Shore fishing for pike – fishing from the bank without a boat – is how the vast majority of UK pike anglers operate. Rivers, lake margins, reservoirs, and canals all produce pike from the bank throughout the autumn and winter season, and bank fishing gives access to features that boats cannot reach: undercut banks, shallow marginal reed beds, and the sheltered water tight to snags and cover where pike ambush prey.
This guide focuses on bank-based approaches for pike – deadbaiting, lure fishing from the shore, and float fishing – distinct from boat-based deadbaiting tactics which require different considerations.
[Image placeholder: An angler pike fishing from a river bank in autumn, with the rod resting on a pod, bite alarms, and a landing net spread ready beside him]
When to Fish for Pike from the Bank
Bank pike fishing is most productive from October through to February in most UK waters. The reasons are seasonal:
- Pike are cold-blooded and most active in autumn and winter when water temperatures fall to the 4-10°C range
- Prey fish shoal more tightly in cold water, making them easier to ambush near features
- Vegetation dies back in winter, giving better access to marginal areas
- Summer bank fishing for pike is legal but often less productive and potentially harmful to pike in warm water (they are stressed more easily in summer heat)
The close season on rivers (15 March to 15 June) applies to all fish including pike. On still waters there is no statutory close season, though some fisheries voluntarily close or discourage pike fishing in spring when pike spawn.
Deadbaiting from the Bank
Bank deadbaiting is the most consistently productive approach for shore pike fishing on most UK waters.
Rig Setup
Snap tackle: Two treble hooks on a wire trace. The rear treble goes in the tail root of the bait; the front treble goes in the flank or shoulder, angled upwards. The hooks hold the deadbait in a natural position and ensure at least one hook is in position when the pike takes.
Wire trace: Essential for pike fishing. Pike teeth cut through monofilament and fluorocarbon. Use 30-50lb 7-strand wire or 49-strand (softer) wire. Minimum trace length 30cm (longer on big rivers where pike can roll the trace). Crimp or twist to attach swivels and hooks – do not knot wire.
Lead: Running ledger or a paternoster setup depending on water type. Running ledger (bomb or sea lead on a running ring above the trace swivel) allows pike to pick up the bait and move without feeling resistance. On flowing water, a gripper/breakout lead prevents the bait washing too far downstream. Weight: 1-3oz depending on casting distance and current speed.
Deadbait Types
The most commonly used deadbaits for UK pike shore fishing:
- Roach and skimmer bream: Natural prey species, universally accepted. Freshwater deadbaits are particularly good on venues where pike are primarily eating coarse fish.
- Smelt: Small silver sea fish with a strong cucumberish smell. Highly attractive to pike and often outperforms freshwater baits. Available frozen from fishing tackle shops.
- Mackerel section (half or tail): Oily, strong-smelling, visible. Very effective in coloured water or at range where visual attraction matters less than scent.
- Sardine: Very oily, breaks down quickly releasing oil slick. Effective but fragile; wrapping with PVA tape helps it stay on the hooks at casting.
- Herring: Similar to mackerel; robust enough to cast without PVA wrapping.
Freshwater deadbaits (dead roach, bream, rudd, small trout) often work better on rivers and natural lakes where pike are eating them naturally. Sea deadbaits work on all waters and often outperform freshwater baits on commercial still waters.
Bank Setup
For a static deadbait approach: 1. Cast the bait to a chosen spot (near cover, drop-offs, reed margins, or across to far bank features) 2. Place the rod on a rod rest or pod with the bail arm open or the reel in free-spool mode (baitrunner) 3. Set a bite indicator (electronic alarm with drop-arm rear indicator, or a monkey climber on the line) 4. When a run occurs, allow the pike to move with the bait briefly before striking
With two rods (check fishery rules – some waters allow two, some one rod only), fish different depths or distances, giving the pike a choice of locations.
Striking and Playing Pike
Pike do not always hook themselves. After a run, allow 5-10 seconds of movement, then strike firmly by closing the bail arm and sweeping the rod to the side. Do not wait too long – pike can deeply swallow baits if given too much time.
Use a landing net large enough for the fish (pike-specific nets with 42-inch arms are standard for specimen fishing). Never lift pike out of the water by the gill or eye sockets. Support the fish horizontally, one hand under the gill plate, one supporting the mid-body.
