Bait

[Sampson]

Plenty of ice. Where can I get river smelts or jumbo shinners?  Slow pike fishing with suckers

[Sampson]

Thanks for all the comebacks. Maybe if I was from mass or ct I’d get more help. Lol

[Bottle_O_Moxie]

Maybe if your profile said where you were located or your post said in what part of this very large state you were looking it may help. 

[woodchip]

Suckers should work better than any other. when putting down bait make a cut into side of bait

[nbourque]

Plenty of ice. Where can I get river smelts or jumbo shinners?  Slow pike fishing with suckers

Honestly not too many places this late in the year have much for bait. I’d check cobbossee bait or jack traps. Both had big fall fish last week. Good luck.

[izmir]

Dead suckers in shallow water are deadly, that's all I use. Keep putting in a baggie and reuse. They will only get better.

[Sampson]

Thank you for the info. I’m in southern Maine. Just haven’t had much luck with suckers. Caught 5 pike on smelts last Friday. Had suckers on 5 and smelts on other 5. Tried cutting suckers open. Third time in last month doing it. Only one pike ate a live sucker

[nbourque]

Thank you for the info. I’m in southern Maine. Just haven’t had much luck with suckers. Caught 5 pike on smelts last Friday. Had suckers on 5 and smelts on other 5. Tried cutting suckers open. Third time in last month doing it. Only one pike ate a live sucker

I’ve had good luck with suckers but live or dead river smelts are mint pike bait.