depth for pike this time of season

[fishin buddy]

Just wondering what some pepoles thoughts are on what depth is the best to find the pike in this time of year. Ive been trying anywhere from 18 ft to 8feet and they seem to be alot harder to find know. also what depth to put your bait down to ;I usually fish about 3 feet off bottom.thoughts?
 

[bigredonice]

It depends on the body of water you are fishing, the forage availible, and cover options.  Aside from that crap, you really can't ever beat setting up along well defined points along deep weededges in the weedy natural lakes we have around here.  Who knows...out by you it could be a totally different thing...

[METIPPIN]

I will stagger my depths from bottom to below the ice depending on water depth. Then wait and see where the flags are coming from and adjust my depths unless I know the body of water I am on and what I am using for bait.

[BOB/NH]

Fishing been slow this year for me.I have got some nice fish but its been slow.Usually pick up fish shallow first ice then fish move deeper 10-20ft depends on bait fish.I think late ice made for some slow fishing this year.It should pick up late Feb into March.

[Dusek]

Im still catching northern in 6 feet of water

[BOB/NH]

Im still catching northern in 6 feet of water
Are you catching as many fish as last year???Before front after???

[deadsmelthead]

All the pike I have caught this year have been in 8 fow or less.

[blake_b]

me too^^^^^ bout 8 er less

[Water Wolf]

It depends on you lake and forage base. If they are eating tullibee / cisco try the deeper waters were the prey fish are but if they are eating perch and minnows I would try shallower waters.
My biggest fish sofa came from shallow water.

Don't be afraid to try water as shallow as 3 feet under the ice. At that depth try placing you bait right in the middle the pike can't help but notice it.

The pike like to corner there prey against ice in the shallows.

WW

[Oldfart]

In a 22' lake, I'm getting most of them in 12' of water. EVERY one of them makes a run with the bait back to the deep stuff before they stop with it.  If the line runs shallow or sideways, its a bass.

[habaneromoon]

i was fishing for pike last weekend in water no deeper than 8 ft after 2 hours of no flags i moved all my tip ups in to about 2-3 ft of water and fished about 9-12 inches under the ice. it took about 4 minutes for the first pike to hit 3 1/2 pounds not huge but still a keeper. after the first hit we had hits all day in the same location.
 

[habaneromoon]

caught an 11.5 pounder this weekend in about 2 1/2 - 3 ft of water

[RebelIceFshr]

8 feet or less, just under the ice.  Injured bait fish tend flounder in the upward direction, whether it's due to lack of motor skills or the instinct of sucking air from the surface.  The less active to dead bait fish lay on the bottom - less attractive from a predator's standpoint.  just my POV

[BobWhite]

I like to fish from 2-8 feet for pike.

[samson]

last year around this time i caught pike in 30ft at one lake while going for walleye, little odd but still exciting.  like others said it depends on the lake.  personally i would look for current, green weeds or anything that would produce oxygen and vary your depth from bottom to right under the ice

[peterpike]

never go past 10' and fish all the way to a foot of water. when i get within 5' i always put my bait 6" under the ice, as pike like to trap their bait towards the ice. have been doing it for years and have had plenty of sucess. In the deeer water i go 3-4' off bottom.