Fishing for Pike - What do you use?

[Spezza_Fan]

Hey gang,
So I've been fishing with the same technique for the last 20 years or so for Pike. Straight up 12" leader with a gap hook and a dead minnow hooked under the mouth and through the eyes. It's produced some awesome fish mixed with a slow retrieve and that's it. Fishing in 15-20 FOW with a weedy bottom. However, I know there's more options/techniques out there and wanted to know how you guys fished those toothy monsters. I know Kev put up a report about Swimbaits or what not but I'm not sure how he fished them. Any advice would be awesome. I'm going to be trying my luck tomorrow all day.

Thanks,
Derek

[Kovalchuk]

Mepps Giant Killer trolled at a medium speed or cast and retrieved has ALWAYS been my best bet for large pike.

Smaller pike seem to hit any bass set-up I use... Gulp Alive Minnow on a Jig head has landed me tonnes of Pike on the Ottawa and Muskrat.

[Wrexxer]

Spinnerbaits have produced the most pike for me...for some reason when it comes to pike the shinnier the better for me! hehe...

I have a friend that has landed 2 nice ones back to back on a wacky style senko...

But If I would have to choose one it would be the spinner bait!

[tman12]

I use spinnerbaits as well. White with red trailers work the best. I prefer Boo-Yah, just because of their quality. I retrieve it on the slower side, and I get lots of pike on it. Bass as well. If that does not work, a red and white dare-devil will do fine. Best of luck!
TT
TY

[JZ]

This is the first year where I have really had success with Pike, top 3 most productive lures were:

1) bucktail jig (with and without grub trailer)
2) 5 of diamonds yellow and red
3) Smithwick rogue stickbait (glow in the dark suspending)


I have played around with leaders a bit this year with some good and bad results. with the spoons and jerkbaits I will go with a 30-50lb fluro leader with jigs I will use a titanium leader thinner the better. I started out using fluro leaders with jigs but have had small pike bite through 30 and 50 flouro with ease. The titanium leaders are expensive $10-$13 each but they are worth it, they dont ruin the action, they dont kink, they generally come with quality snaps.

[Stefan]

My best luck has been with spinner baits (no leader) run along weed banks or lilly pads. I've noticed big differences based on weather patterns, and I have had the best luck when there is a light drizzle.

[Rico24]

Seems like pike will eat anything i try to catch bass with. They really love Spro frogs!

[jameson]

Red Devil/Devle

[Yannick Loranger]

I started out using fluro leaders with jigs but have had small pike bite through 30 and 50 flouro with ease.

Make sure you're using fluorocarbon leader material. I tie my leaders with 40lbs fluoro and NOTHING has been able to bite through it yet in 3 seasons.

I find pike on the Ottawa are very season specific. Spoons first thing, then topwaters, then back to spoons, then spinnerbaits, then back to topwater, then it's Oct. and I'm hitting walleye.

If you're fishing for them in 20 fow. I would say cranks and swimbaits are your best bet.

[JZ]

I started out using fluro leaders with jigs but have had small pike bite through 30 and 50 flouro with ease.

Make sure you're using fluorocarbon leader material. I tie my leaders with 40lbs fluoro and NOTHING has been able to bite through it yet in 3 seasons.

I find pike on the Ottawa are very season specific. Spoons first thing, then topwaters, then back to spoons, then spinnerbaits, then back to topwater, then it's Oct. and I'm hitting walleye.

If you're fishing for them in 20 fow. I would say cranks and swimbaits are your best bet.

It is leader material, actually they are premade leaders, and they work great with every other lure type, usually not even a nick after many fish but with jigs the pike usually has the leader in his mouth and I do get bit off occasionally so I switched to titanium for jigs. What brand Fluoro do you use?

[Yannick Loranger]

I think it's Seaguar, but I'd have to check to make sure. Can't say I've caught lots (if any) pike on jigs. When I'm using a leader, it's usually with spoons.

[Panfisher]

Tomorrow I'll be using a 9 wt fly rod with either a red and white streamer (nod to the red devil), a clouser or perhaps a mouse fly.

They'll be about a foot of steel line between the fly and the leader.

I'll let you know how it works.

[Panfisher]

I didn't have much luck.

How did you do?

[Out4trout]

I troll a Williams WF half-half, or a jointed crankbait with a rattle.

[IgglesD]

Spezza - If you are on the Ottawa, find weeds and throw 10" muskie lures We caught an abnormally high amount this year....all healthy looking as well.