Lure Fishing from the Bank
Shore lure fishing for pike is one of the most mobile and active approaches available. Rather than waiting for a pike to find a deadbait, the angler covers water, searching multiple features with artificial lures.
Tackle
- Rod: 7-9ft lure/predator rod, test curve to match lure weight (20-80g is standard for most UK shore pike luring)
- Reel: Fixed spool, 3000-4000 size
- Mainline: 30-50lb braid – the low stretch gives better feel and hook-setting at distance
- Leader: 30-50lb fluorocarbon or wire trace, minimum 50cm, with snap link for quick lure changes
Lure Types for Shore Pike
Large swimbaits (5-8 inch): Jointed or single-body hard lures that mimic large prey fish. Retrieve on a medium-speed straight retrieve or with pauses. Visible at range.
Spinnerbaits: Wire-armed lures with a spinner blade and silicone skirt. Cover water quickly and work through light weed. Good for bank fishing where underwater vegetation makes conventional lures snag-prone.
Jerkbaits: Hard lures fished with an erratic, jerking retrieve – rod tip pulled down and to the side between pauses. Effective for pressured pike. Require a stiff rod.
Soft plastic shads (4-8 inch): Fished on a heavy jig head (28-42g for distance casting), a slow sink-and-draw retrieve covers the mid-water column. Versatile and effective. Change colours to find what is working – natural perch/roach patterns in clear water, chartreuse or orange in coloured or low-light conditions.
Covering the Bank
The advantage of shore lure fishing is mobility. Move along the bank, covering features systematically: cast parallel to reed beds, into gaps in marginal vegetation, alongside fallen trees, under overhanging banks, to the downstream end of bridge supports on rivers. Do not linger too long in one spot if pike are not responding.
In rivers, cast across or upstream and retrieve with the current. Pike often hold in slacks, eddies, and slower water alongside fast current.
Float Fishing Live and Deadbaits
Float fishing provides a way to present baits at a specific depth, particularly useful in shallow margins or under overhanging trees where a ledgered bait might snag.
A sunken float paternoster setup is common for bank float fishing: – Large pike float (cigar-shaped, 2-4oz capacity) set to suspend the bait just above the lake bed – Short trace hanging below the float on a paternoster boom – Works well for fishing alongside reed margins and in gaps in lily pads
Float fishing is more active than ledgering as the float provides a constant visual reference point and the angler stays more alert.
Essential Pike Care Bankside
- Use a large, pike-specific unhooking mat
- Long (30cm+) forceps or pliers for removing treble hooks
- Wire cutters in case of deeply embedded hooks (cut the wire rather than tearing the hook)
- Return the fish promptly, upright, and supported in the margins until it recovers its equilibrium
Pike are robust but suffer disproportionately from poor handling. A fish returned on its side without support may not recover. Lay it horizontally and hold it in the margins until it can swim away under its own power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use two rods for pike bank fishing?
The EA rod licence covers up to two rods. However, individual fisheries may restrict this to one rod for pike fishing. Check the fishery rules before setting up multiple rods. Some club waters allow two rods with prior permission; commercial fisheries vary widely.
Where is the best place to cast a deadbait from the bank?
Near features that provide ambush positions: reed beds, lily pad margins, sunken trees or branches, bridge arches on rivers, jetties, channel margins (where a drain or stream meets a lake). In rivers, cast to the downstream end of obstructions where pike hold in the slack water created by the feature.
Do I need wire traces for pike?
Yes, always. Pike have sharp teeth that will cut through monofilament and even fluorocarbon quickly. Wire traces are not optional – using braided hooklinks or monofilament for pike risks the fish breaking free with hooks embedded in it, which is a welfare issue.
How long can I leave a deadbait in the water before recasting?
A fresh deadbait in cold winter water can remain effective for 1-2 hours before it breaks down significantly. In warmer water (early autumn), replace baits every 30-45 minutes. When recasting, always check the hooks are sharp and the bait is still firmly mounted.
Is lure fishing or deadbaiting better for shore pike?
They complement each other. Lure fishing covers more water and is better for exploring an unfamiliar venue; deadbaiting is better for fishing a known spot where pike are known to hold, or in cold winter conditions when pike are less willing to chase. Many experienced pike anglers combine both approaches during a session.