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How to catch big pike on gravel pits

Team Skeater's Ant Glascoe Jnr reveals how to break down vast venues and stack the odds in your favour

by James Furness |

Published on13th November 2025 at 11.45am

Big gravel pits can look vast and uninviting at first glance, but don’t let that fool you. They hold some of the best pike fishing in the country if you approach them in the right way. Success here isn’t about sitting it out and hoping for a take — it’s about having a plan, staying mobile and fishing with intent. With a bit of preparation, you can turn what feels like an endless stretch of water into a handful of productive areas that regularly produce fish.

Prep the night before

Get everything ready the evening before. Set up your rods, organise your tackle and sort your bait so you’re ready to go at first light. When the sun breaks the horizon, you want to be casting, not tying traces on the bank. Pike are often at their most active in those early hours, and being prepared can make all the difference.

LEARN HOW TO TIE YOUR OWN TRACES WITH THIS HELPFUL GUIDE...

Be mobile to cover more water

Travelling light is key. A 10ft rod with a 3lb test curve is ideal, as it is easy to move with, but has all the power needed to fish for big pike. Keep your gear simple too, opting for a couple of unloaded floats, a small rucksack for essentials, acompact unhooking mat and a sturdy landing net. The less you carry, the more water you can cover, and that’s the real secret to finding feeding fish on big pits.

THIS FLOAT RIG IS PERFECT FOR CATCHING PIKE ON STILLWATERS....

Don’t neglect the edges

Always fish one rod close in. Too many anglers ignore the margins in winter, assuming the pike have pushed out into deep water. That’s rarely true. Pike are ambush predators and often patrol the edges looking for an easy meal. Cast your second rod further out to explore open water, but if nothing happens after 25 to 30 minutes, move. Staying mobile not only keeps you warm but also massively increases your chances of success.

THESE ARE THE BEST REELS TO USE WHEN TARGETING BIG PIKE.

Different deadbaits

Mix up your baits. Try one sea bait, like mackerel or herring, and one freshwater option such as roach or trout. The contrast can often tempt a take but always check the fishery rules first.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT A SELECTION OF THESE DEADBAITS FOR PIKE.

Focus on features

Although many gravel pits look featureless, concentrate on what’s there - tree lines, reedbeds and drop-offs are natural ambush points where prey fish gather. It’s also worth chatting to the regular match or carp anglers as they’ll usually know where the silverfish are shoaling, and where there are silvers, the pike won’t be far behind.

Have the right tools

Most importantly, enjoy it. Pike fishing on big gravel pits is as much about exploring as it is about catching, but make sure you’ve got the right tools. A set of long-nosed forceps, strong wire cutters, a decent unhooking mat and a big, fish-friendly net will ensure every fish you catch goes back safely. Look after them, and they’ll be there waiting for you next time.

LEARN HOW TO HANDLE PIKE SAFELY SO THEY NEVER COME TO ANY HARM.

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