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sorry to steal the post, butHow far off of the bottom do you put your deadbait presentation? Would large shiners work if i hooked them just in front of the dorsal fin?
I would use any bait that has a really oily scent to it, like smelt, saltwater herring, anchovies or ciscos/tullibee in 4-6 inch range if you know that lake has mega pike try them in 10-12 inch range. Here in Sask. so if a person was to fish in the weeds I experiment. I would place some above the weeds say maybe a foot to half a foot, and a few a foot off the bottom right in them. Then move your baits to whatever presentation gets the most hits. Don't forget to try a foot under the ice to. WW
OK guys...here's a serious question. I've been fishing pike for almost 40 years now and have never used a dead bait presentation. Always used shiners, even the beat up ones that are still kicking some after getting nailed by a pike. My question is this: If you are making a dead bait presentation, would you lay it on the bottom or as some here have said, about 2 foot off bottom? Reason I ask is this, if I'm in a weedy area and the weeds are 3-4 foot up, would I still lay it on bottom, have it a couple feet off bottom or would I present it above the weeds? I'm thinking of using smelt as my dead bait of choice, Chaumont Bay used to be full of them so I'm going to try them.My live bait presentation has almost always been 4 foot off bottom as pike feed up, although on one lake I fished with almost no weed I did take a large almost dead sucker and set him just above bottom....help me out here if you would, thanks and tight lines...Esox....
waterwolf, I am just finishing up my quick strike rigs and plan on dead baiting this Friday for first time. how do you hook the deadbait with a quick strike? Ive read some people straighten one of the trebles (don't get why), others through the skin . input appreciated. Just curious...for you folks in Saskatchewan, what are your basic ice fishing rules. IE. # tip ups, live bait vs.dead... Snot Rocket