After lots of pike issues, I returned to a small pool with dead-bait rods

It worked because within ten minutes, I had small roach scattering the surface of the water.

Then, the float above the gudgeon tail suddenly disappeared.

No trembling, shaking or moving across the water. It shot out of site in an instant.

I had it on briefly but it was just a tiny pike.

Some time later though, I did get the traditional pike take as the small perch was picked up.