1st Pickerel

13 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

I was too bored. Anyway I looked up pike fishing and read 5 or 6 articles  I think 4 of them recommended the lure I was using, even down to the color on 2 of them.

Below is the closest picture I could find. Mine has 3 yellow beads on it 1/2oz, and a #3 or #4 treble hook.

Very very well balanced. Doesn't fold up on you in the cast.

I'll go back up there in May with some wire or braid leaders. I got a real nice net now so I can save some fingers. 

I had no idea this was a pike lure, guess the musky one beside it should have told me.

 

Oh, I'm guessing but that longer red "hair" is the only difference.  I caught more off it in two months than the previous 2 years. Mostly small mouth.

You can build that Mepps Aguila just about any way you want right on the Mepps website:

https://www.mepps.com/information/aglia-dressed-aglia/121#B3 G

Around here, the #5 dressed version is one of my top lures.  Red and white blade and white dressing; Brown trout blade with brown dressing, green blade and black dressing, and orange blade with black dressing are some of the go-to options.  It may vary in your area.

Every winter I inventory what Mepps I lost and replace the ones I need right from them.

...and please don't try a braided line leader.  Tieable wire is best, commercially tied wire leaders are 2nd best, very stout fluorocarbon leaders are third, and braid doesn't make the list.  Any Esox will slice it off like it's not there if they get teeth on it.