There is nothing more fun than pulling a big pike through a hole in the ice. Even the smaller “eater sized” pike are a blast to catch through the ice. Although it is quite easy to catch numbers of pike, the trick is getting into the bigger fish (10 lbs. plus). By considering these three factors, you can up your odds of catching more and larger pike this ice fishing season!
1). Choosing the right body of water is crucial. Not every lake has the ability to grow NUMBERS of big pike (I will just refer to pike 10 lbs. and over as big for this article). I look for lakes that have larger surface areas combined with large amounts of deep clear cool water to help these bruisers cruise through the warm summer months. Why is that important? Comfort and food is the answer. Once pike hit a certain size (roughly the 7 lb. range), they require cooler water temps to survive.
2). Location, Location, Location. The beauty of ice fishing for big pike is that the location factor is fairly simple. Big pike are aggressive cold water eating machines that need at least two things—food and shelter. Big shallow weedy flats with quick access (moderate to steep breaks) to deep water (30 ft. plus) fits the bill. How big of a flat? It’s all relative to the size of the lake. Personally, I like a 15 acre minimum for reference.
3). Presentation is key! Live bait, dead bait, or artificial baits are all important tools to catch a big pike. I like to use a two punch approach--a set line like a live/dead bait rig used while I “hole hop” actively working artificial baits at the same time (if two or more lines can be used while ice fishing). A live bait rig consists of a large lively minnow on a tip-up, rod/reel/slip bobber combo, or a fish house wall mounted rattle reel. Look for the largest shiner minnows available. There is no doubt from my experiences that shiner minnows out produce other minnows when it comes to pike through the ice. A close second is the popular sucker minnow. Large sucker minnows are much easier to find than large shiners. When using suckers, I try to use a minimum length of 6”, but will use sizes up to the “muskie” size sucker minnows in the 15” range. I do not use a “quick strike” rig on minnows under 8” in length as I feel they cause the minnow to tire out faster as they try to swim with all the hardware attached to them. Minnows over 8” in length or longer, definitely require a quick strike rig to help increase the odds of a hook up. In either scenario, I like to incorporate fluorescent red or chartreuse colored hooks in sizes 1 or 2.
Besides being aggressive feeders, pike are also scavengers and at times can be found eating dead fish off the bottom of the lake. Dead bait like a cisco, smelt, or sucker (or whatever is legal in your area) suspended on a live bait rig system can be deadly. Another option is an uncooked hot dog! Yes, I said a hot dog — like the kids eat at birthday parties. The brand that seems to work the best is the “Fun Dog”. Simply hook the hot dog like you would actual live or dead bait. When setting the depth of your presentation, keep in mind the 30% rule. If the bottom depth is 10 ft., set the bait depth at around 7 ft. down or roughly 3 ft. or 30% of the bottom depth off of the bottom. This helps any pike cruising the bottom or even suspended a little bit, see the bait. Pike feed upwards most efficiently like most fish do.
I tend to scatter the live/dead bait rig(s) throughout the weed bed while I “hole hop” along the break line actively working artificial baits. Jigging spoons (like Swedish Pimples or Kastmaster), plastic swim baits on lead head jigs (just like are used for walleye/bass throughout the summer), king sized Rat-L-Traps jigged vertically (yes the same rattle baits retrieved on long casts all summer), and jigging Raps are all great active tools to trigger those undecided fish along with catching the most active fish in the area. The pike cannot resist either of these baits in brightly colored or flashy patterns. Remember, even on a sunny day, it is a dark world under a sheet of ice with snow on it—hence why bright colors and rattle baits can really help catch fish—especially pike!
So there you go, it’s big pike time! Have fun, respect your fellow anglers, be safe, and catch some memories! Lotsa Fish! Lotsa Fun! Capt. Josh Hagemeister, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service, 320-291-0708, 218-732-9919, www.minnesotaguideservice.com. www.minnesotaicefishhouserental.com.
