Use high-visibility colors like white, chartreuse, and bright orange They also respond well to baits that put off lots of vibration or sound Top choices for pike include spinnerbaits, inline spinners, lipless cranks, and loud topwaters like buzzbaits and walking baits
What is the best bait for pike fishing?
Sea fish baits are often the first choice of the pike angler These baits are easy to get and you can buy them frozen from tackle shops or fresh from a fishmonger or supermarket There’s a great variety of sea baits including mackerel, sprat, herring, sardine and smelt
What do I need for pike lure fishing?
A few items that you will need when lure fishing for pike include: A robust rod and reel (a carp set up would work) Wire traces And jig heads Rubber lures Alternatively plugs, spinners or spoons
How do you fish for pike from shore?
Pike will be in deeper water away from shore during the summer so it is paramount to use waders and cast far for these fish During the fall, focus on weeds and logs in 6-20 feet of water If you find these features near shore, they can be awesome for fall anglers
What type of lures do pike like?
Pike absolutely love spinners of all kinds but the Mepps #5 or the big Blue Fox in silver, silver and blue, or gold work best These produce well in any situation and work well in quickly casting and working an area For pike, the smaller size- #5- definitely works better than the larger musky bucktails
What line do you need for pike fishing?
It is important to structure your line with the reel and rod set up you plan to use For a reel that has at least a maximum of 15 pounds worth of drag, we like to use 15 to 20-pound braided line While when using a reel with at least a maximum of 25-pound drag, we typically use a 30 to 40-pound braided line
Why can’t I catch pike on lures?
These are basically a plug but instead of a diving vain, they have a concave front, which resists the water as it’s retrieved, causing disturbance and an erratic movement Pike find it difficult to resist surface lures when the water is warm and they’re at their most active
What time of day are pike most active?
The pike’s metabolism rises and falls with the water temperature, which is why it’ll be at its most active between morning and noon, when the now stronger sun, or a mild, overcast spring day, causes the water temperature to increase
What depth do you fish for pike?
Most of these fish are caught in shallow water Big pike, however, go deep Many times they are in water 15 feet deep or deeper At these times, a big deep running lure is needed
Can you catch pike with spinners?
Because small spinners are the ones most widely available they get used most often Small spinners give off higher frequency vibrations than larger spinners, making them attractive to small pike, and their small size ensures that even tiny jacks will get hooked on them
Do pike eat bluegill?
Opt for bucktail spinners and big crankbaits Bluegills can be a great food source for hungry northern pike Pike actually prefer them and find them more satisfying than other bait But their body shape and maneuverability make them a tougher catch than say suckers or alewives
Do pike eat worms?
Just about all freshwater gamefish and baitfish alike, at least in North America, will eat a worm For example, pike, muskies, chain pickerel, adult largemouth bass, and carp are not terribly interested in biting worms
Is braided line good for pike fishing?
Both braid and monofilament are great choices when it comes to picking your mainline for pike Braid is the perfect choice when spin fishing or fishing with dead baits, while mono is your number one choice for live bait fishing and trolling
When should I strike pike?
As soon as it starts to move off, it’s strike time Occasionally, it isn’t quite as simple as that, which is where the experience comes in If you are fishing the float ledger (I would imagine probably the most commonly used pike rig), don’t be too far overdepth to make sure that any interest transmits to the float
Are spoons good lures?
Spoons are about as versatile a lure as you’ll find All you have to do is cast, reel, and catch You can also make a spoon presentation as technical as you might when using the latest Japanese soft-plastic finesse rig Spoons will trigger any predator species that swims in salt or fresh water the world over
Do spoons work for pike?
It’s true that spoons do a fine job of tempting pike into striking, but my experience with spoons suggests that these baits work best when fish are actively feeding The wobbling and flashing action of a spoon requires a steady and fairly fast retrieve speed
What is the best way to catch pike?
Use high-visibility colors like white, chartreuse, and bright orange They also respond well to baits that put off lots of vibration or sound Top choices for pike include spinnerbaits, inline spinners, lipless cranks, and loud topwaters like buzzbaits and walking baits
What is a paternoster rig?
The paternoster rig is a multi-hooked bottom fishing rig best used from an anchored boat or a pier when there’s not much tide running Slack line should be avoided with this rig, as a biting fish will feel the resistance of the lead and drop the bait, long before it can be registered at the rod tip
What temperature do pike like?
Numerous biological studies have shown that northern pike prefer water temperatures in the 67- to 72-degree range That range might be about right for pike up to five pounds, but as the fish grow larger, their temperature preference changes
Can you catch pike in April?
April to May The males gather in wait in the shallower waters to be joined later by the larger females During spawning, much the same as other species, the pike is too pre-occupied to be interested in feeding and responsible anglers will have hung up their bait rods in march to leave the pike to it
Where do big pike hang out?
Northern pike are ambush predators that almost always relate to structure, with tall, thick weeds being their preferred hangout Large weedbeds in the 5- to 10-foot depth range with defined edges are prime habitat, as they allow fish to sit on the weedline and catch prey moving in and out of the bed