[Vidar Thomassen]

I promised some of you guys to explain the rods and reel that I use when lure fishing for pike, so here you go

From left to right you are looking at:

Megabass F6-68X Rekkai rod that is fitted with a customised Daiwa TD-Z Big Bait Special reel filled with 30Ib Power Pro. I use this combo for jigs (shads, grubs and twin-tails) between 1 and 1.5oz. It also double up as my micro jerkbait outfit.

Olympic Graphiteleader Vigore GVIC-70XH rod that is fitted with a customised Daiwa Millionaire CV-Z 203 reel filled with 50Ib Power Pro. I use this combo for crankbaits, spinnerbaits and soft plastics (Spring Dawgs and 6” Replicant style lures) between 1.5 and 2.5oz. The combo also doubles up a hand-held trolling outfit.

Dobyns Champion 806H Swimbait rod that is fitted with a customised Daiwa Millionaire CV-Z 253 reel filled with 80Ib Power Pro. I use this combo for heavy soft plastics (Dawgs and 8 to 10” Replicant style lures) and swimbaits up to 6oz.

Daiwa Ardito Ti 721HRB rod that is fitted with a customised Shimano Conquest 201 reel filled with 40Ib Power Pro. I use this combo for crankbaits and top-water lures between 1 and 2oz. The combo also doubles up a hand-held trolling outfit.

Megabass Super Destroyer F7-69DG Mephisto rod fitted with a customised Daiwa Millionaire CV-Z reel filled with 65Ib Power pro. I use this combo exclusively for jerk and pull baits between 2 and 4oz. It is a great tragedy this particular rod has been discontinued by Megabass, and every time I use it my heart is in my mouth from fear of breaking it. It is simply the best jerkbait rod I have ever laid my hands on, and believe you me I have tried a few.

I also often (not shown in the picture) use a P/C/G built UFM Boron 69EXH Gunship rod that is fitted with a Quantum Energy PT reel filled with 40Ib Power Pro. This is my combo for heavy (1.5 to 2.5oz) six to seven inch jigs, such as Fox Chubby & Pro shads and Storm.

 

[Andy Mason]

I'm keeping schtum

 

[Andrew Wilson]

Vidar Thomassen

First and foremost an angler, but also a collector and tackle tart extraordinaire

PROVEN

Very nice Vidar, I wont ask about your bass gear, fly gear etc or I'll be waking up with night sweats.
You know some people argue about gear, Its just good to see someone spending there money in a way that they can enjoy it, its no good when your gone, RESPECT

 

[Andrew Wilson]

The eyes look really small on those rods, is that because they are for those types of reels?

 

[Dave Irving]

Well definately not in the same league as Vidar,
Most of my Pike fishing has been done on
Redington 7' up to 1.75oz baitcaster with a shimano Calcutta and 20lb braid
Abu Pulse pistol grip 6' up to 0.75oz with abu Revo and 15lb braid.
I tend to fish spinnerbaits, and small lures for jack pike.
In the past I have gone as heavy as,
St Croix 7' up to 4oz with abu 6500c3 loaded with 80lb spiderwire for big lures like depth raiders
St Croix 6' Thunderstick (i think) jerk bait rod (used the same reel)

This year I want to try with spin gear, rather than baitcast set up. Should prove interesting.

 

[Vidar Thomassen]

The eyes look really small on those rods, is that because they are for those types of reels?

Yes, indeed it is

 

[Iestyn Jones]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
wake up mossey you tart!!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Andy Mason]

This year I want to try with spin gear, rather than baitcast set up. Should prove interesting.

On my 1st trip out with Vidar he lent me this little beauty, custom built. Hooked myself a 3lb common bream through the dorsel and it went off like a train, Vidars face was a picture, he thought I'd got a 20lb'er as we wound the drag up fully and it lunged under the boat, he looked quite astounded when the bream broke the surface. Anyways..what a lovely little light weight rod and paired with a small fixed spool it'll handle most things thrown with and at it. We both like using Vibration baits like the Jackall TC50/60/70, this is a Yo-Zuri Hardcore Drum. Match the lure, to the line, to the reel, to the rod and it's SOooo much more fun. You won't regret it Dave

 

[Vidar Thomassen]

Well definately not in the same league as Vidar,
Most of my Pike fishing has been done on
Redington 7' up to 1.75oz baitcaster with a shimano Calcutta and 20lb braid
Abu Pulse pistol grip 6' up to 0.75oz with abu Revo and 15lb braid.
I tend to fish spinnerbaits, and small lures for jack pike.
This year I want to try with spin gear, rather than baitcast set up. Should prove interesting.

