Jigging Pike

[20lbSloughShark]

I am going to try jigging for northern pike this winter. I have some lures I plan to try. A 3 1/2" fire tiger jigging minnow, a big silver spoon, and a blue chrome rattling rapala. Besides spoons, I have nothing I feel is big enough to effectively target pike. I was thinking of adding some treble hooks to a 6" or 8" spearing decoy. Should I get wood, or how do I attach hooks to an aluminum one? Let me know if this works, or what you use for pike jigging. I need something to do while waiting for the tip up. Crappie are just too far away from pike areas (usually).

[Boar]

northland airplane jig tipped with a six inch sucker hit a 39" several years ago on LOW, waiting for flags. littel harder late winter wen they dont care to run down bait but pik up dead bait to canserve energy for the spawn.much better odds during early ice an mid winter. gota have a airplane jig tho. deadly. boar

[Traxxx]

Try Northland Bucktail Airplane Jigs

[Boar]

Also a white mepps spinner for musky works great too.

[Jarrod32]

Mepps Cyclops makes for a good jigging spoon for pike. Tip it with a bit of bait. I am also a fan of the jigging raps and the darters (both the Lindy Darter and the Salmo Chubby Darter).

[20lbSloughShark]

The problem with the jigging raps, the biggest size is under 4" long. I want something about 6" long.

[Esox_Magnum]

Most the big pike we catch every year are caught on panfish jigs or 2-3" shiners dedsticked or under a bobber.... Must admit though we try not to catch pike in the winter ( or anytime for that matter) but can't help what eats sometimes....

[hydro]

Having lived around the Annandale area my entire life I can safely say that a 6" jigging lure will occupy you for a couple of winters worth of jigging before something hits it. You will get just as many large pike on a 3' pimple or jigging Rapala type of lure. I would go that route.

[MN BassFisher]

Yeah, you can get a Lindy Darter in the smallest size and I still feel a little uncomfortable jigging it until the fish tell me they like it. I would think 6" would be overkill.

[Religion_Of_Fish]

I've never jigged anything 6" or bigger, but heck, just because other's don't do it doesn't mean it won't work.

[Swendog]

If you want something larger to jig, try the Salmo Giant Chubby Darter, its 5 1/2 inches. I have done very well with the 1 3/4 Shiner. No monsters but I pull away with a few most of the time.

http://salmofishing.com/lures/giant_chubby.html

[boe757]

the biggest consideration is water color, that will determine if you need something that makes "noise" or a natural presentation. Have caught northerns on 3 inch ratteling silver spots, daredevils, jigs with smelt or suckers. be sure to bring an extra rod, I watched one disappear as I was pouring coffee. just re-read your post, if you are around tip ups then flash is what your want, as pike may end up on a tip up after being attracted

[20lbSloughShark]

I've never jigged anything 6" or bigger, but heck, just because other's don't do it doesn't mean it won't work.

I just got to thinking, why do I use huge lures in the summer, and only tiny jigs in the winter? Sure I have caught pike on 3" lures, but it was only 1 in between the bass, perch, crappie and anything else. Why eat a bunch of crackers, when you can have one big steak?

[reinhard1]

in my opinion in the winter pike are opertunist and lazy [large one's anyway]. cought my biggest pike on a crappie minnow and ice fly. the hook was on the sweet spot at the edge of the jaw on 6 pound test. i have cought some decent pike while jigging for lake trout also on tubes and smelt on the bottom over the years.

i cought a 12 pounder once jigging for lake trout in 80 feet of water 30 feet down. thought i had a big trout on. that was on a medium swedish pimple with a head of a fathead on it. so does size matter on hard water? with dead baits like smelt and ciscos under a tip up maby but jigging i've seen a variety of sizes work. using medium selections for pike in jigging spoon and plastics or jigs with minnows pobably gives you more action for sure. good luck.

[20lbSloughShark]

What would you guys recomend for a pole? I'm assuming a heavier action, but is a fast action better? Does length even matter?