Pike Angling

PIKE ANGLING INTRO AND RULES

Etiquette

Please understand and respect that we are regarded primarily as a specimen carp water and as a result our carp members and winter ticket holders will take priority in terms of bookings.

Booking priority is as follows;

1. Full membership holders and winter ticket holders
2. Day session anglers regardless of species fished for. Ie day ticket pike anglers will have equal opportunity as day ticket carp anglers

The majority of our members have been either recommended / referred or have been through a vetting and viewing with myself. As a result there is a communal helpful atmosphere established and I hope this will continue. It is usual to see our members land fish for each other and I aim to continue to promote this whereby any angler in need will be helped by another regardless of their quarry

Fishing from designated swims only, stalking permitted near the islands, ask for clarification as to where.

Anyone caught fishing the adjacent trout lake will be dismissed, we do not have rights to the water but I am a bailiff of the water.

There are both pike and perch present, whilst not fished for pike have been landed to 20lb+ and perch have been seen on cameras to 2lb+

Baitboats are allowed, please use these sensibly and stay within the confines of your swim. Anyone misusing a boat will not be allowed to use them on future sessions.

The margins in specific areas can be quite shallow in places, wading is essential in order to land a fish safely and avoid contact with the bottom. Anyone found landing fish in insufficient water depth will be dismissed.

As a carp fishery we must ensure that the risk to our carp stock is kept to a minimum. Each year such diseases as Koi Herpes Virus and Spring Carp of Variamea decimate carp waters. This is similar with what is happening to Pike waters with red sore disease. Therefore we have decided that lure fishing will be prohibited and instead we would prefer sink and draw and wobbling of dead sea-baits as an alternative. Strictly no Livebaits. I am fully aware of sunken buckets, nets and aerators so I know what to look for.

1. All 24 hours bookings commence at 12pm daily, you are allowed to turn up from 9am to look at available pegs etc. Please have your peg vacated by 12pm on the day you are leaving. All day bookings run 9am-9pm.

2. Fishing from marked pegs only and only fish within the boundaries of your swim as marked on the map and by the half way markers, please ask if you are unsure.

3. ONE SWIM RULE!!! You must not stray more than 1 swim away from your rods if they are live. This is in the interest of fish welfare and will also improve the chances of successfully landing fish so is therefore in the interest of the angler. Note: straying from peg 9 to 10, 20-1 or vice versa is not permitted due to the distance between them. As pike anglers I would think being on your rods is crucial to avoid deep hooking.

4. Please be sensible when drinking, if you are not in control of yourself or the fish through drink/drugs then you will be banned and only allowed to leave the site once sober.

5. Ecotoilet must be used at all times, if you choose to defecate elsewhere ie bucket, bag it, take it with you and bin it.

6. No dogs allowed on willows lake under the terms of our lease we are not allowed dogs and we have to stick to this I am afraid. This may be negotiable…..

7. Please make sure you lock or close any gate that you go through, these are there for your own security as well as the fishes. Do not leave open for a friend coming in 5 minutes.

8. No visiting the lake or other anglers at any time unless you are fishing without good cause and prior arrangement. Anglers like a peaceful lake and this is the only way we can keep it like that. Guests are permitted providing you make a bailiff aware.

Tackle and equipment

For the safety of the pike, a wire trace of at least 18 inches in length must always be used when fishing for pike, whether you are bait or lure fishing. Even small pike have razor sharp teeth that will cut through ordinary line and big pike could easily swallow a shorter trace and bite through your line.

Minimum trace breaking strain 30lb

Minimum mainline of 0.35mm, If you are unsure if your line is suitable then please ask us as some lines are sufficient but may not necessarily be 0.35mm diameter. Braid may be permitted at the bailiffs discretion so please discuss beforehand.

IF A RIG AND / OR FISH BECOMES SNAGGED, DO NOT PULL FOR A BREAKUNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, see boat use below.

Our nets, slings buckets and unhooking mats to be used at all times. There are in the swims surrounding the lake ready for use. Ensure the mat is used when pike are brought on to the bank to be weighed, unhooked and photographed.

For speedy unhooking  and safety of the pike, the following hooks will be permitted only; semi barbed (treble = maximum 1 barb) and single hooks are also permitted.

If the hooks are difficult to get out, put the pike in the landing net and back into the water. Then seek help from another pike angler, do not feel embarrassed, we have all been there. If you require assistance call 07508987545.

Boat use and pike welfare

I enforce a simple strategy in terms of tethered fish and / or tackle and that is as follows;

“Never leave it, always retrieve it”

We are aware there is weed present at the lake and we also understand that this forms the building block for the healthy eco-system we have here. If you do become snagged in a weedbed, Open the bail arm and locate the nearest boat to be used in order to retrieve the tackle and or fish.

