Couple friends have convinced me to take a weekend in the middle of may and target northern pike. Where we are going has some fish that will have 40″ but will have plenty of fish in the 30″ range.
I have never specifically targeted pike and I am wondering about some basic set ups. It sounds like we are going to toss some suckers or chubs under bobbers and do some casting. I don’t want to spend a ton of money on gear but any suggestions/tips for things I should be looking for?
Red & White spinner bait.
5 of Diamonds
Copper and orange DareDevil
3/4 oz. Blue and Chrome Rattle Trap.
Good net man & camera. 
I agree with Dutch.
5 of diamonds is a good go to. And you can never beat a red and white original dare devel.
You can also try a white Fluke. Give it a nice twitch and let it sit. Had a guide who wanted me to do that with a stick bait once but it just wasn’t for me.
Thanks. I am seeing a 2/5th ounce 5 of diamonds. Is that the correct size?
As long as it’s a DareDevil brand you can pick the length you are looking for. The knock-off brands like Cabela’s will work but are a much lighter lure which comes into play when casting. Without being in front of one I’m thinking I use a 4″? long one.
I should add that for me the thing that separates a DareDevil from the rest is the “flutter”. When casting, on the retrieve keep you rod tip 3/4 the way up and then pause your retrieve and drop your rod tip and let the spoon “flutter” down. Before hitting bottom or getting into the weeds start reeling again. On the flutter watch for your line to take off to the side. When it happens snap the rod up and start cranking. When using a spoon NEVER allow slack in the line. A Pike will shake and spit the hook almost everytime.
Have fun.
All kinds of options for fast and flashy, but if the water is cold I would have a suspending stick bait ready-get it down and do long pauses: sometimes the only thing that works.
spoons and spinner baits work well.. Johnson silver minnow is a good “go to” imo.
usually color is lake specific a lot of the time.
As long as it’s a DareDevil brand you can pick the length you are looking for. The knock-off brands like Cabela’s will work but are a much lighter lure which comes into play when casting. Without being in front of one I’m thinking I use a 4″? long one.
Looks like the 4.5″ lure is 1.5oz the 3-5/8″ is 1oz. I will just pick up a few of them.
As far as leaders would people recommend steel or a heavy Fluor?
Many times if I add a trailer (twister tail, small “flappy” piece of pork, ect.) to a silver minnow I ‘ll increase my catch rate big time 
I use steel leaders and have never had a problem. If you go with a stick bait I use husky jerks triple treble and always perch color. Cast and retrieve a few spins in then. Give it a good jerk. Then from there a jerk jerk pause. Works wonders in the opening weeks. Plus you get a few bonus fish as well. I have gotten my biggest crappie doing that 16.5. Was pretty funny to when I was running 20 lbs braid and a heavy rid to get crappies
All of this is good….I like big white paddle tail plastics, too. Work them fast or slow over weeds. They won’t last long.
Big rat l trap baits always work, too. I like flash and sound when pike fishing so chrome is always a go to for me.
I run a medium heavy shimano compre rod with a 3500 series spinning real and 20 # braid with steel leaders. That setup might be a bit light for some but it caught the 42” in my avatar.
Have fun…. pike fishing in the spring rules!
I use steel leaders and have never had a problem. If you go with a stick bait I use husky jerks triple treble and always perch color. Cast and retrieve a few spins in then. Give it a good jerk. Then from there a jerk jerk pause. Works wonders in the opening weeks. Plus you get a few bonus fish as well. I have gotten my biggest crappie doing that 16.5. Was pretty funny to when I was running 20 lbs braid and a heavy rid to get crappies
I have a ton of hj14s. That the right size? I don’t have any deep diving husky jerks but I think we’re are fishing mostly shallow bays
Many times if I add a trailer (twister tail, small “flappy” piece of pork, ect.) to a silver minnow I ‘ll increase my catch rate big time
Agree!×2
I don’t remember the hj size exactly. But mine are all shallow divers. No deep ones. It’s a fun way to catch them. They always hit on the pause
I don’t remember the hj size exactly. But mine are all shallow divers. No deep ones. It’s a fun way to catch them. They always hit on the pause
Got a lot of eyes at DePere a few weeks ago on the pause. Thanks for the tip!
Shouldn’t have any problems using shallow 14’s. Might add a few one size smaller but 14’s would be my fist choice for size.
Up until the last day or two, I might have suggested this.
BTW, I get a small commission for recommending IDO sponsored products and bonus…James Holst buys me a high end bourbon if I can include him in the promotion. 
Ifishpro-IDMP-Selects-11-of-11-1.jpg
Are you going pike fishing near the metro ? Or are you off to up north
Up until the last day or two, I might have suggested this.
BTW, I get a small commission for recommending IDO sponsored products and bonus…James Holst buys me a high end bourbon if I can include him in the promotion.
Lol
Are you going pike fishing near the metro ? Or are you off to up north
Northern Wisconsin. 3 weeks out
Get back to me when your back from the trip, let me know if and what worked.
Get back to me when your back from the trip, let me know if and what worked.
Will do!
I have a ton of hj14s. That the right size? I don’t have any deep diving husky jerks but I think we’re are fishing mostly shallow bays
That time of year this would be my one of my first two choices. Metal like sppons and/or spinnerbaits suggested above are the other. Some trips the fish prefer one greatly over the other.
If you pick up a 3-4 deep husky jerks that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes I prefer the 2 hook in the spring but if on a budget get the 3 hook size.
My outside-the-box recommendation is the bass-O-reno. I can’t seem to find any online, as recently as probably 5 years ago I could find them in stores like gander mountain. I’ve had great luck using them for northern.
Orange and Black all day!
I almost forgot about the orange and black meps #5, Charles post reminded me of it. That’s another killer pike lure
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
