tips for finding my 40" pike

[S_Mooj]

What areas of the lake should i target for my first 40"?

What type of structure to do they like to hang out around?

what depths do they tend to hang our around?

Edge of weed beds? ect.

Any tips for locating my first gator are much appreciated!

willing to put in the work to find the right spot, some help with what i should be looking for is awesome!

Thanks in advance

[Remps17]

First you need a lake that grows 40 inchers. Not all lakes are created equal.

If you got a productive lake in mind, find a large bay that drops off to deeper water. Use as big of bait as you can get your hands on, either leave it on the bottom or a couple feet above bottom.

Pike will follow their food so keep that in mind. Having deep water close by is something to keep in mind and is often overlooked.

Good luck with the gators. Post some pics when you find her.

[lromanchuk]

Originally Posted by Remps17

First you need a lake that grows 40 inchers. Not all lakes are created equal.

If you got a productive lake in mind, find a large bay that drops off to deeper water. Use as big of bait as you can get your hands on, either leave it on the bottom or a couple feet above bottom.

Pike will follow their food so keep that in mind. Having deep water close by is something to keep in mind and is often overlooked.

Good luck with the gators. Post some pics when you find her.

Exactly this. If the lake doesn't hold a good number of 40+ inch pike, chances are you won't catch one.

My biggest pike comes in 6-12 FOW with a 10-14 inch bait laying on the bottom.

[Talking moose]

Great big herring or small to medium sucker on a predator rig under a tip up on a big southern reservoir in 5-12 fow.

[Topshot]

Read my post What is your best all around jig/lure?
Topshot. Large Pickerel rig hooks, large smelt, 1oz weight, rod holder, bell, breaded 30lbs test line. Good chair and lake. Ice fishing is the best so you can have a beer and wait for it. Also be prepared because if in tent you need a bat or gaft as we found out.

[EZM]

Originally Posted by Topshot

Read my post What is your best all around jig/lure?
Topshot. Large Pickerel rig hooks, large smelt, 1oz weight, rod holder, bell, breaded 30lbs test line. Good chair and lake. Ice fishing is the best so you can have a beer and wait for it. Also be prepared because if in tent you need a bat or gaft as we found out.

Leave the gaff hook at home - they are against the law for use in Alberta waters.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Topshot

Read my post What is your best all around jig/lure?
Topshot. Large Pickerel rig hooks, large smelt, 1oz weight, rod holder, bell, breaded 30lbs test line. Good chair and lake. Ice fishing is the best so you can have a beer and wait for it. Also be prepared because if in tent you need a bat or gaft as we found out.

Cody?

[HuyFishin]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Cody?

are you saying "cody" because you think we are being trolled haha

[tool]

I’ve caught a number of 40”+ pike in the summer months. 1 casting from shore with a #5 Meps spinner.
1 casting from the same location with a small shallow running Rapala plug with “side to side” action.
Several trolling down a small river in an undisclosed location pulling a medium to larger size Cotton Cordell crankbait. (About 4-5” long)

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

are you saying "cody" because you think we are being trolled haha

Ya, I’m wondering.... very “Wilburlike” threads.

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by Topshot

Read my post What is your best all around jig/lure?
Topshot. Large Pickerel rig hooks, large smelt, 1oz weight, rod holder, bell, breaded 30lbs test line. Good chair and lake. Ice fishing is the best so you can have a beer and wait for it. Also be prepared because if in tent you need a bat or gaft as we found out.

if you need a bat or a gaff to land a pike through the ice go take up knitting or maybe go fishing with someone who actually knows how to fish. and I have a suggestion for your "pickeral rig too but Id get banned

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Topshot

Read my post What is your best all around jig/lure?
Topshot. Large Pickerel rig hooks, large smelt, 1oz weight, rod holder, bell, breaded 30lbs test line. Good chair and lake. Ice fishing is the best so you can have a beer and wait for it. Also be prepared because if in tent you need a bat or gaft as we found out.

Non alcoholic beer and your good to go...no gaf...some good advice but some not soooo....


Location on a lake that has the potential to grow a 40" pike....no sense setting up on a stocked trout pond....

12' or less of water with weed structure, lots of bait fish, 8" or bigger herring, two trebles...weight to get it down....bait 12" from weight...you can lay on the bottom, suspend just off the bottom etc....now ya gotta play the set up....good luck.


