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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Northern Pike => Topic started by: lockdown199 on Nov 17, 2012, 09:23 AM

Title: Live Bait
Post by: lockdown199 on Nov 17, 2012, 09:23 AM

I'm giving Pike a try this year and was wondering if I'm using 10-12 in live bait how do i keep it in place or do i just drop it in the hole and let it free swim?

Title: Re: Live Bait
Post by: saxmatt on Nov 17, 2012, 09:58 AM

Take a knife, slit the gills and give it a belly poke to pop the air bladder. They'll stay put.

Title: Re: Live Bait
Post by: lockdown199 on Nov 17, 2012, 10:16 AM

Thanks. I've also been reading and their seems to be a debate on live bait or dead? What is your oppion?

Title: Re: Live Bait
Post by: saxmatt on Nov 17, 2012, 10:26 AM

Both work but most of the big pike I've seen caught were on dead. Also if you have 10-12" inch lively baits you'll either be chasing bait flags all day or run the risk of a pike stealing your bait without setting the flag off because the clip or drag is too tight.

Title: Re: Live Bait
Post by: lockdown199 on Nov 17, 2012, 12:30 PM

Again thank you.

Title: Re: Live Bait
Post by: RapShack on Nov 18, 2012, 10:14 PM

If you're worried about your bait swimming too much clip the tail fins off it.  It will still struggle but cant really go anywhere.