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I fish for Pike in the Thousand Islands area. Typically I fish in less than 10 FOW where a fishfinder is not needed. However, when the pike are not in the shallows, do any of you use a fishfinder to locate Pike in deeper water? How about using a fishfinder to locate baitfish?

Glenn

If your fishfinder will show you at what level the thermocline is at, this is your best way to find deep water pike. Troll your lures through the thermocline. Pike move deep to find colder water. If you find baitfish at this level work the area hard. Personally I wouldn't bring my lures out of the colder water if I find baitfish shallower. (unless you see a big hook around the bait fish then you might pick up a Musky witch would be even better)

I do alot of fishing up near port severn honey harbour when the fish are 10-15 i do take a look at the finder but its mainly used for depths. Pike fishing is usally 5-6 FOW in that area (weedbeds).

Also i use my brain as my tool. I rarely catch bass on the same night as pike in the same spot. So if the bass are biteing then its time for you to rel-locate if you want pike.

bassmasta
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volcano digital

A LITTLE FOOD FOR THOUGHT ( pun intended )

Fish will eat prey up to 1/3 their body length. A 40" pike or muskie will use less of their physical resources seeking prey in the 10 - 14" size. When seeking larger fish then look for schools of big perch, smaller walleye and bass in most of our canadian rivers. By the way a thermocline will not form in a river. Fish are also cold blooded and will seek out warmer water to aid in the digestion of their prey.

The ideal target area would be dropoffs that allow easy access to shallow flats. Deep weed beds and rocky ledges that form part of the structural makeup will be deadly. Those areas that are out of direct current flow are also prime.

In shield lakes where thermoclines do set in then look for schools of cisco as well, just above the line and at times just below. Oxygen content quickly disapates below the thermocline so your best percentage play would be above. Same rules apply relative to structure and quick access to flats.

Mature lakes that are silted in and muddy offer up an even more abundant opportunity with the rich weed lines and beds that are everywhere in this environment. Deeper holes are easier to find and work.

All three answers provided me with information I can use. The 1000 Islands area has so many shallow to deep dropoff areas it's hard to deternine the best area to fish. I like McQ's point of staying out of the current and bassmasta's recommendation about the bass-pike relationship (is that true for both smallies and LMB?). And I would love to catch a Muskie. Are there any Pike-Muskie relationships? Will Muskie drive pike out of a feeding area?

Port severn last year 1 night i went out around 5:00 pm.
Snagged 13 pike on white spinerbaits....no other species.

The next night at the same time i went out after supper to the exact same spot first cast with the spinner bait was a L.m bass. Then about 30 min later i got a s.m bass..and the rest were all bass that night.

This happens alot.

Dont get me wrong though you might be fishing for bass and all of a sudden hook into a pike or muskie who saw your spinner bait and came to see what was going on. Or sometiimes the pike or muskie go after bass/walleye you have on your line..(easy snack) This has also happened in numerous lakes.

bassmasta
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BMW VI history

For your other question im not certain, but im pretty sure pike seem to run out muskie just because they out number them.

I might be wrong though.


bassmasta
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Subaru SRD-1