You MUST WATCH This Video If You Bait Fish For Pike!

This video is a must watch for anyone that fishes dead bait for pike! In this video we take a look at one of the most popular rigs in pike fishing. The float ledger. In this video a camera is positioned beneath the surface watching the bait and another is watching the float, so we can see exactly what happens when a pike takes the bait.
Instagram - / the_ginger_fisherman

[@kemalhussein6106]

Brilliant footage / video. I have been piking 20+ years and still find it fascinating / learn new things, about how Pike behave underwater! Thanks Chris...simply the bets fishing channel on YT!

[@psavory7703]

Would be great to see a similar video on a traditional ledger rig with a drop-off indicator and also a standard deadbait float rig incorporating a egg weight as opposed to a ledger on the bottom.

[@chrissimons3754]

Would love to see the swing arm sensitivity vs the bait being taken, I’ve always had confidence with keeping a tight line to the bait so as soon as I get movement I can be on it and strike, seems to have served me well with no deep hook holds also would like to see the difference between popped up and on the deck as I wonder if the pike tends to ignore the bait due to it being on the lake/river bed and getting a mouthful of silt and mud, they seem to knock it up in the water before grabbing it when they do take Also I’ve noticed a lot of fisheries moving over to single hook rules and not allowing trebles, so many things I would like to see the differences between And also to Chris, thank you for taking the time for making and sharing you’re footage, I find it fascinating seeing how the fish react underwater and thanks to your hard work I can 👍

[@stur2781]

Superb video and from what I regularly see on YT.. very much needed. I,ve been fishing for Pike for over 30 years & I still can’t believe the delayed strike method is a thing. It is usually banded about by people who haven’t got a clue. The PAC have been advocating for immediate striking and proper bike indication for years. NEVER EVER delay striking. 👍🏻

[@matimus100]

How did he know what sex the fish 🐟 was.....? before landed the fish 🐟 my son would like to know learn this 🎣

[@steveglitch1393]

Males (Jack) pike only go up to a certain size. If a fish is over 5-6lb then you can pretty much guarentee it is a female.... :) @@matimus100

[@larsvegas1505]

i fish with fireballs all the time (from boat), always hit the rods as soon as i see the bite.. i dont mis much and if i miss its mostly smaller fish trying to eat a bigger bait. Just caugt a 122cm last sunday..that fish would probably eat all the fish filmed in this video.. like swallow them whole. My rig was like .20 braid on a small baitrunner, 1 ounce pear weight, bead, swivel .80 fluor (about 2-3 feet) to a size 2 treble. Easy works most of the time. And i always use 1 treble cause i dont like hooking myself.. and the net hastle it brings. I always hook the bait in the nose though, because pike likes to grab it that way, also dragging baits another way seems unnatural to me.

[@mickmgmjg8187]

Cracking video that. Well done

[@bigmoncrief6071]

Your dedication to fish welfare as part of an enjoyable day's fishing is brilliant.

[@AtlauaFishing]

I’d love to see how you would rig a popped up bait on a ledger rig! You could also compare a standard ledgered bait with a popped up one underwater! That would be interesting bud! Top video as always 👏🎣

[@Sonikks]

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for the effort that goes into your videos mate. This is your best and most revealing video to date, imo. Fascinating how little indication you get, or none at all in some cases. Pike are curious and it's anyone's guess what they're truly "thinking" when they stare at the bait. I know myself and likely many, many others would really appreciate it if you could film some footage like this with pop-up deadbaits. I've been pike fishing for a few years now and pop-ups have always brought the better fish for me. However I tend to have blanks more when using them. Some lakes they work, others they don't. I don't think you have used them on your channel before so it might make more a challenge for yourself as well. I started using the pop-up balls from PikePro but I've switched to the balsa sticks that are inserted into the deadbaits and found them to be much more fruitful. I'd love a video on both of those if you're willing. I'd even send you a packet if you wanted! Cheers!

[@dfee100]

When float ledgering I always fish the float half cocked, rather than flat on the water, that way most of the slack line has already been taken up, which gives better bite indication.

