Shallow perch, Caught some shallow again

Thanks for the tips. I’m going to target pike tomorrow. Getting tired of cleaning perch.

if you are targeting pike specifically, I would have the dead stick and also another line with some larger and flashier to attract them. Have seen pike come in for the flashy bait but not hit it at all and go for the dead stick. But sometimes, they can just sit in front of the dead bait for what "seems like hours" and not bite. I have found a slow continued lift can sometimes trigger a bite. If you are seeing them and they keep staying lock-jawed, try sending down a small bait (something you may use for larger perch) in a perch or fire-tiger pattern - have caught many pike fishing for perch (and have lost many baits to them as well because I had no leader on). Depending on if you want truly boneless fillets, I find, I get more meat filleting perch than pike for the same amount of time (perch filleting has become more assembly line work than pike for me anyway after cleaning probably 10s of thousands of perch over my life compared to hundreds of pike). Different taste in the meat but both very good fare. Good luck. Looking forward to seeing the report on how you do pike fishing tomorrow. I can't fish for at least a couple of months but can get a fix if I can periodically read posts.

Good tips!
I usually jig them in with the Williams wobbler or rapla rippin rap and if they don’t take a swipe at those then I lower down a minnow on a jig or hook.
But I just fish c and r for pike. They ain’t as tasty as perch or walleyes. Hope I can connect tomorrow! 🤞

I've had good luck for big pike with a large rattling rap (perch coloured) and a 3-4 live minnow on the back hook. The minnow struggling will give off a low rattle seems to drive them crazy. Just leave it dead stick slightly touching bottom the minnow will stir it up.

Nice problem to have ! Lol !!

Thanks for sharing that technique - will try to remember next time I have a unwilling pike.