Newbie needs PIKE help!

[TiNK3R]

Short version: Never caught a pike before. Tried tons!!!

This weekend I'm going to a pike filled lake. My questions are..

1. Tipup with a large sucker. I've tried it for the last few weeks... nothing. Not a single bite. Just a line with a treble hook (and spinner thing) and the bait. The bait remains alive the entire time. What else should I try, smaller bait?

2. Jigging for northerns. Is 10lb test enough? Will a chubby darter/buckshot rattle rig be decent?

3. Time of day, from what I hear they're a day fish. Do I start at the crack of dawn till sundown?

4. Someone said they wait 15 min, if they dont see a northern they move. Are they very mobile or stationary? I dont want to sit in one spot all day, but draging my gear/portable with a hand auger doesn't make a move every 15 min very apealing. How should I approach that?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you

TiNK3R

[ScottThomas]

I dont have that much success for pike through the ice but I really think that with any type of fishing you should take a look at your location first; you have to fish where there are fish to be caught, you can fine tune other things after that. I'd probably set up in some fairly shallow water thats close to some deep water or a really steep break, its a great bonus if you can find some green weeds still, even better if you are fishing right on that weedline.

Once you've found a good spot to set up I'd probably set 1 tip up and have one rod, both in different depths, the tip up is nice cause you can spread out. I've had good luck setting the bait more than a few feet off the bottom, espically if the water is clear so don't be afraid to try that. I'd think 10 lb test would be enough but would urge a good steel leader,good drag on your reel, and maybe some heavier line so the fish would release better.

I like to think most fish move during lowlight periods like sunrise and sundown, but pike seem to move all day and I have had awesome luck around that noon to 1 o clock time, they can be active in the afternoon, of course if your in the right location.

I wouldn't move every 15 minutes, but also wouldnt stay put for hours on end without a fish, its kind of your choice on when you want to move, I rarely leave fish to find fish though.

Hope this helps a bit, hopefully a few others will chime in! Good luck!

Scottie

[Bluegill1510]

Scottie when did you become a pro at pike fishing??? I thought you were just thought you were just another muskellunge guy!

[TiNK3R]

How about smelt? Do common grocery stores carry it? (Rainbow, cub, target)

I've heard a lot about this being successful, any comments?

[Fish&Fowl]

Pike fishing can be a blast through the ice. My advice to you as a beginner would be to find at least 1-2 other guys that want to go try it with you. This way you can spread out and try various tactics, baits, depths, etc. to come up with a strategy more quickly.

Picking the right lake and the right spot on that lake are going to be your two biggest decisions. If you get on a lake you know has decent pike numbers, you're heading in the right direction. A few places I would look would be: underwater points, sharp drop-offs near deeper water, deeper holes in a shallow basin, and deeper weedlines edges.

As far as time of day, that shouldn't really be a big factor. If fish are active, they usually will hit all day long if they are seeing something they like. I have had some of my best luck in the middle of the day.

A dead smelt or ciscoe can be deadly if that's what the fish prefer, and that will usually change on a daily basis. If I'm using smelt, I like to put them very near or right on bottom. They can also work just a couple feet under the ice, but again the best thing to do is keep experimenting until you find something that works. I've had days where ciscoes out-fish live bait 3-1 and vise versa. One thing I do like is ciscoes are much easier to carry around and don't take up much room.

If you are willing to put in the time and effort, hopefully you'll be rewarded with some nice toothy critters and a little more knowledge for future outings. Good luck!

[Tim_Anderson]

Tink,

I'd start by picking a lake that has a good reputation for having a good population of pike, and a good representation of year classes. Many lakes have tons of hammer handles, and although it's fun chasing flags, sometimes the size of them gets old. Your local or regional DNR office should be able to help you. In fact, you should be able to get a look at individual lake census reports right from the DNR HSOforum.

Now that you have your lake picked out, I'd look for a few different areas. Having a map of the lake would really help. The other thing I'd recommend is being mobile. I know the hand auger thing gets tiresome...been there. Can you get your hands on a power auger, or fish with someone that has one? One of the other guys mentioned fishing with several partners. Good idea. Fishing with partners, two lines to a guy, will help you figure out a location or pattern much faster.

I have the best luck with a sucker minnow, kahle style hook, and tip up. I like breaklines along the weed edges. Depending on the lake, that should be 8 to 18 feet. Another good area to look is on big expansive weed flats. And a third good area to look is out in deeper water where the panfish are located. In the winter, you'll often find crappies and sunnies located in the deepest holes in the lake. Sometimes they're suspended up off the bottom, and many times, the biggest pike in the system will be nearby.

If I don't get a bite, I like to move at least every half hour. Pike will bite throughout the day, but look for good runs at first light, and the hour or so right before dark.

Hope this helps,

Tim Anderson

Big Fish Hunt Guide Service

http://www.bigfishhunt.com

218-232-6067

[TiNK3R]

Thanks very much, I will be trying tomorrow. I hope to come back with some nice pictures maybe

[FishOn!]

I would say dont use smelt or ciscos unless you are fishing a lake with a population of those fish in it. But pike i guess are generally very aggressive and sometimes hit anything in their sight, so maybe im way off. ive caught them on perch colored lures on lakes w/ no perch! Anyone have more on this???

[TiNK3R]

I hope your right, I picked up a VERY nice perch looking jig (God they're nice looking!)

[lucy1205]

just throw out a tip up and leave your gear near by. Drill some holes and jig in them so you can leave your stuff near by. buckshots work well. Agressive norts like to hit the old summer style rattle traps but dont hookup very well.

[Fish&Fowl]

The ciscoes and smelt are more to replicate fish that have died and either sank to the bottom or are floating just under the ice. It shouldn't matter if they are actually part of the lake's forage population. Plus they put out a lot of stink.

[Nick Kuhn]

Yeah F&F is right, if northerns only took things that resembled actual lake forage the vast majority of the lures you catch them on in the summer wouldn't work. I have yet to see a fish that remotely resembles the 5-o-diamonds.

[TiNK3R]

Tried today and got skunked. I tried suckers on a tipup, and jigging every lure I had.

Must be my location, and my lure setup that's killing me. Or just some seriously bad luck >:x

[cjac]

Where are you located? I'm thinking someone will have a recommendation on a lake with decent pike numbers, a.k.a. slime rockets, based on where you are. The tips posted above are great, now you just need to get over a few fish.

Chris

[TiNK3R]

Chaska

Lake ann and Piersons lake are probably my best bet. Minnetonka actually would be, but I'd be lost as to were to start.

[cjac]

TiNK,

Hit a bait shop and ask for a few spots on 'tonka, if you're looking for pike action and dropping some $$$ on tip-up minnows they will steer you in the right direction. Most of the bays hold good weedlines and should result in a flag-up situation!

Tomorrow AM, 2nd day of warmer temps.......I feel it.

Chris