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Danderson do you have many pike over 5 lbs.? -or- are do you mostly target pickerel? If that's the case, I'd stick with like shiners etc... Frozen herring are quite often, (but not always) too large for those smaller pickerel sized fish. We use them in Alaska exclusively, because we can't use live bait. The smell from herring is really powerful! I think it helps draw in those fish looking for an easy meal, especially when the oxygen level is low or they have the late season blues...
i know people suggest using dead baits like herring. i'm wondering, do these baits produce for you in waters withouth any herring at all, like Mass?
Muskie Matt is right Herring are illegal to use as bait in Mass - check the baitfish list on the mass wildlife web site so you don't get yourself in trouble
Can't use herring in Massachusetts anyway If you can jig up smelt I would suggest using them, only until Feb. 29 though. As far as the hush, hush places go...unfortunately they're not so low key anymore. The Internet has helped with many things over the years..........keeping secret fishing hot spots a secret.......not so much. I always use LARGE dead suckers and goldens for pike. If you want to stay within the regs there isn't much else to use.
BLUE BACK HERRING ARE ILLEGAL IN MASS YOU CAN USE ATLANTIC HERRING WITCH IS WHAT MOST BAIT SHOPS SELL FROZEN