Cisco/Whitefish Imitation

I have a trip coming up a week from Sunday. We are heading up to a remote lake in Western Ontario and after the last trip I have concluded that this lake’s forage basin is most likely Cisco/Whitefish or Perch. Had a cisco colored crank bait (Jake I think?) that out produced everything else in the box, and a grandmas crank in perch color that worked better than most. We spent 5 days up there and the Cisco pattern was off the charts for northerns. I am really looking for a solid pike (Like mid 40″er) I was wondering what you guys think is the best Cisco/Whitefish imitation bait a guy can find. We really started upping the size class when be began trolling main lake basin structure last time so I am probably going to start there. Any baits out there better than the others? Any extra advice on speeds? I am kind of straying away from plastics like the dawgs just cause alot of the smaller fish really have their way with them up there and its not hard to burn through lures: so Im thinking hardbaits, bigger ones…. Any help is appreciated

Depth Raiders
Believers
Grandmas

They make large saltwater rattle baits that just crushed them for me – they are like RATTle Traps – only they are 1 1/2 oz size and come in the colors you are looking for.

Dog

Salmo makes a lure called the Whitefish
http://salmofishing.com/lures/whitefish.html

http://www.dunwrighttackle.com/pages/buy-now.php

Not a hard bait… but definitely one of my favorites for big pike.

The 8″ lifelike Pike in pearl white is a killer and the formula X plastic is amazingly durable. I remove the rear hook and if the fish are shallow you can remove the belly weight as well. They’re easy to fish and the pike go ape for them. Particularly if the pike are holding tight around timber or cabbage.

I think James is right on to suggest a soft bait (or sort of a soft bait). If I were you, I’d get a regular sized white or silver bull dawg for the pike. I’ve caugt more 40″+ pike on that bait than probably any. Big spinner baits are also very good for big pike, especially if you’re fishing deep cabbage and want to run through the middle of it. If you’re not around too many weeds, I’d definitely go with big plastic.

Rapala dives to 20 or 30 in silver or blue pattern.

Mark

Salmo Whitefish has been very good to me for the last few years! Comes in a couple of pike worthy sizes.

Thanks for the responses guys, it is greatly appreciated

Check out the storm kickin minnow in pearl color.