whats your early season method ?

[thefshdentist]

curious to see what everybodys prefered early season method is for pike. i just fish

[Drifter_016]

One line setup with dead bait (cisco) and one jig rod with a large lindy darter or northlands airplane jig tipped with a chunk of cisco.

It works OK.   

[deadsmelthead]

10 fow or less tight to shore with some panfish structure nearby... then again that could be a year round thing..

[deadbait dave]

first ice...live always produces better for me, but after 3 weeks of locked up ice dead performs better for big girls, it's in their DNA to forage the bottom for winter kill and easy meals.

dbd

[thefshdentist]

first ice...live always produces better for me, but after 3 weeks of locked up ice dead performs better for big girls, it's in their DNA to forage the bottom for winter kill and easy meals.

dbd

 couldnt agree more with the dead bait theory .

[Hydro]

first ice...live always produces better for me, but after 3 weeks of locked up ice dead performs better for big girls, it's in their DNA to forage the bottom for winter kill and easy meals.

dbd

Do you like to fish your dead bait sitting on the bottom or suspended just off it?

[thefshdentist]

depends what the bottom is like

[blackmer826]

very interesting..I have never been a dead bait fan, but know two guys who placed in a derby two years ago using dead bait...also how do you fish your dead bait? minnow vertical with head down or horizontal so they sit level? I'm assuming quick strike rigs are used correct?

[thefshdentist]

very interesting..I have never been a dead bait fan, but know two guys who placed in a derby two years ago using dead bait...also how do you fish your dead bait? minnow vertical with head down or horizontal so they sit level? I'm assuming quick strike rigs are used correct?

Dead bait produces bigger fish in my opinion. But some people will tell you different.  i just use a single hook and lay them horizontal .

[blackmer826]

hmm..interesting. i think it boils down to fish in the area looking for feed

[deadsmelthead]

Dead bait has worked good for me late in the season when they are putting the feed bag on for the upcoming spawn..Dead bait = less energy expended to eat at a time when conserving energy is at the forefront of their priority,  not to say they dont take dead bait year round, because they do, but easier meals are sought out more pre spawn.. That said pike are opportunistic by default, but as i said that opportunistic tendency is more prevalent late ice..

[blackmer826]

good point.

[acaravaglia]

I've only caught them before ice, never through. Will have to change that.

[Drifter_016]

Dead bait works very well although where I live we don't have the option to use live bait as it's banned.
I have done very well the past couple of years fishing dead bait horizontal on a quick strike rig a foot or so off bottom.
I have also placed well in the IS tourney the last couple of years.   
Gonna head out for some big girls on Sunday!!!   

[blackmer826]

good luck must be nice to have ice. jealous

[Drifter_016]

good luck must be nice to have ice. jealous

It is nice but has been too cold for outdoor activities for the past 3 weeks.   

[blackmer826]

ya thats no fun either.

[BryanG]

rig one rod with a live minnow and a flag with a dead one. the first one to go switch up thats my theory

[model8]

Early season i set up in 15 fow or less near a weed bed with live bait ive tried both but early it seems live bait is better later ill switch and put 4 dead bait horizontal and one live bait the big fish like the dead bait but never had much luck early with it but depends on body of water to some lakes i fish with only live bait seems to work better in clearer lakes here but really its preference