Pike on fish baits: float and static fishing

Fishing with fish baits is the oldest way to catch pike: a small fish held by a float next to the weed, or a dead fish laid on the bottom. Pike hunt from ambush, and a fish that moves or gives off scent tempts them even when they refuse lures.

The fishing law (Law 176/2024) doesn't ban fish baits on lowland waters; however, the association's, the protected area's or the private lake's rules may ban them, so read them first. On mountain waters, salmonids may only be fished with artificial lures.

Species: Pike

What you need

Rod: 3-3.6 m, rated 40-100 g, for float or bottom fishing.
Reel: size 4000-5000, with a free-spool (baitrunner), so the pike can take line without feeling resistance.
Line: 0.30-0.35 mm monofilament or 0.15-0.20 mm braid.
Wire trace: essential: 40-60 cm of wire, with a single hook or two small trebles; thin fluorocarbon gets bitten through.
Float: a 10-30 g pike float, depending on the size of the bait fish, or a running lead for bottom fishing.
Accessories: a big landing net, long pliers, a glove, wire cutters, an aerated bucket for the bait fish.

Baits

8-15 cm fish of non-protected species with no legal minimum size, caught legally from the same water: bleak, roach, rudd.
Deadbait (bleak, roach, rudd or shop-bought sea fish such as sardines), laid on the bottom, especially in autumn and winter.
Never use fish of protected species (crucian carp, for example) or fish below the legal minimum size: you're not allowed to keep them, so you can't use them as bait either.

When to fish

Autumn and winter, on ice-free water, are the best seasons: big pike go after easy prey.
Morning and late afternoon; in overcast weather, all day.
During the pike closed season (the dates are below), don't fish with fish baits: the rig catches almost nothing but pike.

Where are you fishing

Next to weed, reeds and lilies, at canal mouths, around snags and pontoons, in quiet bays.
In autumn and winter, on the edges of holes and on deeper slopes, where small fish gather.
On private lakes, only where the rules allow predator fishing and fish baits.

Step by step

1
Catch bait fish legally. Catch them on rod and line, from the same water, from species with no minimum size, and keep them in a bucket of fresh, aerated water. Don't move live fish from one water to another: you bring in diseases and non-native species.
2
Attach the trace. Tie the wire trace to the line via a swivel; hook the bait fish lightly, through the top lip or under the dorsal fin, so it stays alive and swims.
3
Set the depth. Set the float so the bait fish swims at mid-depth or just above the weed; a deadbait goes on the bottom, with a running lead.
4
Let the pike take the bait. When the float moves off positively and goes under, open the free-spool or keep the line slack: the pike grabs the fish crosswise and runs a few metres with it.
5
Strike in time. Strike after a few seconds, when the line starts moving off steadily again; don't wait too long, so the pike doesn't swallow the bait deep.
6
Unhook quickly. Net the pike, hold it under the jaw with a glove and remove the hooks with long pliers; if you're releasing it, hold it in the water until it swims off on its own.

Common mistakes

A rig without a wire trace: the pike bites through the line and is left with the hook in its mouth.
Waiting too long before striking: the pike swallows the bait deep and is badly injured.
A closed bail or tight drag: the pike feels the resistance and drops the bait.
Bait fish of protected species or below the legal minimum size.
Bait fish brought in alive from another water.

Rules on natural waters

Pike
Minimum size: 40 cm
Species closed season: 1 February - 20 March (Danube Delta: 1 February - 7 June)

General closed season: 9 April - 7 June (the periods differ on border waters and in the Danube Delta)

Daily limit: At most 5 kg of fish per day, or a single fish if it's over 5 kg.

The rules above are for natural waters (rivers, lakes, the Danube), where you also need a permit. On a private lake the lake's rules apply: many are catch & release or have their own limits.

For information only, not guaranteed legal advice. There are many local exceptions (Danube Delta, border waters, catch-and-release sections) not covered here. Always check the official ANADSPA (formerly ANPA) source before fishing.

All closed seasons → · The fishing permit →

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to fish for pike with livebait?

The fishing law doesn't ban fish baits on lowland waters, but the association's, the protected area's or the private lake's rules may ban them: read them first. The bait fish can't be of a protected species or below the minimum size, and during the pike closed season pike are not fished for at all.

Livebait or deadbait?

Livebait attracts through movement and works well next to the weed, under a float. Deadbait, laid on the bottom, works very well in autumn and winter, in cold water, and is an alternative where the rules ban only livebait.

How big should the bait fish be?

8-15 cm is a good size for most pike; in autumn, for the big ones, slightly larger fish are used too.

What is the minimum size for pike, and when is the closed season?

In natural waters, the legal minimum size is 40 cm; smaller fish must be released. It has its own closed season: 1 February - 20 March (Danube Delta: 1 February - 7 June). The general closed season also applies on natural waters: 9 April - 7 June.

Step-by-step guides

Rig guide: Sliding float (waggler)
Fishing knots: Palomar
Releasing fish properly: Pike

Fishing for pike by county

Tulcea · 98 Timiș · 54 Călărași · 46 Bihor · 42 Ilfov · 40 Arad · 39 Cluj · 36 Giurgiu · 36 Botoșani · 33 Iași · 33

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