How to catch pike on spinning gear
The pike is the ambush predator of our waters: it lies motionless by weed, snags or reeds and strikes suddenly. When spinning, you hunt for it actively: you cast a lure, retrieve it like an injured fish and keep moving until you find one.
Its teeth cut through line, so you need a wire trace (or thick fluorocarbon). The rest of the gear is simple and also suits perch or zander.
Species: Pike
What you need
- Rod: a 2.4-2.7 m spinning rod, casting 10-40 g; for big lures, 15-60 g.
- Reel: size 3000-4000.
- Line: 0.12-0.18 mm braid.
- Wire trace: 20-30 cm of steel or titanium, or thick 0.60-0.80 mm fluorocarbon.
- Accessories: a strong snap, long-nosed pliers for unhooking, a landing net with a rubberised mesh, braid scissors.
Baits
- 8-15 cm crankbaits, surface ones or ones that run at 1-3 m.
- Large spinners and spoons.
- 10-15 cm shads and twisters on a jig head.
- Spinnerbaits near weed, and jerkbaits in autumn.
When to fish
- Autumn is the best season: pike feed heavily before winter.
- In summer, morning and evening; on overcast days with a light wind, all day.
- In winter, on milder days: in deep water, with a slow retrieve.
- Check the closed seasons below: pike have a closed season of their own, on top of the general one.
Where are you fishing
- Weedy lakes, reed beds, channels, arms of the Danube, the Danube Delta, reservoirs and slow rivers.
- Weed edges, channel mouths, snags, jetties and changes in depth.
Step by step
- 1
Attach the trace. Tie the trace to the braid via a swivel and clip the lure into the trace's snap.
- 2
Find the fish. Start with a search lure (a spinner or a crankbait) and fan-cast: 5-10 casts in one spot, then move 10-20 m.
- 3
Vary the retrieve. Steady, with short pauses, with twitches of the rod tip; in cold water, slower and closer to the bottom.
- 4
Fish the lure right to the bank. Pike often follow the lure and strike at the last moment: slow down or pause near the bank, and don't whip the lure out in a hurry.
- 5
Strike. When it hits, strike firmly and always keep the line tight; let the drag do the work on the runs.
- 6
Unhook safely. Net the pike, hold it under the jaw, keeping clear of the gills, and remove the hook with the pliers; if you release it, hold it in the water until it swims off on its own.
Common mistakes
- Fishing without a wire trace: you lose fish and lures, and the pike is left with the lure in its mouth.
- Always retrieving the same way, at the same speed.
- Staying too long in one spot without a strike.
- A snap that's too weak for a big pike.
- Holding a pike by the eyes or the gills.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What lure colour should I choose?
In clear water, natural colours (perch, small fry, silver); in murky water or under cloudy skies, bright colours (chartreuse, orange, white).
What lure size works?
8-12 cm is a good start; in autumn, when pike hunt big fish, try 15 cm or more as well.
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: Pike rig (wire trace + lure)
- Fishing knots: Palomar
- Releasing fish properly: Pike
Fishing for pike by county
Find where to fish in the RoFish app
The map of fishing lakes and public waters across the country, the species filter, the rules of every spot and “Am I allowed to fish?” for the day you pick are in the RoFish app, on your phone.