Deep Pike Fishing on the Volkerak — Small, Light, and Precise

Autumn is settling in, the water’s cooling down, and on the Volkerak, pike fishing shifts to a surprisingly subtle approach. Forget the heavy jerkbait rods and oversized lures — if you want to catch pike now, you fish deep, light, and with finesse.

📍 Location: Deep Water, Right Below the Baitfish

Pike are currently hugging the bottom, often between 10 and 12 meters deep. Not just anywhere — they’re positioned directly under or beside dense baitfish schools. On the sonar, it’s clear: compact clouds of bait, and right beneath them, that signature arch. That’s your target.

🧰 Gear: Light, Fast, and Sensitive

We fish with rods up to 30g casting weight, preferably with X-Fast or Fast action. My personal favorite: the St. Croix Legend Tournament Walleye (LWTS71MF) — crisp, sensitive, and perfect for this style.

• Line: Braided, max 0.10 mm, with a thin steel trace for optimal bottom contact.

• Jigheads: 20–30g, depending on wind and current.

• Shads: 10–12 cm, paddle tail or V-tail — doesn’t matter, as long as you can hold bottom.

🎯 Technique: Suspended in the Current

Drop your shad to the bottom, lift it slightly, and hold it as still as possible just above the ground. The trick is to let it “hang” in the current — not dragging, not bouncing, just hovering with control. That’s when it happens: one solid hit, and then a full-on battle. The pike is down there, waiting for that exact moment.

🧠 Why It Works

Pike are opportunistic, especially in cold water. When baitfish gather deep, they follow. Big lures are often too much right now. A small shad, subtly presented, is exactly what they want. And with light gear, you feel everything — from bottom structure to that decisive strike.

🎥 Hereunder, you’ll find the video of a brutal fight with a true Volkerak monster. Hooked exactly as described above: tight to the bottom, small shad, suspended in the current. One hit — and then a full-on power struggle. No luck, just clean execution.