Need Help With Pike Fishing

[LegitFish]

Hey

I will be doing some fishing up in the Georgian Bay/Pointe Au Baril area in mid-July. I will be trying for pike this year, most likely concentrating on live bait. I never really tired for pike, so this is for sure going to be quite the challenge. Just wondering what structure, and depth of water I should be looking for? Any suggestions on live bait setup?

Any information would be great!

Thanks!

 

[freekincage77]

I've had a large amount of luck with frogs and pike, they work wonders for bass, and we hit into pike and musky when using them. Also obviously minnows are the obvious choice. The best option are colourful midsized spoons in my opinion. In terms of where they are, though not familiar with the lake itself, depending on water temperature, in warmed water look deeper around weedbeds and rock features. Later at night try in the bays or along shore shallower weedlines as the water cools.

Good luck

 

[disspatcher]

Lucky Strike 5 of Diamonds....#5 Bell Spinner....Large Creek Chub 2" under a float....any of these just off the weedbed will get pike.If there are minnows swimming in the weeds...so are the pike.
No minnows..no Pike....find "fresher" weeds...more oxegyn + more action.

 

[LegitFish]

Yeah, that makes alot of sense, follow the baitfish, then there will be pike. Thanks for the help!

 

[iJay]

HAs anyone read that it is now illegal to use live bait? I saw it in the misitry book.
But ima try my luck for some pike this year!

 

[LegitFish]

I can't imagine using live bait being illegal now, maybe you saw that it is illegal to use certain fish as live bait?

 

[dvigs16]

Id be searching for big weed beds as soon as you get there and get to the edge and work your way around. Ive never been big on live bait for pike fishing but everyone has there own ideas. Reason I say this is because if your chasing bait fish around and fishing where the baitfish is, you have a heck of alot of competition using a minnow that looks just like the other million minnows in that area where if your casting a spoon or a lure you have something a little different that may catch the lunkers eye more so then a minnow.........but if your set on live bait Id get some nice suckers or big minnows and get them moving around the edge of the weeds. If that isnt working id start casting william wablers(gold 60's) and some shallow diving crankbaits....Theres many variables with fishing such a widespread area including temperature(present and past), wind speed and cloud cover. Make sure you plan appropiately for all conditions.......in terms of depth id be looking for anywhere between 8-24ft depending on if your casting or trolling(cast in shallower water). Best of Luck to ya!

 

[LegitFish]

Wow! Thanks! That's the best info I've found anywhere on the Internet.

 

[RedSkullz]

Hey there
I have fished the highway 69 to the mouth of the magnetewan river quite a bit and the surrounding waters. Pike fishing is a tough go out there for the most part. Ive had success on 7" rapala magnums, white spinnerbaits, J-13 Rapalas. If they are being finicky go for a 4" white tube bait.(you will have to figure a way to get a steel leader attached)One of the main challenges is finding green weedbeds. The brown weedbeds lack oxygen and hold very little fish. If you are fishing the mouth of the magnetewan, send me a pm and i'll help you locate some fish.

 

[Joel52]

I think it's illegal to use game fish as bait. As for catching mr. pike, I use a #3 silver Mepps Aglia with a red tag on the hook. You can dangle an inch or two of worm from it. Troll the shoreline morning and evening in about 3-5 feet of water. Pike always hit twice - wait for the second jerk before you set the hook.

 

[a.cortellessa]

There's nothing to be worried about, pike are one of the easiest fish to catch because they eat just about anything and they're extremely agressive.
If you're using live bait for pike, minnows is definitely the way to go. Pike don't often hit worms and leeches. So throw a large minnow or a creek chub, shiner. Try fishing it under a float in a weed bed.
In mid July the bigger pike move to deeper water and the smaller pike will stay in shallow spawning bays. The bigger pike, look for drop offs in the 10-20 foot range. Look for shelves that decrease in depth gradually. This gives pike a great oppurtunity to stay deep while its hot and to come in and feed, then move deep again.
As night approaches and the temperature cools the pike will be more willing to come into shallow waer because the temperature allows them to. Fish the edge of weedbeds around 8-15 feet of water, fish drop offs and try casting into the shallow part and into the deep part as well to see where the fish are. You can even troll along the drop off and make lazy "S" turns so you go through the deep and shallow water. Try fishing rocky points as well.

Georgian bay in particular, the water is pretty clear up there. I found that the red and white dardevle's worked extremely well for me. Also, try crankbaits such as the Bomber Long A and the Rapala Husky Jerk.

Goodluck!

 

[n.plunkett]

Pike can be a lot of fun. Yeah just remember if yoou can find the perch you can find pike. Try a Rapala Huskie Jerk.... its what I always use.

 

[Mykester]

Id be searching for big weed beds as soon as you get there and get to the edge and work your way around. Ive never been big on live bait for pike fishing but everyone has there own ideas. Reason I say this is because if your chasing bait fish around and fishing where the baitfish is, you have a heck of alot of competition using a minnow that looks just like the other million minnows in that area where if your casting a spoon or a lure you have something a little different that may catch the lunkers eye more so then a minnow.........but if your set on live bait Id get some nice suckers or big minnows and get them moving around the edge of the weeds. If that isnt working id start casting william wablers(gold 60's) and some shallow diving crankbaits....Theres many variables with fishing such a widespread area including temperature(present and past), wind speed and cloud cover. Make sure you plan appropiately for all conditions.......in terms of depth id be looking for anywhere between 8-24ft depending on if your casting or trolling(cast in shallower water). Best of Luck to ya!

I sort of disagree with the live bait thing, I hook it in the back (but avoid the spine) and it'll swim slower and tire out more. Many baits try to imitate an injured baitfish and a live minnow hooked in the back achieves this. The bigger minnows tend to live long and are really active for the first minute or so, but eventually it'll swim around and be confined to one spot. Whenever I use live bait I also notice that the minnow is head first inside the pike, and if this is how the pike attacks it it won't feel your leader when hooked in the back.

 

[dvigs16]

"I sort of disagree with the live bait thing, I hook it in the back (but avoid the spine) and it'll swim slower and tire out more. Many baits try to imitate an injured baitfish and a live minnow hooked in the back achieves this. The bigger minnows tend to live long and are really active for the first minute or so, but eventually it'll swim around and be confined to one spot. Whenever I use live bait I also notice that the minnow is head first inside the pike, and if this is how the pike attacks it it won't feel your leader when hooked in the back."

Yeah I see what your saying but trying to track down the big minnows you speak of can be complicated in its own. On top of trying to hook them perfectly so they dont die is another issue. Then theres the expense if you want to go for a sucker style.... say of the 6 inchers which depending where you are, Ive seen run from 8-15 bucks for those little buggers......I love using suckers because it makes for a nice relaxing day on the water but in terms of landing fish ive never had any luck with pike hitting the suckers or minnows, caught a few here and there...but have always had better luck on the lures in all waters. I stick to using minnows for the perch, crappies and walleye...when it comes to the big bass, pike and musky its always best to use a lure, but thats just my opinion.

 

[gonefishing]

Pike will eat almost anything from small baits and tackle to larger,seems if it's in motion their interested.
Weedbeds in early sunrise or late evening. Great eating and easy to fillet. Look on line for cleaning video's. Good luck, let us know how it goes with your trip.