much for your reply, I’m looking forward to Fridays video!
Thank you Duncan I’m new to dead baiting for pike and your videos are very informative, I’m now sold on the idea of not bothering with drop off indicators and going with the good ol bobbin, I’m actually using a cork from a wine bottle with the paper clip! 👌
@duncancharmanangling1136 Duncan, I sincerely hope so. Quality angling videos are thin on the ground, not many even touch on fish safety, as when you pointed out wire trace lengths, as well as water craft, the thames bream video. So obvious but so overlooked. "Time of day/night" look forward to the next one kind regards.
Duncan, interesting video. I don't do a lot of piking and now tend to use single circle hooks but I'm unsure as to how big a bait I could use and also the best position to hook the bait. Any answers?
Hi Clive, circle hooks, or the use of two singles is something Im keen to master and as and when I feel it's right to bring this to the channel and educate everyone in doing so I will do. In the meantime always strike, lift into the fish as quickly as possible.
@@duncancharmanangling1136 thanks for replying Duncan, I think you'll find that you shouldn't strike when using circle hooks, just pull into the fish, I forgot this the second time I used them last winter, I struke and missed three bites, I didn't forget from then on lol. Still not sure how big a bait can be used, trial and error I suppose
Hi Duncan, thanks for your three episodes, I saw some new things. Still wonder how you hammer in your heavy rod holding sticks into the (often) hard grounds, especially in winter. I'm leaning towards the use of rod-pods instead of bank sticks for this reason.
New hammer anything as mallets are my pet hate...I use either some old Dinsmore bank sticks that have brilliant pointed screw threads at the base and a bar that goes into the top for extra leverage (thy are still available today) or Steve Neville stainless, which is simply indestructible. Both items have lasted 30years plus!
@@duncancharmanangling1136 Yeah, i own a view screw-in sticks and I know of the existence of other ones, but the problem with all of these is the absence of a strong bar at the top to screw them in the (hard) grond. I've have thought about taking a drill with me (serious).
Well presented info, i've subscribed. On the subject of highly pressured fish, have you ever noticed an advantage in mono over braid for finicky fish? I fish a very hard water with a couple of big fish that rarely come out and almost everybody blanks. Even in matches there can be 20 rods in the water and no fish. I feel like they have maybe seen it all, so am going to try smaller hooks and a thinner trace, but could a switch back to mono be worth it too?
Hi Simon, I can't rely say I have and usually fish either mono or braid depending on the situations surrounding the venue, ie braid on rivers for showing up really delicate bites, see new video coming out this Fri at 6pm or so I can pull and straighten hooks if snagged. I fish a lake where braid and trebles are banned and would love to use braid so I can set single hook/hooks, so feel braid would be advantageous in this situation. Obviously braid is far more visual and mono generally thicker and heavier so, as I mentioned before would look at what Im faced with and use whatever I feel would give me an edge.
My tip is never to use shop-bought terminal tackle, I learned that the hard way at the very beginning of my piking "career" ... making your own is so easy and YOU can guarantee their strength...plus you can personalise them to your fishing and venues... I make my double-hooked traces with 30lbs coated wire and I add a small "tail" with a loop for clipping on a ball for popping up if required... and crimp using a PROPER crimping pliers... 😎👍☘️🍺
@duncancharmanangling1136 thanks for getting back to me. I will look forward to that. I have been using Circle Hooks, working well on float fishing, but a bit hit, and miss on ledgering.