[@potats1770]

How do you cock the float so it's half way up? Do you just have to estimate the depth and cast it out a few times to get it right? Also if you're deadbaiting far out and you're not using a float, how many beeps from a bite alarm would you need to wait for so it would indicate a strike so you don't gut hook the fish?

[@dfee100]

@potats1770 you just reel in until the float cocks, that why you get better indication, as the slack has been taken from the line, you see the slightest vibrations. With alarms I always use drop off indicators with them, sometimes I've had the drop off go without getting any bleeps, and also I always watch the rod tips, as sometimes you'll see them move before any of the alarms or drop offs.

[@potats1770]

@@dfee100 Thanks for your help

[@rogerflatt8054]

Fantastic vid, Chris, one of the very, very best on KZbin. I think the "old days" of waiting 30 seconds are fortunately *long* gone. As soon as you get a good signal off the float/whatever, tighten up and lean in. The 'twitch' method when dead-baiting is a trade secret - well worth passing on. Gets a lot of fish. I think it's been referred to as "Inch retrieving"? Can be devastatingly effective. Take a look at Mick Brown's dead-bait rig - I don't use anything else these days, used it for years. It's got the lot. Tangle free, casts miles, weight snag release, bait to rod tip connection so you see everything. Finger tipping the line during a pick-up is phenomenal - you're connected! Tight lines!

[@davidcairns7349]

Thanks Chris, you're doing something unique with your underwater filming and tactics - please keep doing it - really informative and entertaining. You've changed the game! 🙂

[@bernardcribbins7083]

This will save a lot of pike's lives, no doubt. It's amazing how it engulfed the bait straight away with only a tiny movement on the float. Fair play, this will definitely save a lot of pike suffering needlessly.

[@Ifithomescom]

So pleased with this I stopped dead baiting 15 years ago after catching a pike that had someone else’s trace deep hooked I tried to help it made me stop dead baiting just in case it happened to me

[@nickmeekins7643]

Interesting video as usual, and no lost landing net. A couple of points: 1. Why did you think you needed a 2.5 oz lead? I fish fairly shallow Fen drains and I try to use as little lead as I can, none if possible, and let the bait cock the float. 2. Why not cock the float so that there isn't a delay between the take and the indication? Your co-ordinated videos showed that the pike had taken the bait with little or no indication on the float, I am sure that a cocked float would give a more instant indication. Here's to a good autumn/winter campaign. Nick

[@davemurdison9029]

I thought a lighter lead might have been better - it was pinned to the floor during the first take. I was hoping someone else had said it first 😂

[@oldbloke135]

Exactly. If you are basically freelining, just using the float as an indicator, there is absolutely no need for a huge float and big lump of lead. Fish the float like a waggler, sink the line and tighten everything up. The pike can't move the bait without the float doing something, either lifting up and falling over, or disappearing.

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

I think its because Chris was simulating a more popular setup in waters other than the canal, he was merely fishing the canal for convenience of filming ... thats my take anyways... I remember years ago, Mick Brown saying he prefers HEAVIER leads 3oz or more... but that was on a non-float running rig in still waters...🤔

[@Corax_Dawai]

Absolutely great video, gave us some insights of what is happening below the float. I will definitely set the hook earlier in the future, the pikes will benefit from it. Just one tip. You just landed the fish after a very short drill and removed the hooks with your fingers. If the pike had started moving in this very moment, the chances of your hand or fingers getting hooked is very big. I already had two barbed trebles in my hand since I started fishing, since that I will only touch the hooks with pliers.

[@AcvaristicaRomania]

I have a childhood memory with my Dad bagging me to remove faster the hook from his hand with a plier, while he was holding the pike with the other hand to prevent it from shaking :))))))))) That image flashed in front of my eyes right there.

[@gregorytaft5904]

I really appreciate that fish care is paramount in this video. We love to catch fish but it is important to cause as little harm to them as possible, Thank you for having that conversation.

[@TheWobblyFace]

Great underwater footage there Chris and also showing the need to strike early so as not to deep hook. My best pike came drifting a dead bait under a bung and it hit the strike early.

