I'm Catching More Pike Than Bass, Is It My Location, Bait Or Something Else?

[blongfishing]

Had this same problem here on Lake Hartwell (SC) but with gar. I would be fishing deep or shallow and still they were there. The gar were 2-3 foot and they would chase my bait and never bite. I asked around a bit and they said the area was heavily populated with gar and bass didn't usually hang around in that spot because of the gar. The area was a grassy area which is where gar like to live. Is this your case? I don't know but could be a possibility. 

[BassThumb]

removing chartreuse from the equation will help loads.  

 

Very true. Just two days ago, my dad and I were side-by-side fishing smallies on the Mississippi. We were both rigged up with 1/4 oz. swim jigs and 5" pearl grubs as trailers. Over the courses of a few hours and a mile of drifting, my chart/white jig caught nothing but pike, and his clear-strand/green-flake jig landed nothing but bass, including two four-pounders. Then I switched colors and it was all bass the rest of the way.

[Further North]

I love bass...but I'd rather catch pike...there's not much that's as fun as chasing big pike with a fly rod for me.

 

Color and flash, as noted above, has a lot to do with it, as does speed.

 

If you're losing lures to pike, try Tyger Wire (or similar) tieable leaders and rig as normal for bass - I often fish Texas rigs this way for both bass and pike (and muskies).   Just use a fairly long piece of leader and a slim knot that'll run through your guides well (I use an Alberto, or more recently, the FG knot.).

 

The Tyger Wire is pretty flexible and I've not notices any loss of action on the lures.

 

An alternative for very clear water would be heavy test fluorocarbon lines - at least 30# - if you are in very clear water.