Pike fishing

[Jburke]

Any of you guys ever fished the Pend Orielle river for pike?  Going up next week and was just looking for tips or advice.  Never gone out for pike before but it would be sweet to catch some.  Even one would be cool.  Have heard that it's pretty similar to fishing for bass.  Anything helps though.

[jackelope]

spot and stallk fishing...good stuff. use steel leaders. they have some chompers on 'em.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Have not fished for pike on the Pend Orielle, but I have fished for pike a lot in New York, Vermont, Wisconsin, Michigan, Alaska. Right now would be throwing big bucktails, Rapalas, Jerk baits, erratic action nice and slow and sharp.

If you get a follow up research and learn how to do a figure eight with them a lot of times they will strike.

Good luck have fun and take pictures.

Joe

[tlbradford]

Go earlier than later.  The weeds choke up the best areas as soon as it starts to get warm.

[Jburke]

I have steel leaders, rapalas, jerk baits, swimbaits, spinnerbaits.  I think I'm probably pretty well prepared in the tackle department.  Also I have heard about the figure eight working alot of times.

[ribka]

I used to do a  lot of pike fishing. I got more strikes using mono ( 60 lb) homemade leaders as opposed to wire.
Soft jerk and swim baits. Big Mepps spinners with twister tails work good too.

Will be trying the Pend O rielle next month. Let me know if interested
 

[ribka]

Wife caught this pike up North last year
Not a huge one but she got a kick catching it

[Machias]

If you want MONSTER pike, go with half a mackrel or herring, deadbaiting is head and shoulders above fishing with spinners and lures for really hefty pike.  If you want to catch lots of 6 to 12 pounders use the lures and spinners.  Really big pike rarely waste energy chasing food fish, they are big time opportunist ans scavengers.  The British have pike fishing down to a science, they catch 30s and 40s all the time.

[littlemac]

I fish with a bunch most every year up north in Manitoba.

Vibrax and Mepps are good there, Johnson silver minnow is good and 5 of diamonds. 

Use number 4 and 5 but actually have caught more big fish in the spring with a #4.

Here's a 43 I took on one trip, change up your colors gold worked on this one but often silver works, the blue Vibrax have been good as well.

[Machias]

If you want MONSTER pike, go with half a mackrel or herring, deadbaiting is head and shoulders above fishing with spinners and lures for really hefty pike.  If you want to catch lots of 6 to 12 pounders use the lures and spinners.  Really big pike rarely waste energy chasing food fish, they are big time opportunist ans scavengers.  The British have pike fishing down to a science, they catch 30s and 40s all the time.

That would be 30s and 40s "pounders" not inches. 

[littlemac]

If you want MONSTER pike, go with half a mackrel or herring, deadbaiting is head and shoulders above fishing with spinners and lures for really hefty pike.  If you want to catch lots of 6 to 12 pounders use the lures and spinners.  Really big pike rarely waste energy chasing food fish, they are big time opportunist ans scavengers.  The British have pike fishing down to a science, they catch 30s and 40s all the time.

That would be 30s and 40s "pounders" not inches. 

I figured that, just wasn't sure that the Pend Orielle river held fish in that class.

[Machias]

  Your probably right about that!!

[Jburke]

I will be sure to keep the bait in mind.  Will a chunk of squafish work as well?  Those things will eat anything and are easy to catch usually.  Good tip about the 80lb braid leaders, was wondering how the steel leaders worked with spinner baits that dont have split rings or hook eyes to attach the leader in place.  Now I know another way of doing it.  Just so happens I have some 80lb braid. I will be sure to let you guys know how the trip goes.  Planning on Wednesday, and/or possibly Thursday depending on how the fishing goes. 

[WAcoyotehunter]

I would fish shallow bays with dead bait.  bring a comfy chair and a couple drinks and hope for decent weather.  if you get bored with that, throw a big three hook rapala, perch colored.  this river is loaded with perch and they are the primary prey of pike here.

[Jburke]

Didn't catch any pike.  Only managed one nice brown.  Still better than being at work, but the weather wasnt very pleasant.