What size hook for pike?

[river_scum]

depends on the size of your baits. you need plenty of hook sticking out to get a good hookup.

[icedrill]

# 4 Double Rider Hooks, rigged quick strike;

Does the bait hang vertical in the water, and not horizontal or natural??
Always thought bait should lay horizontal, have you had good success like this?

[stripernut]

Dead vertical, live horizontal and struggling. Yes, I and MANY others have great successes with this system.

[icedrill]

Sounds good, thanks! Been mostly using mustad pike hooks and some northland tackle predator rigs, both hold my dead bait horizontal, and with good success.  Also have a few quick strike rigs like yours which hold bait vertical and will try them out

[big scott]

I've only been PIKE fishing a few times, what I've been doing is buying striper leaders made with flouro and gold 3/0 hooks ... one 11 lb'r and a 15lb'r so far!  I use large live shiners (pike bait)  4-5" in length.

 the biggest issue has always been having a set of tackle dedicated to PIKE, so this way was the fastest and easiest way to change over.
Now that I've got a dedicated set, I'm looking for the best/most common way to set up my tackle for PIKE.

[headhunter67]

Tie your leader to a swivel and connect that to a tip up and you should be all set. Just be careful that is some pretty light line you have.

[esox_xtm]

Dead vertical, live horizontal and struggling. Yes, I and MANY others have great successes with this system.

Horizontal dead bait is vastly overrated... I don't think we're fooling anyone (or fish). Real dead is dead.......... eye hangin' out, fin busted, no tail, guts drippin' out the belly..........floatin g, sinking, right side up, upside down........... really.

/m

[mjk67]

What size hook do you guys use for northerns on tip-ups? Trebs, singles, or circles?

#6 trebles, unless you are getting into the larger suckers (#4).  #6 is nice, if you end up potentially getting into 'eyes at dusk.