I asked, but did not get a response to a previous video.....why,as a professional angler, you are not championing the use of single or perhaps double circle hook rigs ...your comments would be most appreciated...TIA
Hi Paul, I fish a venue where trebles hooks are banned and only two singles are allowed. I have tried all sorts of presentations and constantly miss runs, but then again I strike immediately. A few locals use circle hooks, something that I constantly think about yet watch as they leave runs to develop for far too long, then still miss a high percentage of runs, but run the risk of deep hooking. As you probably know I was one of the anglers that tested out single hooks and hair-rigging (tried on the above lake also) for zander at OBH, it took a while to get the presentation right but eventually we managed to convert a very high percentage of runs. Something I will be trying out is to use a heavy lead on a lead clip (it may have been you that suggested this) and see if the use of a circle hook, or two will self hook these pike, yet they are pressured, hence the amount of missed runs. Thank you for your comments, it I something I am working on and will, when I feel I have it 90% perfected, bring it to this channel. In the meantime the one and most important point in pike fishing is to strike, or in the use of circle hooks lift into, immediately.
Clive........@@clivelogsdon1492 I only use circle hooks as will never again use trebles..Duncans fantastic reply shows a very balance argument for not using them as the hookup rate is much much lower when you first start....the point about how much time should you leave is very valid but also the striking action is very different, and I believe the main cause of hook pull.Once mastered would say hook pull is the same as snap tackle.PS.90% of hook set is in the side jaw...never had a deep hook.
@@duncancharmanangling1136 Thank you for your very balanced response..I really hope you do come up with a rig that has a higher hookup rate and look forward to you spreading the word .
Sad to hear Baitbox has gone to the wall... great quality baits.. 😕 The Audi saga is disgraceful... I'm driving a 2017 Berlingo (on commercial tax so no emissions test) & last year the DPF needed replacing... €1400 😮... so I got my local independent mechanic to get his regular computer guy to come in and delete the DPF, EGR & Adblue from the ECU map, (he drilled out the DPF ) the van is running better now than when it was new ! 😂
Another great video, Duncan.
Glad you enjoyed it
Totally agree with you about the limitations of drop off indicators. I used to use the ET version, which just had a standard line clip. What I did was to get an adjustable line clip (sold by Gardner?), and fix it to the existing clip with a large split ring through a hole at the back, pushed into the indicator's line clip, and held in place with a very small 'O' ring (a bit difficult to explain in words, but I can't do a diagram on TH-cam). What you would end up with was a much less rigid set up, so if a pike was just mooching about and picking the bait up off the bottom, you'd get the initial bleep on the alarm, but as the adjustable clip wasn't fixed rigidly, you'd have a pivot point where it was fixed to the end of the arm. It would tend to move back and forth about 1/4" whilst not getting anymore bleeps from the alarm, which would let me hit into it straight away.50% of the time I'd be into a fish, the other 50%, I'd rather be into nothing rather than be into a fish that was deep hooked. As I said, a bit difficult to put it over without a diagram, but it does work, and probably saved a few pike.
We should all try and eliminate deep hooking when pike fishing, striking immediately at any signs, even if it isn't a pick up. You're obviously a thinking, considerate angler, thank you for your comment...
Once again Duncan your all round knowledge and experience has given me something to think about. Even a 75 year old life time angler like myself can still improve my skills.
Top man, keep on getting out, casting a line and catching a few.
Been watching your channel for a few weeks now and can say that really enjoy the ups and downs of your fishing and commentary,
Keep them coming.
Awesome, thank you!
Excellent tutorial - with regards to Live baits, you are right in what you say - live baits bring 'numbers' of fish but sooner or later, that big old girl will have it.
Back in the 70's a friend of mine used a gudgeon probably the size of my little finger and hooked a Pike that I would estimate to be between 25lb-28lb - unfortunately, he lost it close in.
Thanks for the comment, appreciate it...
Thx for that informative vid Duncan I love my pike fishing being 62 years young I'm in yr age bracket you've given me some new info to take away and use 🎣👊
Glad to help
@@duncancharmanangling1136 👊
Thank you, another great video. Really like the lightweight drop off idea, but I could not see how you attach it to your bank stick, ? Please keep these videos coming TIA
Super sensitive bobbins and sensitive running rigs using a relatively heavy lead and then feathering the rig down so that lead is tight to the trace should eliminate any drop backs. The only time I get any sort of a drop back is when fishing a fixed lead, when using a live bait on a sunken paternoster rig. Will explain in a future video. Thanks for the comment, hope this helps.
