Practical tackle

Introduction to the CD Edition

Pike Fishing with Lures  has been out of print for some years now, yet I still get asked for copies. So, rather than reprint a book that is now a little dated, and with most people now having access to a computer, I decided the simplest answer was to put the book onto a CD-ROM.

Like all angling books that discuss tactics and tackle Pike Fishing with Lures is very much of its time, yet the overall tenets still hold good: that lures catch big pike; that bigger lures are better for that than smaller ones; that baitcasting tackle is best for fishing those lures. Even now Pike Fishing with Lures will provide a newcomer to this side of pike or lure fishing with a sound footing.

This CD-ROM edition of Pike Fishing with Lures operates in a web browser just like an on-line website. To visit each chapter simply go to the Contents page and click on the chapter title of your choice. At the end of each chapter there is a link to the next one so you can read the whole 'book' from start to finish if you wish. Each page contains links to return you here or to the Contents page.


The only revisions to the text of the original paperback edition for this CD-ROM edition are the inclusion of two missing parts of paragraphs, improved spell checking and the removal of now out of date contact information in the appendices. As a result some information, particularly regarding the availability of certain tackle or lures, is now out of date. Currently active on-line contacts have replaced certain contact addresses - to visit them simply connect to the internet and click the relevant links.

Wherever possible the original photographs have been scanned and appear in colour. However, most of the original lure photographs, and some others, have been lost and have therefore had to be scanned from a copy of the book - which is why they appear in poor quality black and white.

David Lumb

March 2004


Introduction to the On-Line Edition

What you see here is essentially the CD edition with updated links to external sites. The text has not been altered again and so is even more out of date in places!

More recent writings can be found in the Articles section of dlst.co.uk.

David Lumb
May 2009


INTRODUCTION

I suppose what this book boils down to is a look at the way I view pike fishing with lures today.  Hence the "Modern Approach".  It is not the only way to go about things, but it is the best.  I say that for I sincerely believe that the lures and techniques I use these days catch me more and bigger pike, and with greater regularity, than any I have used in the past.  I don't claim to have originated this approach, nor to be the only one to use it, but I do know that it works.  And it works well. 

I can't deny the American influence, which has been strong on everyone who has watched U.S. pike and musky videos.  However, this has only provided a springboard for us to leap from.  In the past American bass techniques and tackle had been used by some almost as if worshipping at some holy shrine.  This had little to do with our pike fishing though, or even the American's, as these videos have so clearly shown - and as I explain elsewhere.  I still have my reservations about certain American concepts, and would urge anyone watching U.S. videos too do so with an open mind. 

One thing that has put a lot of pike anglers off lure fishing in the past is the impression that it is a small fish method.  I know that people like Gord Burton have been saying that lures are good catchers of big pike for twenty years or more.  But not many have listened, even though he has shouted loud enough!  Provided that big pike are present, they can be caught on lures.  The key is to believe that they can.  As you read on you will gain that faith.  Lure fishing is not just about big fish, but I am sure that most pike anglers would like to catch them more often!  Please don't think that that is what this book is all about, for like most of you I spend more time catching small fish than I do big ones, and I enjoy it all.

But back to the book.  I hope that I have achieved my aim of making it an informative and practical guide.  With luck the text progresses in a logical manner, covering the whys, hows, wheres and whens of pike fishing with lures.  I have tried to make things as comprehensive as possible.  Even so, I am sure to have omitted one or two points that should have been covered.  Another problem when writing a book about lure fishing is that tackle and lures are constantly being developed.  Still, I think things are reasonably up to date. 

Finally, a word on the photographs.  While some of the lures pictured are battered, others might look untouched but have actually caught fish.  One or two lures have been shown simply for the purpose of illustration.  I have tried my best to include a picture of every lure mentioned in the text - I hope I haven't missed too many out.  All the pike shown have been caught on the lures mentioned and in the manner described, and none have been re-hooked for the photographs.  If the quality of some of the  trophy shots  leaves a little to be desired, this is quite simply down to the fact that I often fish alone, and always put the pike's welfare before the desire for superb photos. 

David Lumb
March 1996