So my local river is mostly ice free and its up which is good to see. In years past under these conditions early season like this I've found pike pushed back into creeks. Problem is I've always struggled to catch them. Any suggestions on presentations or baits?

On 3/26/2023 at 12:40 PM, DitchPanda said:

So my local river is mostly ice free and its up which is good to see. In years past under these conditions early season like this I've found pike pushed back into creeks. Problem is I've always struggled to catch them. Any suggestions on presentations or baits?

 

Fish an expensive jdm hardbait without leader.  That'll surely find them for you

 

scott

4 hours ago, softwateronly said:

 

Fish an expensive jdm hardbait without leader.  That'll surely find them for you

 

scott

No doubt...but I may as well save the gas and just take $100 out of my wallet and set it on fire

If you have access to a boat or kayak, trolling has always worked well for me for pike. I troll only fish-imitating lures (crankbaits, swimbaits, etc.) until I figure out what they like. Oddly enough, they're about the only fish I've caught out of a river that don't seem to mind current.

Or pike,

Almost anything the looks like a baitfish and more than a few that dont

 

Soft plastic paddletail swimbait

#10 husky Jerks. Paddletail on a 1/4oz head.i could see a 3/8oz spinnerbait with a #4 colorado or duel indianas slowrolled.

I think a chatterbait is a good idea.

I catch bunches of pike and muskies on Strike King Smokin' Roosters.

...by "bunches", I mean it's probably my most productive lure over time for them.  Some days this thing or that other thing might be more productive, but day after day...

Watermelon red flake is the most productive, but I've been trying my own colors since Strike King stopped making the bait.  Here's one that worked last season.