Using Live Decoys

[GottaGo]

I built myself a dark house for fishing out of last year, but this year I decided I wanted to try spearing out of it. My success has been minimal, I've been seeing fish everytime I go out, but I haven't had a chance to throw the spear. I've been attaching a sucker minnow to a jigging spoon and using that as a decoy. It seems to work well, maybe too well. Most of the fish I have seen come rushing in and nail the minnow. It seems they either get hooked (so I still get to catch them) or steal the bait off the hook. Is there something I should be doing do increase my chance of getting to throw the spear? Maybe a different setup so the fish stick around the hole a little longer? Any advice?

[fisherking01]

experiment. There are so many ways to attract pike it's unexplainable. First off I would say go bigger with your decoy. 10 - 12 inches is not too big for a live decoy. I know people who use 18 inch suckers! This might slow em down a bit. Very commonly shallow water pike will be mor aggressive than deeper water, why, I guess they are more into the quick ambush mode. Use an artificial lure, this may slow em down. Usually agressive means agressive, whatever you use. Keep at it, you will find those opportune moments when they come perfect. Good luck, Brent

[Fish&Fowl]

Spearing seems to be one of the few times when "big minnow...big fish" actually means just that. We have had some big suckers (up to 18 inches) under our feet and gotten or seen some of our biggest fish while using them. We have a 2'x6' hole with a sucker at one end and a decoy at the other.

Usually you will find out quickly which one most fish prefer that day and when you do, try to slow it down. It doesn't work every time, but you will notice the fish relax and cruise in slowly when the bait isn't moving irradically.

[bassNspear]

so fish, you have them on different lines, is there a reason that you do this?