Pike Baitbox

Sea Baits

Sea fish have been the downfall of many thousands of pike over a number of years. Their popularity can be attributed to their availability and long shelf life. Don't be afraid to experiment with whatever else you find at the fishmongers.

Smelt - My favourite deadbait. Recognised by the faint cucumber smell. Light and slim with a fairly tough skin. Able to withstand repeated casting. Available from specialist tackle shops.

Mackerel - Heavy, tough skinned, oily and smelly. Big baits are usually fished in half, with the tail section very popular as a casting bait. Buy from the fishmonger or tackle shop.

Sardine - Soft skinned, will only last a couple of casts, frozen bait will cast well if hooked head up trace. I used to get glazed baits from supermarkets but not seen for a while. Do not use them out of the tin like one person I know tried to do!

Herring - Similar in appearance to a roach, will take colouring and flavouring. Big baits are often fished in half. Readily available from fishmongers.

Lamprey - Eel like, tough skinned and amazingly bloody. Currently very popular they can be fished whole or in sections. Found in specialist tackle shops.

Sprat - Small silver fish. No longer popular. Worth trying just to be different. See the fishmonger for a bulk bag that will either last a while or to use as groundbait.

Coarse Deadbaits

A few years ago you would have to go to specialist pike tackle shops to get your coarse deadbaits, unless you caught your own. The common species are now much more widespread but if you want something unusual you will still have to catch you own.

Trout - Skin is tough enough but prone to splitting. Inners are soft and they end up feeling like a bean bag. Rainbow, brown and now golden are available from tackle shops. Easy to pop-up with air.

Roach - Rubbery bait, good for casting long distance and will withstand repeated casting, however does lose it's scales quickly. Easy to pop-up with air. Readily available from tackle shops.

Bream - Bream are relatively light for their size and don't cast too well but I like to use them on the rivers and drains. Effective as a wobbled bait as they are slow sinkers.

Perch - Very abrasive skin. Be careful of the spines on the dorsal fin and gill covers when handling. Rarely seen in tackle shops.

Pike - I have only used pike as a bait once when I was given a dozen 8 to 10 inch baits. The pike loved them and they only lasted a couple of sessions. Rarely seen them in shops.

Gudgeon - Do not be deceived by their small size. In my experience pike love them. Though you will probably have to catch your own.

Eel - Extremely tough skin means they stay on the hooks whatever, unless you just nick them with the hook. Eels are widespread in inland waters and Eel section is a good bait.

Keeping Baits

Baits should be kept individually wrapped in cling-film or in the vacuum pack if the vacuum has not been broken. Baits will keep better at lower temperatures, I have kept them for more than a year at minus 18°. Watch out for 'Freezer Burn' which is a yellowing of the skin and is due to dehydration. Although this does not render the bait useless, I prefer not to use them unless I don't have another option.