Bass Fishing In Pike Waters

[bassh8er]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but I couldn't find the old threads. I'm heading to Minnesota in 2 weeks for some bass fishing in lakes that contain pike. I'd prefer not to use a steel leader since I'll be targeting bass primarily. I've never bass fished in lakes with a lot of pike and would prefer to minimize my lures lost, but I don't want to use a steel leader unless absolutely necessary.

Any other ideas or techniques you've used in this same situation?

Thanks in advance.

[ww2farmer]

Every body of water I fish has pike in it. Buy multiples of lures that are working. Fluorocarbon leaders help, but don't eliminate bite offs. Straight braid is the worst, they cut it better than scissors. Some people, whose initials are J and F, will tell you that if your catching pike, your not around bass. I find that some what true...........that is if your looking for numbers of bass. You won't find many around them, cause pike are the kings of the food chain, and the bass know it, but the ones you do catch will be good ones. I have had it happen more times then I can remember, so it's not a fluke. I'll catch some pike, maybe get bit off a time or two, and only catch one or two bass out of the area, but they are five lbers. This is LM that I am talking about.............SM of all sizes on the other hand will be mixed with the pike, they are dummys.

[bassinbrian]

I don't worry about it to much, I'm always ready to sacrifice lures.

[NoBassPro]

Every body of water I fish has pike in it. Buy multiples of lures that are working. Fluorocarbon leaders help, but don't eliminate bite offs. Straight braid is the worst, they cut it better than scissors. Some people, whose initials are J and F, will tell you that if your catching pike, your not around bass. I find that some what true...........that is if your looking for numbers of bass. You won't find many around them, cause pike are the kings of the food chain, and the bass know it, but the ones you do catch will be good ones. I have had it happen more times then I can remember, so it's not a fluke. I'll catch some pike, maybe get bit off a time or two, and only catch one or two bass out of the area, but they are five lbers. This is LM that I am talking about.............SM of all sizes on the other hand will be mixed with the pike, they are dummys.

I will second this. Well except the flouro leader part. Go way too heavy and you probably won't have any bite offs. Its a trade off, and I will stick with the lost baits for more hits.

[bassh8er]

I will second this. Well except the flouro leader part. Go way too heavy and you probably won't have any bite offs. Its a trade off, and I will stick with the lost baits for more hits.

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't mind losing a few baits either, but I hate leaving a hook in a fish...

I've heard the same thing about pike and bass, but, IMO, they're both predators and will position themselves in similar ambush areas.

[skeletor6]

You will forsure lose some lures, but that's part of the game. A buddy of mine was bragging about how he bought braid so it wouldn't happen anymore and lost 8 hula grubs in 2 hours. I try to set the hook before it gets too deep in their mouth, but it is unavoidable and sucks leaving a pike with a hook in its mouth even if they are taking over one of the lakes I fish.

[clayton86]

I'v a;ways been fine with pike and braid I'll loose frogs due to to many punctures to glue before they bite threw my 50# PP. I'm not saying I never get bit off but its not very often and I get a pike or two almost every outing. Flouro is also good I'm Sure JF will chime in with the northland toothy critter leaders also they are tie able I'v never used them but hes suggested them to me a few times and says they don't deter bass bites or action.

[northern basser]

I just tie straight to the lure and risk it. The only lure that worries me are crankbaits because they can be kind of spendy.

[webertime]

I just tie straight to the lure and risk it. The only lure that worries me are crankbaits because they can be kind of spendy.

Around here when a Northern takes a crankbait we go into look out mode. Very often you'll see a fish break the surface near where you were bit off. Or just keep an eye on the surface nearby, often a crank will be floating nearby. It's the Pike shaking it out (trying). I've got back several bit off cranks this way.

[NBR]

I fished Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario waters for many many years and had very few bite offs. probaly less than one every four or five weeks. Besure after you catch or lose a pike to check you line for nicks. Also check often even if you haven't had a pike on since the rocks can play havock with line.

[clayton86]

Around here when a Northern takes a crankbait we go into look out mode. Very often you'll see a fish break the surface near where you were bit off. Or just keep an eye on the surface nearby, often a crank will be floating nearby. It's the Pike shaking it out (trying). I've got back several bit off cranks this way.

Can always tell when there's a pike on the line just from that shake and zig zag they do worse then any smallie's head shake's Iv gotten a lot of frogs back when i used mono for top water by just keeping an eye out and seeing it pop up.

[Marty]

I use steel leaders at times, sometimes after a biteoff, sometimes preemptively. The bass I've seen don't seem to have much of a problem taking lures attached to a leader. Nobody likes losing lures and, as was mentioned above, I don't like the idea of a pike swimming around with a mouthful of crankbait.

[detroit1]

The lakes i fish i usually run into a pike about every other trip. I do own a steel leader, but have used it only a few times while throwing pike baits around. Out of maybe 40 trips a year, i lose maybe 1 crank, 2 spinb8s, a swim jig, and a couple d/s rigs. By the way, after fishing for over 40 yrs. and catching hundreds of pike, i have NEVER caught a pike with a lure in his mouth or body. Or have i ever seen one belly up or washed on the shore with a lure stuck in them. They must work them loose or sink to their death.

[JunkYard814]

Try fishing bigger spinnerbaits or slowing down a little. I find with the the spinnerbaits they don't usually get the line unless you get a real big one. They may mangle the arm, but I usually just bend it back and sometimes I actually find it gives it a better action. Also, I catch most of my pike when really burning in lures. Pike are much more aggresive feeders. This isn't going to work everytime, but that would be my approach.

[shimmy]

I fish Minnesota every year and yes they are terrible. Here is what i discovered that still works for big bass. I use 20 pound berkley 100% trilene floro and had one trip where i only lost one jig to a northern. I was fishing a lot of jigs that year so as you can imagine setting the hook is where they break you off. If i fish 15 pound floro then i usually break off close to 10 lures a trip. I think that five pound difference makes a huge change. However, after a hookset or reeling in a northern, you'll see your line is hanging by a thread with that 20 but that lure is still there. Now, a northern will still snap it but man 20 pound line saves me a lot of money on lures and time on the boat. So i stick with 20 and the big bass 6+ still bite it in relatively clear water working a jig slow and not just a reaction strike. So, works for me. Any heavier though is not worth it to me. Regardless of line strength, the diameter of this 20 pound line is just right to save your line. My 2 cents.