“One of the best ways to introduce young anglers to bigger fish is to get them pike fishing. Lure fishing is very active and tactile, and you’re often seeing fish take the lure itself. This means that concentration levels are high and boredom thresholds don’t come into it! Smaller pike are nearly always eager to take a lure and they fight spectacularly. Younger anglers hone their fish playing skills quickly and enjoyably.

But pike do have a fearsome array of teeth and if you haven’t got experience, unhooking can be a problem. This is especially the case if you go the traditional route and use lures on trebles. Here are my guidelines to make pike unhooking simple, safe and straightforward:

One of the best types of lures on the market is the dynamically successful rubber fish. These have great actions, come in a variety of sizes and colours but, vitally, are generally equipped with a large single hook. Press the barb down on these singles and you will find unhooking pike becomes much easier. Also, if a hook does happen to get into a finger, it will slide out painlessly.

Make sure you have the right gear. You will need an unhooking mat to lay the pike on. Make sure you’ve got some strong, long-nosed forceps so you can get to a hook deep down without putting your fingers inside the pike’s mouth. A strong gardening-type glove is great for the hand that isn’t operating the forceps.

The technique is to lay the fish on the unhooking mat and to straddle it between your legs. This is to keep it still, so you can work on the dentistry. Turn the pike over on its back and, if you’re right handed, put the glove on your left hand. Slide the fingers of your left hand under the gill flap, taking care not to damage the pike’s gill rakers. If you then pull towards you, the pike’s mouth will open automatically and you can remove the hook. Be firm, but gentle and your confidence will grow.

Finally, get that pike back as fast as possible to avoid any further stress.”