Best all around lure? (Northerns)

[cjac]

Early season I love throwing or trolling the fire tiger pattern Fat Rap, all kinds of action, both pike and walleyes. I've always done very well early season with that presentation.

I'll also second the post on the Rapala long cast minnow, had some fun with that as well, especially on top of an emerging weed flat, fun times!!!

[thewalleyeguy]

Quote:

---

In a classical sense, my vote would go to the spoon. I gotta think more pike have been caught on the good ol daredevle (or a cheap knockoff) than all lures combined.

---

I second that

[Fish Fry Guy]

The good old trusty spoon has always been my favorite. You cannot fish it wrong, comes in many sizes, colors & weights and if weeds are an issue? You can always go with the Johnson weedless spoon. If I'm not using spoons, I like bass spinner baits as a close second. Only thing with spinner baits is the don't cover as much water as quickly due to the drag from the blades.

[Deepinthewoods]

For spoons, just replace the treble with a single hook and you've got close to a weedless spoon. And the hookup (and staying hooked) will be better than with a Silver Minnow or other lures that have fatter built-in single hooks. Bend down the barb and you're even closer to weedless.

[Toby]

#5 Mepps is my personal favorite for snakes.

[Random guy]

After walleye fishing for a little while Dennis S. he showed me the best pike lure is a Walleye jig and a 3"plastic grub. He was catching pike like they were going out of style.

[SledNeck]

Hands down the BUZZBAIT. All Ive used for years and years were spinnerbaits....boy was I stupid. Switched to buzzbaits a few years back and WOW its unbelievable. Not only did I catch BIGGER pike but I caught more of them. My buddy was a die hard spinnerbait guy until last year when I would outfish his spinnerbait (same boat) 10 to 1 consistantly. This may not be the case for all lakes but up north here I havent found a lake where the spinnerbait beats the buzzbait for Pike from june-on.

[Slyster]

All times of the day for buzzbaits? My own experience with buzzbaits is I've tried them off and on and never to this day have caught a fish on them.. so I always move back to my spinnerbaits which I have more confidence in.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've never caught a pike on a buzz bait, but then again, I've never really tried. After reading that post, I think I will have to start trying it a bit more. It sounds like fun. Thanks for the idea!!!

[MuskieMojoTackle]

If I had to choose one, it would be a white spinnerbait. Pike of all sizes are suckers for that presentation. Second for me would have to be a jig and plastic.

Add a spoon and I would be all set for a season of piking.

[SledNeck]

Quote:

---

All times of the day for buzzbaits? My own experience with buzzbaits is I've tried them off and on and never to this day have caught a fish on them.. so I always move back to my spinnerbaits which I have more confidence in.

---

ALL times of the day except after sunset when they shut off to everything. Speed troll weedlines and points. I think Im gonna make a video this summer of Northerns back flippin out of the water going after buzzbaits.

[carlcmc]

SledNeck, a question for you. What speed do you troll them at? How far back? small or large buzzbaits and does color make a difference? I have a medium to large black one i may try. Around 4-5mph?

Have to be over the weeds or what are your thoughts on locations?

[SledNeck]

Quote:

---

SledNeck, a question for you. What speed do you troll them at? How far back? small or large buzzbaits and does color make a difference? I have a medium to large black one i may try. Around 4-5mph? Have to be over the weeds or what are your thoughts on locations?

---

Well, every lake is not the same. But Ive had luck with medium and large buzzbaits. I use the Booyah brand (light colors) specifically because they are tough and dont get all bent up as bad as cheaper brands. I also put a trailer hook or two on back. Troll just fast enough to make the buzzer break the surface. We stagger the distances from the boat while trolling and they all produce equally. Closer to the boat is probably better due to the fact that you'll have less line to reel in when a big one hits. I troll as close to the weeds as I can without having to run the motor through em. Trolling rocky points seems to work just as well.