What about suckers?

[Iceassin]

Pretty much been out of the pike fishing since I stopped spearing many years ago but gonna start running a few tipups again here soon (got a tourney coming up). But I remember the times that I did, I found that I had more strikes with shiners but the larger pike seem to go for sucker minnows. And searching this site I see no mention of anyone using them.  And they also seemed to stay alive longer than shiners. Are sucker minnows a thing of the past? Just curious...

[JDN]

I mix them up goldens on a few traps and a few suckers on the others.Some days they prefer goldens other days suckers.It all depends on the bait in the lake.

[stephensonswille]

occasionaly use sucker minnows but theyre EXPENSIVE here. Decided to experiment the past few days had very good success with some very large smelt that i picked up at work (fish plant) they seem to inhale it and havent had any small ones strike yet so maybe i found out something good out for a change

[warwin125]

I love using dead suckers they last alot longer and the pike love them to N.EAST fisherman

[oldman50]

I'll 2nd that! Dead suckers are my favorite. They work the best here in Feb. when the big girls start to cruise.

[northernnyice]

Oh baby big suckers can be the ticket

[jigmaster22]

I like to use big suckers and goldens both fresh dead, some days the goldens get hit more somedays the suckers.  Both good baits

[taggin out]

What about like 17inch suckers. Is that too big?

[acrawfor]

When you use a dead sucker/fish, I'm assuming it is frozen. Do you let it thaw out completely before hooking or do you just let it thaw enough to push the hook through.

[taggin out]

I sew the hook in it then free it. Then thaw it out before it goes down the hole. After a little gulp sprey on her

[oldman50]

As long as you put a little salt in with them when you freeze them they will stay somewhat plyable. When you put them in the water they will soften up. It's just like giving them a slippery hot dog.

[acrawfor]

I see. Never fished for pike with anything other than a live sucker before. Thanks for the tips.

[northernnyice]

What about like 17inch suckers. Is that too big?

not if your going for consistant 20+ pound fish lol. No but really, it would surprise you how big of bait a pike can take.

[jrmPikeFreak]

I caught my biggest pike ever on a 7" sucker this past Sunday, here are some pics!!

[VexilarLucius]

i fish in west central pa. i like to use big bait a lot, northerns and muskies are my favorite. its been written, and ive experienced it, that big muskies target white suckers. a red horse will do just as well. a lot of big pike like them too. dead/alive? you have just as good a chance using either. where i fish, the bigger the bait, the big the fish applies well. use as big as you can, with out yer flags trippn'. i could talk about this all day, pm me if any questions. oh yeah, and you probably could get one on a slippery hot dog... 

[GDominy12]

big bait=big fish