I am into bass fishing but i have caught a couple pike on the lake i fish its a small private lake. Anyway I hooked a pike two different times (don't know if its the same one) like i said its a private lake that never gets fished for pike so i imagine that they are huge! Anyway i was using a crankbate and both times the pike got off by bending the hook on the bate, any advice????  i tryed some large spoons and some mepp 4 rooster tailes white with red in it (i think thats what it was) with no luck.. its winter now so we put out some tip ups with suckers but no luck.... i know there are pike in there because i got one up to the boat before it broke the line i fish a 10 lb braded spider wire.

adam

sounds like there are a few in the pond. 1st. i would like to welcome you to the bb. where yer answers get questioned and questions will get some answers. please let me tell ya waders should be woren at all times.

now to help try and help......during the winter start with the outside edge of the weeds, check out points and troughs within the contour of the bottom. don't be affraid to set a tip-up or 2 on the shallow side of the weeds also. or out in the deepest part of the pond. i haave gotten pike in as shallow as 2' of water and as deep as 60'.

pike are cruisers most of the time. will set in the weeds or just on a point to ambush their food. they also use the troughs to travel from deep water to shollow and back again. most likly you will want to use 5-6" shiners as yer bait on the tip-ups. small perch will work if it is legal to use in yer area.

how to set tip-up.......a good rule of thumb is in 8' of water or less, half way to bottom and up to a foot under the ice. anything deeper than that 3-4' off the bottom. yes sometimes can set shallower than that in deep water and get a pike or 2. depends on what is the main food source. if you can find that out also and set lines accordingly.

during the spring....start looking for the pike to come shallow to feed and spawn. throw rapala's or any stick bait that you can work slowly. mepps and dardevils will work also. just rmember earlyer in the spring the slower the bait needs to be moving. i have thrown husky jerk suspends and just shake the rod to induce a shakey moving bait, almost not even realing in the line except to pull in the slack and i have gotten some nice pike by doing this.

as the water warms up, then you can start moving the bait faster and put more of a jerking motion in to play. almost like if you are snagging, jerk the rod a couple of times and then real in the slack and do it again. very the speed and how much jerking ya do-imploy a bit less or to pick up the pace- find out what they want. early spring you can find the fish right on the first break into the weeds and as the water gets warmer they will start moving deeper.

i hope this isa start for ya and good luck. keep us posted on how you do.

I have to agree with Mr.Bill and have a few points to add. The best way to catch a Pike is to fish for something else. I don't think I have ever caught  a Pike intentionaly! (I don't target Pike very hard, but always mannage an incidental or two) Here in Il. It is legal to use panfish for bait but they must be caught on the water you are useing them on. With the advent of VHS that is probbably a good idea anywhere. I have caught numerous big bass and a few pike on small bluegills. Most of the lakes I fish have to many 'gills so there are no size or numbers restrictions. Also, a steel leader of at least 14" is useful in cutting down on lost fish. Not only will a pike bite off, they have been known to cut mono with their gill plates. Hope this helps.

Tom

Well thank you very much for your help, What about the bending the hook thing?? In the one case i almost lost the rod when it charged me then dove to the bottom, i think the drag was set to tight, it bent the trebble hook on my crank bate and got off.  the next one it went to the bottom and i bent the hook on another crank bate trying to pull it up....

They they obviously like whatever cranks you are using...so I would stay with them.

At the same time....you can't horse in a +4 lb pike like you can a 3 lb bass...they can twist their bodies in ways a bass can't even think of. Back off on the drag and make the fish wear itself out before you try to bring it in. Pike are known for playing possum....acting like they are finished....then going on a rampage. I grew up catching pike....and having the drag set properly....and not trying to bring it in too fast....are TWO of the three most important rules to follow with them (a small wire leader is #3).

Otherwise...they will just wear your azz out

Amen David-- Good advice as always!! Now i know why I get dem big lunkers up ta the boat an dey jus laff at me an say see ya sucker..Dey is just playin possum on me!! Just kiddin. But you are absolutely right. They will wear yor azz out and when ya think you have won they take off an usually don't come back!! They are one big mean smart critter that has as much fun playin you as you do them>>   Take Care and God Bless!

Bill J.         

I use bomber model "A" crank bates mostly, I have pulled alot of 3,and 4 lb bass out of there and i have one 5 lb bass from this lake (I do have the pics to prove it) in michigan 5lb bass are rare so i hear the "no you are lying" alot. anyway ya im usualy fishing for bass when i get the pike and i use 10 lb braided spiderwire and havent had a pike bite through yet... But once i accualy targeting them i did put on a leader.

Im not big on ice fishing, so i have a while to wait to get back out there.... im getting the itch though... i recently got a new tackle box went through organized it and cleaned up my lures. got my reels out and did maintanance on them... hahaha.

Speaking of hooks what do you think of those rapalla hooks, the trebble with that odd looking large took on it? 

Thanks Lou, this is great! it's nice having the advice of anglers much better than me at my finger tips!

Im out here in Heartland,

Ok, here is a new one... If you had to pick one lure out of you box and take it out to fish with what one do you pick??

i mean i know that there are many diff lures for diff aplications but what is the one that you find yourself using more than any else?

For me its the bomber model "A"  that runs to a 6' depth Black Chartreuse

i caught my 5 lb bass and 2 pike on that one (ok hooked 2 pike)

  If I had to pick a lure for multi species any time of year and any water... It would be a Slurpie Swim Shad with a spinner from Northland Tackle. So far I have caught every sport fish in Wisconsin with it, and the trash fish don't bother it.

You bet they look at ya...I could take the time to tell about the 7 lb'er that I caught in 2007 at the La Crosse Meet...but I think you guys get the drift of what I'm saying. Like I said, having your drag set properly...and "playing" the fish...which means keeping your line "taught" WITHOUT trying to horse it in is THE most inportant thing. And that includes reeling in when the CASE it makes a charge for the boat....but also being ready to stick your rod tip deep in the water to help prevent it from tangling in the props on the motors.

Pike are rockets with fins on them...pay attention to what is happening while you play them  it's different than playing bass...even smallies

Howdy folks!

To thous of you that I haven't met I would like to welcome you to the BB.

The the ones that I do know, how the heck you been?

We have a new Pike fishery that is up and going out here.

Last summer a friend and I gave it a try and caught some small ones. We used spinners for them and had a ball. This year I would like to hit a bigun. This is a slow moving river that comes out of Idaho and goes to the Columbia through the Northeast corner of Washington State. The Pend Oreille River. Its not deep and it gets mountain runoff so its a cold bugger.

At high water there are sloughs and large backwater areas.

My question is, at what temps do the Pike move shallow to spawn?

  I don't know what temp they spawn but I do know they are up in the shallows at ice out. Early spring and fall are excellent times to catch pike. Especially if you are shore bound.

my go to is rapala's huskey jerk suspend............but if i had to choice one for all round use and it would be the only one i'd say a jig. can be used year round and tipped with anything you can get your hands on and make it look like something that they can eat.

heartland?????? meaning the town or right in the heartland of the state?

Ya the town

If I had only one lure to use I guess it would have to be a Jig. But I like to use a rattle type lure or a spoon also. Lou