Quality pike is easy to recognise. Fresh pike never smells fishy, and the eyes should appear bright and clear, almost alive. The gills should be clean, and the skin moist and with tightly adhering, shiny silver scales. Fresh pike flesh will give slightly when you press it with a finger, then spring back into shape. When choosing pike steaks or fillets, whether they’re fresh or previously frozen, look for moist, translucent (never dried out) flesh.