Fav. ice lure

[Guest]

Whats your fav. lure (and size) to use when jigging pike in the winter time?

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FISHSTUNNER

[Steve Foss]

It is always one of two: A jumbo-sized jigging Rapala or a jumbo-sized Nils Master Jigger Shad. Pattern depends on forage. Perch patterns are a good bet on most smaller or shallower lakes, and silver/black or gold/black on bigger lakes with lots of crappies, tulibee, whitefish, etc.

First thing I always do is slam the lure against the bottom half a dozen times to get up a dust cloud and make a ruckus. Then I pull it up a foot or two, so it's visible above the dust cloud, and let it sit there for 20 seconds. Then I start the lift-fall lift-fall pause.

Deadly on active pike. I can hardly wait. This weekend.

[Guest]

For me it all depends on where, when, and how aggresive the fish are. But if I had to pick one, I'd say a rainbow Buckshot rattle spoon tipped with a fathead minnow. Always seems to attract the most fish and also triggers a few strikes before I switch to a quike strike rig or flyer jig depending on mood of the fish. I've used swimmin raps a few times too but I have better success with spoons and whole minnows.

Good Fishin, Matt.