Lures

There are several types of artificial lures commonly used for pike: spoons, plugs, spinners, jigs, and flies. Flies, mainly streamer flies, will be dealt with in the fly-fishing rigs section on page 64. Spoons are the number-one presentation for pike in practically all situations.

Pike are sight feeders, as already mentioned. Studies conducted on fish that depend on sight less than pike, such as largemouth bass, show that these fish display a greater ability to feed successfully while blind.

A fish will sight its prey through eyes that are close to the top of its head and attack swiftly, grabbing the prey sideways in its mouth and zrunching down to kill it. But pike aIso become aware of the prey through vibrations in the water. Biologists have temporarily blinded pike with opaque contact lenses and found that they still would sense prey ~nd attack fish and lures, although they would miss frequently.

Spoons

Spoons are probably the most traditional of the pike lures. They cast like a bullet, wobble nicely on retrieve, and flutter most appealingly when you stop retrieving. Every tackle box should have a wide selection of spoons. There is a great variety of colors and finishes. Good color choices include red/white combinations, black and hot orange combinations, hot yellow, and any lure with fluorescent blades.

Plugs

Casting plugs can imitate forage fish, frogs, minnows, and a variety of other pike prey. Balsa and plastic minnows can be used effectively either on the surface or underwater. Recently, minnows in sinking models, floater-sinkers, and deep-diving versions have appeared and proven successful. These new models will be effective in the larger sizes. Traditional plugs, as well as muskie plugs like the Swim Whiz, are all effective.

Another plug that's become popular is the jerk bait. Unlike most plugs, which have action when being retrieved, the jerk bait relies on the angler's skill at creating constant rod action to give it motion. These plugs can be purchased in varieties that will move from side to side or up and down when manipulated.

Jigs

Jigs offer a good up and down action and are particularly effective with inactive fish. Jigs between one-quarter and three-eighths of an ounce, dressed with plastics (Reaper types or Twister Tails), are productive, but, generally, the same jigs you would use to fish for largemouth bass will work very well with pike.

Spinners

Spinners, with their flash and pulsation in the water, also take a great many pike. The larger sized pike spinners, sometimes made to appear even larger by using hooks dressed with bucktails, often have broad blades that keep them from sinking deep in the water as they are retrieved. Safety pin spinner baits come in large sizes as well. They can be used to probe the bottom with both flash and substance that appeal to pike. Over the years I've had a lot of pleasure using this lure when fishing in weedbeds, casting out into the weeds and then retrieving the lure with the spinner sputtering along the surface. I haven't been getting big pike but I certainly have been getting spectacular strikes.

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