Rigging live pike for jew

[gogecko]

First go at using live pike, and I put a 4/0 hook thru the back, about half way between the head and dorsal, and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the spine.Pike was about 6 in long. I knew I had to miss the spine, but he still went dead as soon as I put the hook in. Hmmm, now livie is a 'deady'. Next one I rigged thru the lips, from the bottom , up out thru the top, and hes dead before hes deployed too. Did another thru the lower lip only, he survives for 15 mins, then I check the bait (wrong move) and hes swam off the hook when deployed for a second time. Using 30lb braid, with 80lb trace, and a running sinker.

Whats up? How should I rig a pike so I dont kill him?

Thanks guys,
Andrew

[Bill_Klein]

try the tail end mate maybe that'll work

[imnotoriginal]

how are you handling the fish? Maybe that might be the problem. Try holding them in a wet towel. You don't need to hook them that deeply, just make sure they are secure. Good luck.
Joel

[land-lubber]

with pike, use a 2 hook rig, cause there a long fish, it will both help ur hookup rate and prevent the hooks pulling so easily.
put one hook in behind the head, through the shoulders and the other in behind the dorsal, before the tail.
place the hooks thought the body, above the latoral line, not below the spine. below the spine probably pierced the guts and caused a fatal injury.
theres not a lot of room above the latoral, but thier quite tough and the hooksd shouldnt pull.
use a rig like the one under 'live bait rig (new model photo)' but just do it on ur standard mono trace.
snell the 1st hook on (do a google and work out which one is best 4 u) and tye the bottom hook on as u normally would.
hope that helps
cheers

[gogecko]

Thanks mate, I was going to go to a 2 hook rig. I know I did cause a fatal injury by getting too close to something internal.

Whats a latoral line? Will I find that on google too?

[Hookem_Herby]

Gogecko,

The lateral line is where the spine of the fish is, it's backbone so to speak. Most fish have dots or some marking showing you were this is. Have a close look next time and I'm sure you'll notice it.

Good luck,
Herby

p.s. Streaker started another thread in Saltwater chat about towing livies. Webby has posted a good diagram, which depicts a 2 hook rig with the later being a treble (for up the fish's butt). Might be worth giving that a try as well, using mono instead of wire obviously!

[Jacksta]

Yer i have looked at that rig... looks solid but the haywire twist confuses me i have researched it and had no success. It looks very simple but do you need wire trace to do it ? because i was using mono! if people could post a diagram or give me some info or help about it that would be great

Thanks Joel