Any other Northern Pike fans out there

[J. M. Richardson]

Something I love to do up in Wisconsin when the bass don't seem to be biting or I can't figure out the pattern I will switch to targeting northerns.

What are you favorite lures for these teethy bad boys?

Mine include:

Blue Fox and DareDevele Spoons

Thumper Spinner baits (single colorado blade)

I've had northerns hit a weightless senko worm on my bass rig. Stripped the drag out on my favorite worm rod.

[Dwight Hottle]

Suspending jerk baits.

[Marty]

If I had to pick one lure for pike it would be a spinnerbait by a tiny margin. But really, I've had pike readily take virtually any lure that exists, from topwaters to bottom crawlers and everything in-between.

[A-Jay]

There are pike in EVERY lake I fish up here. I rarely fish for them purposely but catch as many bass as I do pike. Like Marty, I've had them take everything from top water frogs to, crankbaits, swimbaits, swim jigs, flippin' and football jigs as well as every type of plastics I've thrown (including drop shots). It's fun and the strikes and ensuing fights are often memorable.

Unfortunately, rarely do my bass baits survive these bait shedding encounters.

I've resorted to using a short section of American Fishing Wire (Surflon Micro Supreme) knottable leader in front of most bass baits (including plastics) just to reduce bite offs.

Spinnerbaits, swim jigs and soft plastic swimbaits are probably the best producers.

btw - the biggest and healthiest pike (OK I'll say it - FAT ) are found in the "trout" lakes.

A-Jay

[Hooligan]

A-Jay is dead on.  The biggest, fattest pike are found in the trout waters.  Northern oligotrophic waters produce some supertanker's of pike and muskies. 

In regards to what my favorite pike baits are:  When we fish Wabigoon for big pike, we're fishing muskies at the same time.  We fish the same baits for pike and muskies on a lot of the Shield lakes that we fish.  In WI and MN, without a doubt my favorite pike bait is a double showgirl inline.

[BrASSmonkey]

It may be blasphemous on this site, but Northern pike are my favourite fish.  I just love the short hard runs and aggressive nature of these fish.

I have had most of my success using inline spinners, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits.

[Scorcher214]

Can't go wrong with a bucktail spinner or spinnerbait.

[Lucky Craft Man]

I catch a lot on jerkbaits in the spring.  I don't call them pike though, I call them slime darts.  I have a rule in my boat.  If the pike isn't over 30 inches, it isn't coming onboard.

[Nice_Bass]

Storm 5 in swim shad. 

I only say this becuase If I do get bored, I throw this and if it swims, it eats a swimshad.   Pike eat old tennis shoes if they have to.

[A-Jay]

I catch a lot on jerkbaits in the spring. I don't call them pike though, I call them slime darts. I have a rule in my boat. If the pike isn't over 30 inches, it isn't coming onboard.

Slime Darts - I Like It !

A-Jay

[Hooligan]

I catch a lot on jerkbaits in the spring. I don't call them pike though, I call them slime darts. I have a rule in my boat. If the pike isn't over 30 inches, it isn't coming onboard.

Slime Darts - I Like It !

A-Jay

Anything under 10lb pike are known as Snot Rockets in my boat.  Slime dart is quite functional as well.

[A-Jay]

Snot Rocket ~ Yea OK - I learn something new Every Day !

Incidentally, a 30 inch plus pike loose in my canoe is not fun ~ something usually gets busted.

>

A-Jay

[RyneB]

I have caught most of my muskys and northern on a black with chart. tail Zoom Lizard. I dont know if the brightness of the tail draws them to strike, but it always seems to catch a toothy critter.

[WanderLust]

#5 Strike King Crank in Sexy Shad has been red hot for Northerns lately...

Caught a 41" one this evening on my last cast!

[bobbyc]

The lake i fish is loaded with pike. I was catching black crappie off boat slips, tossing a roadrunner, maybe one-eighth oz.? and a twenty four inch northern hammered it! on such a small hook was the amazing thing. When fishing Northern's, i rarely fail with spoons. I like Mepp's best. Thier 'Little Wolf' seems to never miss. (2/5 up to 1oz.)