spring pike

[tbone1088]

Hey boys,
bassassassins latest article got me thinking about quickstrike rigs for pike in the spring time. Anyone use dead bait when the water is still very cold? Usually I'm throwing lures but a quickstrike rigged with a sardine or smelt on a big bobber sounds like it would be fun fishing!!!

[MichaelGA]

Might work - but in early spring the pike are going to be very shallow... might be hard to get near them without scaring them away.

Maybe some kind of drift rig if you're in current.

Canoe or float boat if not - still will be tricky... they will be giving you the hairy eyeball the whole time.

[tbone1088]

I have some spots that are fairly deep and hold big pike early in the year, just wondering about how to set it up on a bobber, I saw some big bobbers online, wondering if u need special stops for them???

[Stinger95]

just wondering about how to set it up on a bobber, I saw some big bobbers online, wondering if u need special stops for them???

you could always try balloons...cheap and effective because you can adjust the size based on how big your bait is

[zippyfx]

I have some spots that are fairly deep and hold big pike early in the year, just wondering about how to set it up on a bobber, I saw some big bobbers online, wondering if u need special stops for them???

For larger floats you need beads use beads to keep the stop from sliding through the slip float. Depending on the beads that come with your stops you may need to buy some bigger ones.

I think there was video posted here recently which that should Gord Pyzer deadbaiting pike. He recommended a quick strike rig with the lead hook in the tail so they bait hung head down.

[avidangler]

Ive always found dead bait outside of the hard water season brings in catfish regardless of depth. they just seem to love it. Also using 8"+ dead minnows you can catch long nosed gar but that's more of a night bite.

[rex.stpierre]

As mentioned above, from your reel out, rubber bobber stop, medium beed, slip bobber, slip sinker, another beed, swivel, leader and hooks...Then adjust rubber bobber stop to depth...find a calculated spot and let it drift to where you want it... I'll be sitting in my kayak!

[tbone1088]

Where do you get rubber stops? I use spinnerbait skirts sometimes but that's it.

[MichaelGA]

Just tie a uni knot or nail not with some 30lb ice fishing braid... works great with beads.

[cgates]

I think this was done on fishing Canada they used live suckers with floats for big pike

[rex.stpierre]

Where do you get rubber stops? I use spinnerbait skirts sometimes but that's it.

I have seen them at Sail, dollarama(lunkerhunt kit), lebaron, spinnerbait rubber will work too but the bobber stops are cheap and efficient.