MyFishFinder.com Just like iceshanty but warmer
Keep using single hook rigs, you will get more bites than if using a quick strike rig.
A single 5/0 octopus hook is all you need for pike, even with big baits. Here in RI there are limited areas to fish for pike and the spots that do have pike get extremely heavy fishing pressure. A quick strike rig puts too much metal in the bait and a big fish will often times see this or feel it when she grabs the bait and will spit the bait out immediately. I have been ice fishing these areas for pike for many, many years and have used both quick strikes and single hooks and can say for certain that you will without a doubt get more pike bites with a single hook rig. I have never ice fished Alaska, but I can imagine that it is a whole different ballgame fishing for pike up there than it is here.