Anybody else have good success catching northern pike on rattletraps? I used to use rapalas only, but caught an 18 lber once when trying for smallmouth. Wondering if it was just an accident, or if others have had success using that lure in pike heaven.

I have caught northern pike on all sorts of things: crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs.  I haven't tried rattletraps yet, but it doesn't surpirse me.  I think if they are in the right mood they will bite on anything.

Had one trip to Canada where 1oz rattle traps was the only thing the pike wanted. I've also caught a bunch of them fishing for bass over the weeds at Lake Minnetonka.

I had some luck with silver/blue cotton cordell lipless. I plan on throwing them some more this year. I think you should always have rattle traps, spoons, inlines, bass spinners, and jerkbaits for pike. These are some of my favorites.

Never pike but I've had one tiger musky (guessing mid to upper 40 inch range) take a 1/2oz trap while fishing for largemouth. Surprisingly, I actually fought it for about 5 minutes or so before she cut me off. It was fun while it lasted.

Yep, traps work, especially firetiger.  Be sure to put those big pike back.

Was a top producing musky bait this year for a couple guys I fish with.  I would imagine the pike eat them up too.

One of my favorite baits for pike.  Like J Francho said, firetiger is great color but others can work too.  Clown is good on overcast days.

Rattletraps (and other lipless cranks) are, IMHO, one of the most versatile baits around. I've caught largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, white bass, wipers, stripers, pike, drum and even a catfish or two on them. I don't believe that there's a gamefish around that won't hit them.

Tom

I had good luck using a yo-yo retrieve with these...

Jerkbaits and spinners are tough to beat though.

I have caught more Pike on  lipless crankbaits then any thing else............I think. I don't keep count.  There are days when I can't keep them off it, and those days bass are usually biting them well too, and bigger bass at that, so I put up with it.