Live Bait

[lockdown199]

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?

[saxmatt]

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

[lockdown199]

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

[saxmatt]

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.

[lockdown199]

Again thank you.

[RapShack]

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.