Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) is undoubtedly one of the most underrated sports fish, and for me, it’s a true thrill to catch them on a fishing rod. The moment they inhale your lure or fly, and you feel that sharp, electrifying pull in the opposite direction, you know you're in for a fight. With a fierce determination, they dive downward, darting for structure or weeds to hide in, and they pull with a raw, unrelenting force. Every tug is a test of strength—your grip tightens, the drag hums, and the race to turn their head begins. The battle is on, and it’s a heart-pounding ride to victory.
Pump and reel, pump and reel. The weight is heavy at first, with only the occasional less forceful pull, but everything changes when they catch sight of land—or you, or the boat. Hold on tight, because the line you’ve gained is about to vanish in a heartbeat. As the fish makes its desperate, final bid for freedom with explosive tugs, it’s a test of endurance. But if you can turn its head once more, after those fierce pulls, and push through the relentless fight, your hard-earned prize will finally be resting in the net.
To really enjoy the power of these fish, the equipment should be dimensioned accordingly. From the boat we are typically using Shimano Sustain 7' or 2.10m rods rated for 10-40g with a Shimano Vanford 4000 reel, 0.16mm braid and 0.28mm fluorocarbon leader for fishing down to 40m, or 20-60g with a Shimano Vanford 5000 reel, 0.22mm braid and 0.35mm fluorocarbon leader down to 100m. One could go even lighter for the smaller fish as they quickly submit, but these larger fish are a whole different ball game and expect them to break the line against the underwater structure!
Pollack are a forgiving fish, rarely fussy and often happy to swallow whatever happens to haphazardly appear in front of it. Having said that, there are colours and some lures that work better than others. From years of experimenting both from my own fishing and guiding, I have arrived at these colours under. The majority of my lures are already scented with some form of fish oil out of the pack, though I do have scent I add if not.
Sizewise, I rarely fish larger than a 8cm soft bait with a jighead upto 30g depending on the depth and current. As a general rule of thumb; 1g per metre.
My favourites are Berkley Powerbait Power Swimmer, Savage Gear Cannibal Shad and Diawa Tournament D'Fin, but something similar is sure to work.
If you haven’t experienced the rush of fishing for pollack, you’re truly missing out. Sure, salmon and trout offer their thrills, but nothing compares to the raw power of a big pollack. It’s a heart-pounding, muscle-testing battle that demands to be felt firsthand. Check out the video below for tips on how to hook them on the fly, but remember—whether you’re using jigs, spinners, or bait, the same exciting principles apply. Once you’ve felt that fight, there’s no turning back.
I hope this inspires you to try for these fish, as you really won't regret it. They're actually quite good eating, especially in homemade fish cakes or as a crispy fried fillet.
Tightlines and hold on!
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