How to Dead Bait for Pike: A Beginner’s Guide

If you’ve ever stood on the bank in autumn watching mist creep across the water and thought, “This is perfect pike weather” — you’re not wrong. As the days shorten and the water cools, predators switch on, and suddenly, dead bait becomes the weapon of choice for anglers across the UK.

Dead baiting for pike isn’t just effective — it’s arguably one of the most exciting ways to fish. The anticipation of that float sliding under, or the screech of a drop-off indicator, can get the heart racing faster than a double-figure pike on the end of your line.

But if you’re new to it all, it can feel like a dark art. What bait? What rig? What rod? Do I just lob in a mackerel and hope for the best?

Fear not. In this beginner’s guide to dead baiting for pike, we’ll cover everything you need to know: tackle, rigs, bait, and techniques — all with a good dose of wit and wisdom from the bank.

Fish care should always be the top priority while fishing for Pike.

What is Dead Baiting for Pike?

Dead baiting is exactly what it sounds like: fishing with dead fish (fresh or frozen) as bait to tempt pike. Unlike lure fishing, which relies on movement, dead baiting uses the pike’s natural scavenging instinct. Pike are opportunistic feeders — if they smell an easy meal drifting in the water, they’ll take it.

In colder months, when prey fish slow down, pike find it easier to hoover up a sardine or smelt than chase a fast-moving lure. That’s why dead baiting really comes into its own from October through March.

Tackle You’ll Need for Dead Baiting

Like all good fishing methods, you don’t need to remortgage the house to get started. Here’s the essential pike fishing tackle:

• Rod: A 2.75–3.25lb test curve rod, usually a dedicated pike rod or carp rod, gives the backbone you need to cast dead baits and play large fish.

• Reel: A decent fixed spool or baitrunner reel loaded with 15lb mono or 30–40lb braid. Don’t scrimp here — pike fishing can involve long casts and heavy resistance.

• Wire Traces: Absolutely essential. Pike have teeth like razor blades, and without a wire trace (20–30lb test), they’ll slice through your line in seconds.

• Hooks: Twin treble snap tackles are the go-to for dead baiting, though some anglers prefer doubles or singles for easier unhooking.

• Floats & Weights: For float fishing, use slim pencil-style pike floats. For ledgering, a simple running ledger with a 1–2oz lead does the job.

• Bite Alarms & Drop-Off Indicators: Optional but very handy when ledgering. They save you from staring at your rod tip all day (though let’s be honest, that’s half the fun).

• Landing Net & Unhooking Mat: Pike safety comes first. A big 42” triangular net and a padded mat are must-haves.

• Forceps or Pliers: At least two pairs, 12” long. Because you will need them.

At Bait Butcher Fishing Tackle, we stock all the essentials to get you set up for dead baiting season — from strong wire traces to reliable pike floats.

Best Dead Baits for Pike

Now for the fun bit: what actually goes on the hook. Pike aren’t fussy, but some dead baits are legendary for results.

• Mackerel: A classic. Oily, tough-skinned, and irresistible to pike.

• Sardines: Soft and smelly, ideal for float fishing but can come off in long casts.

• Smelt: The connoisseur’s bait. Small, white, and with a cucumber-like smell that pike can’t resist.

• Bluey (Pacific Saury): Tougher than sardines, casts well, and packed with oil.

• Herring & Sprats: Readily available and effective.

• Lamprey: A bloody, wriggly-looking favourite. Pricey, but deadly.

Tip: Always have a selection. Some days they’ll hammer mackerel, other days they’ll turn their nose up unless it’s a smelt.

How to Rig Up Dead Bait for Pike

There are two main methods beginners should master:

1. Float Fishing with Dead Bait

• Slide a pike float onto your mainline.

• Add a stop knot to set the depth (usually just off the bottom).

• Attach your wire trace and snap tackle.

• Hook the bait lightly through the back or lip so it sits naturally.

This method is visual and exciting — you get to watch that float bob, dip, and slide away when a pike takes.

2. Ledgering Dead Bait

• Thread a lead weight (running free) onto your line.

• Use a buffer bead and swivel.

• Clip on your wire trace and baited snap tackle.

• Cast out, set your rod on rests, and use a drop-off indicator or bite alarm.

Ledgering is perfect for long waits and deeper waters where float fishing isn’t practical.

Top Tips for Dead Baiting Success

1. Don’t cast and sit forever – Move your bait every 30–60 minutes if nothing’s happening. Pike are hunters; if they’re not coming to you, take the food to them.

2. Pop it up – Insert a bit of foam or use a bait popper to lift your dead bait just off the bottom. Pike love a bait that hovers enticingly.

3. Keep it fresh (ish) – Frozen baits are fine, but let them thaw properly. Half-rotten baits are more likely to fall off than catch you a fish.

4. Strike early, but not too early – Give the pike a couple of seconds to turn the bait, but don’t let it swallow deep. Early striking = safer unhooking.

5. Be mobile – If nothing’s happening, don’t be afraid to try a different swim. Dead baiting is about location as much as presentation.
   

Pike Safety & Handling

It can’t be said enough: pike welfare comes first. They’re hardy fish, but they need proper care.

• Use an unhooking mat and big net.

• Wet your hands before handling.

• Keep unhooking tools ready.

• Return fish quickly and carefully.

There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a big, healthy pike swim away strongly after giving you the fight of your life.

Why Dead Baiting for Pike is Addictive

Dead baiting has that perfect mix of anticipation and adrenaline. You might sit for hours, float steady, alarms silent — and then, in a split second, chaos. A float slides under, your rod tip lunges forward, the reel screams, and suddenly you’re connected to a toothy predator with serious attitude.

For many anglers, that moment is all it takes to become utterly hooked on pike fishing.

Final Thoughts

If you’re new to dead baiting for pike, keep things simple: get the right tackle, a handful of reliable baits, and learn one or two basic rigs. The rest comes with experience — and a fair bit of patience.

Whether you’re float fishing with a smelt on a misty morning or ledgering a mackerel in a deep, dark pit, dead baiting gives you a real shot at that fish of a lifetime.

So stock up on wire traces, grab some dead baits, and get out there — pike season is calling.