And yet I know of folks today (not very old) that only use jigs, spinnerbaits and live bait in Canada for pike...I catch more pike on Rebel spoonbill minnows than almost any other lure, except for the jig that is!

It's my HUMBLE opinion that spoons are an over-looked aspect for pike. MOST of the time....you can't just cast them out and reel them in like the old days. The SAME can be said for spinners like Mepps and such.

Pete posted a good article about spoon use a while back....and I FIRMLY believe that varying retieve speeds....and even more so in summer water temps....letting them sink for about 5 seconds to get down deeper. Big pike have a disdain for warm water above 60* or so.

So you have to fish the deeper areas...and get your lure down there...and Pete's experiences with the spoonbill Rebels bears that out 

THere's also heavier / "thicker" spoons like the Luhr Jensen Krocodile and Eppinger Cop-E-Cat that can get down there in a hurry.

One LAST thought....and it has to do with reels. I've noticed that reel speeds (line retrieve / gear ratio) have gone up drastically since the 1950's. I HAVE to wonder that it has affected pike fishing....as I think that the s-l-o-w wobble of a spoon drives a pike crazy. I WILL agree that SOMETIMES fast is better....but not always.

And a LOT of folks just can't "reel slow enough" with today's higher-speed reels to drive them toothy critters crazy.

@mrbill....Thanks for that TIP Bill...as I picked up about 5 SUPPOSEDLY steelhead rods (around 8' 6") on deep discount while I was out in Cali...and I had THOUGHTS of pike and other fishies...but hadn't researched the idea. I would THINK that mono or fluorocarbon would be even better for that particular presentation 

@fishforallofem....SEVERAL of us on here have discussed the importance of VARYING retrieve speeds on lures over the last several years...and IMHO your comment just solidifies our collective thoughts

@esoxhunter...is that because you haven't had much luck with the Rap's....or because the TOOTHY critters wear them out too fast?

@Pegsguy...the actual trolling speed is THE key for ALL types of the spoons...and for that matter...you CAN cast the thinner spoons with the right combination of rod / line.

Tom, I have discovered from my good friend Erabbit, if it casts it will troll!  Dave speaks of trolling speed being the key and I have to agree with him.  Like with any other species, when trolling, finding the right "crusing" speed is very important.  Once you have established that then it is a matter of zig zaging in and out of the break line you are fishing (increase speed for spoon on the out side of a turn and decrease speed for the inside spoon).  Quite often you will get "hit" on one of those manuvers!  But it is also important to know the water temp at various depths.  The use of a downrigger with a temp sensor is important in MHO.  Flutter spoons that are normally used for trolling can be used effectively when cast.  When retrieving be sure to pause, allowing the spoon to float back into the pikes face!  This item with flutter spoons was either in "Infisherman" or the club mag a few years ago...

Spoons are a very versitile bait.  I know that LMB love a fast retrieve & slash with an 1 oz. Eppinger spoon.  Pike love them on a steady, slow roll...of course a stall or slash will go a long way to success!  I never throw away an old or beat-up spoon.  I just strip the old finish and hardware and paint / tape in a pattern that resembles the forage...

I agree with Dave on the gear ratio on the new reels, while casting; spoons, spinner baits & inline spinners in the spring cool water. I always carry one pole with a spinning reel that is only 4 to 1 it has made a difference.

Posted By the rod tosser on 19 Jun 2010 10:06 AM
I like the rapala xjs13 jointed x rap they are 5 1/4 inch long and weight 1 5/8ths oz g [gold and black ], s [silver and black ], sb [silver and blue] cln[clown], and p[perch]

http://www.rapala.com/products/lure...p_jointed/

 
I've yet to catch anything on these and I'm not sure why. They look, act like they should be just the ticket for pike. I've tried casting and trolling them. What am I doing wrong?

Bill...it's just a question of getting to know the waters in the area ;-)

Posted By Conrad B on 18 Jun 2010 02:53 PM
I don't think you can really call any lure a bad lure for pike. They will eat just about anything, including unweary waders and swimmers. I catch them on spoons still, and jointed shallow divers, and rattle traps. Had one take off with a crawler harness with a big crawler on it a couple years ago.

Conrad's comment here is the BASIC "crux" of pike fishing IMHO.

But pike...and ALL other species...can be different...even in connected bodies of water. In other words...what color...or even type of lure...works in one lake...doesn't necessarily work in the lake connected to it....or one 20 miles away. IMHO it depends on forage base.to begin with...then a WHOLE lot of other factors....including water clarity...time of year...yada....yada...yada.

The same can be said for spoon thicknesses. I had a close neighbor when I was growing up that would catch a couple of good pike on our river in central Minn. with a standard 1 oz red/white DareDevle. I always had MY best catches with 2 different fluorescent orange/brass (gold) spoon. And we fished pretty much the same spots.

BOTH were different thickness of his DareDevle.

MY take on casting spoons is that there are a WIDE variety of them that have different thicknesses...aside from the shapes....and that difference CAN play into the factor.

I'm hoping this lates tweak to the jointed Xrap shad will up my first bite on these lures.

My success with the plain lure is still at zero.

That whats what they use in sioux lookout ont  canada to catch the candian monster pike and muskie brian w.

Posted By Pegsguy on 14 Apr 2010 11:38 PM
Got out on the local pond today with my son and an elderly gent caught a northern of about 25" and 2 1/2#. I had a Rapala Floating Minnow rigged  and immediatly worked the area with it. He then told me that this was a "bad" lure for pike!
Lifer in NE Illinois