[@DjDolHaus86]

I often wonder how much a pike/perch's vision is based on movement. I've seen a lot of footage where they seem to hone in on stuff really accurately while it's moving but as soon as it becomes dormant/still they seem to either forget about it or spend a long time looking at the object but not really seeing it. I know this is an evolutionary thing in a lot of predators where they see the contrast of movement a lot better than colour contrast and this is why so many prey animals such as rabbits and deer freeze when they spot a threat (ie. a brown rabbit doesn't stand out in a green field to the eyes of a hawk as long as it stays still). The curious reaction of pike to your camera could just be fluctuating light bouncing off the shiny surfaces of the camera giving the illusion of movement

[@jimmymac4559]

In the lake I do most of my fishing in, I’ve found that dead and motionless minnows laying on the bottom are preferred by the larger perch. I’d it’s alive you can’t keep the smaller ones off of it.

[@Leon011]

I always strike early, I'd much rather have a couple of misses over any more deepys. Had some absolute nightmare unhooking scenarios and I don't want to re-live them. Another belting vid mate

[@markalbini7377]

We've got Sammy Hitzke down under and our Ginger Fisherman up here. Opposite ends of the world but two of the most informative, positive, professional and personable hosts of the best fishing videos out there! Keep up the amazing work guys! A meet-up video would be off the scale!

[@lesbaty8919]

Thank you very much for educating people about pike fishing and fish care and your underwater filming is absolutely outstanding , thanks again chris

[@ForstHeld]

This is so brilliant. Dont know how you do it to bring this amazing content so frequent. Keep doing what you doing!

[@The_ginger_fisherman]

Thanks buddy. It takes a lot of stressful hours 😂

[@raymondthompson1476]

A beautiful masterclass in dead-baiting pike fishing. Many thanks. Raymondo.

[@karlwoolley7383]

I love watching these videos, it takes me back to youth fishing in the uk.... i now live in Australia... ❤

[@750triton]

Boy! How things have changed since the 70's, the last time I went pike fishing. Live roach bait, we had to catch first, on double treble and pike bung float. First pike I ever caught, on a Winfield (Woolworths) 7' tele rod and Intrepid reel - 14 LB, was nearly as long as I was tall

[@matimus100]

Manchild

[@EsoxLVCIVS6776]

Try using a couple of beads to pop the deadbait off the bottom slightly. It always worked for me as opposed to my friend next to me who used the traditional rig that you show in the video. I always used wine corks as floats with some leaves and grass attached with bait elastic. It looks more natural than the pike float

[@scottkelly4020]

Brilliant video! 👏 👏👏 When people ask me "When should I strike?" I tell them its a DEADbait so it cant move on its own. Any indication means something has picked it up and seeing as fish dont have hands to pick it up, it must be in its mouth, so strike!

[@GAMEKEEPERJOHN]

Excellent video buddy thanks for the video ❤️

[@andrew1040]

Really enjoyed that. One thing that I’d do differently is to use forceps to unhook it. I was worried that the pike would start flapping and would imbed that treble on your hand

[@nigelsmith186]

Not just the treble, a Pike WILL go for your hand and their gnashers are needle sharp. I know this! Always long forceps to unhook.

[@johnwilson3918]

Thank you for sharing this. I loved seeing the reactions of fish underwater. I don't bait fish. I did about twenty years ago- but after catching Pike that had swallowed my bait, with no indication from my float - I stopped. Most of the fishing clubs in the Sussex area don't allow Pike fishing in the Summer - (I love using popping/surface lures). I've now resorted to mostly Fly fishing.

[@davidholland3499]

Hi m8 ave never commented on anything on youtube but watched the underwater pike video an have to hand it to u pal thats gotta be the best pike fottsge ive ever seen an proper informative keep doin wot u r doin m8 tight lines 👍🏻

[@tommycarping]

Fantastic Video, gives a great insight into the pikes actions underwater

[@ETr4d3]

I use sinker on the bottom -> rubber stopper -> antitangler (for carp fishing) with fluorocarbon leader and treble hook -> rubber stopper - > large float (30-60g) and use the 2 rubber stoppers to adjust the depth of my bait, not to be too close to the bottom, as we have lot of bottom grass, but also not to be too close to the float. If its over 3-4m deep, will keep the bait in the bottom meter. If about 2m or less, will leave at the middle.