Good info Duncan. You mention about using a spomb or throwing in freebies, a large flat block end feeder stuffed with fish bits / mash is a fabulous attractor. Tight lines.
Hi Jason,
One of the next videos will be on enhancing hook baits and swim preparation and one of the methods I use, especially when river fishing is the Bait Bomber. All will be revealed soon.
Great fishing keeping it simple 👍🎣
Always
Another really good informative video Duncan. Thanks for making it.
My pleasure!
Great stuff as always. Really like the look of that flipper setup, never seen that before. Perfect for the local lakes to me that are covered in silkweed year round.
You bet!
These have to be some of the best pike intro tutorials out there. Thanks a lot for sharing all your knowledge! - out of interest, what alarms do you use please? Do they continue to sound after the indicator has dropped off with an open spool?
Hi Bradley, thank you for your kind words. I use Nash alarms and use them really just as a audible backup if I have been distracted for a few seconds, as much prefer to watch bobbins on long drops, or as you will see in my new video coming out this Fri at 6pm the rod tip when on the river. Rarely use drop-offs but if set up in the correct way, and if line is being taken over the alarm roller then the alarm should sound, yet not always so that's why Im always alert as somethings you just can't rely on.
That clarifies what I thought then, I’m using a near identical bite indication set up - all taught by my Grandad - very interesting to see, as the vast majority seem to use drop off indicators only. Thanks very much for your reply, I’m looking forward to Fridays video!
Thank you Duncan
I’m new to dead baiting for pike and your videos are very informative, I’m now sold on the idea of not bothering with drop off indicators and going with the good ol bobbin, I’m actually using a cork from a wine bottle with the paper clip! 👌
Hi John, thanks for your kind words...lets hope a big pike comes your way.
Great video, bags of info and tips that only a professional angler can convey. Hoping in time you can do series on other species if time allows.
Cheers Andrew, all the kind words make me think that I need to cover other species.
@duncancharmanangling1136 Duncan, I sincerely hope so. Quality angling videos are thin on the ground, not many even touch on fish safety, as when you pointed out wire trace lengths, as well as water craft, the thames bream video. So obvious but so overlooked. "Time of day/night" look forward to the next one kind regards.
Very helpful video. Thanks
You're welcome
Very informative
Cheers Paul, glad you find my videos helpful...
Duncan, interesting video. I don't do a lot of piking and now tend to use single circle hooks but I'm unsure as to how big a bait I could use and also the best position to hook the bait. Any answers?
Hi Clive, circle hooks, or the use of two singles is something Im keen to master and as and when I feel it's right to bring this to the channel and educate everyone in doing so I will do. In the meantime always strike, lift into the fish as quickly as possible.
@@duncancharmanangling1136 thanks for replying Duncan, I think you'll find that you shouldn't strike when using circle hooks, just pull into the fish, I forgot this the second time I used them last winter, I struke and missed three bites, I didn't forget from then on lol. Still not sure how big a bait can be used, trial and error I suppose
Hi Duncan, thanks for your three episodes, I saw some new things. Still wonder how you hammer in your heavy rod holding sticks into the (often) hard grounds, especially in winter. I'm leaning towards the use of rod-pods instead of bank sticks for this reason.
New hammer anything as mallets are my pet hate...I use either some old Dinsmore bank sticks that have brilliant pointed screw threads at the base and a bar that goes into the top for extra leverage (thy are still available today) or Steve Neville stainless, which is simply indestructible. Both items have lasted 30years plus!
@@duncancharmanangling1136 Yeah, i own a view screw-in sticks and I know of the existence of other ones, but the problem with all of these is the absence of a strong bar at the top to screw them in the (hard) grond. I've have thought about taking a drill with me (serious).
