Pike Guiding: Pike fishing with a professional fishing guide

Content:
1. Guide to Pike Fishing: What is a Pike Guiding and What Can You Expect from a Pike Fishing Guide?
2. Pike Fishing Guide: Differences Between Pike Guides and Pike Guiding!
3. What Sets Full-Time and Part-Time Pike Guides Apart?
4. How Much Does a Pike Guiding Cost?
5. When to Go Pike Fishing? The Best Season for Pike Guiding!
6. Where to fish for Pike? Suitable Waters for Pike Guiding!
7. Booking your next Pike Guiding 

Guide to Pike Fishing: What is a Pike Guiding and What Can You Expect from a Pike Fishing Guide?

Most anglers seeking pike guiding primarily want one thing – catching fish! There are various reasons why one might go out with a guide. Some want to surpass their personal record for the largest pike caught, while others aim to learn more about pike fishing in general and how to consistently catch pike. Some are looking to catch their very first pike. All of these expectations are reasonable when considering a pike guiding experience. While no one can guarantee you'll catch your biggest fish with a guide, with a knowledgeable and experienced guide, it should be within reach, unless your biggest pike is already over a meter long. Generally, you can expect to be led to productive fishing spots and, with a bit of luck, make contact with pike, perhaps even experiencing moments of double-digit catches. Anything is possible when your guide knows what they're doing, and conditions are favorable. After all, if this isn't the purpose of guiding, then what is?

Pike Fishing Guide: Differences Between Pike Guides and Pike Guiding!

A so-called "pike guide" is typically an experienced pike angler who has been successfully targeting pike for several years, if not decades. However, just like with all types of fishing guides, you should differentiate between a professional guide who works full-time and one who guides as a side job. Someone who offers pike fishing tours five days a week is likely to accumulate a greater wealth of experience over the years compared to someone who does it part-time. Both types of guides will help you catch pike, although there will still be days when the fish simply aren't biting. Considering experience alone, a full-time professional guide is likely to catch more pike on average with their guests. However, it's essential to understand that this experience is often reflected in the guiding cost.

What Sets Full-Time and Part-Time Pike Guides Apart?

It's important to note that these differences can't be generalized entirely, and we're talking about higher probabilities of distinction. Pike fishing can be done from the shore or from a boat, with boat fishing being considerably more successful for pike. The ability to cover large sections of water or quickly change fishing spots offers excellent prospects. Don't get me wrong; you can still catch pike from the shore with a guide, but you'll have limited options when it comes to selecting fishing spots. The equipment on your guide's boat also plays a role. Does the boat have a powerful motor, a good fish finder, or an electric motor with anchoring function? All these factors can make a difference and offer added comfort for fishing. The likelihood that a full-time guide will have such a well-equipped boat is quite high. Nevertheless, a standard boat can be sufficient since knowledge of the waters and reading conditions are of greater significance. As a guest, you just need to know what you want. When it comes to guided shore tours, these "equipment or technology differences" aren't as significant.

How Much Does a Pike Guiding Cost?

The cost of pike guiding varies and depends on several factors. For example, does the guide have a boat? Is the guide a full-time professional? How long has the guide been in this profession or part-time job? You can expect that the longer a guide has been working, the higher the price for a tour with them. A larger and better-equipped boat also translates to a higher price. You can find the prices for each guide directly when booking your tour. However, on average, the price will be around €150-€400.

When to Go Pike Fishing? The Best Season for Pike Guiding!

The choice of the best season for pike guiding depends on what you want to experience. If you aim to catch a massive pike and break your personal best, it's possible in any season. You have a good chance of achieving this in open waters during summer or in the winter. On the other hand, late spring (after the closed season) and autumn promise a high frequency and good numbers of pike. Your choice depends on your preferences. Winter fishing with live bait, especially for larger pike, can also be very rewarding. Learning this technique during a guided tour can equip you to catch pike successfully in your local waters.

Where to fish for Pike? Suitable Waters for Pike Guiding!

Pike are found in virtually all European waters, including lakes, rivers, canals, and streams. However, it's worth noting that the largest pike, especially in terms of consistency, are often caught in the Netherlands. The practice of catch and release contributes positively to pike populations there, and the Netherlands offer ample food sources and habitat for pike. This is why the Netherlands are known as a top destination for pike fishing. Why do so many German anglers travel to the Netherlands to fish? Nevertheless, Germany also has excellent pike waters with healthy populations, as do Scandinavia, Belgium, and many Eastern European countries. However, fishing in the Netherlands can often be more straightforward due to the presence of a unified fishing permit like the "Vispas." In many ways, guided pike fishing in the Netherlands is angler-friendly. With a bit more effort, you can also catch excellent pike in Germany.

Booking your next Pike Guiding

If you're searching for your next pike guiding experience, feel free to explore our website for a suitable guide in your area. Many predatory fish guides offer opportunities not only for pike but also for zander, perch, and catfish. Click here to find all guided fishing trips for pike!