[@FishWithAJ]

I've never baited for pike, fished for them for years so maybe it's time I should give it a go. Great vid as always.

[@markbuckingham125]

One of the best Pike videos I have seen, really interesting. Thanks for making.

[@thomashallam9817]

Ginger fisherman, you sir are a legend. Big fan of your videos. This was a brilliant video. Such indepth info and evidence of pike behaviour. I'm always fascinated into what the pike are doing down there under the water. Keep up the good work. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@nightspring1995]

Caught my 1st jack pike the other day now I'm hooked on getting bigger and better pike so I'm deadbaiting my next trip thank you so much for taking the time to show us all this amazing underwater videos

[@mrskint55]

Good information . I have always set hook at first indication,and I only ever use single hooks nowadays. I do miss some fish but at least I don’t have to deal with a deep hooked fish.

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

This is why I've always used a non-float setup... simple running leger... The delks set for max. sensitivity (allowing for wind / waves) ... and the slightest nudge and they'll beep... As virtually ALL my fishing is in still waters, floats don't figure in my angling... BTW, I ALWAYS pop up my baits as I feel I get amore positive take, the pike isn't faffing around on the bottom possibly trying to extricate my bait from weed or whatever... I'd be interested in a similar video but with multiple baits deployed to see if the pike show a preference though I do know different waters will get different results... It seems like there are many different experiments yoj could try, but the time involved would probably be prohibitive... Thanks , mate ! ... 🤗 😎👍☘️🍺

[@cliffordlee1898]

Great informative video Chris ,god knows how many times all fish have mouthed the bait with no indication,really makes you think about presentation, for all fish

[@mattlenton2012]

These videos, are quite revolutionary actually. Game changers in pike behaviour.

[@MancunianToryDespiser]

Superb, Chris. I, like countless others were taught the ten second rule. This dispels the myth completely. I’m gonna try this weekend on my river. Thanks buddy. Keep up the sterling work.

[@petermolyneux3825]

Love watching your videos' .Your enthusiasm, experience and casting ability along with the presentation make me quite envious .Many thanks.😊

[@jimmycburfield5997]

Brilliant video Really helpful Psychologically I can imagine pike circling around. This will keep me going through the Autumn and I may actually catch a few!

[@markharvey1041]

That was brilliant mate…well done in the effort and getting this together, must have taken a while. As a long time pike angler mainly in the Thames this was really interesting. Would be fascinated to see what happens in areas with pike AND crayfish….a real nuisance in my area 😫

[@Chi11iPino]

Probably the single most useful video on the internet!

[@D.B-cooper4556]

Gorgeous fish. Northern pike is one of my target fish. It was great to learn something new

[@kulower6853]

THAT, my friend, is some serious work!!! I don't how much time, money and effort it took but damn...that is some really good work. And i'm notbinto deadbaiting, it's not my type of fishing. Thank you for that man. Greets from Germany

[@Abeyptfc]

What a great video mate, very interesting. You would think the pike would see a free meal and be off with it but they are quite picky and hesistant about taking deadbaits. Love your vids man, keep up the good work👍

[@davidhoult4653]

Wow! Better than any book. Superb watching this. is a great teacher. Thank you. And thank you for the time put into this vid. Keep going.👍👏

[@mark24o965]

Legend you Chris another great educational video for anglers not on a level

[@BobbyBlues]

You almost sound like a professor brian cox, you explain things the exact same way almost. Amazing.

[@richardostroman8978]

A little trick we use here in Canada when bait fishing for pike is to clip a float(bobber) to the line at the tip of the rod. When the fish takes the line the float is pulled down as the line goes out. Lets you know how well the pike is on and you can tighten up the line if the action stops. If you see your float going out really fast you better grab the rod before you lose it. (Tie it down if you have too)

[@shaunpearce5722]

If you have your hooks well spaced ie hook in the tail and a hook in the head of your deadbait you don't need to wait to strike as 1 of those hooks will hook the pike as soon as you strike. Waiting is an old wives tale. Great video bud

[@benmaverick9875]

I really enjoyed this video! just literally wrote down notes because I learned a lot here . just subscribed and hit that bell! actually looking forward to see what else you've done. Awesome viewing Chris.

