Just my observation.

[rich_ace_G]

I was on my spot today.
Water condition : approx 7 ft. visibility.
Lure : suspending plug
Method : jerk-jerk-slow retrieve.

I've caught my share of pike ice out using this method but this time I have witnessed how everything unfold.
1st cast...at the end of my retrieve I noticed the pike stopped about 5 feet from my lure. just observing it. about 1 minute I was getting anxious...and twitched it maybe my lure would look lively to trigger the pike to strike. In fact this made the pike swim away. This happened for 3 more casts...with light twitches just to give some movement. It doesn't scare the pike but it made it uninterested and just pass by and swim away.
1 more cast...same thing. the follow at about 5 ft. I just stopped. No twitch and just observed. 4ft....3ft...this is like 1 minute interval...as the pike gets closer.5 inches...i was really tempted to give it twitch before it notices it's not a realy minnow lol. my lure was actually on the tip of it's mouth and still no strike. wth?! opens it's gills and the strike was fast and deadly. It's great feeling the tug but watching them hit your lure like that is something else. I caught 3 more afterwards...patience Is key.

 

[openfire]

Great post!

I have witnessed the same.

 

[BackwoodsBassr]

That's sweet man, never seen that before! Good report...ill be sure to try that out if I get open water before april

 

[rich_ace_G]

the lure i used is a daiwa suspending minnow. fairly cheap. $4.77 i believe. great movement don't see any difference between this and the husky jerk to be honest. I know the background is a dead giveaway but this spot is known by hundreds of anglers.

 

[mikeh]

I have been using pop up deadbait rigs for Pike over the last few weeks and It seems to be what they are expecting to find.... winterkill baitfish. some of the baitfish have been 6 inches or more, and they still get taken.

 

[CanadianAngler87]

Great advice ther bud! Nice Ike the Pike aswell.

 

[mikea07]

I've been looking for a good place to catch some ice out pike.

Good post. Looks like you had a good time.

 

[rich_ace_G]

That place is good for ice out pike. clear water. occasionally brown trout will hit a spinner in this area. still quite cold though.

 

[salmotrutta]

Cool observation, something similar happened to me once, where a pike had swam up to a dead minnow that I had suspended in the top of the water column (accidentally due to having my line tangled in a tree). The pike was taking its sweet time approaching and sizing up the bait, I was filming the whole time waiting to get the strike on video. I lost patience and tried to twitch it, it went up and much to my dismay the line got stuck in that position and I couldn't bring the dead baitfish back down into the water! A little more waiting and it probably would have hit.

I've also had them follow a dead baitfish right to shore, then literally jump out of the water for it as I was bringing it back for another cast. Never know exactly when those buggers will strike!

 

[Dozer]

I have waited upwards of a minute for a pike to strike... fishing the French River on a 4 day canoe trip had a fish follow my spinner during the summer right up to the shore. Stopped my lure in about 4 - 6 inches of water and the pike stopped just looking at it... motionless... now, it felt like a minute but I just starred at this fish starring at my lure in shock... in about 6 inches of water at best. Nothing was happening so I gave the spinner the slightest little twitch, the water boiled and the pike had grabbed my lure and then broke free. It was amazing to see the green fish come up to shore near the reeds and just wait...

By the way... that lure looks killer and I'm pretty sure I know where you are fishing :lol: My local stomping grounds

 

[apz245]

i think this has been mostly what i've been doing wrong fishing pike, in cold water conditions i havent had any luck, thanks for sharing this with us, and congrats on the pike, its a nice one

 

[iamnickevans]

I was on my spot today.
Water condition : approx 7 ft. visibility.
Lure : suspending plug
Method : jerk-jerk-slow retrieve.

I've caught my share of pike ice out using this method but this time I have witnessed how everything unfold.
1st cast...at the end of my retrieve I noticed the pike stopped about 5 feet from my lure. just observing it. about 1 minute I was getting anxious...and twitched it maybe my lure would look lively to trigger the pike to strike. In fact this made the pike swim away. This happened for 3 more casts...with light twitches just to give some movement. It doesn't scare the pike but it made it uninterested and just pass by and swim away.
1 more cast...same thing. the follow at about 5 ft. I just stopped. No twitch and just observed. 4ft....3ft...this is like 1 minute interval...as the pike gets closer.5 inches...i was really tempted to give it twitch before it notices it's not a realy minnow lol. my lure was actually on the tip of it's mouth and still no strike. wth?! opens it's gills and the strike was fast and deadly. It's great feeling the tug but watching them hit your lure like that is something else. I caught 3 more afterwards...patience Is key.

There will be sometimes they hit and sometimes they won't, if they follow and don't hit there is one thing you can do to trick those toothy buggers. SCENT! and loads of it. I have has several pike follow but not hit in the past especially in the ice out period. Scent can be the trigger to get them to go more often. Give it a try and you'll catch twice as much!

 

[salmotrutta]

There will be sometimes they hit and sometimes they won't, if they follow and don't hit there is one thing you can do to trick those toothy buggers. SCENT! and loads of it. I have has several pike follow but not hit in the past especially in the ice out period. Scent can be the trigger to get them to go more often. Give it a try and you'll catch twice as much!

When you catch your first pike of the day - spread some of its scent on the lure. No need to bring any scents with you.

 

[apz245]

i went out to the mouth of the humber with a couple of buddies and we caught nothing yesterday, fished a lot of spots too with suspending jerbaits

 

[rich_ace_G]

Well I find myself back at the "scene of the crime" 2 weeks ago armed with the same lure (daiwa db minnow). It was cold and windy but starting to warm up as the sun shines brighter and the park started to get busy. there's a huge chunk of ice at the marina across. Good day. I was just having some alone time with my 9 year old. I'm loving this lure but hooks i'm not too crazy...notice the treble hook on the tail missing one hook. Pike was 24" about 3 to 4lbs.

 

[goodentight]

well NOW that is a give away haha! nice pikes man

 

[rich_ace_G]

man 2nd pic is a dead give away. have to edit that.

 

[FishingNoob]

man 2nd pic is a dead give away. have to edit that.

Then I am just stupid cause I have no idea.

 

[tangledspool]

lol....I know exactly where that is and I've been there only once.... I'm coming with my net and dynamite! yeeeehaaaaa!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[rich_ace_G]

i think the marina is not the give away. every marina will look the same right now...