LATE FALL PIKE - PART 1

Author's note: This blog passes along some details about fishing for northern pike during the fall cold-water timeframe. Watch tomorrow for part two.

By: Ray Hansen

Anglers almost always consider pike a “bonus catch”. They seldom go out looking specifically for these freshwater predators, but big pike show up often enough that the possibility of catching one comes up frequently in conversation between anglers fishing for other species. Well… why not set up gear that appeals to the water-wolves and target them on your late-fall trips? You may be in for a real treat. In this article I’ll pass along some ideas that can help you enjoy some memorable action.

PICK WATERS WITH POTENTIAL

Pike get big when they inhabit waters with a forage base that supports growth. Examples include smelt, chubs, whitefish, suckers, small carp, and perch. Most of the time this means choosing places such as the big bays on Lake Michigan along the Wisconsin coastline, big inland lakes like Geneva or Delevan in the southern part of the state, and the large “chain-of-lakes” connected waterways in a line across the state from Eagle River to the Hayward area. Big rivers and their associated backwaters in the central part of the state are an additional source of action.

I also have a “secret” type of lake that can produce pike in the forty-inch range. These are smaller bodies of water - often 100 to 300 acres - that are loaded with undersized perch. Get in the habit of asking baitshop owners if they know of a lake where fishermen constantly complain of catching mostly “dinky” perch. That is a big clue that the lake has trophy pike potential - an opportunity many local anglers overlook. Many Upper Midwestern states have lakes like this.

Having described these waters, you’ll probably realize that when chasing pike, you will also find other species like muskies, and an occasional big walleye. Well… who is going to complain? My friend Ken Poor once landed (and released – on video) a smallmouth bass that was probably one of the largest taken in Wisconsin that year, while using these tactics.

LOOK FOR STAGING AREAS

Each body of water will have places that pike inhabit late in the year as ice-up draws closer. Examples include the mouths of inflowing rivers, deep weedlines, drop-offs near incoming creeks or rivers, logs on bottom in bays, rock piles in the same areas, the deepest extension of land points out into the lake, and artificially placed fish cribs situated at the base of sharp breaklines. In the smaller lakes I mentioned, the deepest edge of any remaining vegetation is usually best – even when the depth is as shallow as four to eight feet.

End of part one.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008

HOW TO CATCH BIG FISH THIS FALL - PART 1

By: Ray Hansen

I like to keep things as simple as possible when chasing larger fish during the fall season here in the Midwest. A favorite strategy is to drift breaklines (drop-offs) with an electric trolling motor ready to provide course corrections, while I work a live bait rig. I’m actually targeting walleyes, but largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike, muskies, channel catfish, and a few other species have come aboard long enough for me to unhook and release them in this way. In this blog I’ll pass along some ideas that can help you catch some heavyweights this year.

THE BASIC RIG

I generally use a six-foot, one-piece medium/heavy action spinning rod and reel spooled with ten-pound test monofilament, or a high-tech line in twenty-pound test, six-pound diameter. You might consider a medium action rod and lighter line, but the slightly heavier action with stronger line is standard. This method targets larger fish.

As a terminal rig, tie on a one-half ounce bottom bouncer like the Northland “Rock Runner”. On the free arm of the bouncer, tie on a three to five foot leader (usually ten-pound test monofilament line) and finish with a size 2 hook. There are a few variations on this set-up, which may more closely fit the situation you are facing. One of my favorites is to use a Northland Tackle brand Gum-Drop Floater jig with the “built-in” stinger hook. This rig allows the use of larger baits such as chubs and small suckers.

Bait should be something substantial. Among my favorites are four or five inch suckers, but roach minnows, chubs, and big shiners will all work. If you can get some jumbo leeches, they are worth a shot. Remember, you can downsize this rig somewhat, using a one-quarter ounce weight and smaller bait if you want to use a smaller rod and lighter line.

BASIC STRUCTURE

As I mentioned, sharper drop-offs leading to main basin areas are a great starting point. You might also elect to follow the base of the breaklines while running a locator, and stop to work any larger fish you show on the screen. On some lakes however, this will result in you spending time inadvertently working a school of carp or other rough fish. Some anglers use cameras to check out what their locators are showing them, but most (including me) just work the area for a while to see if they can trigger a hit.

On some lakes an abundance of structure presents varied opportunities. In this case also try points that taper out underwater toward a deep basin area, and humps or rock piles found out on deeper flats or at the base of the drop-offs you have chosen.

In part 2 of this blog I'll pass along some additional details. Watch for it tomorrow!