Pike problems!

[gim]

I have a lot of problems with pike up here in the north country (MN).  Lately it seems like no matter what lure or bait I get out there to target largemouth in weedy cover, it just gets annihilated.  At first it was mostly faster moving hard lures like cranks, spinner baits, etc but lately they'll destroy frogs and even soft plastics!  How do I get my lure past these snakes and in front of a bass instead?  This problem seems to be getting worse and worse and so many lakes are over run with small, aggressive pike that take great joy in ruining my lures.

[WI_Angler1989]

I don't think there's a way "past" them. Idk. I guess it's not so much of a problem here so we just catch them and don't mind. Sorry to hear it's such a pain! I get what you mean tho with little ones being the destroyers of lures....

[Jar11591]

An accidental big pike is always fine with me, but the hammer-handles are a huge pain. They go crazy in the boat, get slime and stink all over the place and are the hardest fish to hold still to take a hook out. I don't know if there is a way around it, largemouth and small pike usually inhabit the same territory. 

[MIbassyaker]

If I'm fishing waters that I know have a lot of pike, I don't throw anything with a blade on it unless I'm targeting them specifically. Still, I always catch a few little pike on wacky rigs and texas-rigged creatures every year. The only way I know to target Bass and not catch Pike is with worms fished slowly on or near the bottom; even that is not necessarily pike-proof, but I think it's the best you can do, aside from just finding a different spot. If the pike are reasonably sized, say 24" or more (fun-size, that is), you definitely want to find a new location if that's not what you're after -- the bass are probably elsewhere.

[WI_Angler1989]

Very true. They hit the same things too. Although to be fair, a pike will hit anything that mover most of the time here.

[papajoe222]

I can't offer any suggestions, but I have a very good idea what  is at the root of the problem; the natural forage base of perch and sunfish has been over harvested due to the high creel limits. As a result, the pike are looking elsewhere. The fishing season, by you, opens late to afford the pike, Muskie, and walleye the opportunity to spawn.  The sunfish, and the bass don't spawn until after the season opens and a majority of bass anglers practice catch and release.  What you're experiencing is the result of  decades of unchanging controls.

[A-Jay]

I feel your pain with the pike - I really do.

On certain days & on certain bodies of water, there's just no avoiding them, it's a little brutal.

 One thing that has worked in the past for me is to fish lower & slower; meaning make the presentation in a little deeper water and slow it down.

As a few others have mention, even though the snot rockets are a PIA, that occasional Super Tanker U-Boat sized Pike is fun.

A-Jay

[68camaro]

I learned to accept them, truth be told I am happy to just catch a dang fish....any fish:)

[WI_Angler1989]

I'm not saying anyone here is like it, but I cant stand when people get mad for catching the "wrong" fish. I've seen people kill a pike because it "deserved to die" for killing good fish. I don't understand. I like fishing and that means any fish.

[soflabasser]

Send some Northern Pike down here!I will appreciate catching them since I enjoy targeting several species of fish.

[fishballer06]

Pike usually aren't found in deeper water, so if you can find some fish in 10+ feet of water, you'll have less of a chance of catching them. 

[JustinU1X]

being form WI and fishing around a lot of pike you just have to live with it.

[Hurricane]

Love catching Pike. .. especially if it could be the fish of a lifetime. .

[dave]

No fish is the wrong fish.  Once you embrace that,  your fishing enjoyment goes up.

[stkbassn]

Just be sure to use colors like bright pink, chartreuse, and bright orange....pike hate that! LOL.  Seriously though, I understand the frustration with those little toothy critters. They can be a lot of trouble and worse yet, can split your hand open easily which is another set of potential problems. Good luck.

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, stkbassn said:

Just be sure to use colors like bright pink, chartreuse, and bright orange....pike hate that! LOL.  Seriously though, I understand the frustration with those little toothy critters. They can be a lot of trouble and worse yet, can split your hand open easily which is another set of potential problems. Good luck.

Yup ~ But I will admit that when I keep my fingers out of their mouth & gills - the chances of leaking are greatly reduced.

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

You need to step up your game & only attract the bigger ones. These are lot's of fun. 

 

[WI_Angler1989]

34 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

You need to step up your game & only attract the bigger ones. These are lot's of fun. 

 

Psh fake! That's clearly just a log you painted. Haha jokes aside, beautiful fish Dwight. That would be amazing to contend with!

[stkbassn]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Yup ~ But I will admit that when I keep my fingers out of their mouth & gills - the chances of leaking are greatly reduced.

A-Jay

Ouch!  Agreed, the less I handle them around the mouth and gills the less I bleed! LOL

[Hurricane]

7 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

You need to step up your game & only attract the bigger ones. These are lot's of fun. 

 

Beautiful fish!

[ww2farmer]

The only time I don't like pike are:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure it sucks to lose lures, but they make more every day.

[Smokinal]

I don't understand how people put their fingers in the gills?! I tried that once; once. My fingers came out like shredded carrots. I almost went to the ER for it; blood everywhere. What did I do wrong?

[WI_Angler1989]

23 minutes ago, Smokinal said:

I don't understand how people put their fingers in the gills?! I tried that once; once. My fingers came out like shredded carrots. I almost went to the ER for it; blood everywhere. What did I do wrong?

Depends, if it was small....nothing. the little ones are knuckle shredders. If it was big maybe you missed and got in the actual gills instead of the gill plate?

[Josh Smith]

I saw this question and started following the thread just to learn the answer. I have never caught a pike and am curious about them.

Josh

I don't understand how people put their fingers in the gills?! I tried that once; once. My fingers came out like shredded carrots. I almost went to the ER for it; blood everywhere. What did I do wrong?

[WI_Angler1989]

7 minutes ago, Josh Smith said:

I saw this question and started following the thread just to learn the answer. I have never caught a pike and am curious about them.

Josh

It's honestly not that tricky. The toughest part is the nerves of reaching for the sharp gills next to the sharp teeth for me. It's super hard to describe how to tho....maybe YouTube could help.

My attempt: as you reach into the gills it 2 parts, multiple layers of gills that are sharp and the gill plate which is basically the "cheek" when you reach in you go in between the "cheek" and the actual gill. This makes them flare out wide and easier to navigate. Slide along the gill plate towards the tip of its mouth. There is a spot that almost cups your finger by the jawbone close to the teeth but NOT all the way. When you're in the right spot...you know it. It just fits snuggly. 

Like is said, hard to describe and actually imagine but when you do it you can tell what's right. I've never had issues with teeth, but the gills are sharp in one direction, like a saw, so as you go in its no biggie until you try to pull your hand out and get sliced finely.

It's not really a normal pain, but it gets itchy and bleeds a lot for how small they cut.