Since we’re on the doorsteps of the Giant Pike Parade that has the big girls marching fin to fin heading in to drop spawn Lets talk “Triggering strikes”. Whether your working Raps, Rogues, Bombers…or other minnow mimicking baits, as illustrated in our “Ice Out Pike” show, big fish often times respond to triggers POSITIVELY!! I am a firm believer that a straight cast and retrieve is not nearly as effective loading pike in the Beckman as a pause, SNAP, reel, SNAP…… Often times you will see large pike following closely behind your presentation. A suspending bait allows you to snap/jerk the bait and have that bait hover with a nuetral bouyancy. Do not overlook the effectiveness of baits that suspend early in the season for GIANT PIKE!! Often times this is like looking at the last piece of cake in the fridge…Yep Might as well eat that one too!! Looks Kinda Lonely!! There is a moment of truth when a “Following” fish runs into a stopped bait. They will hit it, or turn away. Most often a realistic variance of your retrieve will have you putting the SMACKDOWN to another fish!! So next time your on the water working a jerk bait…DO IT!! Experiment with erratic retrieves as it signals a wounded baitfish that has Predator fish instincts saying….Hammer it!! 
Tight lines Team!! 
