Where did the pike go?

[Fishndude75]

I fish a small lake with a good pike population.First ice the pike were on the byte for a couple days now it seams they have basically disappeared.The lake is basically around 6 ft in depth with a 10 foot channel on one side and not allot of structure anywhere else except the back end where it turns into a swampy area.

[dennisthemence]

? for you. is there a stream or river flowing in or out of lake?
other wise fish that channel edge. but don't forget shallow points near shore, especially where bottom structure changes to be had.

if it was late winter near ice out i would be fishing that channel leading into the swampy area. because pike should be staging in this area getting ready for the spawn.

[thomasthepikehunter]

I would think they would hang just off the drop off from the swampy area. In a lake that shallow even a differnce of 6" can draw in fish. If there is a little bump a foot higher in the middle of the lake, minnows will probably gather there. That brings in pike. Most likely though, your just hitting a bad bite.

[minnow1]

Could be low Oxygen???

[fishermantim]

Maybe they took a break for a little "boom-chicka-wah-wah", since they do spawn right after ice out.

[hardh2ofish]

In the early January I don't know if I'd worry about a couple day lull.  I don't know what you mean by small.  How far can they go?  Might be a weather situation.  Did you just have perfect weather fronts for fishing and pike feeding.  Then get slammed with a different front and the fish are laying there digesting full bellies?  I went through that before.  Even contacted our state biologist seeking help with where fish might have moved.  Only to get a call from a buddy a few days later.  They had just had a banner day in our same old haunts.  Momma always said there would be days like this.