Northern Pike Ice Fishing

[Rick-Wy.]

I'm a rookie to ice fishing.

What would one use for a lure or live bait for pike.

Rick

[EYEFISH]

I would suggest live minnows if you are allowed. If not, I have caught some nice northern on frozen smelt(thawed prior to putting on hook). I haven't had a lot of luck fishing with just a lure for northerns.

[Huntingnut]

largest minnows you can get.
usually golden shiners or large chubs.
Chris

[Mattman]

Big minnows. And I do mean big. Sucker minnows are good. Fish 'em on a quickstrike rig plain.

Airplane jigs. I like the size that has bucktail and a stinger. But not the size with trebles on the wings, its the size smaller. Tip that with a good sized shiner or sucker.

Cleo spoons. I rarely put anything on spoons.

Bullet head jigs, 3/8 - 1 ounce with big double twister tails.

[Frank from TBay]

Make shure that smelts are legal in your area. They are illegal in most areas of NW Ontario. I am partial to large suckers. They are readilly available and a six inch one is just about right if you are going for nice gators.:-).
Good Luck: Frank

[minneman]

Make your own Quick strike rig, 20" 50lb-steel leader/treblehook on end, make the same thing again only 6" long, treble on one end aloop on the other, find a 10-14" tulaby or blue herring poke a hole in middle of bait from belly to back run the long leader up from the belly and set the bait on the treble, slide the 6" setup on now and hook the 2nd treble in the head, then get a spinner blade slide it on (needed to be legal in Mn) connect all this to some mason line on your tipup. the bait should hang horizontal, the mason line is strong and you have something decent to hold on to while pulling in the fish.. good luck!!

[cisco]

I use medium sucker minnows (approx 5 to 7 inches) so I can do a relatively quick set without gut hooking the fish -- northerns will take a medium pretty easily, so you don't need to let them run, stop, turn the bait around, etc. Most of mine this year have been hooked in the corner of the mouth.

Also, I use short rods with casting reels on rod holders -- I don't like to hand-over-hand a fish, but would rather feel the fight on a rod. I use slip bobbers so I can pre-set my depth and keep the spool free on my reel. It's loads of fun.

Good luck on your new venture.

[Mattman]

Both you and I forgot an excellent bait fish, Ciscoes!