I have a St. Croix Avid MH Moderate action that collects a lot of dust. So, I was wondering what people's opinions are in regards to using it for Pike. At most of my fishing holes, the pike are lucky to get around 35", most are in the 20" to 28" range. With that being said, what are your opinions? (it is not a rod I would take to areas that are known for large pike, I would only use  it for the ranges listed above. I worry, because of the action, that it may take longer to land a larger fish, and don't want them to be exhausted prior to release.)

Thanks,

Don't know why you aren't throwing big cranks with that rod...but yeah, it will work for Northerns, as long as you are using small lures (for pike) within the rods range. I also like it for small swimbaits, up to 3/4 oz.  As far as "longer rods for bigger fish," goes, my pike jerkbait rod is only 6-6.

Yes, it'll work fine. I've caught pike in that range with 6'6" spinning rods rated M (don't know if the rod in question is spinning or baitcasting, but either one, doesn't matter). As long as your drag is set properly you shouldn't have a problem.

Thanks for the replies. It is a baitcaster.

pretty much anything works for pike... I have seen rods everywhere from 21" to 8 ft long. Overall it is best to keep it close to bass equipment except using heavier line.

JFrancho is the expert in this area, I haven't fished for pike since I moved full time to Florida.  The rod should be matched for line and lure size.  The pike itself is of little concern, a 28" pike can easily be landed on medium equipment, especially if from a boat with a net.

There are MUCH more qualified guys on here than me.  I've got a couple years into half seriously chasing these guys, and really only during prime time.  To give you an idea what you can haul in, here is a fish I caught with the MEDIUM version of the rod we're talking about.  8# CXX, no leader, caught on a JDM only color LC Flat Mini DR:

Thought I had a nice bass on...turns out I was just picking up slack as the fish casually swam towards the boat.  After he saw me, game on!

Felt pretty lucky to get my Lucky Craft back.  First cast after the release, yeah, I threw the same bait.

My personal best pike was 32" and weighed about 12 pounds. I caught it on Lake George when I first started fishing on a 4'8" Ugly Stick ultra-light combo with 6 pound line. I'm sure a medium heavy

rod could handle it, lol.

because they are long and skinny, they don't have the broadside power that panfish and bass have, so they can be brought in on lighter equipment, the only problem is watching out for teeth

I have caught northern pike, walleye and musky on UL panfish equipment, 4ft rod using 4-6 lb test... and I have had their teeth cut into 25 lb test and lost them... so if you are purposely fishing for them, a 6" metal leader may help reduce the chance of losing your lure.

I really think anyone that would compare a pike unfavorably to panfish and bass doesn't really know what they're talking about, or is used to catching hammer handle size fish.  Once they exceed double digit size, that long, double jointed spine of theirs has much more power.

As far as Musky on UL gear, well, I'll just say nothing about that.... : :-X

With all due respect to Mike, in no way can you compare the power of a northern or muskie to that of a lmb.  I love catching bass, but honestly I've had seaweed giving me tougher battles.

The only thing I have caught that has given me any longer than usual battles has been SMB.. otherwise I have never had a problem fighting or dealing with LMB or the coldwater fishies...

I have pulled up several 20 to 24" northern pike in the heat of the summer and they never fought nearly as hard as any of the bass I have caught.

Maybe once they hit a certain length or type of water they do but I have not seen it.

My favorite rod for Pike is a St Croix Steelhead rod in the Wild River series. Its a spinning rod that is 8'6" Heavy/Fast rod that is rated for 1/2-2oz lures. It has alot of power to handle Pike and is excellent at throwing Pike sized lures like larger spoons and bucktails. The same rod is available for baitcasting gear as well.

IMHO, Pike fight much harder than Bass. 

The only thing I have caught that has given me any longer than usual battles has been SMB.. otherwise I have never had a problem fighting or dealing with LMB or the coldwater fishies...

I have pulled up several 20 to 24" northern pike in the heat of the summer and they never fought nearly as hard as any of the bass I have caught.

Maybe once they hit a certain length or type of water they do but I have not seen it.

It makes them sluggish. Even a 18" pike in cooler water fights great.

from what i have observed, the northern around here seem to fight after they hit a certain length, not sure what it is, but ive just pulled in northerns from 16-24in and they didnt even bother with a shake of the head, but my brother caught a 38 incher that took him for a ride!

and to a muskie on ul...it would have to be really small or.....

The only thing I have caught that has given me any longer than usual battles has been SMB.. otherwise I have never had a problem fighting or dealing with LMB or the coldwater fishies...

I have pulled up several 20 to 24" northern pike in the heat of the summer and they never fought nearly as hard as any of the bass I have caught.

Maybe once they hit a certain length or type of water they do but I have not seen it.

Pike, stripers, musky, and the best fight you've had was a smallie.

Don't get me wrong, smallies are my favorite fish...I catch tons of them, and not dinks.

While this fish was very memorable...

These fish put up a bigger struggle:

showoff   ;D

Those are the dinks.

showoff ;D

Yeah, Really!  J, I've seen one or two of these before but I don't remember coming across that smallie.  What did that thing scale out at?  Nice fish. 8-)

I am from J Francho's neck of the woods, and have caught a few pike in the same class as he's holding in his pic on bass gear. My biggest was 13lbs caught on a 7' M power/ fast action St Croix LT on 12lb Fluorocarbon w/no leader. that fish made some impressive runs and a couple of violant head shakes boatside, but I never felt under gunned, took my time and got him in and got my bait back...............LOL my #1 priority when one grabs my stuff.  Now the 10lber I caught on my 7' ML spinning rod w/ 6lb fluoro on a drop shot rig was a minor miracle, 20+ minute battle, and a lot swearing and praying (yeah you can do both at the same time LOL), that's deffinatly under gunned.

If I were to target these fish exclusivly, I would probably use my 7' MH/Fast Avid with 50lb braid, and a heavy fluorocarbon leader.

firefighn15, that smallie is the 2nd biggest I've ever caught.  5-0, caught on birthday, fishing with my buddy Burnie.  He caught a 5-0 LMB about 20 yards away.  he actually swung on this fish about ten times using a pegged beaver.  While he was retying, I jumped on the TM, and stole it with a drop shot, LMAO.  A reentry shot of the 3rd jump, and pretty much the end of the fight.  you can see my rod buried, and her head turned in my favor.  A couple of figure 8's and she was in the net.  BTW, my PB is just 5-4, and that was from the 90s.

ww2farmer, I have that rod, and it would work great for baits up to about an ounce.  Its heavier than the MH rating, and makes a great stick for precision pitching in heavy cover.

Once you go over that ounce rating, then you have to go to musky gear.  I have a few big bucktails and double cowgirls, and they are beast to cast.  that big pike above was not best by length, 37" and 13-8, but one of the fattest pikes I've caught.  Last late summer and fall, the plastic pirates boated at least 20 fish over 10 in one special area.  Mostly on bass gear, and with the very baits you described.  Traps, divers, spinnerbaits.  If you're gonna use spinnerbaits, use T-2S!  Anything else is ruined, even by dinks.

I have caught northern pike, walleye and musky on UL panfish equipment, 4ft rod using 4-6 lb test... and I have had their teeth cut into 25 lb test and lost them... so if you are purposely fishing for them, a 6" metal leader may help reduce the chance of losing your lure.

What was you doing fishing with 25# test?  I thought anything over 14 was overkill since you wouldn't catch fish that big?