We have invested a lot of money into ensuring no trailers and tackle is discarded. Regardless of the weather (strong winds) and time of day (night time) a boat and bailiff are always available. The  boats are situated as follows;

Peg 1 and 2 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 3 and 4 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 5 and 6 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 7 and 8 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 9 – Has its own boat situated in the swim
Peg 10 – Has its own boat situated in the swim
Peg 11 and 12 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 13 and 14 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 15 and 16 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 17 and 18 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Peg 19 and 20 – 1 boat shared between, situated in or between swims
Otter gate – 2 man work boat, may be used in winds
4×4 roof – My own personal white rib, used to land and retrieve in gale force winds after being driven and launched at the incident

All pike to be treated with a care kit. Any marking to the body should be treated, especially hookholds. I stock a product that seals wounds and hookholds, I would advise this is used and has been at the forefront of our fish welfare aspect. Ask prior to arrival. Research NT labs woundseal / nash medicarp.

Look to see where your hooks are before proceeding to handle the fish. Turn the fish on its back and insert one or two fingers under a gill plate, keeping them well away from any hooks. You might like to wear a suitable unhooking glove on the hand you do this with. Lift the pike’s head carefully and its mouth will usually open. Maintain this hold while you use a pair of 10-12 inch artery forceps to grip and remove the hooks. It is now that you will appreciate the use of semi-barbless hooks. With lively fish it is often easier to unhook the fish by kneeling astride it.

When returning a pike to the water, always ensure that the pike can support it to maintain its balance unaided. A fully recovered pike will swim steadily away.

Essential pike tackle 

Wire traces – at least 18in long and 30lb breaking strain

A minimum of 0.35mm reel line (NOTE: 15lb line may still be insufficient so check diameter on spool)

Long forceps for removing hooks

Small bolt cutters

Specific boat rules

(I know it is boring but we must state this to keep our insurers happy)

The following is not conclusive and is subject to change should we see fit; these rules should be seen as our minimum expected standard which all boat users should adhere to.

Rules.

1. NO LIFE JACKET, NO BOAT – NO EXCUSES, NO EXCEPTIONS, NO SECOND CHANCES.
2. Boats can be and are dangerous, just because everyone else is using one don’t think that you have to. If you’re not comfortable with the safe use of a boat, don’t use one, ask a bailiff to talk you though how to use a boat safely.
3. Boats are solely to be used for the safe retrieval of snagged / tethered fish and or items of tackle. This is primarily to promote fish welfare.
4. One angler per boat only – the boats are not big enough to safely carry two anglers. If you end up in a fish rescue situation where you need two anglers out on the lake at the same time, use 2 boats and reel in all other rods for both anglers.
5. Please report any damage to boats immediately to a bailiff. If you damage a boat through misuse or neglect, you will be charged for repairing or replacing the boat. The same applies for oars etc, they are not designed to be used as weed rakes, for sword fighting or anything else; if they are damaged or lost, you will be charged to replace them.
6. General upkeep – you will no doubt expect the boat to be clean and tidy when you come to use it, and we expect you to leave it in a similar fashion. If you dirty a boat for any reason, please clean it after use; this includes removal of any dirty foot prints etc from the inside of the boat. If you are found to have left a boat in an unsuitable condition, you will no longer be welcome to use our boats and you will have to provide your own.
7. If another member complains to the fishery bailiff that you are using a boat inappropriately / out of your water / in contravention of the boat rules, you will be given the benefit of doubt once and once only – a yellow card scheme will operate in this instance. You will only be warned once, if we have a second complaint, your access to a boat will be revoked.
8. If you have your access to boat use removed for breeching any rule relating to boats, do not use a boat for any reason. If you are in a position where you need to rescue a fish, you must contact a bailiff first. If you are found to be using a boat without permission, you will have your membership of the lake revoked and you will no longer be welcome on the fishery.

Contract: –

Upon requesting access to a boat and presenting a suitable life jacket, you therefore agree to a contract detailing the terms and conditions for use of a boat, and also the rules (a copy of such can also be provided to you as proof of permission and for your records). Erics Angling Willows Lake and any associated body/organisation, accept no responsibility either written or implied for your use of a boat; you do so entirely at your own risk.

General advise: – If you are a regular at the lake, and plan to use the boats a lot, we would highly advise that you consider an automatic lifejacket, rated at 150N capacity, they are more compact, less obstructive and may save your life should the worst happen. We can order these from one of our suppliers at a discounted rate, but they are still more expensive than a foam equivalent. If you would like any advice, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also worthy of note is that a buoyancy aid is not suitable for use on the lake, they may help you stay afloat should you fall in, but will not turn you over and hold  your head out of the water should you be unconscious.

These rules are not exhaustive by any means, as long as you respect the lake, the fish and the other anglers then you won’t go far wrong.

A disciplinary system is in place, the rules are there for a reason. Anyone found to be disregarding / breaking them will be dealt with accordingly dependent upon the offence committed. Please report anyone breaking rules to a bailiff in order to benefit anglers as a whole. The bailiff’s decision is final.

Anyone who is unsure on their equipment or their rigs should point this out before commencing fishing. We are happy to help and advise and would prefer this to solving a problem after it has happened.

Any questions or queries anytime don’t hesitate to call 07508987545 for clarification.