Ohhh one more thing is I always poke a few holes through the bait fish to assist in getting it down and getting the juices out as in scent....

[Freedom55]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

if you need a bat or a gaff to land a pike through the ice go take up knitting or maybe go fishing with someone who actually knows how to fish. and I have a suggestion for your "pickeral rig too but Id get banned

What he said.

[The Fisherman Guy]

Originally Posted by S_Mooj

What areas of the lake should i target for my first 40"?

What type of structure to do they like to hang out around?

what depths do they tend to hang our around?

Edge of weed beds? ect.

I just finished a 4 part series on Instagram which answers all of your questions above - @gibsontilley on Instagram for the details.

[HuyFishin]

Originally Posted by The Fisherman Guy

I just finished a 4 part series on Instagram which answers all of your questions above - @gibsontilley on Instagram for the details.

aahhhh so you're gibsontilley!

[The Fisherman Guy]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

aahhhh so you're gibsontilley!

One of em' anyway!

[fishn_palmer]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Great big herring or small to medium sucker on a predator rig under a tip up on a big southern reservoir in 5-12 fow.

one of a few from the weekend. still waiting on my 50" lol

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by fishn_palmer

one of a few from the weekend. still waiting on my 50" lol

Wow! Beast! Did that pig break 45”?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by fishn_palmer

one of a few from the weekend. still waiting on my 50" lol

well after seeing the pic...what is your set up? cuz the proof is in da'puddin'

no hills, no tree's...must be the secret

[fishn_palmer]

Didn't get an exact measurement as I didn't want her out of the water long. Slightly larger than my 40" rod. Around 42 - 43"

Talking Moose has the right idea. Love using the ifish pros with homemade quick strike rigs. Somethings are better left secrets, but no bats required lol.

[Ribolovac]

Beauty!

[buckman]

The right lake,the right spot,big bait,and put in the time. Oh and a little pinch of fisherman's luck.

[WayneChristie]

2 part video of the 44 I got my baby brother hooked up with, it wouldnt take his bait no matter what we did but she hit mine as soon as I moved it so I handed him the rod. No Clubs or gaffs involved
https://youtu.be/76AXbVNv4xQ
https://youtu.be/5IyxaXM5n1U?t=9

[WayneChristie]

I will add one piece of advice for mamma gators, once you are setup and have your holes drilled, put your gas/propane auger away, the noise draws smaller pike and drives away bigger pike, they didnt get that big being dumb

[liar]

Years ago i read a book by a pike " trophy hunter " . The short of it was " big pike eat big pike " . Try big , and i mean big , lures that mimic pike .

This guy talked about using five pound pike for bait . I think this was in Europe somewhere .

[Remps17]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

I will add one piece of advice for mamma gators, once you are setup and have your holes drilled, put your gas/propane auger away, the noise draws smaller pike and drives away bigger pike, they didnt get that big being dumb

Agreed.

Often when we are fishing pike and there is a few of so we can have a good tipup/tipdown spread, we will run your standard 6” baits then have a couple with large 10”+ bait. Those holes might not see a flag all day till the evening.

Sometimes you get lucky and drill on top of some big pike but leaving that bait soak all day and not move it or disturb the area has worked great for us. Majority of our big fish come as the sun starts going down. So while everyone else is packing up stick it out a little longer.

[HuyFishin]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

I will add one piece of advice for mamma gators, once you are setup and have your holes drilled, put your gas/propane auger away, the noise draws smaller pike and drives away bigger pike, they didnt get that big being dumb

This makes alot of sense. I'm searching for a 45 incher so this helps alot.

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

This makes alot of sense. I'm searching for a 45 incher so this helps alot.

my best was 46, but I got beat by a couple ladies both with 47 inchers so I need to up my game, the hunt starts next week! theres a res near Calgary most people dont associate with monster pike but I would bet good money there are records swimming in it. fortunately Im surrounded by monster waters

[Battery]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Great big herring or small to medium sucker on a predator rig under a tip up on a big southern reservoir in 5-12 fow.

Yup. Caught my 45" last year in 6 FOW in a southern reservoir with that exact method.

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Battery

Yup. Caught my 45" last year in 6 FOW in a southern reservoir with that exact method.

Beauty! Some tanks in this thread!