Bobber fishin' Pike

[mnrstrider]

Going upto the cabin this weekend, and so a goal I have this year is to catch myself a big pike. I've been thinking about just throwing out a big sucker minnow, and a bobber. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to best set this up? I have a large lighted bobber, that I think should be able to hold a large sucker, how exactly should I hook the sucker??? I was thinking of taking a trebel hook (made legal) and hooking it through the back of the fish, but I don't think I could really cast that type of setup, I'm thinking about just putting a big hook through it's mouth, maybe tail hooking it, I just don't know. I'll be fishing a weedier area that runs probably around 4-5 feet. I any tips on leaders, lenth, color or any other concerns?

I'd like to just be able to sit on the dock drink some beer, chat with the woman, and enjoy the night, and hopefully catch a nice fish. Any help I'd appreciate.

Oh CP&R only.

[hanson]

mnstrider,
I've never used your technique for Pike fishing but sounds like a pretty good way of doing it. Actually, we tip-up fish a lot in the winter so the technique would basically be the same. I'd use a quick-strike rig for hooking your sucker minnow. The rig is basically 2 treble hooks on a steel leader with a little spinner to make it legal. The upper treble hook typically slides along the leader. I hook the end hook just in front of the dorsal fin and the movable hook into the top of the tail. Its recommended when using a quick strike to set the hook right away, there is really no need to let it run with it along way. I'm not sure how effectively you'll be able to cast a set-up like this without losing the minnow.

[MuskyMark]

Hi mnrstrider,

I agree with hanson. I'd strongly avoid using a single hook rig of any kind while fishing a sucker. Too many opportunities to hurt the fish. Most places that sell suckers would certainly carry some decent quick-strike rigs. It's a little extra hardware, but if you use them properly the suckers still swim pretty good and work pretty well. So you can lob him out there, sit back and have a cold one with the mrs., and as soon as the bobber goes down you set the hook. No need to let the fish run... since just about anywhere it grabs the sucker has a hook on it!

Also, as hanson mentioned, keep in mind the spinner blade requirement with the quick-strike. Make sure it's legal before you buy one. Good luck!

Mark

[This message has been edited by MuskyMark (edited 06-25-2004).]

[mnrstrider]

Thanks for you quick responses, This idea makes a lot of sense, in fact sounds about perfect, I know I need a little blade or something for this set-up, but thanks for reminding me, I always want to be on the legal side, and if it wasn't for ice fishing, I wouldn't even know about that until you said something.

I'll try it out, hopefully I'll have some results to pass along, thanks again

Nick

[cd3]

i fish for pike alot live baiting, and if you can find them get yourself a weighted slip bobber, they are 6 to 7 in and make sure its the weighted 1, they do make an unweighted 1 .but cant cast it as far.

[Wiskers]

Keep an eye out for Today's Tackle, they are working on an awesome bobber for just this situation. No more pole floats and stringing through the bobbers. These work awesome from corking for cats to live rigging for pike or Muskies. I like fishing for pike just like the way you are talking about. Something about watching that bobber take off really gets your heart going.

Fish on................................................Good luck mnrstrider....

[mnrstrider]

OK I suppose I should report back, Well I bought the big pike minnows, and I never used them, I spent so darn much time seaching just trying to find something nice, I was just plain beat at the end of the night, and I just went to bed.

That being said the bait shop told us about a little girl who went to the bait store with daddy, and pleaded with him to get one of the "monster" pike minnows, well he let her, and the cast that out on a bobber, and the little girl got herself a little northern, a little 28# nothern... So I bet I would've had some luck, too bad the fishing was so tough, and I was so tired.

[Lost]

Thanks for not telling us where this little girl caught that little 28# fish. I can't afford to make the trip.