Pike angling is becoming an increasingly popular pastime in Europe. Effective methods for catching this hard-fighting fish include lure fishing, and fly fishing. They are prized as game fish for their determined fighting.

Lake fishing for pike from the shore is especially effective during spring, when the big pike move into the shallows to spawn in weedy areas, and later many remain there to feed on other spawning coarse fish species to regain their condition after spawning.

For the warm summer and during inactive phases, the larger female pike tend to retire to deeper water and/or places with better cover. This gives the boat angler good fishing during the summer and winter seasons.

Fly fishing for pike is another eligible way of catching these fish. In our fishing waters pike are always released after catching (catch and release), adopting special care.

Pike make use of the lateral line system to follow the vortices produced by the perceived prey. Jerkbaits or Shads are a very effective method and can produce spectacular bites with pike attacking these erratic-moving lures at full speed.

Most fishermen tend to use smaller lures, but often that is not advisable because pike have a preference for larger prey. When fishing in shallow water for smaller pike, lighter and smaller lures are frequently used.

The large water pusher fly is a favorite lure among keen pike fly fisherman and a real magnet for big pikes.

Perch lives in the in bigger schools and different areas, moving according to the season.

It feeds on fish and insect fry which it finds in abundance in the murky waters of Lough Derg.

The perfect condition of the environment and the amount of food at its disposal helps the species to grow in perfect condition.

Schools of several hundred fish live in the lake, with specimens of excellent size that can exceed 40 cm in length.

Brown trout (Salmo Trutta) , a species that lives in the great lakes and can be encountered at any depth.

The fish caught in spinning are of very interesting size, and are not rare specimens weighing 2 to 3 kg.

The trout in Lough Derg are very large and can weigh up to 10kg.

These trophy fish are very rare, but from time to time you can get a lucky shot.

The trout population in Lake Derg is very well structured, both in terms of population density and size. The perfect environmental conditions, the very high quantity and variety of food available to them and the size of the environment encourage the trout to spawn and grow fast.

Fly fishing for big pike is a special thing. A challenge that you have to love.

But if you prove your patience and endurance, you can experience your personal miracle! And that in Europe. So you don't have to fly to Canada or Alaska to experience a great big pike adventure with a fly rod.