Lures for pike...

[jimmyjoe]

3 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

Mouth spreaders make things easier too.  Just remember to take it out of the slot sized pike's mouth before throwing them back.  

 

   That made me feel good!    ???    jj

[Way north bass guy]

With our bass season not starting until June for the most part, I am definitely a pike head in the spring!

Having fished fairly seriously for them for over 20 years, including many pike tournaments, I’d have to say that day after day, a suspending jerkbait accounts for more good sized pike ( especially in the spring when they’re fairly shallow), than all other baits combined, at least for me. 
The last couple of years though, I have really started to figure out and do quite well with swim baits on an exposed jighead. 
This last season I was using a Berkley Power Swimmer, mainly in the 4.3” size on an Owner ballhead jig ( 1/4 to 3/8 oz). They have a great action, and are surprisingly tough. I caught multiple fish on one bait, and they didn’t tear apart much at all, even with some big ole teeth chomping on them. 

[Way north bass guy]

Also, I’ve been a big fan of Surflon Micro Supreme for my leaders for a couple years now ( thanks A-Jay for that one). I use 20lb test in black, and I’m often in gin clear water and it doesn’t affect my bite ratio at all. 

[billmac]

Most of my pike have come from shallow, weedy areas, so I prefer a buzzbait.  It's nice because a leader is not required, although I usually throw on a trailer hook with a curly tail grub.

 

[Michigander]

4 hours ago, Way north bass guy said:

With our bass season not starting until June for the most part, I am definitely a pike head in the spring!

Having fished fairly seriously for them for over 20 years, including many pike tournaments, I’d have to say that day after day, a suspending jerkbait accounts for more good sized pike ( especially in the spring when they’re fairly shallow), than all other baits combined, at least for me. 
The last couple of years though, I have really started to figure out and do quite well with swim baits on an exposed jighead. 
This last season I was using a Berkley Power Swimmer, mainly in the 4.3” size on an Owner ballhead jig ( 1/4 to 3/8 oz). They have a great action, and are surprisingly tough. I caught multiple fish on one bait, and they didn’t tear apart much at all, even with some big ole teeth chomping on them. 

Agree with jerkbaits and open hook paddle tails. Most of my pike in bass tournaments come on these.

[sideways2]

Love seeing the pics on catches ?

 

And jigheads... pretty much a staple around here... thanks!!

 

I have a really nice shopping list going... yesterday I picked up 20 spoons... DAM Effzett's which I used back in the day... and some soft baits... should be here in a few weeks... gives me time to find some storage... maybe Black Friday will be good to me up here LOL!!

 

IF you guys have any comments on spinning reels or rods let me know... I used to fish all Daiwa 2500's and MH/F in multiple brands... mostly 12lb mono as well...

 

Thanks!!

[roadwarrior]

Shimano CI4+  

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/shimano-stradic-ci4-fb-spinning-reel

[sideways2]

I had an old Stadic back in the day and traded it off for Daiwa... I found casting Daiwa nicer but that said I liked the old Curado I had!!

 

I'm trying to keep this rebuild under $500... so $100 each... spinning reel... spinning rod... casting reel... casting rod... tackle... that's my goal.

 

I posted in the Rod\Reel section about a Daiwa Exceler I found for $100... trying to drum up some comments about it.

[A-Jay]

On 11/19/2020 at 5:58 AM, sideways2 said:

Hey people!!

 

I would appreciate some help picking out some lures for pike. After a long hiatus I'll be back at it in the spring. I went looking around locally the other day and although I recognize a few items, there are alot of things I just couldn't find anymore especially some spoons that I used back in the day.

 

So if anyone has their favourite lure of choice I would appreciate hearing about it!!

 

Thanks!!

Hey Person !!

I addition to the the fine suggestions already made in this one,

here's my submission specifically for pike:

In early season cooler water a hair jig with a Max Scent Flatnose Minnow - just reel it along slow,

 a jighead and paddletail swimbait, and Jerkbait of course. 

In warmer waters, a spinnerbait, an in-line spinners, a rattlebait, a vibrating jig, and almost anything I can work through the cover they hang in effectively.

A-Jay

 

 

[sideways2]

Thanks A-Jay

 

I used alot of Powerbait back in the day... totally agree!! Rattlin' cranks are good up here to and jigheads are a must!!

 

And I have never caught anything here on spinnerbaits and inline spinners... I purchased a whole whack of custom spinnerbaits from the US... went out for a week with them and never caught one pike... I'm not sure of our pike around here ?

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, sideways2 said:

Thanks A-Jay

 

I used alot of Powerbait back in the day... totally agree!! Rattlin' cranks are good up here to and jigheads are a must!!

 

And I have never caught anything here on spinnerbaits and inline spinners... I purchased a whole whack of custom spinnerbaits from the US... went out for a week with them and never caught one pike... I'm not sure of our pike around here ?

Spinnerbaits excel for me in, around, over & through soft cover; weeds man ~ weeds !

Usually pretty shallow too, less than 8 to 10 ft depending on water clarity.

Also don't be afraid to burn & kill that thing - the speed & sudden stop and then speed again can be a real trigger for the Old Toothy Faced Beast.

A-Jay

 

[jimmyjoe]

40 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Also don't be afraid to burn & kill that thing - the speed & sudden stop and then speed again can be a real trigger for the Old Toothy Faced Beast.

