Pike
Esox lucius
Pike (Esox lucius) is a freshwater fish found in UK waters. Weedy lakes, gravel pits, canals and slower rivers. Lies up in weed beds, reed margins and drop-offs waiting to ambush. Whether you can keep one depends on local rules — check before you do.
- Max length
- 150 cm
- Max weight
- 25 kg
- Water
- Freshwater
- How often
- Common
Updated
What it looks like
A long, torpedo-shaped body built for one hard acceleration. Olive-green flanks broken by pale cream bars and spots, a flat duck-bill snout and a mouth full of backward-pointing teeth. The dorsal and anal fins are set far back, near the tail, which is what gives the fish its launch.
Large pike are almost always female and can be enormously deep-bellied in winter. Colour varies with water — fish from clear gravel pits are pale and silvery, fish from peaty lakes almost black-green.
How to catch one
Bait
Deadbaits (mackerel, smelt, sardine), livebaits where permitted, or lures — spoons, jerkbaits and large soft plastics.
Rig
Always use a wire or heavy fluorocarbon trace — a pike's teeth will cut straight through mono. Two treble hooks on a deadbait rig, or a single strong hook on a lure.
When
Short winter days, especially around midday when the water has warmed a little.
Where
The edge of weed beds, bays out of the wind, and anywhere prey fish are shoaling.
Season: Traditionally autumn to early spring; many rivers have a close season from 15 March to 15 June.
Easy to confuse with
zander
Zander have two separate dorsal fins, no duck-bill snout, and glassy reflective eyes.
Questions anglers ask
- Do I need special tackle for pike?
- Yes. A wire trace is essential, along with long forceps, side cutters and an unhooking mat. Pike are easy to injure and easy to be injured by.
- Are pike dangerous to handle?
- They will not attack you in the water, but the teeth and gill rakers cut badly. Learn the chin-grip before you fish for them, or go with someone who knows it.
- When is the best time to fish for pike?
- Autumn through winter. Cold, settled conditions after a mild spell are classic.
