Wrestling a Predator- Pike fishing in Ireland

The trout and salmon season has closed. So recently, on a Sunday evening, dad and I went pike fishing. We went to a close by river. As soon as we arrived we saw lots of Roche jumping. Every second there were lots of Roche in the air and then the water splashed as they were falling back in. In the winter Roche come to spawn in Lough Corrib. This lot were on their way.

When we saw the Roche jumping we figured there would be pike around. I used a savage gear articulated bait which mimics a perch moving in water. As soon as I cast I saw a huge wave follow my bait! He didn't bite though. But we knew he was there.

Third time I cast, there was a tug on my rod. First I thought that I may have gotten caught in weeds.
But then, my rod began to move. Then I knew that the pike was hooked. The fight began. My rod was bending hard as if it was about to break. Dad instructed me to keep the tension on and to use side strain at different times to tire him out.

There was a lot of splashing and jumping when the pike tried hard to get the hook out. At one point he almost pulled the rod from my hands and into the water. I was worried I might lose him. But eventually he got a bit tired and I managed to reel him in close. We had misplaced the net so my dad had to pull him out holding him by the neck.


The pike was still fighting, even on dry land. I was trembling from the effort and with excitement. This was the first pike I ever hooked and reeled in all on my own.