Pike and bass question

[logger]

I have heard a two theories lately and was hoping you guys would chime in on them.

Theory 1. If you are catching pike in a spot you will not catch bass.

( I know on my home lake it seems I eithr catch one or the other very rarely both in the same spot)

Theory 2. If you are fishing mats/ weeds and not hearing the popping of bluegill feeding there will not be any bass there either

Thoughts?

[senile1]

I can't answer theory 1, but regarding theory 2, I've caught numerous bass in weeds and mats where I heard no bluegill feeding.  

[Shad_Master]

I don't subscribe to either theory:

1) I have caught pike in areas where there are tons of bass.

2) Although I don't subscribe to this theory it may be more plausible -- at least in this area, blue gill are the main bait fish for bass and I do know that when bass are feeding the BG's will get real reserved, but that is usually a signal that the bass are about to start biting.

[mferris]

there's alot of pike in the lake i fish most of the time and i have caught bass around weed clumps when there wasn't any bait fish flipping on the surface..i have also caught bass and pike in the same area and have seen a bass and pike both chase my lure although i have found that when it seems the pike are feeding like crazy the bass don't bite as well....

[PondBoss]

1. I've vacationed in Minnesota and caught Both Bass and Pike in the same area and on back to back casts.  One cast I even caught both at the same time.  Only had half of the Bass left afterwards though.

2. Maybe I don't know what to listen for but I fish the moss mats and don't hear any popping sounds.  I do see and know that bluegill are in the area but what southern body of water doesn't.

[Garnet]

Little pike will not bother big bass and big pike bother everbody. Just think who is eating who. I'm talking nothern pike but it will be the same foe those grass pike.

Garnet

[Marty]

My personal experience would contradict both theories.

[fred_eurobass]

regarding the cohabitation of pike and bass, I agree to what was said above. I have the same experience here in Europe. The only thing I'll mention is that this comportment is due to good acces to forage ressources.

If the quantity of food available for both bass and pike is so poor than the pike will start to target mainly bass, bass population will rapidly move from pike's spots.

fred

[LONGEARS]

I can attest to the fact that these theorys are misguided.Lots of Bass and Pike here in the Rideau River where it is quite common to catch a Bass than a Pike on alternating casts.Bass do not feed on bluegill alone so thier presences is not nessacary.

[HPBB]

I would say no to both.

I have caught  bass and pike in the same spots. with the same lures. One thing, once the water warms up big pike move to deep cooler water, small pike stay shallow. big pike will stay near off shore humps( humm... SM area) & deep water weed beds. Now muskie ( even  big muskies) will stay in the shallows all year. and I have caught both in the same place too. In the Yough & Alleghey  rivers by me,  you will find small mouth and muskie in the same spots alot of the time. I have caught SM and had muskies fallow them to the boat. Last summer I was using a Torpedo by some mid river rocks and had a Muskie missed the lure  twice(saw the fish come out of the water), then a big SM smashed it, all on the same cast.

I have caught bass in weeds when I didn't see or hear anyother fish.

Hey Longears, i love that Rideau Area. I fish Sand lake, and Big Riduau Lake every year. that is one place were bass and pike live with each other, catch a Lm bass on one cast. cast back to the same spot and catch a pike, then cast again and catch a SM

[logger]

I had reservations about both theories, thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Hey HPBB That's a beautiful area you live in, I rafted the Lower Yough a few years ago, what great scenery.

[Pa Angler]

#1. I have caught both in the same area on the same lure.

#2. I have caught Bass when not seeing Bluegills on a topwater popper.

Both have been at Black Lake, NY

[LONGEARS]

HPBB

I've fished both those lakes many times.The water is a little hard right now,but we have hopes.

Longears