Pike after the ice?

[Huntin Horseman]

Do the pike usually bite good after the ice clears out? I've only tip-up fished twice and got 4-5 pike and I have the itch to get more:D

[fishing addict]

I,have caught pike year round,except for the closed season.I,usually only fish open water.You do seem to have to slow your retrieves some in colder temps.I,mostly fish lures,and seem to do better with stick-baits in winter.
Spring,alot of times I've, had to downsize to be productive,and have had them hit #1 Mepps,when they would ignore #2 and #3 size.
Sometimes it seems to be how large the body of water is,also.Smaller rivers,they tend to spook,rather than strike,if the lure is too large.
I've landed over 700 in the last 4years,but my largest has only been 34.5".Alot of 17"-23",and a fair number of 24"-33".
They do seem to follow patterns where they feed for 3or4 days,then take a week or so off.
The smallest has been 5" on a 8" stick-bait.Caught a number of 9"-16" on lures that were almost as big as them.
To me; they are more fun than bass when caught on lures.They tend to give up easier on live bait,or when the lure is too large,though sometimes that is what they want.

[esox master]

Try a Husky Jerk Right after ice out I have hd great luck with them fish it slow your pause should be about 1 minute long. You will be surprised sometimes how shallow the fish are. Another option would be a jig like you would use for bass. Go with a 1/4 once black jig and a decent size trailer of some sort.

[trout]

Big pike will hit a dead rigged baitfish too.
Just be sure to hook up fast on the strike.

[HuRon]

It's a great time to go . In my area the best spots to hit are right below a dam or where a river flows into a lake/impoundment . Personally I like live or dead bait on a quick strike rig .

[Lunker]

If youve ever heard of a river having pike in it , they will be at a dam these next few weeks and be gone in the deeps again. I was trying today with no luck. Over the weekend I saw a 36 taken incher on a dark lizard and bass jig.

[deputy865]

ya there around you have to find them though ive caught tons fishing for bass with a topwater or rapala once you find them throw a spinnerbait dead minnow or other and you might just get lucky. if you really want to catch a big pike go to you local bait shop by suckers and put them in a pond in your back yard or somthing with moving water let them grow then use them. i think they can get to be a foot long. im doing the same ecept just to see how big they get and use him if it dies.... i dont know you can try but location is key