I have always wanted to start pike fishing and just havent taken the time to get into it yet...In Feb of 05 I bought my place here near Lake Coeur d alene (1 mile away) Its loaded with pike and one of the best bays for them is right down where I have a boat slip/dock... Anyway, We catch the heck out of crappie, bass small and large, perch, and blue gill all the time but I havent fished for the pike much, tried a few top water baits last summer is about it. My question is two fold, when is the best time of the year to target pike and what should I use? I have heard Fall is great BUT thats out for me, I am hunting then.. Can I catch them in the spring??? if so? when does it get good, the ice is just coming off the lake right now.. Thanks guys/gals..... my boys and I would like to learn how to catch these bruisers....
Catching pike in my family is completely accidental. Honestly, live bait is pretty productive. Tip a hook, and bobber with a fat ol' shiner minnow, or Sucker Minnow. They usually do the trick. Frogs, Suckers, Shiners, Fatheads, anything larger than normal is pretty good for this. Yes. Fall is great due to the cooler water temps, they seem to be less stinky. Is this lake known for big pikes, or average? I know we can't go anywhere without catching them when we use something called a "Mister Twister" yellow is usually really good. http://www.mistertwister.com/products/info/index.php?pffk=info_meenyspincombo3_360 It's a real basic jig. Another thing I would try would be small (2.5 - 4" ) spoons. Unless you are targeting the gators of the lake, then go bigger. For these, classic red/white, silver, gold, basic colors that will show up well in murkey waters. Just some advice. I'll come up with more later on. I'm sure.
When we target them in Ontario, we hit them mid-june. You will find them in weedbeds about 10-30ft down. Our favorite spot is a natural rise on the lake bottom where it goes from 80-100ft up to 20-30 and forms a small underwater "island." We rig medium-small perch back hooked to allowed them to swim freely, through it out with a strike indicator (bobber will work), and wait for the strike. When they're hitting, it's a BLAST. When they're not...well you know:D
Dare Devils Troy!!! Get some Dare Devils and do some casting. Red and White has been a favorite of mine. 5 of Diamonds has also been a good one. As for the time of year- Hard to say, right now or pretty soon there going to start spawning and running cricks when the lakes open up and the water Is at It's coldest. I can't remember for sure but pike do loose there teeth and grow new ones In, when they grow them new ones back It's go time- there hungry!! Northerns are fairly easy to catch If there around.
Spring can be one of the best times for Pike, IMO. Throw anything of substantial size (bucktails, daredevils, even a hulapopper) towards shore or troll along in about 10-12'. Search for the shallows that are first to grow a fresh crop of weeds, that's where you'll find the freshwater wolf.
Awesome info guys, this is all great hel;p, I would see them wolfing around while my boys and fished all last summer I just couldnt get them to hit our bass rigs.. We get some big tiger muskies and pike here, nothing world record type but 30+ lbs is a good one according to a few guys I have talked to.
I have caught a lot of Pike over the years... In the spring in my area not long after ice off is fantastic Pike fishing time... I throw large hard plastic baits (not balsa wood) ie Long A bombers, suspending jerk baits and some spinner baits (for the weedless feature). Once you locate them they are not hard to catch... It sure is exciting when they blow up... Heck when they miss is usually pretty spectacular (especially when fishing top water). Weed beds, off of sand or rock points, near dead falls or in stump fields have always produced very well for me.
I go to Canada for Pike and Walleye in June. I use all artificial baits and I have good luck with Dare Devils, Red Eye Wigglers, Rapala Xraps, Rapala Shallow Shad Raps, and V-Inline Spinner baits.
Troy, if you plan on targeting them right after ice out you'll need to have a slow presentation. I generally fly fish right after ice out with 6-9" streamers. If were not fly fishing, try using a suspending bait (such as a Husky Jerk) and twitching it slow in water under 4' deep. Also target the shallow bays that recieve the most sun at this time, as they will be in there with the warmer water. Really, anything big that doesn't move or sink fast will work well in the colder water. Once the water warms up, just about anything will work. I'm not a big fan of Daredevils or spoons, I don't like the speed at which you have to reel them. I prefer to use larger inline spinners....my favorite is a Blue Fox Vibrax in silver or gold. Good luck and take some pictures of the boys with their first slime rocket!
Lots of good advice so far. Get yourself some Flukes (possibly even the large salt water flukes depending on the size of fish you're going after) and hook them in the nose with an offset hook such as ( http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_60574_100010002_100000000_100010000_100-10-2 ) twitch it towards you and they cant resist it
Lotta good info so far. I am no pike expert, my only experience came when we found a few, caught some small sunfish, clipped thier fins a little & tossed em out. The pike HAMMERED them.
I forgot to add.... Feeder creek mouths are generally the hottest spot after ice off.... Especially along the channel.
Wow, I'm a little surprised Dan on what you say about not using dare devils. I'm In no way going to argue with you being you know your stuff being you run a guide service for bear and fish. I grew up on the river, It's 300 yards In back of my house and dare devils have always been my best way to go. Maybe It's time though that I broaden my bait tackle with northerns and give your ways a try.:d
I just feel that with all the jerkbaits on the market, both soft and hard, you can get the same or better action out of them. Plus, you can move them slower....much more like a wounded bait fish. Will Daredevils work? Absolutely. But, the chances of hooking the fish and creating more strikes is there with the jerkbaits.
Great wealth of info here for me to use guys, thanks so much! The bay I will be fishing gets a lot of sun and has a creek pouring into it right now.. Shallow and thick as hell weed beds in there come June.. Should be really good from what you guys are saying. Thanks again so much ... Dan we will make sure and take pix, the boys ask me everyday when we are gonna start pike fishing, I tell them as soon as the BH>COM guys line me out!
Troy, when the water warms up in the summer months, the bigger fish won't be in the shallow weeds. Because of their larger body mass, they have to have cooler water. The small fish will be in there, but the big boys will be near deeper drop offs where they have access to cooler water.
