In the UK, Pike Fishing has seen a drastic change from being a niche territory into a full-fledged art form in the UK. These apex predators seem to fascinate anglers who spend a whole week and more engrossed in them. However, destination fishing is entirely different from a day trip to a local pond. here, you base yourself at a spot and spend several days learning the water and giving yourself a genuine ric at the pike of a lifetime.
In the UK, there is remarkable variety in pike fishing. From vast reservoirs with cruising fish in the open water to small gravel pits that require more strategy, the SPrawling and Unique Character of the Norfolk broads to the much bigger wild Scottish lochs, and everywhere. Whole experience of fishing the spot makes it speical. More fishing is done here than anywhere in the world, and it is more about the memories and ips.
Chew Valley Lake, Somerset – The Southern Specimen Water
As one travels through the Somerset Countryside the peace breaks, and one reaches Chew Valley, a 1,200-acre reservoir, though it doesn’t scream at you “specimen water”, it most certainly is, with plenty of pike over 20lbs, with the occasional fish of 30lbs getting caught every season, and the lake record being over 40lbs, with regulars persisting on the idea that there is something even larger prowling the waters.
What makes Chew special is the food chain rainbow trout, that are stocked for fly fishers and provide pike with protein, spawning rapid growth of the pike here. It’s a little tougher to catch a 15lb from Chew than a 20 from another stillwater, while the 15 from Chew is a memorable scrap, the other is a slow tug. 15lb is a conservative estimate here, from a well conditioned, fit, and aggressive pike.
Cottages are available for accommodation in the villages of Chew Magna and Chew Stoke, though hotels are available, you will appreciate the self catering cottages in the area, as it will let you fish on your own timetable without being held back by hotel eating hours. 15 minutes from the lake you will be close enough to reach easily, but also far enough to feel you’ve properly escaped. The Bear and Swan in Chew Magna is a great little hotel with a homey feel stuffed with the hearty meals you appreciate after a day on cold water.
Norfolk Broads: Fishing a Living Landscape
The Broads are not a single expanse of water but rather a collection of rivers and lakes along with their various interconnecting channels and waterways, covering a total of 303 square kilometres. This creates an unparalleled fishing experience in other parts of Britain. This is not just fishing; it is an adventure through uncharted waters, learning to read and navigate through various aquatic structures and habitats.
While fishing for pike on the Broads, the experience is one of a kind and offers an unparalleled level of adventure. In the morning, you might decide to fish on one broad, and in the afternoon, you can hop through the dykes and decide to fish on an entirely different broad. The variety is immense- shallow, weedy broads, where pike sneak up on their prey and ambush from cover, deeper waters, where they patrol, and rivers where it’s more about fishing with the current than in still water.
It’s worth pondering about staying on the Broads. Holiday homes in the villages of Potter Heigham, Wroxham, and Ludham provide the benefits of mobility, and you can also set up your kit and because you cannot annoy any hotel staff. If you prefer more of an experience, you can also select a traditional Norfolk wherry or motor cruiser. You are more or less able to fish right from where you are staying and to temporarily dock your boat at a spot where you wish to fish and do so at an early hour without much hassle. There are very few things better than waking up to the sight of being on water, brewing your coffee while the mist from the broad disappears, and doing an hour of fishing before the early risers.
You will need to familiarize yourself with the various club and syndicate systems of the Broads. Some waters have an available day ticket, while others will need a member of the Environment Agency or a local club. Researching where you would want to fish is better done before to avoid finding out when you get there that you have less or no fishing options at some of the sites you had on your list. Local tackle shops, specifically Richardsons in Wroxham, dispense permits, and more importantly, advice on what tackle to use, and what is biting.
Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire: The Crown Jewel Of The Midlands
Covering 1,560 acres, Grafham Water is one of England’s largest reservoirs and has built an impressive reputation among pike anglers. The lake holds a good head of pike of sensible size, doubles are caught with a reasonable frequency. Twenties and the occasional thirty are also known to be caught, reminding anglers that Grafham has special fish swimming around.
What sets Grafham apart is the rovelling. Blank days are a rarity with the water, but high catch days do vary. The reservoirs size is a double edged sword, as even fish are a work, an, while fish do spread. This is not a place to cast and wait, as the place is absoutely barren.
The western shore does offer shore access with various different configs. These include points, bays, deeper water and shallow edges, and a sizeable anchro. This bank is is also offer a boat, which is easial more effective to access aforementioned bank.
Grafham provides lodging as The Wheatsheaf at Grafham, which is a pub with rooms at the edge of the reservoir. You can go fishing until it gets dark, then it’s a 5-minute walk to your room, have dinner at the pub, then go back to the reservoir first thing in the morning. For larger groups or extended stays, lodges and cottages around the villages of Grafham and West Perry offer a variety of self-catering options.
The fishing at Grafham is a year-round activity, but the fishing is more concentrated to a particular type of fish over certain times of the year. The best fishing is during winter, particularly from January to March, when the pike is spawning. In warmer months, fishing with lures becomes more effective. With in particular, the surface lures providing more action when pike are holding shallow.
Loch Lomond, Scotland: Wild Pike in Epic Scenery
The Loch Lomond is the best of the best when it comes to pike fishing. This gigantic 24 mile long loch has a greater volume of freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. The mountainous scenery is a sight to behold with views over the water and islands. The weather in the area is constantly changing, providing a different view with every passing moment.
Fishing for pike on Lomond is slightly different when compared to the South. The densities of the fish are slightly less; however, the average size of the pike is usually much larger than those in the South. It is common to only fish several pike in a day, only two or three, but there is a high likelihood that there will be a pike that is over ten pounds, or more than that.
It is difficult to find fish with the loch’s large size with no local knowledge or without a guide. The more accessible southern, shallower end by Balloch has a good amount of pike, but the north end is steeper, deeper, and more intimidating. The fish are in the island edges, rocky points and weed beds, but finding the right spots takes a lot of water coverage.
There are multiple operators around Balloch and Luss that provide boat rentals. If you are a more experienced angler, some provide only the boat for rent without a guide. The latter is usually the preferred option for a first visit, since there is more fish to catch, and no time wasted on spot.
There is lodging ranging from hotels in Balloch to cottages around Luss as well as lodges at places such as Rowardennan on the eastern shore. If you wish to mix fu