How to track down river pike
Issue 14 (Jan-Feb 2017) Nathan Edgell
Finding river pike is all about location. Whilst this is important in all types of fishing, for all species, prime ambush, resting and feeding spots are often at a premium in flowing water which means, unless you know where to look, you could be literally miles from some decent fishing! This map is a very generalised guide and no doubt your river(s) will be quite different but it will hopefully give you guys a few pointers in the right direction. Remember, think like a pike and you won’t go far wrong!
1. Weirs are probably my favourite feature. They almost always hold pike. Focus on the slacker water around the edge of the weir and also at the tail (downstream) end of the weirpool itself
2. Islands are rare enough on most rivers but if you find one fish it! Look at the downstream end of the island, in the slack water. A great ambush point for any pike
3. Side channels include ditches, tributaries, inflow pipes etc. Where two flows meet is almost always a hotspot. Small ditches are especially worth a look during floods, as pike (and prey) will move in to shelter from the main flow
4. Bends and creases are another great area. The outside of bends can mean deep water/holes which is where so many river pike will be at certain times of the year
5. Cover can be anything from weedbeds to fallen trees to boats. As ambush predators, pike need cover, so find this and find some pike!
6. Bridges are something every river has. Ones with in-stream pillars are the ones to look for and the slack water downstream of these
7. Margins and back eddies are where you’ll find more pike than anywhere else. Deep marginal slacks are usually a goldmine. Tread gently and quietly and never ignore the margins!
8. Millpools are not found on too many rivers but again they are great pike holding areas. Pike are often ‘lazier’ in calmer water and may not be so aggressive, so you may have to find work harder to find their feeding times
