The last two questions in any pike plan are where you’ll stand and what you’re after. Bank or boat is a practical decision. Target size is a tactical one, and it changes more than most people expect: the bait, the tackle strength, the places you fish and how long you’re prepared to wait.
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Deciding what you’re after
Pike anglers talk in weights. A “double” is a fish of 10lb or more, and a “twenty” is 20lb or more. These aren’t official terms, but they’re the ones you’ll hear on the bank.
| Target | What to expect | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Jacks (up to about 5lb) | Plenty of action, small to medium lures | 9 to 14cm shads, spinners, light rod, steady retrieves |
| Doubles (10lb+) | Fewer fish, more weight in the fight | 14 to 20cm lures or full-size deadbaits, 30 to 40lb braid, 28lb+ traces |
| Twenties (20lb+) | Few bites, long sessions, specific waters | Larger lures and baits, heavy rods, strong traces, big mat and net |
If you want a lot of fish, fish for jacks and doubles. If you want a big one, accept that you’ll have fewer bites and more blank sessions. Size also depends on the water, so choosing the right water matters more than any gear change.
Fishing from the bank
Bank fishing is the default for most pike anglers. It’s cheap, flexible and gives you easy access to margins, drop-offs and structure near the bank.
Strengths: you can move quickly, fish several swims in a day and carry little. Lure fishing along a bank is one of the best ways to find pike.
Limits: you can’t reach the middle of big waters, and in some places access is restricted. Casting distance matters more, so a longer rod and a good cast help. The pike shore fishing guide has more tactics.
Fishing from a boat
A boat gives you reach and the ability to fish where bank anglers can’t. You can troll lures, drift deadbaits and fish deep water or features far from the shore.
Strengths: access to open water, islands and mid-lake drop-offs.
Limits: cost, safety, and permission. Many fisheries restrict or ban boats, and on navigable waters like the Broads there are separate rules and tolls for boats. Always check before you launch. Wear a lifejacket, tell someone where you’re going, and treat cold water seriously. Rods for boat fishing tend to be shorter, such as a 10ft deadbait rod, which is easier to handle in a confined space.
Gear for bigger fish
If you’re aiming at doubles and twenties, step up your gear:
- Rod and reel. A 2.4m rod rated up to 120g like the Fox Rage Warrior Pike Spin, with a 5000 to 6000 size reel such as the Okuma Revenger 6000A. The rods and reels post covers other choices.
- Lures. 18 to 25cm shads or a line thru lure. The Savage Gear Line Thru Perch 23cm and the Fox Rage Super Slick Shad 18cm sit in this range.
- Baits. Larger deadbaits suit bigger fish, and an oil like Holy Mackerel Natural Predator adds scent to a bait. A kebab kit lets you build a bait to the size you want.
- Trace and line. Use a trace well above the fish’s expected size, such as the Fox Rage Predator 49 Strand wire, 65lb, and 40 to 55lb braid like the Replicant Cast Braid 55lb.
Handling big pike
A 20lb pike is heavy, powerful and easily injured by bad handling. You need:
- A large unhooking mat, ideally with raised sides.
- A big landing net with soft mesh. The Fox Rage Speedflow 2 Rigid Landing Net is one example.
- Long forceps and wire cutters within reach before you cast.
- Wet hands, and a way to weigh the fish quickly, with a sling that you can wet first.
Keep the fish in the water until you’re ready. Support it horizontally, take photos quickly and let it recover in the water, facing the current if you’re on a river. Our unhooking and handling guide has the details.
Putting the series together
The twelve posts fit into one plan. Start with when pike season starts, then decide between live bait, lures and deadbait. Choose your lure sizes, then work through soft shads, line thru lures and hard lures. Pick your traces and main line, then your rods and reels and rigs. Then choose the water.
For where to go next, the pike species guide, autumn pike fishing and pike in winter carry on from here.
Gear that fits this
Here is gear that suits what this post covers, by type.
Lures: Abu Garcia Toby Salmo 11cm.
For deadbait and float work, Fox Rage Predator Float Trace.
Reels that handle pike: Savage Gear Thoriz C3000 and Fox Rage Prism X Baitcast.
On rods, Fox Rage Prism X Lure and Shad and Daiwa Predator-D Pike Lure.
Questions anglers ask
Is it better to fish for pike from the bank or a boat?
Neither is better overall. Bank fishing is cheaper and flexible, while a boat gives access to open water and features out of reach. Many fisheries restrict boats, so check the rules.
How big do pike get in the UK?
Pike of 20lb and over exist in UK waters but are uncommon, and they come from a limited number of waters. For the current British record, check with the British Record Fish Committee.
What is a double or a twenty in pike fishing?
A double is a pike of 10lb or more, and a twenty is a pike of 20lb or more. They’re informal terms rather than official categories.
Rob Hadley grew up fishing the rivers and drains of the Norfolk Broads, and it was inevitable that pike would become his species of choice. He’s been targeting predators seriously for over 20 years – starting on dead baits, moving through live bait rigs, and eventually landing on lure fishing as his preferred method about eight years ago.
These days he fishes the Broads through winter, travels to Chew Valley Lake each spring for its outsized fish, and spends the warmer months working soft plastics on rivers across the East Midlands for perch and zander. He’s had pike to 31lb and perch to 3lb 9oz, and reckons both records are beatable on the right day with the right set-up.
At The River Bend, Rob writes the predator species guides, lure fishing technique articles, and most of the winter fishing content.
Covers: Pike, perch, zander, lure fishing, winter fishing, predator rigs