From Carp to Pike Fishing
Tomáš returned to fishing two years ago. He initially tried his hand at carp fishing, but he soon realised that it simply wasn’t for him. As a former skateboarder, he was looking for movement, dynamism and adrenaline. Carp fishing felt a little too static and stationary for him.
From the very beginning, he had one goal in mind - to catch pike on spinning tackle. As we have had the chance to see, he managed to make that dream a reality. Today, Tomáš specialises primarily in targeting pike with large Big Bait lures. This style of fishing gives him everything he is looking for – a connection with wild nature, challenging conditions, hard work and plenty of adrenaline.
Although pike is definitely his number one species, Tomáš does occasionally target other fish. However, he mainly does so when the conditions are not suitable for safely fishing for pike. Extremely hot weather is a good example. High temperatures, combined with low oxygen levels in the water, can put considerable stress on pike. The combination of fighting the fish, taking it out of the water and handling it in such conditions can be particularly demanding for the fish.
Spinning – a true test of skill
Spinning is undoubtedly Tomáš’s greatest passion. Why? Because, in his opinion, this is where a angler’s true skills really show.
Spinning requires the ability to read the water, observe the conditions and draw the right conclusions. It is not enough to simply cast a lure. You need to know where to look for the fish, how to retrieve the lure and, above all, how to present it in a way that will trigger an attack.
Tomáš loves this aspect of fishing. He enjoys developing his skills, gaining new experience and constantly improving. Every trip is another lesson, and every new body of water is another puzzle to solve.
He prefers fishing rivers, large still waters such as reservoirs, and gravel pits. Private fisheries are not particularly appealing to him, although he does visit them from time to time.
He mainly targets pike from the bank and without relying on modern technology. Most often, he fishes waters managed by fishing associations, but he also has one favourite private fishery where some truly big pike can be found.
Catching them, however, is far from easy. The pike there have an abundance of natural food and are very familiar with artificial lures, making them extremely difficult to tempt.
36 hours that ended in a record
This year, Tomáš has already landed two exceptional pike, including the biggest one of his life. The fish from the gravel pit was not only huge, but also exceptionally well-built and beautifully marked.
Before it finally made it to the bank, however, Tomáš had to put in a full 36 hours on this water. That was how long it took him to figure out the right approach to outsmart one of its biggest inhabitants.
When the bite finally came, the pike hit with such force that it nearly ripped the rod from his hands.
“Honestly, I don’t even remember having time to strike. I immediately found myself fighting the fish as it headed from the shallows towards open, deep water. I’ll never forget that fight - it was an absolute ride. The fish had incredible power in its jaws. I could barely get them apart enough to remove the treble hook from the corner of its mouth. I like taking photos of pike with their mouths wide open, but in this case, I didn’t stand a chance.”
It is moments like these that make all the hours spent by the water, analysing the conditions and enduring one unsuccessful attempt after another fade into insignificance. What matters is that moment when, finally, everything falls into place.
Fourth cast
Tomáš caught his second-biggest pike of the year from a river. This time, everything happened much faster.
It was evening. Tomáš could sense a major change in the weather was coming and he had a feeling that this was exactly the day he needed to be by the river. He didn’t hesitate. He stopped work, went home to pick up his gear and headed straight for the river. He was in such a hurry that, on the way there, he wrote the fishery number down on his knee while driving, determined not to waste a single minute.
As soon as he arrived, he made his first cast. Then the second. The third… And on the fourth cast, he managed to pull a pike from a deep hole. He was absolutely thrilled. From the very beginning, he had a feeling that this was the evening when everything would come together. The conditions, the weather and his own intuition all aligned perfectly.
And once again, he was right.
An unexpected eel
Although pike are undoubtedly the most important part of Tomáš’s fishing world, sometimes completely different surprises are waiting for him by the water.
That was the case with an eel.
During a spell of exceptionally hot weather, Tomáš headed to a fishing-association pond near his home with a feeder rod and a worm. The previous year, he had tried several times to catch eels there at night, but without success.
So he was all the more surprised when he finally got a bite.
At this particular venue, he uses the baitrunner because there are some big carp in the water. Suddenly, in the middle of the day, he spotted an eel in the shallows, literally gliding across the surface.
But what made the moment truly special was not the catch itself, but the fact that his wife, Karolina, and their six-month-old son, Matěj, were there to witness it.
“He probably won’t remember it, but our family has a recording of his very first fishing moment with us. And that really warms my heart.”
The following day, Tomáš caught two more eels using exactly the same method. In his opinion, the exceptionally hot and humid summer weather played a key role.
He didn’t need any specialised tackle to catch them. A feeder rod, 0.25 mm line and a simple rig were all he needed. One thing that is particularly important, however, is using a suitably large hook - an eel can swallow a worm extremely deeply. A larger hook reduces the risk of deep hooking, making it easier to release the fish safely and return it to the water.
The mysterious night hunter
If Tomáš were to specifically target eels, however, he would definitely choose to fish at night. There is something truly special about it. At night, everything around the water feels different, and targeting one of the most mysterious fish in our waters has a unique atmosphere of its own. Tomáš usually looks for eels around areas of cover – along the banks, near submerged trees, bushes reaching into the water and other similar spots.
According to his girlfriend, he has a real “nose” for eels. Is that really the case? We’ll leave that for you to decide.
The road is the goal
Pike spinning, however, remains what fascinates Tomáš the most. Targeting pike with Big Bait lures is a true adventure for him. It is demanding, requiring enormous commitment and patience, but that is precisely what makes every hard-earned fish taste even sweeter.
“What fascinates me the most is pike spinning. Targeting pike with Big Bait lures is a truly great adventure. It is a demanding discipline, but the reward you work so hard for makes all the effort worthwhile. I’m very happy to be experiencing this stage of my life. The road is the goal, and I’m genuinely enjoying every part of it.”
And perhaps these words describe Tomáš’s approach to fishing best. It is not only about catching record-breaking fish. What matters is the journey, the experience gained, the new waters discovered and those moments that simply cannot be planned.
To finish, Tomáš would like to wish everyone plenty of luck and success - not only by the water.
Let’s respect our waters and the fish that live in them.
