Pike fishing help?

[EL34/6L6]

Pike we often avoid, but end catching a lot of them. Usually quite big ones. Generally 20" plus and sometimes a few in the 45" range.
If we're catching Pike that means they're feeding on, and pushing out the Walleye. So we'll fire up the boat and cruise to another spot if that starts happening. Because they bite almost anything, and take our jigs, bait and even cut our line.

Use a LEADER! Can't tell you how many fish I've lost after recently catching a Pike. The line just all of the sudden breaks because it got tangled or caught in the previous Pikes mouth.

This is NOT in murky water like you're describing. That is the type of water I fish on in the city, and catch almost all the same species you mentioned.

Pikes like signs of activity, so definitely try top water fishing. Use a nice medium action rod with a good feel and pic up a frog or rat lure. Those are two specific lures in my tackle. And if course big spoons and lures with patterns (dots, diamonds, circles etc)

And yes... Weeds! If you have some healthy green ones around, cast all around and in front of them. Especially if it drops off eventually into deeper water.

 

[razorbeck]

Pike are bottom up ambush feeders, so they are generally caught higher in the water column then the bottom feeders you are catching.

Fish in the 6-10 foot level, if they are then any active lure will take them

 

[CV32]

Btw, OP, there is a Fishing and Boating subforum.

 

[Fourtonnemantis]

I live in Wainfleet right by the river, it's definitely very murky. I don't fish as much as I should, this makes me want to go out and try this weekend. Thanks!

 

[rookie wildcat]

Holy smoke. A fishing thread in the hunting forum. Whoever are the moderators? I figured they'd have shut this down as fast as the gun jokes threads that didn't have gun jokes in them...

 

[Magellann]

Ive fished there before and used a large minow, 5-8" long with a hook that you thread just under the skin along its back with a bobber with great results. A Ruby eyed wiggler also works well.

 

[jrcarbine]

I live in Wainfleet right by the river, it's definitely very murky. I don't fish as much as I should, this makes me want to go out and try this weekend. Thanks!

lol, i live like 1 k east from the 2x4 restaurant, you should show me how to catch some pike!

 

[Fourtonnemantis]

Wow we're almost neighbours! I'm a little past Wellandport Road off 6th Concession. I enjoy fishing but I'm not too great at it, haha

 

[jrcarbine]

Wow we're almost neighbours! I'm a little past Wellandport Road off 6th Concession. I enjoy fishing but I'm not too great at it, haha

lol, did you ever catch a pike from the river?

 

[kwjkwjkwj]

Steel leader for sure and up here they like leech patterns (yellow and purple) work best for me. Frogs, red white devils, and 5 of diamonds all come in close seconds. They quite regularly will bite anything that moves.

 

[brybenn]

I use mepps #5 musky killers. Silver blade natural hair. Works like magic. Cast around any structure. Retrieve quick so the blade lifts the water. Keep rod tip up. If there's a Pike around it will find the bucktail. Bigger Pike like drop offs to deeper water

 

[timandkimandshea]

Plus one for a big spinner. But they are super aggressive so many different tactics should work
T

 

[Donny Fenn1]

Honestly, I'm no fisherman, what are diamonds?

Len Thompson Five of Diamonds. It's one of the most popular fishing lures in North America, possibly the world.
if you live in a fishing area even your gas stations should have them.

 

[medvedqc]

Len Thompson Five of Diamonds. It's one of the most popular fishing lures in North America, possibly the world.
if you live in a fishing area even your gas stations should have them.

never heard of those before coming in Europe ... never mentionned the other techniques we used in Europe as most of them are illegals in Canada.

one that is working great in shallow water is a fly like the one used for fly fishing, a streamer is also really good ...

Phil

 

[sunray]

Big minnows but more than a foot down.

 

[jackrabbit000]

Len Thompson Five of Diamonds. It's one of the most popular fishing lures in North America, possibly the world.
if you live in a fishing area even your gas stations should have them.

x2. Yellow with black dismonds always worked for me. Red and white spoon is good as well as a black/yellow sinking jointed Rapala. Yellow or black 3/8 oz jig head and a chartreuse 4-5" silicone grub tail.

 

[Dogleg]

x2. Yellow with black dismonds always worked for me. Red and white spoon is good as well as a black/yellow sinking jointed Rapala. Yellow or black 3/8 oz jig head and a chartreuse 4-5" silicone grub tail.

This is as good a place as any for a red 5 of Diamonds versus black 5 of Diamonds debate. The correct answer is Red.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Len Thompson Five of Diamonds. It's one of the most popular fishing lures in North America, possibly the world.
if you live in a fishing area even your gas stations should have them.

And made in Lacombe, Alberta.

https://www.google.ca/#q=len+thompson+lures


Grizz

 

[MDR]

Mepps Syclops. Murky water use something bright. Clear water use a more natural colour.....I can't keep them off the bluish rainbow pattern spoon.

 

[AP]

Find a good flyfishing store and buy some large deer mice. Make sure you use a steel leader but not a heavy one. I would crimp the barb... but that's my preference for any fishing..just keep your rod tip up. If you lose him....he wins and that's ok.



When they take a mouse on the surface it is fast and vicious. If the water is cold... they are great to eat. Descale and run/scrape a sharp blade at 90degrees to the skin to remove any mucous. Then wrap in tinfoil and bake. The flesh will fall away from the bones easily and they can be great to eat.