Pike Lure Question

[antgogz]

Has anyone ever caught a pike on a rapala x rap??? I usually use them for smallies in the river but I just bought two big xraps that are ghost colored and one that is perch colored. I like the suspending, stop and go action on them. I caught one pike on a small xrap, but that has been it.

My next question is do you guys usually catch pike all summer long? I usually only go for pike up until may. I notice that when river levels are high they tend to be around. I want to keep going for them all summer, what's everyones opinion on summer pike???

Keep chucking the perch X Rap, you'll get em....try a Firetiger Jointed J-13.....They love that

[SkillfulAngler908]

They'll def hit the X-rap, I would recommend a size 12 or 14. My go to pike lure is the Husky Jerk 14, which is more or less a cheaper version of an X-rap. I'm wondering too about the summer pike fishing in the river though. I have heard of guys catching them all year long, but I have only personally fished in the late winter/spring for them in the Passaic. I wish it would stop raining, so I can get up there and try it for myself!

[msgdan]

With the low, clear and slow conditions this spring, the pike fishing has been the best ever! I would say that I landed at least 60 pike this spring from the kayak, which is about 40 more than previous years in the spring.

In the past, my favorite time of the year was Aug. and Sept. for pike. Usually the weed beds are all over and finding the slow water near the weed beds would usually result in fish.

The river is high and dirty now, so I will wait a week or two without heavy rains to give it another try. I only use single hook either white or chartruse or a cobo of both spinner baits.

Danny V

[antgogz]

Thanks a lot guys. I will give it a try this summer.

[danyeo]

Are you guys using steel leaders? How about braided lines? If Pike don't care about a steel Leader then I assume they won't care if they can see a braided line.

For Trout and Bass I would think Braided line wouldn't be a good choice unless you're using a foot or 2 of fluoro or mono on the end.

Funny thing, years ago I caught lot's a big Pickeral in the 24 - 28 inch range and never used any leaders or anything, just 8lb line with a swivel. And usually Daredevils or Shiners and Bluegills.

[NorthJerzyG]

I usually only use steel leaders with shiners. Caught pike and smallies this way. Rest of the time, 8lb mono with a swivel.

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by danyeo

Are you guys using steel leaders? How about braided lines? If Pike don't care about a steel Leader then I assume they won't care if they can see a braided line.

For Trout and Bass I would think Braided line wouldn't be a good choice unless you're using a foot or 2 of fluoro or mono on the end.

Funny thing, years ago I caught lot's a big Pickeral in the 24 - 28 inch range and never used any leaders or anything, just 8lb line with a swivel. And usually Daredevils or Shiners and Bluegills.

I use usually about 9" of 25lb. flourocarbon as a leader when fishing the river, both with live bait and with lures. A little barrel swivel in between that and my braided line has suited me well catching Pike, LMB's, SMB's, Rockbass, Perch and Sunnies on the river.

With all the snags in the Passaic, I was going through a spool of Mono in less than a month with all the breakoffs. Since I switched to PowerPro braid, snags will only cause the line to break off my leader, which is fine by me. It's good stuff.

[slider]

I think one lure your missing is the trusty Daredevil, Try the 5 of diamon pattern and don't be afraid to go to the larger sizes..Pike drop deep in warm to hot weather specailly the big boys, search out deepest runs and holes and chuck that spoon out there count it down to bottom and slow steady retrieve,can cover all depths of the water colume, bet you nail your personal best with this tactic this summer..If u find deep weed beds try 5 to 6 inch curly tail plasitcs behind a silver or black johnson silver minow, pretty weedless set up.. Good luck, let me know how you make out..with a nice picture post..Tite lines SLIDER

[RnK]

Shad raps are terrific, crank them down 4-6ft. over tops of weed beds, or crank them down and twitch them. Never had much luck with perch or fire tail colors, although they seem like a natural. Great luck with shad finish.

Another terrific lure are rattle traps, pike really like the vibration and sound, especially when you pull hard and sound the rattles loud when getting close to the boat - triggers the followers to attack, which is what they do, not bite. Best colors shades of purple, glitter purple best. Blue and red great at times, esp. those late afternoon blitzes.

black and white spoon 3rd best lure, out fishes the old standard red/white 3-4 to 1.

Fish inactive, (in the weeds, not of the edges) white jig with white or black twister tail, rigged weedless often the only thing that works, but works well!

This is my experience of many, many years fishing pike from NY to St Lawrence to Canadian lakes.

Learn how to filet them with the extra set of lateral bones. Great, might sound blasphemous, but as good as walleye IMO. Same flaky texture, same sweet taste.

Good luck!