Yes, lighter gear for smaller pike is great fun, and when I have a walk up and down my local canal I use some totally different combos

However, when I fish big reservoirs, the Norfolk Broads and parts of the River Thames I’m most of the time after the really big girls that weigh in between 15 and 30Ib, which requires bigger and heavier lures. Not that you can’t catch big pike on smaller lures, you can indeed, but I have to say that big soft plastics, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits produces the bigger fish a lot more regularly.

 

[Dave Irving]

Totally agree Big baits work better for big fish,
Bulldawgs and depths Raider at Tring Reservoir has produced some good fish fish for me.
Strangely though two samller lures that keep producing good pike for me are Manns Baby 1- and Rapala minnow spoon. Not sure why, but had several high teens and low twenties on both of these.

 

[Andrew Wilson]

Andy thats a stunningly clear shot of that lure, could be out of an advertisement.
Sorry for the stupid, rod eye comment Vidar, was thinking out loud and couldnt help hitting the submit key,

 

[Vidar Thomassen]

Strangely though two samller lures that keep producing good pike for me are Manns Baby 1-

I love the Manns 1- range and I have both the baby, medium and large versions in my various lure boxes. The large 1oz version is one of my all time shallow diving lures

 

[dai56]

Andy thats a stunningly clear shot of that lure, could be out of an advertisement.
Sorry for the stupid, rod eye comment Vidar, was thinking out loud and couldnt help hitting the submit key,

Sorry Andy but when i saw Iestyn's comment i nearly fell off the chair it's going to be your fault if i can't move in the morning :lol: :lol: :lol: [no offence mate classic]

some nice gear in those pics :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: oh my i need a monkey

 

[Mike Kennard]

Vidar,
I can't help but think to myself that the picture doesn't tell the whole story. I am sure there are more.......

Mike

 

[Simon Clapham]

Where is the smilie with his jaw dragging along the floor. Gobsmacking collection there Vidar, please some more but on a different post.....Bass gear, Fly gear, just whatever else you got lying around mate.

Outstanding

 

[Vidar Thomassen]

Vidar,
I can't help but think to myself that the picture doesn't tell the whole story. I am sure there are more.......

Mike

Wait until I have finished and posted my new article about lure fishing for perch and chub :lol: :lol: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[PeteB]

Please forgive my ignorance but I'd half fancy giving Pike on lures a try and have some really basic questions. Any help you be much appreciated.

As it's only £3.50 for a day ticket for a local lake that allows spinning / lures I fancy giving it a try as a stop gap between the cod leaving and the Bass turning up on lures. I don't really want to spend much on new gear other than lures so:

Is there any reason why I couldn't just use my 8 ' Shukan if I fancy giving it a go on my local waters?

Is there any reason I shouldn't be ok with my 4000 exage?

I'm reading that braid will be fine but do I need a wire leader and if so how do you attach this to the braid and what then do you use to attach the lure, a clip just like I would use for Bass? How to attach the clip to the wire?

In Winter does the same apply as does for Bass, where slower deliberate jerks and retrieves work best, can you use surface lures when its cold?

What are a few household favourate lures to get me started?

Thanks.

 

[Andy Mason]

Your Shukan and your Exage 4000 will be absolutely fine. You'll need 30lb braid too. Go to your local tackle shop and buy a good quality ready made lure trace, it should have a decent lure clip one end and a swivel the other. Don't buy the cheapest you can find as not all are that well put together but it would save you buying all the traces, crimps etc. Tie the braid straight onto to swivel and you're away.

Any of your Bass lures will work as Pike will attack anything that moves, colour, shape, size, they aren't fussy BUT they don't go chasing stuff much in the winter. Plop it on it's nose and you're OK but don't expect them to chase you half way across a lake when it's cold. Surface lures do work in winter if the Pike are in shallow water otherwise, again they won't usually come up from the depths to chase it down. Weedless soft plastics work in winter quite well but as you say slow it down they can be lazy.

Don't forget long nosed pliers etc etc, you need to be prepared for them teeth.

Have fun.

 

[PeteB]

Excellent, thanks.

I've also read that you need a mat, is this right or can you not just release them in the water? If so how much should you expect to pay for a mat and are there any budget alternatives?

 

[Andy Mason]

Pete, doesn't matter but I guess it depends on your experience and/or confidence. Pike can inhale your lure so no matter how good you are with pliers/forceps you may find it impossible to unhook them in the water. They also tend to thash about in the shallowest of water, but play dead out of it so it makes sense.

The matt really is to help with the unhooking as I'm sure most of us are very careful with fish care regardless. You can use it to cocoon the Pike, turn it on it's back and stuff it between your knees when kneeling down, thus giving you 2 free hands and a firm grip on your Pike. That all really. Cheap as you like really, mine was £19.99 and it isn't a big carp specimen type, but a weigh sling or something similar would do the trick equally as well. I only use it when the hooks are too deep to pop out with the pliers for a quick return.