Squid for pike fishing

[keora]

I mostly use frozen smelt about 5 to 6 inches long when pike fishing with deadbaits. There seems to be a lack of smelt - and in fact most other frozen bait species - in the fishing shop I go to.

But there were plenty of frozen squid, about 4 to 6 inches long.

Has anybody tried them for pike fishing?

 

[no-one in particular]

I use them for sea fishing, my local tackle shop does two sizes, mini and larger ones. I can use them whole or cut into strips. Whether they would catch Pike I don't know but why not try them. Maybe two rods one with the squid and see how you get on. I imagine mounted on some sort of pennel trace and used like a spinner would be more productive, a pike or a perch may just instinctively lunge at one. As a dead bait, they smell a lot so could be more attractive in drawing a fish in than say a smelt which has less scent. Worth a try I would have thought especially as you say your usual dead baits are in short supply. Food is food to a hungry fish and an easy meal of squid might just work, I think they are full of amino acids as well, not sure of that one. Just googled it so there you go, what a clever species we are, we are certainly not doomed..

The result shows that squids contain non-essential amino acids, namely aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, alanine, and tyrosine. According to figure 3, the highest non- essential amino acid in squid is glutamic acid containing 2.07% for fresh squid, 8.61% for dried squid, and 12.13% for paper squid.

 

[peter crabtree]

Pike eat anything fishy sea or freshwater….

 

[chevin4]

I think like most dead baits they would work for pike certainly it would be offering something different where the fish have been hammered. Since the waters I fish for pike are very weedy I find a pollen works well as it is a naturally buoyant bait so there is need to use balsa or similar materials to pop them up

 

[peter crabtree]

Pollan

 

[Steve Arnold]

I have used octopus legs, fished sink 'n draw on deep sections of a Scottish loch. The pike enjoyed them and I have caught several jacks!

Not sure if it's just the tantalising twisting action, but the fishy smell must seal the deal!

 

[keora]

Great, thank you for all your views, I'll try some squid. I've eaten it a few times - cut it up, fry it a few minutes, add tomatoes and garlic, cook a bit more, add chili flakes, eat it with pasta.

 

[dave77]

Ive had success using squid on the Tees some years back.

 

[keora]

Thank you.

 

[Rod & Annette]

Can't say I've used it myself but can't see why it wouldn't register an interest. I've used Whiting quite successfully for Pike though. I think the brightness of the white squid (similar to the Whiting) could be a factor in this.

 

[russell_bush]

Personally I wouldn't bother with squid for pike. I think you'd be in with a very long wait....

 

[keora]

Did you try squid for long?

When you look at them, the legs - or are they arms - look soft and pliable. Possibly with a few twitches each cast, they might attract pike. If I can’t find anything better I’ll have to buy some squid.

 

[Avon Trotter]

If I can’t find anything better I’ll have to buy some squid.

Why not try some lures, give the dead baiting a rest and put some mileage into walking and trying each swim for 15/20mins..

Or go to the fish counter in the local super market, I used to get all my Pike bait there, mainly Sprats and Herring.

 

[keora]

I’ve lure fished on many occasions. I find that by early winter lure fishing gets harder so Ikeep tackle to a minimum and just take a rod suitable for deadbaits. I managed to buy sprats in the local market recently.