pike fishing

[shooter921]

In the summer what does everyone use to catch pike? How deep do you go?

[kroppe]

I have successfully used Mepps Aglia or floating Rapalas on pike. I have caught pike in 4-10 feet of water, usually around weedy or lily pad areas. Also minnows work if you are stillfishing.

I have hooked a pike on a Johnson's Silver Minnow but failed to bring him to the net.

Daredevle spoons are supposed to work well, but haven't had luck with these. In any event, a steady and medium fast retrieve have brought me my fish.

[gomer]

i have had lots of luck using large plastic minnow/jig type lures (sassy shads work best) on a jig head. you catch alot of hammerhandles but you will gets some nice ones. a stop and go retrieve works best for me. if you are after large pike try a very large minnow under float. I have also caught some very large bass this way too.

good luck

adam

[stelmon]

I really suck at pike fishing... I have hooked them at all but loose them all..never got them to the boat or dock....i use a medium to fast retrieve usall though.

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Stelmon, the only one.
Make sure you know what your shooting @ and knock it dead and keep those reels screamen

[Basscat]

I have caught lots of pike(up to 36") while bass fishing. I catch most of them on spinner baits along the edge, or just over the tops of weeds. Muskegon lake in the fall(Aug, Sept) is one of the best places to catch lots of pike. Its not unusual to go up there and catch 10 or 15 between 28 and 34". Sometimes I use a steady retrieve, or sometimes I pop the rod while I am retrieving. Sometimes the extra action from the rod popping is required to get a reaction strike. It's nice haveing the action but it gets a little expensive at $6.00 a bait. Sometimes I can get 4 or 5 pike in before I have to replace the bait. Usually I am throwing a white with gold willow leaf's spinner bait.

I have caught them on crankbaits also. I do not use leader's while bass fishing(takes away from the action of the bait), so I usually end up donating the lure to the pike before I get the fish in the boat.
All of these fish are caught while casting along the edge of the weed line. Normally I am casting a bomber model 6A(usually firetiger in color). The color varies depending on the clarity of the water.

Basscat

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A bad day on the water is better than a good day at work :)

[This message has been edited by Basscat (edited 01-02-2001).]

[shooter921]

Thanks everyone I mainly bass fish but I'm trying pike and I like it so I'll try and those idea's next time I go out.

[Big Al]

Hey Basscat,

Have you ever tried Scotts Lake? It's out southwest of Gobles somewhere. Some buddies of mine told me that there are some monster pike in there but I want a second opinion befoer I drive all the way out there. Big Al

[crash]

Mepps spinners, the weedless ones are great for cover. Add a rubber skirt for even more fish attracting action
Snagless sally's, another good cover bait
Big rapalas, work em with a jerk-pause retrieve.
Jig-n-pigs, deadly on slow days, add a big minnow if you really want to get at the big ones. Don't be surprised if you get a Muskie on this.
Sluggos, extremly effective heavy cover bait, just bring alot of em, because teeth and soft plastic don't mix.
spinnerbaits, can't go anywhere without them. Big willow bladed ones are tops.
Silver minnows. The secret to these are to slow troll them when the bite is slow. Work em right up into the cover and hang on. Some guys add a trailer but I find that it deadens the action too much so I fish it plain.

Work weededges, and main points. Start working topwater then go deeper as required. Something I notice alot is that the bigger fish are usually hiding near a lone piece of cover, something that stands out by itself.

Underwater humps and breaks are also magnets.

Please use wire leaders. I make my own out of 20lb black nylon coated seven-strand. If a fish takes your bait, odds are that fish will die. Big Pike are hard enough to come by.

[jimbos43]

Want to catch some pike?????????? The lower Detroit River near the cross dike before the weeds get to bad. Trolling or casting floating bomber long A's, or floating Rapalas. 50 to 75 of the slimy critters is not uncommon. Practicing catch and release of course.

[michiduck]

I would personally rather fish for pike than anything!
I fish a shallow weedy lake and have GREAT success with in-line buzz baits. I work them over the top of lilly pads and through pencil weeds. There is nothing like seeing a giant toothy critter come all the way out of the water to grab your lure. But if your not used to fishing top water it can get pretty frustrating when you only hook 1 out of every 10 of the hits you get!
Another favorite lure of mine to use is a silver minnow or weedless Rapalla spoon. I attatch a light trailer to it and snake it along right under the water surface and the pike jump after those too!!!
The best time to use these top water lures are on an overcast day, and a light rain only helps the action.
good luck. Pike are a blast and VERY tastey too

[Big Al]

I love fishing the slop in the middle of the summer. I cast a weedless Moss mouse or a big frog and work it over the tops of the weeds and lilly pads. You don't usually catch a whole lot but it sure is exciting seeing a big pike explode out of nowhere and be gone just as quick. Big Al

[Basscat]

Big Al,

I know where Scott Lk is. There is a upper and a lower. I have never fished it though.
I do not fish for pike. I just seem to catch them while bass fishing.

Basscat

[ESOX]

It all depends on weather you are looking for quantity or quality. In the summer the majority of fish will be found at any ambush point, but they seem to prefer inside turns as opposed to points. The larger fish will be found in cooler water around creek mouths, sharp breaks, current edges etc. the best thing is off a sharp break adjacent to a large flat. as far as lures go, I prefer saltwater streamers on an 8weight rod, and large spinnerbaits or magnum Rapalas for hardware. If you look at a Northern you will notice that thier eyes look upwards, and you won't get many hits running your bait below them, so keep your bait up and moving. good luck.