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i think it does seem like they were just holding on to the bait. my hooks are very sharp. will try setting harder next time. i'm used to fishing lighter line for the most part.thanks for the help.
well if you have ever bear hunted over bait you will see that the bigger bears will grab a piece of bait and take and eat it elsewhere.Im sure that is what pike do as well with my expeirience.the bigger pike will mouth the bait and swim away with it to later stop and swollow it.this may have something to do with your hole letting light down.try a cover to stop light from radiating down into the water.The pike may see your hole as a danger and shy away.just my two cents worth
i am not saying you are wrong because pike do weird things. but i spear quite a bit and usually use 12 - 16 inch suckers for bait and usually the big ones will inhale the bait as if it was never there. i have seen 25 inch pike do the same. i have also noticed that the bigger ones (33 inches and up) are in no hurry, kinda take their time. i have found smaller pike will mouth it and run. when i go to a flag and find that most of my line is gone usually have a tiny pike with 10 pounds of weeds on it. i feel since they (little guys) are not on top of the food chain they will try to get out of dodge before they get eaten. it really isnt an exact science because i have seen big ones attack my decoy, and take line as well. just from my obversation. another thing i have noticed is if you run to the tip up they will spook cause they can hear you and then take off like a bat out of hell.