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spring pike baits

by , Posted to on 04/11/2009 1:16 PM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/31/2006
Location: ND
Places I've chased pike in the spring everything is different.  The baits tend to be a bit smaller and fished slower.  Spinners like Mepps #5  barely rolling over, bucktail jigs tipped with a minnow,  Flies in leech pattern about 6" long.  Lately I've found sluggos 4 - 6" working better for me fished just like I would for spring bass.  I've gotten away from live bait, mostly because of bait restrictions but the cool weather in the spring tends to make me want to keep active.  The new swim baits that are out have caught  my eye for what I plan to do in June.  10" swim baits in perch & shiner are going to get a work out from the kayaks.  With all the flooded shoreline on the Sak since last year I found some new/old shelfs to work near deeper water.  but thats a June thing.  I know there are a few dedicated spring pike fishermen here.  What are your preferred spring baits?  For live bait, my first choice is a 8" creek chub 3 ft under a float.  Second are jumbo leeches either on a jig or a short 20# lindy rig.  Deadlining a smelt or herring sprayed with WD-40 to release the oils works well for  the dedicated campfire watcher, got to have something to do to stay warm while I wait.  As far as soft plastics go I'm partial to slug gos usually dark but on bright days chartreuse, or white has done well.  I think its the slow dying sinking  that attracts them because I usually get the hit after it sits on the bottom awhile.  Casting spinners, spoons,  and cranks comes more in May or June for me.  What are your choice baits?
4Yaks
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/11/2009 2:16 PM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/24/2006
Location: ND
I do a lot of pike fishing on DL.  Some guys up here really like x-raps.  I'm a fan of the Storm Wildeye Swimshad 4-6" in the blue shad, shad, firetiger, mullet, and pearl colors.  I like 6" and less because they are lighter and easier to throw and I still catch many pike over 36" and walleyes over 20" will take the baits too adding a nice bonus.

Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/11/2009 2:45 PM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/04/2002
Location: ND
I thought we had already covered the DO NOT spray WD-40 on bait topic.

You can't aim a duck to death.

Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/11/2009 9:50 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/31/2006
Location: ND
old salt water habits, I guess you could dip them in kippered snacks
4Yaks
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/11/2009 10:15 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/31/2006
Location: ND
word is last of the diehards were out on the ice at white earth bay last week.  few eyes and pike but the shore ice is crap.  If you are that desperate to dig a hole in the ice I might suggest using a boat to get there or at least a life jacket for your swim if you dont.  Open water will be on the creeks soon enough try jigging a pool or 2 until the lake opens up in May.
4Yaks
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/12/2009 6:47 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/25/2005
Location: NE
WD 40 is a fish based oil and does not harm the environment as thought.  It also works well for carfish too.
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/12/2009 11:00 PM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/03/2002
Location: ND
I have some left over 10in Culprit Tequila Sunrise worms and 5/0 worm hooks from the Ga. days.  You've got me thinking...
svnmag



                                                                                                    
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/13/2009 08:03 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/18/2008
Location: ND
I like the good ole black and white daredevil. Plus the walleyes like it as well. Which is a nice bonus.  I was surprised  when I caught about a 7lb walleye on a daredevil last spring, plus about 10 other eyes from 2-5 lbs.
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/13/2009 3:07 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/11/2009
Location: ND
Frozen Smelt on a trebel hook is how I go after spring pike. 

Go Bison! 'o' 

Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/13/2009 9:26 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/04/2002
Location: ND

Thorson, the WD-40 MSDS lists  Aliphatic Petroleum Distillates at 60-70% and Petroleum Base Oil at 15-25%. Are you saying these are both made from fish or that their MSDS sheet is wrong? I could be wrong but doubt either of those would be true.

You can't aim a duck to death.

Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/17/2009 2:18 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 04/24/2002
Location: ND

Daredevils and a herring or smelt on a treble hook are my favs.  The hammered nickel daredevil has been popular with the pike.

Has anyone been to Alkaline Lake south of Dawson yet?

More outdoor talk, less political talk!
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/17/2009 2:48 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 09/28/2005
Location: ND
Something I always wanted to try but haven't is a rapalla with herring tied to it and doused with herring oil. We used this for king salmon on the Kenai river once. They would run it behind a diving disc to keep it down in the current. I have some places where I can fish from private river crossings and would be able to keep the bait in the fast current. My thoughts are that this would keep smaller unwanted species of fish from tearing my bait apart. I would mostly be using it on a couple of Red river tributaries. Has anyone tried anything similar?
Education will tell you a tomato is a fruit, while wisdom will tell you not to put it in a fruit salad.
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/17/2009 9:29 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/25/2005
Location: NE
Steve pike pleae review the MSDS sheet again Section 12 it does state the WD-40 biodegrades easily.  But what do i know I am just a chemical engineer!  Good fishing!
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/17/2009 10:07 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/14/2002
Location: ND
Tubby767 Said:
Frozen Smelt on a trebel hook is how I go after spring pike. 

Works every time!!
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/18/2009 10:53 AM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/31/2006
Location: ND
the size of the spoon seems to be disproportionate to the size of fish it catches but then its tough to drag in a 45" pike on an ultra light with 6# mono anyway.  I cant count the times I towed in  8" hammer handles on my 10" dinner plate daredevils.  The big canadian spoons are still my favorite but they are rather hard to find, I also use to catch some really big pike on my cow bell spinners trolling for lake trout in the spring when they were up shallow.   My favorite spring "bait" were the 14" walleyes the pike would nail on the way to the boat.  I've got 6 pike between 15 - 20 lbs without a hook in them, just a sideways walleye.  Is THAT LEGAL?  Sure is fun!
4Yaks
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/18/2009 1:50 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/15/2009
Location: ND
A big husky jerk or x-rap work really good for me. they always hit it on the stop after the jerk.
Re: spring pike baits
by on 04/18/2009 4:12 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/13/2005
Location: ND
I enjoy the old fashioned red and white daredevil.  Use them alot but lose them even more, snag on everything
16 Replies | Page 1 of 11 | Top of Page | Bottom of Page
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Posted On: 04/11/2009 1:16 PM
2148 Views, 16 Comments

Tags: baits, spring, pike, spinners, fished, flies, mepps, places, chased, different
More Tags: soft plastics,
Region: North Dakota

Categories: Fishing > Pike and Muskie Fishing
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