Pike= Bad year??

[StumpJumper]

Am I the only one having horrible luck this year?

I'm 1-1 for the year so far and I have fished more this winter being laid-off than I have ever fished..

It's like the pike just died off in the lake I usually fish. I even moved away from the shallow weed beds and tried deeper water with no luck.

[portagelaker]

Everyone I've talked to about them have been seeing them in 3 FOW lately. Not sure why, but a couple of guys have been slamming them in the shallows.

[Radar420]

I've had a pretty good year. I've had at least one flag up every time I put them out, the biggest one has been 27". I've only missed one fish and that was on LSC no less:banghead3. I have seen a couple nice ones over 30" on a few lakes but I wasn't rigged for pike fishing at the time. Fishing the 7-15' depths.

I haven't had any pike bait lately though so I haven't been fishing for them but the last time I had the tip up out with a golden shiner it produced a giant crappie - a nice bonus.

[StumpJumper]

Must be the lake I'm fishing. I know a couple other guys out there that tip-up all the time and they haven't caught one this year.

I usually fish the edge of the weeds in about 4 fow myself. Normal years I have runs every day. Haven't had a run in over 2 weeks and I've been out almost daily..........

Maybe they don't want smelt this year.

[fishenrg]

Are you sure you've been holding your mouth right? I find that helps.:lol:

[StumpJumper]

Are you sure you've been holding your mouth right? I find that helps.:lol:

Well the bluegills have been biting :)

[Radar420]

Maybe they don't want smelt this year.

I tried some smelt at the beginning of the season and didn't get any bites the first few times out. I thought the bait was just old and I switched to live golden shiners and they have been producing.

[StumpJumper]

I tried some smelt at the beginning of the season and didn't get any bites the first few times out. I thought the bait was just old and I switched to live golden shiners and they have been producing.

The guys out there have been using shiners, not catching nothing. I've never had them turn down smelt. Somethings weird, maybe they are lethargic from lack of o2 or something.

Hoping this warm spell heats things up some.

[outdoor_m_i_k_e]

im probably about 15 for 27 on tip ups. . .thats only 3 times out pike fishing as well. . not much change here . .

[StumpJumper]

im probably about 15 for 27 on tip ups. . .thats only 3 times out pike fishing as well. . not much change here . .

You suck :P :lol:

Just Kidding, thats awesome, I'd love a day of that fishing.

[JayJayMo]

But I dont target them at all. I have also hardly used minows this year and that is where I usually get my accidentals. I have herd though some lakes are doing extremely well while other previous hot lakes have been in the dumps.

[Johnnydeerhunt]

Some lakes are better some are worse. The lake where I spend most of my winter is really down in terms of action. After moving on I have found some larger lakes that are producing active fish.

[wartfroggy]

I thought it started out pretty good around here. It has slowed down lately, but that is pretty common for this time of year. Should pick up as the temps come back up.

[stinger63]

Are you sure you've been holding your mouth right? I find that helps.:lol:

Isnt that the truth

[outdoor junkie]

Go shallow. Pike are getting ready to hit the pre-spawn and should be lurking around in the shallower water. It's getting to be the best pike fishing through the ice. Good luck. I have had alot more action on dead baits vs. live baits this season.;)

[Wardo]

I killed them while walleye fishing earlier this winter. Two over 37" already and seen another one that was 36". I'm still getting them if I fish during the day. For me, it's been the best winter I have ever had for pike.

[Roosevelt]

I normally fish for pike alot, but this winter I'm, focusing on panfish. Today I got broke off 3 outta 4 times by pike using a waxworm. One pike was a whopper but got away w' my favorite purple teardrop.

A few weeks back we got 4 in under 2 hours on tipups, all right around 24". I took 4 and had 3 other flags up outta the same hole in a 3 day period.

I've saw a couple nice fat ones come out of a lake that usually isn't known for pike.

[StumpJumper]

another afternoon with no runs... fished till dark. Caught a nice blue gill and a couple nice perch, lost a couple minnows.

These guys were out there fishing by us tonight and they set tip ups out about 600 yards from them, as I was leaving they had a flag up but it could've been up for hours because you couldn't see it from everyone was fishing.

I waved at them though that is was up but as I was driving away they was messing around with an empty hook.. Not sure why they don't just pull the tip-ups when they move and put them close enough to get to in time.