dsidle61 Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 Spending my birthday present on a pike specific setup for fishing up in Minnesota. Suggestions?? Don't need to get to specific w brands and what not but looking for rod length/stiffness, line/leaders, if you want to get crazy baitcaster ratio. I know the last one is tough bc ill be fishing both topwater and spooks/cranks with it but if anyone has had super luck with anything let me know. Looking to keep the rod/reel combo under 200$. Thanks guys! Quote
EvanT123 Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 How big are the pike we talking? I haven't had a problem landing pike up to 10lbs on medium spinning or med heavy baitcasting bass tackle. The thing I learned after many break offs at the begining of last season was let the pike do it's thing. Wear it out and don't horse it in. Horsing it in is generally how I would end up bit off. A 10-12 lb copolymer leader has generally faired better then straight braid or mono for me as well. Quote
Super User iabass8 Posted July 8, 2014 Super User Posted July 8, 2014 I will give a secret that is well guarded in some circles on how to catch more pike that you could ever want. You do not need a specialized pike set up. Get a jerkbait set up to target smallmouth. Buy more LC pointers and sammys then you can afford. Go target smallmouth. I promise you will catch more pike then you could imagine and the best part is you won't have any baits left over at the end of the trip as evidence to your pike buddies you went bass fishing. 2 Quote
Kevin22 Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 I would suggest a 7'3-7'6 MH. You do not need a heavy unless you are targeting trophy fish. If you are, I would suggest you look on the lighter end of the musky rods. As for reels, you are going to need something with very good gears. Something like a lew's super duty. I would choose 50# braid. Tie in a 25# fluoro leader for your topwater and cranks. Run a 12" 40# stainless leader with anything you don't care to lose. For gear ratio, if you are planning on fishing some high-torque lures (most small musky lures) then I would suggest the 5:X:1 ratio. Otherwise you'll be fine with a 6:x:1. Quote
dsidle61 Posted July 8, 2014 Author Posted July 8, 2014 Thanks guys, I was leaning towards medium heavy but didn't know if anyone would suggest the heavy. I don't plan on targeting only trophy fish but I wouldn't complain!! What do you think about floro instead of the braid? I just don't like the floating of the braid when fishing spoons and spinners. Quote
Kevin22 Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 Should work fine as long as you aren't throwing into reeds, pads, or thick weeds. Pike are worse than bass at rocketing down into the thicket stuff possible. Quote
Super User Scott F Posted July 9, 2014 Super User Posted July 9, 2014 Thanks guys, I was leaning towards medium heavy but didn't know if anyone would suggest the heavy. I don't plan on targeting only trophy fish but I wouldn't complain!! What do you think about floro instead of the braid? I just don't like the floating of the braid when fishing spoons and spinners. The "floating" braid has no effect on the spoons or spinners. Braid is not buoyant enough to keep lures from diving or reaching the depth they were designed to run. Because of how thin braid is, it lets diving lures run deeper due to less resistance in the water. Unfortunately, pike don't get as large in most lakes in the states as they are capable of so anything you use for bass will work just fine. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted July 9, 2014 Super User Posted July 9, 2014 The "floating" braid has no effect on the spoons or spinners. Braid is not buoyant enough to keep lures from diving or reaching the depth they were designed to run. Because of how thin braid is, it lets diving lures run deeper due to less resistance in the water. Unfortunately, pike don't get as large in most lakes in the states as they are capable of so anything you use for bass will work just fine. I agree. When people hear the word muskie or pike they get intimidated, that's the fist mistake before the first cast is made. Whether it's a b/c or spinning set up med hvy rod is ample for the majority of 10-15# fish. I'd probably use 20# braid and about 12" piano wire or surflon as my leader. I don't think it needs any more involvement than that. I fished pike for many years, I don't have them here but I fish barracuda now. I do make lures using wire, but when I'm casting spoons or lures I just a mono leader. Quote
dsidle61 Posted July 9, 2014 Author Posted July 9, 2014 awesome, thanks guys. Didn't think id need anything more than mh and that's what I went with, but guy at cabelas gave me his "Minnesota pike are so much bigger so you need a H" speech. Im going to look at both the piano and surflon for my leaders as well. Much appreciated. Quote
Super User Ratherbfishing Posted July 10, 2014 Super User Posted July 10, 2014 The times I've been to Lake of the Woods Canada I've only used my bass gear though there have been times when I'd wished I'd had stouter stuff. A long 7 to 8 foot rod will get baits out farther and I think this is advantageous as both pike and musky will sometimes follow a bait a considerable distance before they decide to attack it. If you ever fish heavier in-line spinner baits, a low gear ratio baitcasting reel (with its increased torque) will help you save your wrist a lot of pain. Smaller pike are fun but if you ever think you will "up your game" to bigger fish, stouter gear is best. Quote
Super User fishballer06 Posted July 16, 2014 Super User Posted July 16, 2014 Like others have stated, most pike can be handled with common bass fishing gear. I've caught lots of pike in the 32-38" range on my MH bass rods with a standard Shimano Curado reel. If you primarily fish for bass, I would get yourself something fairly heavy (MH or H), but something that is still useful for bass fishing as well. There's no sense spending $200 for a setup if you're going to use it once a year. I would recommend either a BPS Extreme rod, or a Fenwick HMG rod, in about a 7' MH or H action. Both rods are around $100. Then for a reel, pick your favorite reel in your budget and go with it. A 6 to 1 ratio baitcaster will handle anything out there just fine. Quote
TheBassematician Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Would have to agree with the rest. I'm in Canada and like to fish for pike in the spring before bass season opens. Here is my go to setup that will handle most pike. I have heavier gear for really big stuff but you can bring in almost anything on my go to setup and I use it for bass once the season opens. The heavier, musky type gear is hard on you physically to throw around all day, whereas a setup like this is still light enough not to wear you out by the end of long day of casting. Abu Garcia Veritas MH 7'6" Bait-caster Revo STX (recently switched out for a Shimano Chronarch) - I like a higher speed 7.2:1 for burning spinners across weed tops when called for 40# braid with a 2- 3' 60 # fluoro leader (could go with a heavier leader but I have yet to be bitten off with the 60#) You could sub the brands to fit your budget. Here is a video of some pike action from this spring including a nice 38". Every one caught (and released) on the set-up above. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U16Lj4CRvKk Quote
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