[@Paul-md4zb]

Literally opened my eyes but weirdly it makes perfect sense.. Look forward to more of this as it will massively help pike care.. Think another reason maybe they are attracted to your camera is electric charge... Literal line n sensors on snout will feel them.. Float thing is interesting but perfectly explained 🙏

[@LG_Fishing]

Really interesting to see. Seeing the impact of that barge on the water and fish was well worthwhile.

[@-protected-7524]

Very interesting to see the under water footage, it does explain some experiences i had while fishing pike, but most of the time after picking up the bait they started moving/swimming, only more bigger fish behaved like in the video. I usually fish by just having 1 hook in the mouth of the bait, since they always swallow head fist, just wait a little .. no extra hooks needed this way with some patience.

[@reaper7jl89]

Does the pike always go for the head first? Wondering because where to best place, the hook on deadbait.

[@Tsvetan_Dikov]

Great video, mate! Would love to see a pike fishing with live bait! Cheers

[@Beesa10]

Interesting stuff, they definitely nibble at the bait sometimes which I've suspected was eels in the past but then a lot of times a hungry pike will just inhale it. Goes to show how a bit of movement can get them interested and it's worth trying a freelined wobbled/twitched bait or working a bobber float around with the bait up in the water as well as fishing static baits on the bottom.

[@mikeg3293]

Pure quality Chris, the effort and attention to detail is quite superb and much appreciated. Fabulous to watch. Thank you yet again.

[@A10011]

Very talented angler and educator.

[@iaincurrie9706]

Absolutely fantastic video. Well done!

[@BlackCountryPiker]

Some brilliant footage there Chris👌

[@spence4099]

What a great video I always tighten up so float is cocked rather than laying flat gives you instant bite indication I normally strike within 10 seconds you do lose a fish now and again but rather that than deep hooking once again great vid 🎣

[@jamesvan-lint7351]

Totally changed how im going to fish - amazing thanks !

[@tonyhansom3160]

An amazing video well done,I think everyone has learned something from your videos today, let’s hope this saves many pikes lives.

[@gerardallsopp5508]

Really interesting video big ask any chance of a video using circle's as I stopped using trebles a few years ago and have still had a few deep hooked fish be interesting to see what happens as I always hook the bait through the tail.

[@sgthaggis1448]

I'm not into Pike Fishing but this was very enjoyable to watch and interesting to see how they behave around the bait, they remind me of Dogs somehow 😂 Would be good to see this set up for Trout or Salmon. Some cracking angles and shots there.

[@davebrunette6394]

Nice job. I used to fish dead bait for pike in the bay of lake Michigan at the mouth of rivers and streams leading in to the bay just after the ice melted in the spring. I suspected some of the things the your cameras recorded, now I know. Thank you.

[@bennygesserit8738]

excellent video , very good production plus very informative

[@spyrothedragon2413]

This confirms for me that striking immediately is paramount, the fish has engulfed the bait already, there is no need to hang fire for 10 seconds before striking

[@nickhall982]

Awesome vlog Chris. You keep excelling yourself and your work is so interesting and confounds some of the received wisdom about delayed striking. Keep up the great work. Many thanks.

[@alrith72]

I enjoy the videos but never uses a mat 😕

[@Boxersboy-um1fd]

Chris - at last! - something different, especially with regards to striking on Pike runs. Timed your commentary from the first indication to the strike when you had hooks in the baits - 6 seconds - great! - I hit mine on 5 seconds regardless, twitched sprat on a sink and draw trace, 3 seconds. Early striking always minimises the chance of a deep hooked fish - you lose one? - tough! - think of the fish. Hopefully, those who watch this who are looking to get into Pike fishing will take heed - probably one of the uploads (in my opinion!) that you have done. Boxersboy

[@gezgriffiths3793]

Excellent as usual Chris very interesting thank you 👍🏻👍🏻

[@nathantyson5265]

Great video yet again Chris. Always is. Also your canal is so clear! Mine is well traveled, the visibility is usually about 8 inches 😂

[@welshhunter7284]

Outstanding vid as always, Hopefully put some of this for my second session of season tomoz

[@deividas_kimontas]

Amazing content Chris! 🔥 We love pike fishing! 🎣

[@daviddevine1757]

One of your best very cool and the barge silt movement was interesting.

