Deep hooking and swallowed baits has affected or will affect every pike angler at some point in their pike fishing. So if it happens or has happened to you, you are not alone. The way some pike take a bait can sometimes create the situation without warning despite every effort we as anglers make to avoid it!

Despite all your effort you have a deep hooked pike on the bank! 

OK, despite all the best efforts you have on the bank a deeply hooked pike. Dependant on the hook trace type and hook spacing you may have one or both hooks down the pikes throat. Whilst some will tell you there is nothing you can do about this and you should just cut the trace and let the pike go, it is important that you do not do this! 

So what should you do?

If you are a novice with no experience check to see if there are any experienced pike anglers around to help you, if not you should consider trying to unhook the pike yourself. If it is a commercial fishery see if the bailiff or owner can help.

OK you are on your own, if you are correctly equipped you should have a good pair of forceps, of reasonable length in your tackle bag and if you follow the example shown in the picture above you should be able to attempt to unhook your pike. You should start by either lifting the pike up off the ground or by kneeling astride it, holding it up so the head is raised and the mouth open. You will need either a friend to pull the trace or you can do this by gripping the swivel between your teeth. An alternative method is a piece of leather and a hook made from a paper clip for you to hook into the swivel and to hold the leather in your teeth.

The idea here is to pull the hook and throat flesh outwards enough to expose the hook shank, it will come despite appearing impossible, just maintain a firm pull until the hook appears and then insert the forceps carefully through the gill rakers and get a firm hold on the shank if the hook. If you have followed our advice and used semi barbless trebles you will have only one arm of the hook to worry about. Once attached turn the forceps in a clockwise and or anti-clockwise rotation until the barbless hooks are free, then carefully work the barbed hook free and then push the released hook(s) out of harms way and take your forceps out through the gill rakers.

If you are unable to release the barb on any hook, then the other option is cut that hook off the treble with some side cutters, you may have to do this through the gill cover again so be extremely careful. Try to make every effort to avoid wearing any gloves whilst doing this as these can snag up on the rough gill rakers and you could break or tear the rakers when trying to get your glove free, no gloves no problems!

'please do not just cut the wire in an attempt to conceal the deep hooking'In the event that you fail to release your hooks in any way please do not just cut the wire in an attempt to conceal the deep hooking, it will likely seal the fate of you pike resulting in its death from a sealed throat. Whilst it is a somewhat controversial statement to make, cut the line at the swivel and leave the trace in place, place the fish in a carp/pike sack or tube until you are ready to leave the fishery, someone may come along who can help you later in the day, so keep your eyes open! In the event that you have to leave, then take the pike from the sack and release the fish, it is possible that it will be caught again and the angler who catches it will be able to remove your hooks, many of us have done over the years. We can't do this if you cut the wire!