Well presented info, i've subscribed. On the subject of highly pressured fish, have you ever noticed an advantage in mono over braid for finicky fish? I fish a very hard water with a couple of big fish that rarely come out and almost everybody blanks. Even in matches there can be 20 rods in the water and no fish. I feel like they have maybe seen it all, so am going to try smaller hooks and a thinner trace, but could a switch back to mono be worth it too?
Hi Simon, I can't rely say I have and usually fish either mono or braid depending on the situations surrounding the venue, ie braid on rivers for showing up really delicate bites, see new video coming out this Fri at 6pm or so I can pull and straighten hooks if snagged. I fish a lake where braid and trebles are banned and would love to use braid so I can set single hook/hooks, so feel braid would be advantageous in this situation. Obviously braid is far more visual and mono generally thicker and heavier so, as I mentioned before would look at what Im faced with and use whatever I feel would give me an edge.
My tip is never to use shop-bought terminal tackle, I learned that the hard way at the very beginning of my piking "career" ... making your own is so easy and YOU can guarantee their strength...plus you can personalise them to your fishing and venues...
I make my double-hooked traces with 30lbs coated wire and I add a small "tail" with a loop for clipping on a ball for popping up if required... and crimp using a PROPER crimping pliers...
😎👍☘️🍺
Good stuff!
We had 4 out of front last year in one sesh to 20 inc one which twice tried to go after one in the net. Sadly no pike this year.
Thanks for the info....
Have you not tried circle hooks ?
Not yet, something for the coming season.
@duncancharmanangling1136 thanks for getting back to me. I will look forward to that. I have been using Circle Hooks, working well on float fishing, but a bit hit, and miss on ledgering.
I asked, but did not get a response to a previous video.....why,as a professional angler, you are not championing the use of single or perhaps double circle hook rigs ...your comments would be most appreciated...TIA
Hi Paul, I fish a venue where trebles hooks are banned and only two singles are allowed. I have tried all sorts of presentations and constantly miss runs, but then again I strike immediately. A few locals use circle hooks, something that I constantly think about yet watch as they leave runs to develop for far too long, then still miss a high percentage of runs, but run the risk of deep hooking. As you probably know I was one of the anglers that tested out single hooks and hair-rigging (tried on the above lake also) for zander at OBH, it took a while to get the presentation right but eventually we managed to convert a very high percentage of runs. Something I will be trying out is to use a heavy lead on a lead clip (it may have been you that suggested this) and see if the use of a circle hook, or two will self hook these pike, yet they are pressured, hence the amount of missed runs. Thank you for your comments, it I something I am working on and will, when I feel I have it 90% perfected, bring it to this channel. In the meantime the one and most important point in pike fishing is to strike, or in the use of circle hooks lift into, immediately.
Hi Paul, just seen your reply, do you personally use two circle hooks, never thought of doing that doh
Clive........@@clivelogsdon1492 I only use circle hooks as will never again use trebles..Duncans fantastic reply shows a very balance argument for not using them as the hookup rate is much much lower when you first start....the point about how much time should you leave is very valid but also the striking action is very different, and I believe the main cause of hook pull.Once mastered would say hook pull is the same as snap tackle.PS.90% of hook set is in the side jaw...never had a deep hook.
@@duncancharmanangling1136 Thank you for your very balanced response..I really hope you do come up with a rig that has a higher hookup rate and look forward to you spreading the word .
Sad to hear Baitbox has gone to the wall... great quality baits.. 😕
The Audi saga is disgraceful... I'm driving a 2017 Berlingo (on commercial tax so no emissions test) & last year the DPF needed replacing... €1400 😮... so I got my local independent mechanic to get his regular computer guy to come in and delete the DPF, EGR & Adblue from the ECU map, (he drilled out the DPF ) the van is running better now than when it was new ! 😂
Unbelievable, Audi have still got my car, no closer to fixing, 22+ weeks now. Just emailed the CEO for his comments!
@@duncancharmanangling1136 thats just not right... they're havin a larf now...😕