Spring Pike Locations and Methods?

[idratherbefishing]

I live near the border with Iowa and fish Spirit Lake and Okaboji quite a bit and there is no closed season on pike. I am going to get the boat out this week and would like to target pike. What methods and locations would be best this time of year? I was thinking of casting spoons or spinnerbaits or #13 original floating rapalas in shallow bays. Thanks for any input.

[Lindy Lee]

It is kinda sad that 50 people have looked at this posting and no one has repled. I have never fished where you are going but it always seems that where the water warms first is where you will find most fish. You could always take a break from casting and do some trolling. I have found over the years that I have the best luck trolling with the sun at my back. Another relaxing way is to set out a sucker minow under a bobber, just remember not to set the hook to early. Have fun and hopefully some other people chime in.

[Neighbor_guy]

Look for places were the water is going to warm quickly. Shallow muddy bays, the north shore of the lake will warm quicker than the south. Another spot would be an inlet area were a creek or watever is flowing into the lake. Pike run early and they have to come back so that would be a good place to look.

I do my best on spoons in the spring. Plastics would be another go to if the water is realy cold and you need to slow down.

Good luck. Year round open season, lucky!!!!

[Neighbor_guy]

Standing reeds too. If you have 'em.

[fishcast]

Not familiar with the water your fishing. If I were out there I would look for a bay off the main lake, preferably for me it would have some depth to it like down to 8 or 10 ft. and it would have shallow flooded grass or curlyleaf pondweed coming up, and have small stream inlets with a little current. I'd probably throw a spinnerbait or suspending jerkbaits to start. Haven't fished much for them cause I primarily fish in the middle of MN where you can't fish them till the opener.