dead bait sizes

[dperch]

I'm looking to do some pike fishing this winter and just wondering what the best size of deadbait is for more numbers of fish. I've caught some in the past but no big numbers. Anything is appreciated.

[coboy]

It's been my experience that the bigger the bait, the bigger the pike. 8'' minimum if possible.

[big-brother]

Go Big or Go Home Pike will eat a bait 2/3rds their size so do the math.Sumo sized is sometimes the only way to go for the big ones

[ChillerThriller]

Last season I caught a 21" pike on a 15" bait. Average size baits I use for pike are 10" to 12". It seems a little ridiculous but the results speak for themselves!

[thefshdentist]

depends what u want to catch bigger bait = bigger fish .

[MRC2572]

Last year, I had a pike on a twelve inch herring and a 2.5 inch mummy-chog in the same day, so you never really know.

[thefshdentist]

Last year, I had a pike on a twelve inch herring and a 2.5 inch mummy-chog in the same day, so you never really know.

true , but i prefer to spend my time with bigger bait

[dperch]

Thanks for all the info. However to catch as many fish as possible in a lake with an average 23 inch size, should I use a smaller bait or stick with the big ones.

[coboy]

Dperch, if they're averaging that size 5" or so would probably be fine. I would still set one up with a bigger size just in case a bigger pike cruises through.

[bait trap]

On a lake that's known to have an abundance of small fish I'd go with bait 4-6", and as cowboy had mentioned pit a big bait out just in case there is a big one cruising through.