Spoon Pike

Aggressive mean tempered pike are prowling the shallows and the adjacent weedlines in search of an easy meal. Peak shallow water pike fishing coincides with the spawning of perch and bluegills.

Simply put, locating the spawning areas of the forage and big pike will be close by. This often translates into a marshy area with stick-ups, an area with some current or bottom debris for the perch.

Bluegills love pea gravel areas in close proximity to lily pads or best yet, fresh cabbage weeds. As the forage fish complete their spawning ritual they will move towards the cabbage flats or the best feeding flats that generally have weeds.

Pike being the opportunist and good host that they are will great them with an open mouth. Until the water temperatures start pushing the 70 degree mark plenty of pike will be found in depths ranging from a few feet out to the first drop-off.

As the water warms the large pike will drop deeper and deeper. But for now the flats are home to the pike.

Cover water, drift, use a trolling motor, whatever, and just cover water. I prefer casting over trolling at this time of the year. Bucktail spinners and spoons land the majority of the fish.

One of the best spoons is the Swim Whizz spoons from Stopper Lures. These spoons are at their best when tipped with a piece of plastic or with an Uncle Josh pork rind.

There is just something about a trailer that the pike like. Keep the tail short, no longer than the spoon. White or black trailers draw the most attention. The color of the spoon will vary from day to day or even as the day progresses.

Cast the spoon out and start your retrieve. In the shallows use a lighter spoon and keep your rod tip high. Pay close attention to followers. Often you will see a ripple in the surface of a pike in pursuit.

When fishing depths greater than 4 or 5 feet count down one thousand, two thousand, etc before starting your retrieve. The majority of the pike will attack a spoon within the 4-5 feet of the surface.

When working the deep edge of the weed line it will pay dividends if you let the spoon sink to the bottom and then start your retrieve. Give a lift of your rod tip to get the spoon up and moving.

Vary your speed and throw in a few pauses. Any type of change can trigger a strike from a pike. The stop and flutter retrieve indicates a wounded bait fish. A speed up appears as a fish heading out of Dodge City in a hurry.

The classic figure eight move at the boat triggers move explosive hits and a wet face than any other retrieve. Countless pike have fallen for the figure eight move at the side of the boat and this should be a part of every retrieve.

The figure eight move is simply moving your rod tip with the spoon still in the water in a manner that looks like a figure eight. For some weird reason pike will follow the spoon to the boat and will hammer it when this is done.

Spoons, fresh cabbage weeds and plenty of baitfish results in plenty of action from the fresh water barracuda. Pike fishing can be done while fishing for bass, crappie or bluegill. Keep a rod rigged and a pliers to remove the spoon.

Story by:
Jack Payne

Photo captions:
John Huyser with a 15 pound pike

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