 

   What @A-Jay said is totally correct, and the results can be awesome! It works on spinnerbaits, in-line spinners and spoons. I call it "pulsing".  On spoons, like the Dardevle, you can drop intermittently or you can "twitch" constantly, giving the spoon a very erratic path through the water.

   You don't necessarily need to burn the lure, it's just that the drop in speed (and depth) seems to trigger strikes out of nowhere. I don't know whether it simulates a dying forage fish, or whether it simulates a forage fish that just made the wrong decision, but it works.

   Where I fish, shad are by far the dominant forage, so the lures with which I have greatest success are all light colored or high-contrast. It seems to work especially well with 1/2 oz. Mepps Aglia spinners in silver.

   Your color results, however, may be totally different.

   And yes, this works for bass, too.   ?

 

   Good luck!     JJ

[roadwarrior]

Man, if you like targeting trash fish you need to come to the Tennessee River.

We have big drum and GIGANTIC buffalo fish. The buffalo school to spawn in

the spring and are VERY aggressive feeders. You would have a ball. Plus,

You can keep them all!

 

[snake95]

Not sure if you will be able to find them in Saskatchewan, but I have great luck in northern Ontario in the spring on plastic toads with buzzing feet, like the Zoom Horny Toad, a popular bass lure.

 

Pike often miss on the first strike but they aren't too shy to take another swing the second or third or fourth cast.

 

The small ones can put on acrobatics that rival a smallie when they are trying to hit a toad.

 

 

 

 

[Further North]

I fish for pike and musky a lot.  Bass are fun, but I'll take either over bass, any day.

Top 3:

1. Texas riged (over wire) Strike King Smokin' Rooster.  They quit making them, so I make my own now.
2. #5 Mepps.  Color varies by water, but red/white is a good start, followed by Brown Trout and green/black.
3. Doctor Spoon.  Regular spoons work, but I've found the wider wobble and different underwater signature seem to help with Esox that have seen the "normal" ones a lot.

I also throw flies a lot, but that's a whole 'nother ball game.

 

[Further North]

On 11/19/2020 at 10:15 AM, Michigander said:

I catch way more pike on heavy FC leaders than steel leaders. 

I have the exact opposite experience.

[Further North]

On 11/21/2020 at 7:53 AM, A-Jay said:

Also don't be afraid to burn & kill that thing - the speed & sudden stop and then speed again can be a real trigger for the Old Toothy Faced Beast.

 

On 11/21/2020 at 8:31 AM, jimmyjoe said:

What @A-Jay said is totally correct, and the results can be awesome! It works on spinnerbaits, in-line spinners and spoons. I call it "pulsing".  On spoons, like the Dardevle, you can drop intermittently or you can "twitch" constantly, giving the spoon a very erratic path through the water.

   You don't necessarily need to burn the lure, it's just that the drop in speed (and depth) seems to trigger strikes out of nowhere. I don't know whether it simulates a dying forage fish, or whether it simulates a forage fish that just made the wrong decision, but it works.

There's a lot here that close to what pike/musky flies do: Strip, stall, strip, stall...all the way back to the boat.

Most of the eats come on the stall, or at the very first movement...flies do things lures can't, but the idea is the same.

[Michigander]

17 minutes ago, Further North said:

I have the exact opposite experience.

You talking strikes or landing them?

[Further North]

2 minutes ago, Michigander said:

You talking strikes or landing them?

Landing them.  I target pike and musky more than any other fish.

 

I wasn't criticizing fluoro, just offering different experience.

Almost all my rods - gear and fly - are rigged with wire, and it works great.

[Michigander]

8 minutes ago, Further North said:

Landing them.  I target pike and musky more than any other fish.

 

I wasn't criticizing fluoro, just offering different experience.

Almost all my rods - gear and fly - are rigged with wire, and it works great.

Gotcha, just wanted to clarify because I said "catch" and that's a term that could mean a variety of things.. What size and brand are/were you using? And what size class of pike are you getting?

[FryDog62]

If you have open water throw Mepps 5 or Doctor Spoon 285. 
 

If you have weeds around which pike like, then a Chatterbait or Spinnerbait... with one hook you have a better chance of getting through light/moderate cover clean. 
 

Either way, use the 2.5 inch Crankbait Leader from Bob’s Custom Tackle at Wayzata Bait. But better hurry, a car dealership bought their strip mall and they will be out of business by next Spring. 

[sideways2]

Fantastic information here... thanks everyone!!

 

I've taken a few of your suggestions and made some purchases already.

 

I was hoping someone would take me up on that Rapala baitcaster I have listed in the flea market and trade me for some lures!! I've already spent my budget!!!

 

FYI... I have used Mepps Syclops spoons before to great success... in fact not only them but Krocs and of course the Effzetts were my favorites... I just purchased the Effzetts below... spoons with slight bends to them work well up here... they gots the wiggle LOL!!

 

As for leaders... usually 6" wire for me... black or silver...

 

 

 

 

[jimmyjoe]

53 minutes ago, sideways2 said:

... they gots the wiggle LOL!!

 

    Uh-oh ..... you should not have posted those pictures! They just wiggled their way into my budget for next season!   ?

   Seriously ..... from one spoon user to another ...... Thank you!     ?      jj

[sideways2]

You are welcome!! 

[Spoons]

Mepps #5, chatterbaits with a paddletail trailer, whopper ploppers, spoons(if you want to go cheap blue fox has a spoon kit that are 3/8, 9 bucks for like 6 of them at walmart. Ive caught plenty of pike on them. They aren't too picky, just make sure you do use a steel leader because they will eat through braid and everything else with ease.