Shaun,pike being finicky is something I find difficult to explain,it could be pressure from fishing,they may be getting wise.pike,as we all know are predators and have been since time began.sometimes they will sit and wait to ambush,sometimes they will battle ram a shoal and sometimes they will scavenge.when scavenging in winter they have time to study the bait and in our unprotected waters,where a lot of pike have been taken for the pot,I truly believe they are learning.that is the only explanation I have because I know if I found an unfished loch full of pike,I could put a fish finger on two 1/0 trebles and catch the pike.loch Lomond is a good example,the pike in there have now wisened up to sea baits.overfishing has to be the answer.Shaun Harrison wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:28 amI'm interested in why pike and perch are more affected?Ian wrote: ↑Thu Mar 28, 2019 7:37 amI never said you don’t have to think about it Shaun,I’m talking about myself.theory explained.Shaun Harrison wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2019 1:10 pmPlease explain your theories?
Myself I have often dropped a hook size before bites have been forthcoming. Surely that is a weight issue and the caster/maggot/worm or whatever not behaving quite the same as the loose bait?
I have had pike on the rivers dragging a lot of weight behind them (necessary to hold in a flow) with paternostered baits. Sometimes they come straight back into the slack water but seem undeterred by a lead jangling and dragging behind them.
With perch,I don’t know if it’s the weight they feel or if it’s the line rubbing on them that makes them drop the bait,but they do.obviously when using maggots they can swallow the bait and the hook is set before they feel anything else,but with lobs and deadbaits it’s a different story as they need time to swallow them.never use a bait runner for perch,the second the spool turns and they will drop the bait.always fish with plenty of slack line on an indicator,giving them plenty of time to take the bait.im talking about the 2lb+ perch,all the others are still learning ha.