Yeah trophy hunter that's pretty much what I decided about the pike around here, must not be that many anymore since the CDOW has a no bag limit rule statewide. I can catch them through open water usually but they can be on the tough side then, 1 - 4 pike is average through open water for me. I use all the classic presentations in open and ice. Must just be a bummer for numbers, though we do have some very big pike. I'm thinking of getting an underwater camera next year just to search out pike habitat in these lakes and see if there are any lollygagging around. Then if I don't see many I will know that they aren't numerous. If I see them all over but inactive, I will know that they must not feed well in the winter here for some reason. I would love to finally get in on some good ice pike action like you guys get. Might have to move for that though.
Tyler