Tips for big pike

[NUK SOO KOW]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has some tips on targeting big pike specifically. My biggest to date is only 17 pounds. I have read lots about water temp, fishing off points and in bays. Also heard the whole "bigger the bait bigger the fish", and even had an oldtimer tell me to use beef liver. I am successful nearly everytime I go out, just no monsters. So any tips or tricks for anytime of year would be helpful, I flyfish for them too, I just wanna get a huge gator on the flyrod!!

[NUK SOO KOW]

Should mention I am in the Lethbridge/southern alberta area.

[Fishfinder]

I dunno about the lakes round here/there. All my big pike have only ever came outta the SSR n they all went back. Fishn for sturg, lazyman style with pick rig, low and behold..... occasional 20#+ pike smashes me bait! What a rush!
My advice would be patience and yes perhaps bigger bait?? Not sure where ur fishn? You could always hit up Newell but im guessing thats a bit of a drive for u?
Cheers.

[DNORTHERNSNIPER]

I go catch big pike all the time.

Most of my hooks will not fit in my tackle bow drawers.
I believe the bigger the lure the bigger the fish.
Of course sometimes you will catch a big one on a small lure but most big pike I've caught on lures have been on huge lures.
Big musky hooks like 6-19" long.
Huge storm shallow running soft baits.12"
10" woodchopper top water baits.
Where I fish you can see the big monster pike and watch how they react to different hooks.
When a big 19 lb pike wants to feed it's not out searching for a 4" shiner it's looking for a big 16" whitefish.
It seems the effort big female pike have to exert is only used when a large meal is presented.
The smaller hammer handles and males will bite the small len thompson spoons and little rapala's but the monsters go after the big 10"rapala's and the 18" musky jerkbaits.

Try the big hooks and use a good line and leaders so you don't loose them.
They cost a pretty penny.....
I use 10 lb fireline in yellow and it works and casts awesome.
Hope this helps out.

[turnpike]

shallow bays in the spring are always a great bet for a big hen...2-3 weeks after ice out is prime but when it re-opens is great too.. Large fish concentrated in relatively small bays means odds are upped. Pikers are one of the first to spawn and when they're done they bask in the sun, waiting for others to come in and spawn.

[A187]

Originally Posted by DNORTHERNSNIPER

I go catch big pike all the time.

Most of my hooks will not fit in my tackle bow drawers.
I believe the bigger the lure the bigger the fish.
Of course sometimes you will catch a big one on a small lure but most big pike I've caught on lures have been on huge lures.
Big musky hooks like 6-19" long.
Huge storm shallow running soft baits.12"
10" woodchopper top water baits.
Where I fish you can see the big monster pike and watch how they react to different hooks.
When a big 19 lb pike wants to feed it's not out searching for a 4" shiner it's looking for a big 16" whitefish.
It seems the effort big female pike have to exert is only used when a large meal is presented.
The smaller hammer handles and males will bite the small len thompson spoons and little rapala's but the monsters go after the big 10"rapala's and the 18" musky jerkbaits.

Try the big hooks and use a good line and leaders so you don't loose them.
They cost a pretty penny.....
I use 10 lb fireline in yellow and it works and casts awesome.
Hope this helps out.

Great post. Thanks

[tacklerunner]

Go to Chin or Keho if your thinking of fishing hard water; they're not too far from you. All you have to do to beat your personal best is to fish, fish, fish and keep fishing and one day you'll get him.

[fish-man]

Use dead baits. Huge ones work but the location is probably more important than bait size.