A fish question.

[shyfx]

Just a few bits of maybe useless info all big pike are females and at that size they turn to scavaging (sp?).I find it a bit thoughtless when anglers cull them,as especially at that size they help keep the water clear of any dead, dying or diseased fish and then wonder why other species of fish start getting ill.One thing i have noticed lately walking along the canals around here is anglers when reeling in other fish, such as bream,roach and the like will get pike come up and have a go at the hooked fish.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by shyfx

Just a few bits of maybe useless info all big pike are females and at that size they turn to scavaging (sp?).I find it a bit thoughtless when anglers cull them,as especially at that size they help keep the water clear of any dead, dying or diseased fish and then wonder why other species of fish start getting ill.One thing i have noticed lately walking along the canals around here is anglers when reeling in other fish, such as bream,roach and the like will get pike come up and have a go at the hooked fish.

All pike will take both dead and alive fish, i've actually seen totally blind pike that seem to survive well enough most Males won't reach above a couple of foot in lenght and as you say the females are the bigger ones.

As for the culling issue, it's a bit unfair to say "when anglers cull them", as it is not all anglers who do this, in fact it is a very small minority that have some very wrong idea's about management. Most know that Pike will control there own numbers perfectly well

[nightshade]

I had an encounter when the guy in the next swim asked if I
had a big landing net,could I bring it.He had caught a Roach
which had in turn been taken by a very large Pike
Under his instruction I lifted the net,the Pike stiffened and
rolled off, I commiserated he identified himself as a club Bailiff
and asked to see my licence(yes I had one ) ingrate!

[FourwingsJNR]

I know someone that caught a very large pike and when you unhook them you can't touch there tounge becaues they will snap there mouth shut straight away, and of course when he was unhooking it he accedently touched his tounge and the pike just clamped its teeth down and he couldn't get it off. Luckily there was somebody in a different swim and he came across and got it off. When he caught one a couple of days ago he didn't dare unhook it, which is understandable

[glsammy]

Yep they're dangerous beasts..

I took this shot last November at Attenborough, You can see that the fish caught this fisherman.

[Kayleigh]

My hubby caught a large pike it was nearly as long as him, He inst very tall. the pike weighed 18lb. It was at the local gravel pit in Derby. A few days later gypsies turned up and someone who was carp fishing
said the gypsies caught a large pike and ate it.

[Tim Chilcott]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

My hubby caught a large pike it was nearly as long as him, He inst very tall. the pike weighed 18lb. It was at the local gravel pit in Derby. A few days later gypsies turned up and someone who was carp fishing
said the gypsies caught a large pike and ate it.

I've heard pike are very good eating; a mixture between trout and swordfish, with a bit of a muddy taste. Haven't plucked up the courage to serve one up at the dinner table yet, though
Perhaps if culls of pike are needed in some lakes then we should start eating them

[Brian Phipps]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

It's not my picture, I have had that saved a couple of years and used to have it as my screen saver

My good friend Stewart took this picture in August last year. Hopefully he won`t mind the image being copyied and used

He has many images that are simular to this as he lives near a lake which these little blighters eat everything that swims.

Brian

[mrs fish]

I can't remember where it was posted now?

Talking of pikes teeth there are some good shots in the WAB Gallery of pike and their teeth

[Brian Phipps]

It was posted on UKNP here

Discussion Forums

Cracking picture I used to fish for pike and I love them!

Cheers
Brian