Quick Strike Rigs

[Neal/CO]

I bought some Quick Strike rigs from a local shop yesterday and I plan on fishing whole suckers on a deadstick alot this winter. Here is my Question; Do I let the bait settle on the bottom or do I suspend about foot off the bottom so the pike can see it better? It is fairly weedy on the bottom where I fish and I am afraid my bait will get lost on the bottom. I have always used lures for Pike but this year I want to try something different in hope that I might fool some bigger fish? Thaks in advance.

[Eyesrfn]

I think that I would suspend your sucker about 6" above the tops of the weeds. Also big pike like big rocks, drop-offs and the edge of weed lines. On Ft Pecks we usually suspend the bait 3-5 above bottom, it depends on the clarity of the water. Good Luck!

[MLD]

Neal,

I haven't done a lot of ice fishing for northerns but I think you should suspend the bait and also make sure it's sitting horizontal. If I remember correctly you'd do better with a tip-up and let the fish run a ways to get a better angle for the hookset.

Mike

[mudpuppy]

I'm assuming you're ice fishing , but "dead sticking" works for open water also . When going for pike I'll use a trick we use for fishing alewives or smelt for Brown Trout off the piers in spring . Put a rubber band on your rod handle above the reel . Loop your line under the rubber band & open your bail . When a fish strikes it pulls the line free & doesn't feel any tension . Works for walleye also .
You'll have to experiment with distance from bottom but I'd definately keep it off bottom & above the weeds . Tip-ups work great also .

[Backwater Eddy]

If legal to use multiple rods try this once.

Set the dead stick rod up 6-8' from your second hole (one left one right) with the dead bait set 1-2' off bottom.

In the second hole rip a aggressive jigging presentation suck as a large Zip style blade bait, rattle trap, Chubby Darter, or a flash spoon. Rip-rip, stir them up!

One calls in a piggy while the other lays in waiting, one or the other will usually draw a strike.

I like to set up were I can slow jig the dead bait and rip the hog call from the same position, a 2 handed approach.

A fired up pike will often chase a dead bait all the way up to the ice so tease him all you can.

Good luck gator hunting..........><,,>

Have a Happy & SAFE New Year!

Backwater Eddy.....><,,>

[Neal/CO]

Thanks for the help guys! We had a storm go thru the mountains today and it is bitter cold here so I held off till tommorrow. I hope the fish help me ring in the New Year! Everyone have a safe New Years Eve!