Pike hit

Pike-hitting , also called pike-knocking (pl .: pike-hitting or pike-knocking) is the capture of pike by hitting a heavy object. This technique assumes that the animals stand in shallow water or under bare ice .

Hitting pike in winter

Clear , clear ice is a prerequisite for hitting pikes in winter . Unlike many other freshwater fish , pike do not retreat into deep water in winter. Rather, they stand in a kind of hibernation in shallow water, for example on the seaward edge of a belt of reeds . The tools used to strike pikes are a large ax with a sturdy handle, and a large log or similar heavy object can also be used.

If the fisherman has found a pike under the ice, which remains there at some depth, he carefully stands over him. There is a very strong blow with the handle of the ax or the log directly above the pike on the ice. This creates a shock wave that momentarily stuns the fish. As a result, it drifts to the bottom of the ice. Before the animal recovers, the ice must be opened by quick blows with the ax, the pike must be lifted onto the ice cover and then killed.

Hitting pike in spring

Hecht females looking in spring to spawn shallow water sites or flooded meadows on. Here it is easy to impale them from a boat or in rubber boots with a spear or to kill them with a club .

Occurrence

Pike hitting is an archaic technique known among anglers , fishermen and the rural population in areas rich in lakes. In earlier times pike was used for reasons of easy food acquisition. Today it only occurs sporadically.

rating

Hitting pike is rejected as unsporting by sport anglers. From the point of view of animal welfare , the techniques presented are at least questionable.

source

The pike hitting was reported in similar or identical versions by independent persons in the area of Ober- and Unterhavel as well as the Spreewald .