A Rough Guide to River Pike Fishing... On the wobble!

This is by no means a definitive account of river Pike fishing but my personal take for the roving pike angler with particular emphasis on the use of a wobbled deadbait (aka sink n draw).

Traveling light is the order of the day while roving a river bank. This mobile approach has to be one of the most exciting and versatile ways of catching Pike so let us address the basics that are essential for a successful day on the wobble.

Rods
My preference is for one of around 10’ or 11’ or sometimes 12’ with a test curve of 2.25lb. My choice is always based on the river I intend to fish. A rough rule of thumb is the bigger the river, the longer the rod, again there are other factors I consider when choosing my rod, like the features I will encounter (such as trees and reeds) and the quality of the banks I will be roving.

Reels
The choice of reels is very much a personal choice but I like to use some of the smaller Shimano Stradic range (4000 series) with the fighting drag at the rear, having tested several reels in the past I can confidently say that every single ounce saved on your choice of reel makes a huge difference at the end of a long session of continuous roving and casting!

Line
Braided lines are a must for the modern day roving Pike angler, my opinions are most certainly based on the welfare of our Pike, I do not see any excuse for using mono on our rivers while wobbling. If we think a quality super braid is expensive then we have to take a closer look at how we use it. We can certainly buy a 300 metre spool of line for under £20.00 and if we load just 100 metres on our spools then we will be getting the most economical use of the braid. In my experience a 100 metres of braid is sufficient on all rivers and should last a few months (and for the occasional angler maybe a full season). Therefore cost should not be the issue! I digress, a braided line of between 30lb (13.5kg) and 50lb (22 3/4kg) will suffice and of course the use of a wire trace is mandatory.

Clothing
Your choice has to be dependant on the season and conditions of the day and with due consideration of the many variations of the river banks we may encounter while roving. A Fly fishing waistcoat with lots of pockets and storage is a must for travelling light. Also, it would be ideal if the waistcoat has a D ring at the back for clipping your net. Suitable boots and chest waders are advantageous and come into their own when conditions for wading are good or if poor banks are to be fished.

Vital Accessories
I consider the following items to be essential for a good days roving and for diligent care of the Pike.

A collapsible net that is stowed on your D ring at the rear of your fly vest. A proven net is available from Harris Sportsmail and is called the QED Huntsmen. This net is widely used by the British Pike Squad who specialise in the fine art of wobbling a deadbait. These nets come with a large knotted mesh and never get snagged in the treble hooks, unlike the majority of nets on the market today.

A good pair of long forceps secured to the front of the waistcoat like the predator range that Fox manufacture and a pair of side cutters. Polarized glasses are another must have item and wearing them for stalking Pike is one of the most exciting aspects of wobbling as most of the takes can be seen and it is a magical experience each and every time you see the Pike strike.

A suitable unhooking mat which can be clipped onto one of your D rings. A waterproof bum bag which is big enough to hold your frozen deadbaits. A large rig bin containing several made up traces (traces covered in more detail below). Scales, weigh sling and camera just in case!

Finally it has to be Mars bars and a bottle of water, oh and a small first aid kit with plasters because at some point and at some time you will feel the point of a treble hook!

Rig Setup
The rig setup is a very simple and straightforward affair. (see Rig image below) This setup is versatile and very uncomplicated to use, the trace is 18” to 20“ long and has a breaking strain of 30lb with a 50lb swivel at the top which is connected to a snap link swivel on the braid. The deadbait, be it Smelt or Roach, is hooked as shown in the image below.

The use of SSG shot is simply a means of controlling how the deadbait is worked in the water and compensates such factors of the depth and speed of the flow of water, in some cases it is not used at all, usually shallow water or water with little of no flow.

Tactics
Ok, we have covered the basics, now let us look at our approach to a successful day on the wobble. Stealth and observation has to be the focus as we approach the water. We start by casting to the margins at our sides then we cast out in a fan shape to cover the water and if we do not get a take we move to the next swim that’s available. I should mention at this point that if we get a pike to strike and it misses the bait, or if we fail to connect then do not move! Just flick out the deadbait and work it in the same area of the strike. I would spend a few minutes trying to get the fish to take it again and you will be surprised just how many times you actually land the fish.

Q, How do we know we have had a take?

A, You will get a tap on the end of your rod, sometimes it is a full blown rap that pulls the rod tip around but this is rare. When you feel this tap at your rod tip we have a few options on when to set the hooks and different anglers deal with them differently. Having said that, the more you practice this way of fishing the more idea you will have on when to set the hooks. My personal choice is to strike straight away but on the occasions when I see the Pike strike (and I can see the placement of the fish in the Pikes mouth) then I make a judgment on when to strike however if you are starting out then strike as soon as you feel the tap on the rod tip, this avoids deep hooking and for the inexperienced Pike angler it is going to be difficult to remove the hooks. More information on removing deeply hooked Pike can be found on many Pike forums and I would certainly advise that you take the time to read about this situation but to date I have not experienced a deeply hooked Pike…

This method of Pike fishing can also be used on canals, lakes and reservoirs with great effect. Most of the time we are going to catch the smaller specimens but occasionally you will hit the doubles. I would consider a good day on the wobble to produce several fish and don’t be surprised to get into double figures. All in all, it is a superb way of catching Pike, it is not however for the lazy angler and after a good 8 hours wobbling you will be ready for well deserved rest!

The more you practice this fine art, the more you will get out of it. Using this method I have caught Pike to 18 pounds, Zander over 11 pounds, Perch over 2 pounds, Chub close to 5 pounds and even a 4 pound Salmon.

So get out there and wobble!

Peter Timmis