the basic pike kit (1)
this page, and the following pages, is dedicated to showing you the basic kit you must have before you set off in your quest to catch pike. before i do, however, i would just like to say that pike fishing doesn't need to be made into a science! like anything else in life, fishing does have rules and methods that work best and with more knowledge and experience we become better and more understanding, but that doesn't mean that you can't go to your local river and not catch a pike just because you have never done so before. follow the basic rules, use the right equipment and keep on practicing and reading books and your knowledge will grow; as well as your experience and pike catching. learn the basics first - then step up a gear and try new things and start to buy the more "exotic" bits of equipment you see other people using. always remember though - they have been doing it a few more years than you and they will all have started out just like you are now AND they will often resort back to the "basics" when everything else appears not to be working!
what rod should i buy?
there is a belief that any carp rod is suitable for pike fishing, and in some cases i would agree, but a carp rod isn't really designed to cast long distances with a heavy bait and that is where a carp rod might let you down. although they are designed with big fish in mind they aren't always 100% ideal for pike. instead, buy the proper tool for the job and invest in a good pike rod. i said before i'm not going to go into the science of pike fishing so my "basic" advice is simply this - look for a pike rod of 10-12ft in length, a test curve of 2¼lb and ask the shop assistant to ensure it has a good tip action and i promise you, your first piece of basic pike kit is a good choice and won't let you down.