Using packaged bait for pike?

[D-flag]

New to pike fishing and live in NY. B.C of the new bait regs you cant keep bait for more then 7 days. I can only make it out on the ice every other week and only have a few hours of light. With this said I found that Wall mart has packaged cut bait (hearing) and was wondering if anyone has ever used it on a tipups. Do you think it would be worth buying a few packages to take out for a few hours after work while jigging? Or should i just save the money? Any other ideas for per packaged certified bait?
 

[Jessox80]

I've had success on frozen dead mackerel (maybe 10-13 inches long). It has a huge profile, is oily, and costs little. Just thaw it out the night before or in a pail of warm water en route to fishing. I rig them on quick strikes on tipups, no action needed.  Pike love big dead bait.

[VT snotrocket]

I've had success on frozen dead mackerel (maybe 10-13 inches long). It has a huge profile, is oily, and costs little. Just thaw it out the night before or in a pail of warm water en route to fishing. I rig them on quick strikes on tipups, no action needed.  Pike love big dead bait.

When you buy frozen mackrel, do you have to go to a seafood store or is it the frozen food section at a grocery store. I am going to give this a try.

[Jessox80]

I get mine from the bait store (I think people rig them up for stripers and blues)

[Drifter_016]

When I run out of ciscoes (that I net during the spawn) The local tackle shop sells frozen herring baits.
They work very well. I thaw them out and use salt to preserve them and make them tougher as well as toughen up the scales so they don't all fall off. I salt my ciscoes and shiners (store bought, frozen) as well. They last a lot longer and don't get freezer burn nearly as bad as unsalted ones do. I also catch Burbot and Lake Trout using frozen herring.

I would use frozen herring over live bait for pike any day. Pike love dead bait!!!!!!

[VT snotrocket]

When I run out of ciscoes (that I net during the spawn) The local tackle shop sells frozen herring baits.
They work very well. I thaw them out and use salt to preserve them and make them tougher as well as toughen up the scales so they don't all fall off. I salt my ciscoes and shiners (store bought, frozen) as well. They last a lot longer and don't get freezer burn nearly as bad as unsalted ones do. I also catch Burbot and Lake Trout using frozen herring.

I would use frozen herring over live bait for pike any day. Pike love dead bait!!!!!!

I am a big dead bait fan. Last year a buddy of mine caught a 40" 17lb pike on a dead 8" perch.

[flagguy83]

Berkley gulp alive. I use them and love um

[pyle]

I used to use frozen Herring that Gander sold. They were about 6-8 inches in length. They worked awesome. But they dont carry them anymore at the Gander in Hennrietta    

[Donquad]

Now when your fishing the dead baits are you putting them on the bottom or suspending them?? If suspening how far off the bottom?

[fishwiz4]

i had good luck in 18 fow with 4 in frozen herring on a single hook positioned just a little over 2 feet off the bottom.

[Barleydog]

Pretty close to what fishwiz said.  1-2 ft. off bottom, 8-14" herring hooked with a 4/0 or 6/0 octopus hook, one large split shot to wiegh it down.

You can keep them salted down to help toughen them up.  Canning salt, green food color, smelly jelly herring flavored, and a couple dashes of coffee creamer to make them shine!

[gumpy2]

I used to use frozen Herring that Gander sold. They were about 6-8 inches in length. They worked awesome. But they dont carry them anymore at the Gander in Hennrietta   

OOOOps did I happen to buy out what they had left?  My bad...   

[40below]

Frozen smelt works great 4 me double hooked on a treble, good luck

[gfisher95]

i'd prefer burkley gulp alive black shad

[rezeye]

You can keep them salted down to help toughen them up.  Canning salt, green food color, smelly jelly herring flavored, and a couple dashes of coffee creamer to make them shine!

  SOUNDS TASTY

[VT snotrocket]

  SOUNDS TASTY

I see a couple of people use Berkley gulp. Do you rig them the same as regular bait. I'm curios,maybe I will try this.

[1TIGGER]

New to pike fishing and live in NY. B.C of the new bait regs you cant keep bait for more then 7 days. I can only make it out on the ice every other week and only have a few hours of light. With this said I found that Wall mart has packaged cut bait (hearing) and was wondering if anyone has ever used it on a tipups. Do you think it would be worth buying a few packages to take out for a few hours after work while jigging? Or should i just save the money? Any other ideas for per packaged certified bait?
 

If you still fish New York waters you can NOT use store bought smelt for human consumption  because it's not certified as bait .
It don't make sense that a human can eat it but fish cant but that's what I was told by Albany .
The cut bait that is packaged for fishing can be used and does work but I think you're better off getting shiners .

[northernnyice]

my local walmart carries dead preserved shad that you can buy in little jars right in the fishing section. They are pretty decent size, and since Ive been using a lot of dead bait this year anyways, I might get a jar.