Fenland drain fishing with a stunning looking Pike

[@davek-yy8xu]

Great video mark! The colours on that pike were stunning… those gold spots! Best of luck for your next session Kind regards, Dave

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

Cheers Dave, I could catch fish like that all day long

[@v.rudeboy9829]

as kids (11/12 yr olds) we use to fish the river Freshney in Grimsby using either worm or maggot. we used to get a tin of pilchards stab holes in it tie some string to it & throw it into the swim & fish either over or around it.. never failed.. back in the late 80s, on the Witham there were a couple of guys pretty sure it was the Chapman bros of that maggot farm local to Woodhall Spa..? they use to catty tonnes of maggots out whilst piking on the Witham.. even though piking was still very good on there, they used to bag loads of pike...

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

Yes it can be a deadly tactic to draw in the silvers whilst Piking! But if you used the tin Pilchard approach on the Middle Level it would be Crab city in 5 minutes 🤣

[@v.rudeboy9829]

@Fishing4Pleasure yeah, fished the Middle back then as well, but never had any crab action..

[@markpoyser4075]

Thanks Mark. An interesting debate on boosted baits. Personally I don’t, but can see the benefit of doing it. You could soak your bait in oils and freeze them to absorb the oils too. The other debate is which bait. Does one bait catch more than other Smelt, Herring etc or is it just having your bait in the right place at the right time that matters more?

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

For me a large Sardine has always produced more and bigger Pike

[@grahamrobinson6455]

Lovely pike Mark . Lovely colours. I use boosted baits mainly when the drain is murky . I think it helps . Gutted no Zander not had one for a long time. Great video 👍 🎣🎣🎣

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

Slim pickings on our waters these days mate 🎣👍

[@jamesb99]

I have started this season using holy mackerel and so far caught more already this season and still catching on non boosted as well though. Boosted winning so far. Nice pike Mark, tight lines.

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

I've heard good things about them 👍🎣

[@marcozwarionato3509]

satanic sardines man

[@borderlands6606]

One thing that switches pike on in my experience, are prey fish confidently feeding nearby. Occasional catapults of feed round the dead baits seems to do the trick.

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

Good call 👍🎣

[@iainbriggs7963]

Top vid as always Mark 👍 if you get chance could you do a in depth on how you tighten down into runs please? How long you leave before tightening and how much pressure you apply when doing it how fast you reel down to the Fish etc I’ve just started using circle hooks and had four runs but only connected twice! Any info would be gratefully received Boss 👌 thank you

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

I'll have a go at it this weekend, so will publish next week

[@iainbriggs7963]

@ brilliant Mark it would be very much appreciated 😎👍 I’ve fished for 40 plus years mainly for Barbel and Carp in Yorkshire. I’ve always been put off fishing for Pike using snap tackle..terrified of doing them damage with deep hooking. Your vids using circle hooks have inspired me to have a go and I’ve had Two at just over 11lb. I will be honest though I have no idea with the hook setting crack😆 thanks for your reply! 👍

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

@@iainbriggs7963 took me the best part of a season and a half to get confident in them and I missed a lot of runs

[@iainbriggs7963]

@@Fishing4Pleasure I will persevere with them as think they are so much more Fish friendly 😎👍

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

@ianbriggs7963 That video you asked for will be out Friday mate

[@LynEdwards-tk2fs]

nice pike mark on a quiet day i agree with you bud to boost your baits just gives you that i am trying something different and just another way of trying to temp a fish but like you say if its dropped on its nose it will probably take it anyway how many anglers put extra attracttants in thier ground bait personnel choice ,cheers bud stay safe

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

It could be the difference on a tough tough day

[@kemalhussein6106]

Hi Mark, nice video as always with great advice. Can i ask how far off the bottom do you like to fish your paternoster rigs?

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

I set them at different depths from 18 inches to 3 feet to see where the Pike are

[@kemalhussein6106]

Thanks Buddy

[@ryandoherty6174]

Do you use chopped fish, like a rubby dubby ever? Good tip for syringes. I'm a Zander virgin 🤭 Where do you recommend on a day ticket up your next of the woods? I'm bringing boost on my next session. I just got a bottle from E.Turner.

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

I never used chopped fish unless I'm prebaiting a week in advance. Day ticket wise, where are you based? That way I could maybe recommend somewhere with minimal travelling

[@ryandoherty6174]

@@Fishing4Pleasure thanks for the pre bait advice. I'm in Loughton, so up the m11 is easy for me.

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

@@ryandoherty6174 Not far from you the river Lee used to be great for Pike, but that was a long time ago. If you're coming up the M11 I'd head for the Great Ouse at and to the North of Ely. big head of Zander especially in Ely but the whole stretch up to littleport is good www.littleportanglingclub.co.uk/venue/great-ouse-littleport/

[@ryandoherty6174]

@Fishing4Pleasure I really appreciate that information! Lea Valley is great, but fancy new scenery and want to catch a Zander. Top man Mark, keep up the great videos!!!!

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

@@ryandoherty6174 Ely area is definitely best for the Zeds

[@johnstockburn6396]

You have some nerve wearing that fleece ,.oh dear I was no where near my welding mask ,...tight lines mate

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

tip from John Wilson red brings out the colours of the fish that's why he wore that red jumper. well that's my excuse 🤣

[@johnstockburn6396]

Good enough reason when you have john Wilson on side ,...tight lines mate

[@larsvegas1505]

Im still on team roach, catch the fish on their natural forage... but never hurts to try..

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

Can't beat a Roach 👍👍🎣🎣

[@condelaneycd]

Never tryout busted bait got all on porch or smelt and mackerel con from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@NeilShearer-ok2gi]

She’s a monster pike but she will get bigger over the years

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

She definitely is a cracking fish to look at!

[@Waynecarr99]

January, February I'll use oils don't bother this time of year when it's mild weather... dunno if they work any better but they give me more confidence when it's really cold 😂

[@Fishing4Pleasure]

That's all that matters mate 🎣👍