[@steveappy6921]

As a pike lure fisherman I can tell you many wonderous catches and lunatic takes and pike antics. Your video is another entertaining and interesting lesson Many thanks, Spinning Steve Appleby as nicknamed by Steve Rogowski my friend.

[@fishermanDom]

Great video very informative, we need to see more of these before any conclusions are made though! As is seen they will sit with a bait and mess with it before moving off and there is no indication, But they will also engulf a bait like the one in the video and swallow it also giving no indication! So you could strike instantly at the first sign of any indication and it still be deep hooked. I think from the comments it shows how interested anglers are in seeing this type of video, do more please 😎👍🏻

[@chlopski]

Hi Chriss just want to say been using your technique recently and been lucky to catch 5 pikes in less than 2 hour’s and there was som units biggest one I caught had 101cm then chunky 96,80,75,68cm all in one spot from my local lake all on live roach . Thanks for inspiration. As always Big Respect 👊🏼😉Big Love for everything you teaching us . Thank you 🎣🎣🎣🦈🦈🦈

[@jonathanpawliw743]

Brilliant footage mate, you can see the pike you caught at the end eating the bait to the right of the float if you look 😉

[@XfireWTF]

Great vid! Would make an interesting series, especially with popped up baits (air, balsa etc.)

[@tonystrange3893]

That was really interesting thanks for your time and effort making it,

[@davidrichardson6872]

I'm a sea angler but your content is great.

[@TopstekTV]

Amazing footage! Quite the experience 🔥

[@garycmusicfun4012]

Good video, very interesting. The part in which you mentioned about the oils and float reminded me of something I see last winter. I cut the head off a deadbait and threw it into the lake in about 1ft of water, it landed next to what looked like a squashed tin can, amazingly, a pike came along and instead of picking the fish head up, it picked up the tin can and swam off with it, leaving the head behind 🤔.

[@dt1607]

Your a clever fella, great piece of filming again 👏👏👏👍

[@paulmansell8393]

I've always been told to reel into the fish then strike when you have tension already on the line, you get me!

[@jonathansmith5850]

Very interesting……..changes how I think about float dead baiting this season. I’ve always waiting for float to either travel or go under. Not anymore. I may have even lost fish as they let go when I may have been able to hook when it twitched

[@stephenclair4214]

Great vid, your going to help me catch a decent pike this winter Thanks

[@derekmay8679]

Loved that...great footage and great information... Personally I always crush the barbs on any treble trace...cant stand deep hooking fish... Brilliant hooking experiment there...a lot of people will learn a lot from it... Keep these under water action vids coming mate...they're so interesting...

[@lexuscraig]

Bravo chris, that was superb. Im a big advocate of striking early. I hate that old school wait 10 seconds rule. And im old😊

[@lidder1973]

Wow im not easily impressed but the attention to detail and research is brilliant, wish i watched this video yesterday haha, because i had twitches and ignored it, great upload

[@scottwilson2801]

Great video , their is a good chance most anglers would have deep hooked that first fish. It would be good to see a standard ledger rig with drop offs and alarms just to see how much movement there is before their is any signs on the bank

[@shellandlee24]

I would love to see a under water video involving pop up deadbaits just to see what happens or how the pike react

[@mattgoodchild8215]

That was a fantastic video took a lot of effort and well worth it fantastic footage thank you 🎣🍺

[@janedurston8939]

Thanks Chris this vid really helps, no one wants to deep hook any fish K/r Mr D

[@rysrys5213]

Yes, more movies like this ❤❤❤❤❤

[@richardcates8605]

Thank you for this video, it's been so informative!