River tactics?

Well thinking of trying a local river for pike for the first time.Meaning i have fished for pike before, but not on a river, anyhow which do you think would be best, ledgered baits and sitting it out, or trotting deadbaits and keep moving swims? Any help appreciated

unless you know about a hotspot for pike on the river,id take a roaving approach.give each swim alf hour or so then move on to another,try find all the usual features which may hold pike lillie pads trees .bends in rivers.you know the sort of stuff.wouldnt hurt to have a spinning rod with you as well whilst youre baits soaking have ago with that.makes the time pass a lot better aswell

I agree with chris.

Even if I know that a swim usually produces the goods, I will always be prepared to try every trick in the book.

You know the usual stuff: in the margins, under trees and bushes, in the mid section where it's deeper (cold weather tactic especially), trotting, on any shelves or changes of depth, wobbling, spinning.

But don't forget, as chris said, to keep mobile until you have fished the stretch a few times and can then find out where the fish hold up on a regular basis and then you know where to target them.

All the best, matey.