Depends on the lake a bit I think, but I've found a lot of the larger pike will stay out in the deeper water and come in to the shallower areas to feed on occasion. I have my best luck fishing where there is a transition from deeper water to a bay. I even had one come in, hit the deepest tipup, then hit another about 30 yards shallower. I know it was the same fish because when we got him up he had both hooks in his mouth. Talk about a tangled mess of line.