Best technique for late season pike fishing?

[Ice Ranger]

What's the best technique for late-season pike fishing? What do you use for bait? Do you fish towards the bottom, or suspended?

[walleyeslammer]

Here is what has worked like magic for me this year, all year. Drill two holes about 2 feet apart. Put a chubby darter on one line and then a dead smelt on a big hook with a bobber just large enough to support it on the other. I have seen on a camera and could tell using my marcum than the pike would fly in to check out the chubby darter and then smack the dead smelt. Sounds a little goofy to kinda "call em in" but it sure works. Give it a shot and good luck

[blarkey]

A dead sucker minnow has always been the best method for me

[bimbo]

Dead smelt layin on the bottom

[chris63]

Up on low a guide told us the best way to catch BIG pike is put a live or dead bait two to six feet under the ice.The big boys have learned to stay around the area of a bunch of shacks to grab the throw backs of the anglers up above.This tactic has worked for our groups in the past.If you have more than one guy fishing experiment with different depths/lures till you get em dialed in.One day the fish like one thing then like a light switch they switch to another presentation.c63Good luck!