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QUOTE (Drew @ Mar 27, 2026 - 11:37 pm)
So you may have a point, I can likely get rid of the ring that joins the two leaders, but then it wouldn’t be a ‘unit’ until I snap it onto my leader - don’t know how much it would matter to the fish. And I AM using like 8-10” wire leaders above what’s shown there in the picture, I thought should be fine. But, I am learning and seeing that it is tough like you say to know the difference when they’re taking their time chomping down a big bait, or when they suck it in and go. I think I’ve lost two big ones now because they swallowed my whole setup down and cut me off.
I’m fishing 8-15 feet of water, seems to be some weeds down there only maybe a foot high or so.
It seems crazy dropping foot-long baits down, with all that wire rigging to me, after years of finessing brook trout and such, but I think you’re right, I need to go tow-truck cable heavy on this lake. I think we need a 40”+ category now
I have a hard time with all the terminal tackle required for pike after downsizing everything for trout but there is no doubt it is necessary. Still adjusting!
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QUOTE (Drew @ Mar 27, 2026 - 10:47 pm)
Just as I started packing up, another flag goes up. I’ve been giving these fish a bit of time, when the line is still I wait, once they start taking off again, I set the hook. Too soon, they drop the bait, no fish. I’ve missed a few that way. So I’ve been waiting for the run, and it works. So this time I go over, the line isn’t moving. Nothing. Not a flinch. I wait…. No movement. So I lift the tip up, grab the line, slowly slowly bring it in… no weight, nothing…..must be swimming toward me right?…. keep pulling line, nothing… and eventually, the black Dacron tip up line just ends. No more quick strike rig, no 10” wire leader, nothing. Just a cut line. So did i miss a giant or what?
I would say you are doing everything right, pike aren't scared of lots of hardware. It probably was a giant pike, sometimes they open up and swallow it all. But waiting a bit is always best when using big dead bait for pike. I save all my 6,7,8 inch minnows and use them dead on future outings. Fishing in 8 to 10 FOW with the dead minnow 6 inches off the bottom. All my pike posts are from the same spot that I have been fishing for decades. In the past have used a similar set up that you have. The last 10 years or so switched to a single big hook at the balance point in the back of the dead extra large minnow or frozen big smelts. I do find that the hook set is better and happens quicker with a single hook on a 8 to 10 inch leader. Pike grabs the dead bait by the head, takes off with it, wait until I feel some pull/weight 5 to 10 seconds and rip back hard, setting the single hook. Easy hook set, easy hook removel, less line twist, less crimped leaders, less pike roll on the line and leader as well. For very large dead bait, I sometimes use a wire worm harness and sink both single hooks into the bait.
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I like the worm harness idea. Could even use two to make a similar setup like I’ve been using.
Went out this afternoon and caught another couple, 8lbs and 6lbs. So in 4 visits recently at this spot (14 hrs total on ice) I’ve landed 6 pike, 5 of which were 31-33”, the smallest just made 30”, and missed several more. All on 11” +/- herring.
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Brought the little guy out to see the action - at bed time I say, “thanks for coming out fishing with us today” and he goes “thanks for catching me a big fish daddy”
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Great pic of you and your son. Have had many great trips with my sons and continue to do so and they are in their 30s now. Good news is they do all the heavy lifting now.
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I never use wire for pike......instead I use 3 feet of Fluorocarbon.......every outing I run my fingers on it and check for nicks....replace as needed.....they can't swallow three feet of Fluoro.
Fishing Northern Lakes
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Northern pike lately, Found a new spot 
