I want to give these toothy critters a try, am new to pike/muskie fishing. IMMEDIATELY after ice out, what’s the best way to catch them? Find the warmest water? Use dead/meat?; if using lures, SLOW presentation? Will be fishing man-made lakes and natural lakes here in Nebraska. Thanks for any advice….
I guess no one knows????
A white fluke twitched slowly. But you gotta like topwater blow-ups. Warm water bays is the ticket. Just like muskie fishing have your release tools handy. Also please do as much of your work with the fish in the net
In the water. If you can’t handle the fish without dropping it on the boat floor and letting it bounce around please don’t go. Large pike are a precious resourse.
I’m not familiar with Nebraska’s muskie season But Here In Minnesota it doesn’t open until June.
Like Dutchboy said, the warm bays for pike. Usually on the north side that get the southern exposure.
Large pike are a precious resourse.
Here In Minnesota it doesn’t open until June.
And yet the white man continues to spear every big northern in the state. I’ve heard of a doz over 20 pounds speared this winter…so sad. That’s after talking to only two people that spear. I can’t imagine the damage done state wide.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Large pike are a precious resourse.<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>belletaine wrote:</div>
Here In Minnesota it doesn’t open until June.And yet the white man continues to spear every big northern in the state. I’ve heard of a doz over 20 pounds speared this winter…so sad. That’s after talking to only two people that spear. I can’t imagine the damage done state wide.
A little off topic but most if not all of the Crow Wing chain has a 40″ minimum on pike with only one to keep.
The first thing I think about with an ice out experience for pike is to consider shallow marshy areas with outlets that pike are notorious for spawning in. Would consider them on the north sides of lakes to be best ones to look for earliest. Then slower moving baits/flies or bait/bobber combos would be the items that would presentations I would start with. Baits could be live or dead ranging from larger suckers to larger shiners and quickstrike rigs should be employed. You could be doing this by sight as they can be extremely shallow at this time as well. Controlled drifts or anchoring could be options once fish or locations are found…
Mark
This is coming from minnesota so our season opens a little later than most so take this with a grain of salt. Pike in most lakes never leave the weeds in the winter. One thing to look for as far as location is find out where the spawn. They are one of the first fish to spawn and will be in between the wintering areas and spawning grounds at this time. As far as baits you can never go wrong with blades just think smaller like number 5 mepps spinners slow is a good idea but let’s remember pike are a cold water fish so they will still be active during this time so you can get away with crank baits and things of that nature. As far as muskie our season up hear opens to late for me to truly pattern them. I would think they would be more into the slow and small baits. With both species understand that suckers will be schooled up at this time as well so they will be hot on there tails. Good luck hope to see a lot of pics of giant fish!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dutchboy wrote:</div>
Large pike are a precious resourse.<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>belletaine wrote:</div>
Here In Minnesota it doesn’t open until June.And yet the white man continues to spear every big northern in the state. I’ve heard of a doz over 20 pounds speared this winter…so sad. That’s after talking to only two people that spear. I can’t imagine the damage done state wide.
Joe, do I ask for the “white mans spearing license” when looking for a license?
Kinda late to the ice out party, but suspending jerkbaits.
XJS13 Jointed X-Rap, Saltwater X-Rap, Shallow Raider, etc..
We went 5/5 last year on them, 10 days after ice out on Merritt.
We hit it last weekend, but much later after ice out. Tough year for everyone, and we went musky-less. 2 Pike, and 2 walleye on big jerkbaits thought. Only saw one musky caught.
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