Ottawa River Pike - Where did they go?

Post by **Lowe Rider** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:47 pm

Is is just me or is anyone else struggling to find the lpike this year on the Big O? I've tried shallow bays, stumps, structure, weed beds, with everything I've got except for plastic, and have very little to show for it. Areas that last year would yield a number of hits have given up very few.

What am I doing wrong?

The only good thing that came out of this morning was crossing a spawning bed of Gar Pike. There must have been 15 Gar pike all surrounding this submerged stump, and were hardly spooked as we drifted by. You don't see that everyday...I'll try to post pics later...

Post by **Wallyboss** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:15 pm

I am finding the same thing, we are getting some everytime we go out but nothing like last year. The last 2 weekends I had to go into 2.5 feet of water to get them. Today they were out a bit deeper but still no numbers and no size to them .

Post by **Yannick Loranger** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:47 pm

I agree, in bays where I would get 20-30/morning last year I'm getting 5 or 6 this year. The high water has them scattered I think. The water is cold everywhere. When the water goes down they should start to gather in their usual spots I would think. On the bright side, I did get my first topwater pike on the Ottawa yesterday and had a real nice one miss my buzzbait. hang in there guys, they're coming!
Tight lines,
Yannick

Post by **Lowe Rider** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:18 pm

There's nothing better than catching pike on a buzzbait. What area of the Ottawa do you guys usually fish? I generally fish the Petrie - Wendover Corridor...largest I've caught this year might be a 3lbs...weak.

Post by **Wallyboss** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:21 pm

I launched at Petrie's at about 8:15 this morning. but I went west .

Post by **Yannick Loranger** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:26 pm

I fish in Rockland. My biggest this year is about 3.5 and I missed somethign about 5-6 on a buzzbait yesterday. The buzzbait bite should only get better from here on in.
tight lines,
Yannick

Post by **Fishing 24/7** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:28 pm

struggling on the O. for pike also.

anyone have advice?

Post by RJ » Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:28 am

Water is still cold....Stop throwing Buzzbaits....go to something a bit slower.....jerkbaits.. or swimbaits....just a thought....

RJ

Post by **Yannick Loranger** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:23 am

Spoons have been the best for me so far, retrieved as slow as I could without comprimising action. I was throwing buzzbaits yesterday just for fun knowing that I wouldn't get great results. If you ask me, if you're not fishing for meat, 1 buzzbait fish = 5 submerged bait fish...just an opinion. I might be heading out this afternoon, at least to show the fiancee the carp spawning.
Tight lines!
Yannick

Post by **Tip-up** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:56 pm

RJ wrote:Water is still cold....Stop throwing Buzzbaits....go to something a bit slower.....jerkbaits.. or swimbaits....just a thought....

RJ

Bingo - that's it, that's all

Post by **Fishing 24/7** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:18 pm

any advice on good swimbaits ???

Post by **Matt Massey** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:08 pm

It's definitely not a case of the fish not being there.

The jerk bait is the key - for soft plastics, just about any fluke colour will do. White or light colours are what I prefer as I can see the bait all the way back to the boat.

For cranks, try a slash bait or a shallow running bomber long a.

You really need to work the bait - slow and steady won't work as well, hence why the spinnerbaits aren't working well.

Post by **beachburger** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:41 pm

any advice on good swimbaits ???

Like every one else, we are finding some tough piking on the Ottawa this year. Most of what I've caught have been on a 5 1/2" black\silver Husky Jerk or a 5" white swimbait shaped like these,

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/prod.php ... 7&u=HBCSB5

I've got a couple of 5-6 lb'ers on the swimbaits. I bomb them out there, let 'em sink until they are a foot or so off the bottom and then wind them back at various speeds. A power hookset over the shoulder will work better than a sweeping hookset.

Post by **Asian-Angler** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:11 pm

yeah where did they go ? i even have no luck with minnows last year at this time they would killing my top water lures this year not even a follow up

Post by **WaRe** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:22 pm

I've been launching at Petrie and heading east toward Rockland and here's my results.
My outing a wek ago with my buddy we fished for 6 hours and he ended up with 7 pikes. He caught them on white spinners and buzzbaits.
Me i ended up with 3 pikes that day.
My last 2 outings I only ended up with 1 pike.
I think the water is too cold and with the weird weather we're having the pikes are not as active as normal.

Fish-Hawk.Net

Ottawa River Pike - Where did they go?

Ottawa River Pike - Where did they go?

Jerks