Pike Fishing with Deadbaits - Three Ways to Avoid Deep Hooking

Duncan Charman takes a look at three ways to help reduce the chances of deep hooking pike when deadbait fishing for pike, especially when legering baits.
We hope you find these simple tips useful. As Duncan states, the most important thing is to use good bite indication and to strike immediately - never wait!
Keeping the hooks towards the tail end of the bait is also very important, as pike always swallow baits tail first (so the fins are folded back and don't catch), plus popping-up baits can also give more positive runs, and helps stop pike from taking baits down before moving off.
If you are wondering why we are using single hooks on the pop-up rig, that's because we happened to be filming this at a venue where that was the rule and we had taken this rig off one of our fishing rods.
Thanks for watching, we hope to release new pike fishing tips and tricks videos regularly, so please check out our channel and why not subscribe?

[@adventurewithj4680]

For me depends what rig you are using. I freeline with a single circle hook. Never deep hooked and tend to leave it 30secs once I’ve noticed a take. Every pile strikes different

[@alanstebbings2886]

Totally with picking up and striking as soon as the alarm goes off
I've more than once had a couple of beeps, the line hasn't peeled off and I've tightened into a fish that's not moved off with the bait

[@richpeas1924]

Great advice. I notice on the pop up rig you're using a single hook at the back, what size hook would you recommend?

[@suffolkngood]

I've used a single long shank aberdeen 2/0 for 25 years.
Never deep hooked a pike yet !

[@clivecarpenter9374]

Circle hooks are the way to go if you don't want to deep hook a Pike. You may not hit as many bites but the fish will be hooked in the scissors every time. I'd rather miss the odd bite than potentially harm a fish due to deep hooking.

[@UPTHETOWN]

Circle hooks?

[@terryjacob8169]

Use circle hooks, the most intelligent way of avoiding deep-hooking.

[@andrewaulton1043]

3 years of using circle hooks never deep hooked a pike, all in the scissors, take them out with your fingers, cmon Pike anglers ditch the trebles, you dont need them