Anoying Northerns

[ikeslayer]

In the past year i have lost more lures getting bit off by northerns than for any other reason. However it seems the second i put on a leader i stop catching fish. Where is the Trade off? Someone out there has solved this problem and i am eager to hear it. thanks ike

[Deitz Dittrich]

I believe that Northern Pike are the evil plot of the bait making companies.

Ikeslayer-I hate to say it, but its just a fact of life for us bass dudes in the northern states. And companies like Lucky Craft and that wonder why thier market isn't very good up here. We cant afford to loose $15 baits to teeth every dozen casts.

Look at the bright side, you get to go buy new baits more often? And your hooks are always sharp?

[bucketmouth64]

I feel the pain. I use braid. Even that didn't stop a piker to saw thru the braid and losing a productive crankbait right by the boat. That was the only time that has happened with braid. I wasn't paying attention to the line which had some frayed areas (probably caused by catching snakers). I've wondered why the bass shows (or tourneys) never show them catching northerns? Are the waters too warm in the Southern part of the U.S. for northerns?

[Deitz Dittrich]

THe majority of the range of the Northern Pike is in the northern most half of the US and Canada. However, believe it or not Texas state record Northern Pike is over 18 lbs, Georgia's too. However, not all the southern states have Northern Pike, In Florida they have Chain Pickeral, which is similar to a Northern Pike, but much smaller.

They do have REAL Gators, and Gar that will make a mess out of a lure as well..

This I thought funny.. the state record Northern Pike for the state ok Kentucky.. 9 lbs 8 oz... wimps!

[HawgTide]

At least they are fun to catch for the first two weeks of the season. After that, stay away!

Growing up in the South, we would occasionally catch a Chain Pickerel. They were rarely more than 16 inches long. Some people called them Jacks. When my Dad came up here last year, he hung into a nice northern and said "it's one of them Jacks", I nearly lost it laughing. I hadn't heard that term in many years.

[ikeslayer]

Good stories fellas and thanks for your sympathy but still are their any solutions????!!!! The statement about Lucky craft was right on i feel the same way about Rapalas every time i cast that 5 dollar bill. any solution let me know ike

[delmuts]

slayer; no really good solution to the problem. i do use leaders on lures, but i'm sure it cost me some hits. braided line will help some , but not a cure, as will heavy floral carbon materials as a leader. but still not a cure. there is also a stranded leader that you can tie like line that the muskie guys talk about. another option, but no cure. YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK you just have to deal with it like this rest of us !del

[smallie_hawgin]

Slayer.... if your into tying knots you could try a bimini twist leader out of floro..... It is a bit complicated but it would be a double floro leader material. Look up how to tie it... it may solve some of the problem snot-rockets. I have tried a simple double floro leader and it helps. Good luck.

[Ray Esboldt]

It's been my experience that nortens saw through braid as easy or easier than mono. There's really no good way to fend them off. I don't throw a ton of expensive baits as I fish vertical baits more than cranks and spinner baits. However, I would imagine the amount of tackle I have lost over the years to pike could stock a small bait shop. You just have to suffer with the rest of us.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ike,

There are solutions, however, not without cost. Anything you do to affect the northern not bitting you off will have a direct affect on the lure and will cost you bites.

Its your decision!

Unfortunatly, there is not golden lure or rig.

[Phred52]

ikeslayer, Sorry man, I use snakes to fertilize ash trees! They don't work too well on Maples, but for Ash, they do great! I'd strongly suggest that we heavily fish for the "Northerns/snakes" and use accordingly, to get our tree stock back from the "Dutch Elm" disease". Then we can worry about fish that annoy/entertain us. Lets get the "ducks in a line". My H.O. Phred52

[ikeslayer]

OH WELL although none of you told me what i wanted to hear that is ok. There are sometimes as an outdoorsman where you know you just are going to get kicked in the teeth and this is one of them. If you know it is coming it doesn't hurt as much. I will look into the bimi twist and the tieable leaders but i guess someone should solve this problem and make some real coin. If anyone else has anything else it will gladly be heard but for now thanks for all your suggestions and sympathies ike

[sami0115]

ike...

in my opinion the solution is Power Pro. since i have switched to it on my topwater and spinnerbait rods i have NEVER been biten off. 3 years of throwing spinnerbaits!! i even caught a small pike because he was holding onto the line in front of the lure and he wouldn't let go.

i have caught pike ranging from a pound to 7 pounds on my spinnerbait rod with no leader an have never lost a fish. i use Power Pro 30lb.

give it a try

[stayman79]

I agree, Power Pro and also Fireline are more resistant to the teeth of those pike. I've also heard of, not yet used, a product I believe is called Tigre line. It's basically a nylon coated titanium wire that you can actually tie a knot with. I read about it in a magazine and the author said he uses it when jigging for bass in the milfoil and it helps him from losing lures to pike. What it costs and how easy it is to tie, I don't know. I checked into it at Gander once and they were out, but said thay had carried it.

Good luck!

[FI Guide]

Like said before the solution is to use non horizontal baits like tubes and worms. This is what I normally fish with and throw a heavy jig for in the slop and it seems to work well and I only have caught one northern with this and that was on a large tube.

[Deitz Dittrich]

FI-Funny you say that, I fish a jig and pig a lot during the summer. And I mean A LOT!... Anyway, I catcha ton of pike on a jig and pig.. matter of fact.. one day on Tonka, while fishing bass, I caught 8 muskie in one day, all on J &P.

[ikeslayer]

i would be interested in hearing more about this tigre line anyone know if cabelas or basspr carries it and how good it really is. thanks ike

[Lunker]

There is one thing a hate more than a pike biting me off. When fishing a bass tourney and sinking your hook into a nice fish, only to realize you have a 4lb pike at the end of the line. Arggh! Most problems I have with pike cutting the line come when I'm fishing plastics, they don't seem to get the cranks or spinnerbaits down far enough. Which is fine, cause plastics cost a heck of a lot less.But, I have no solution for it.

[panolo]

Very small diameter hospital tubing. Like for an IV. I have used that with success in northern infested waters. I am careful what I use it with though so I do not hinder actions on some baits.

[ikeslayer]

Lunker i know what you mean. One of my goto lures is the banjo minnow and every fish swallows it line first including mister teeth. Can you tell me more about this surgical tubing. Sounds intersting. thanks for all of you goodies fella ike

[TNFL]

I have a solution.

My buddies spinnerbait got bit off and I just caught the pike 5 minutes later and handed him his bait. He must have been hungry.

[ThunderCat]

like someone said b4 use power pro like 30# or 60# test. i never use a leader and i've only been bitten off like less than 5 times. Thats how good my knots are and thats how good power pro is.

[panolo]

ikeslayer....

I just find the smallest diameter hospital tubing I can find. If you have ever had an IV you know the style. Alot of it is very flexible so it does not hinder as much as one would think. However I do not use it in tournament situations or with baits where it could hinder actions. You normally don't need much just a few inches. Jigs and such can get expensive.

I have had alot of fish bite through my power pro but it is harder for them to do than a mono or flouro.