Threat to Pike ?

[RedFish]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Rubbish they wont bite you...I have handled lots and never been bitten...
They do have sharp teeth so handle with caution when removing hooks..

I've seen the video evidence, and the scar on my local tackle shop owners finger. If you'd like to google it I'm sure you'll find the vid. I didn't say ''out of the water.'' Did I? Be careful, is all I'm saying.

[RedFish]

Originally Posted by RedFish

I've seen the video evidence, and the scar on my local tackle shop owners finger. If you'd like to google it I'm sure you'll find the vid. I didn't say ''out of the water.'' Did I? Be careful, is all I'm saying.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle3142232.ece

[Dogghound]

Clearly a freak accident. The pike mistook her ring for a small fish. If you were walking or diving is murky water with shiny items on you I guess there is a risk, but this species certainally does not target humans or large mammals, if you were walking through or swimming through water they would be off like a shot. They are very timid ambush predators.

[darrenm]

Agree with Dogghound and do not see the Pike has a risk to Humans or to most mammals bigger than a water vole and have dived in waters with very large Pike 30lb + in the past and allthough they can be curious and come up to see what you are they soon scoot off at very high speed when you get too close.

When i was a very keen Angler the only time i got an injury from a Pike was when i put my hand into ones mouth without thinking to remove the spinner before returning it and caught my thumb on a tooth but that was down to my own stupidity.

The fear of Pike generated by some people is totally over the top and they are just a natural predator going about their own business in their own environment and to paint them has 'blood curdling killers' and a threat to everything in their environment is the basis of folklore and myth and not reality. They also have a place in helping to maintain a very healthy balance within a body of water.

[RedFish]

I do not dispute any of the above sentiments, they are obviously based on experience. < That's not a dig. Just be careful. You can not predict what a predator is going to do in all circumstances, nor claim any understanding of its motives, in all circumstances. Most fisherman treat these creatures with a great deal of respect.

[darrenm]

The main motives behind any predator are to feed and reproduce.

People who go on about Pike being a great danger and a serious threat to other species in and on the water are just scaremongering and use sensational stories/evidence which could see a natural predator in its natural environment being persicuted by people who have little understanding of the role of natural predators in an environment.

[Lancashire Lad]

Pike certainly won't bite anyone in the water. Like most other wild animals, they prefer to move away rather than battle with something much larger than themselves.

I used to go scuba diving in a local disused quarry, whose main apex predator was a pike of about 4 feet in length. (We used to call him one eye, for obvious reasons).

His home territory was the submerged stone hoppers of the quarry workings, and it was our great privilege that he allowed us to get very close to him and watch him going about his business.

To watch a large pike sitting absolutely motionless and then dart forward to catch his prey is something quite special.

He was at least twice as large as any of the other pike to be found in the quarry, which also contained large numbers of quite large Perch & Roach.

Out of the water is another matter, and anyone handling Pike are asking to get bitten if they don't handle them with care. - The Pike may not be intentionally trying to bite, but when a large mouth full of very sharp teeth starts thrashing around, any human flesh within striking distance could be the unwitting target. - If you must handle a Pike, then as Redfish says - "Handle with care".

Regards,
Mike.

[RedFish]

'' Great danger, serious threat'', I don't recall trying to say they were. No ring mentioned in article. ''Freak'' accidents happen all the time. Be careful, was my advice. Slight paranioia there, I think. Bit insular in here, innit?