lure or live bait??

what is it??

:D :D :D

Pike around here readily take any lure that exists. If I had to choose one I'd take spinnerbait, but by the tiniest margin over several others.

i've had good fortunes using inline spinners and spoons

My most successful lure for northern pike is neither an artificial lure nor live bait.

Roger

My most successful lure for northern pike is neither an artificial lure nor live bait.

Roger

Then it's gotta be...bacon!

My most successful lure for northern pike is neither an artificial lure nor live bait.

Roger

Then it's gotta be...bacon!

;D ;D

Pretty close...but it's neither bacon nor rind.

Just returned from the annual trip to Ontario. The top producers this year were spinnerbaits, 4" Storm wildeye shads and jointed Rapalas.

Rolo, just a guess...dead bait.

Just returned from the annual trip to Ontario. The top producers this year were spinnerbaits, 4" Storm wildeye shads and jointed Rapalas.

Rolo, just a guess...dead bait.

Bingo!

Fresh-frozen baitfish can be hauled anywhere, even to fly-in lakes.

Many will tell you that bait isn't necessary for pike but that isn't the point, the theme here is "best" lure.

In the first place, I'm not referring to the snot-rockets in the shallow bays, but gator pike measuring 34" and up.

In the second place, when pike are on the bottom in deep water, the jig & minnow is worked slowly

in the strike zone, more thoroughly than any spoon, spinnerbait or jerkbait (jerkbaits are great right after ice-out).

Pike are not scavengers, but are accustomed to feeding on fresh-dead baitfish, which is particularly true for trophy-class pike.

During early spring for example, pike wolf-down tons of winterkilled baitfish every year.

Roger

i've only caught pike on spinnerbaits.  they seem to work best, so that's what I use.

Believers or Swim Wizz. 8" size slow trolled and attached by the front eye on the plug. Pike love 'em.

My cousin and I caught a Northern Pike using a grub and a jig. We were catching pan fish. I caught one the summer before and she caught one last summer.

Other then that I never caught a pike again.

Johnson silver minnow

so far the southern pike seems to prefer live bait

Spoons and a Flourescent Orange jighead with a 4 or 5 inch chub.

Not to hijack this thread but I suppose this is related: I've caught pike on quite a few baits, but usually when I'm fishing for bass.  I've been watching the Hunt For Big Fish a lot lately and I'm getting Essox hungry.  I've learned that they react well to baits with the right SOUNDS.  But what about ACTION?  I was intending to throw some swimbaits for Pike and Muskie next season because of their lifelike action, but should I be throwing the right SOUNDING baits like spinnerbaits or buzzbaits?

Northerns are usually turned on or not.  It sometimes takes some agitation to get them going. I've caught many pike on slow sink swimbaits in the 6" range.  The swim, stop, and twitch/turnaround move works pretty well.  Just don't use the expensive ones.   There are several bigger options out there as well, but require special gear to throw. 

JFrancho, one of these days when I make up some new ones I'm going to send you a couple of cuda tubes, I bet they would be great for pike and muskie.

I make 2 styles, 1 like this and another with a 12/0 limerick hook, that gives it a spinning motion, If I remember I will take a pic of one those, in my car.

We make them better than what you can buy.

http://www.tackledirect.com/sea-striker-cuda-tubes.html

I don't think there is a bait they won't take. Lip less cranks, and spinnerbaits seem to be at the top, followed by jerkbaits and diving crank baits. Heck I catch a fair ammount of them on jigs and plastics, they seem to like tungsten sinkers 

I don't think there is a bait they won't take.

When they are feeding they are like hogs to the trough.  At least that has been my experience.  Generally if I am targeting them, which is rare, a Mepp's #5 or maybe a shallow crank will do the trick.

Cavitron buzzbait.

lipless cranks, bucktails (specifically Mepps #5), and spoons are my favorites.

Pike are the worst fish!!! I hate them!!! They are in cahoots with the baitmonkey!!! They eat my baits all summer long. There is not one day that i go out where we dont catch a few of them. They have become a problem on our lake because they are eating alot of walleye. I could rant on this subject for a long time telling you how i hate them and how many baits ive lost to them but thats for another thread!!!!

To answer your question... They really like wally divers and koppers perch when trolled. They love all crankbaits, spinnerbaits, in line spinners , grubs and even swimbaits. Ive even caught them on a senko. They are not as picky as our little brown and green friends!!!

Buzzbaits aer fantastic fun for action.  I like huge soft plastic jerkbaits for more size.

I've had some luck with northern's on a six pack of lures i got from BPS. It's made by Mepp's, i think it was five in line spinners and a real nice spoon in a nice variety of design and color. Caught at least one pike on each, and a few on three of the lures. I'd say spoons are my fav. for the northern's.

Buzzbaits aer fantastic fun for action. I like huge soft plastic jerkbaits for more size.

Which huge soft jerkbaits are good?