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| Ok, once again, how do you rig your terminal tackle for pike?
1. type and weight of line?
2. type and size of hook(s)?
Thanks, eh? |
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| Ok, this is how I have done it. I have caught a LOT of average size pike (up to 34" or so) with nothing more complicated than a 20 lb. test mono leader about 20" long (florocarbon may even work better) with about a size 6 treble hook under the dorsal fin of a large golden shiner with maybe 1 split shot on the leader up about 10" to slow the shiner down a little. You can also snip the shiner's tail down a little to slow it down if it is really lively. I have rarely had a bite off with this so long as you take your time leading the fish to the hole. If they want to make a run let em run. By far the biggest mistake I see guys make is the way they get in an arm wrestling match with a pike they have hooked. Take your time with them!!! I have seen times when even pike seem leader shy, and I have actually dropped to about a 10 lb. test mono leader, but now you will lose some fish to bite offs, especially when trying to get then started up the hole. Now when going for the BIG Jacks...those 40" plus, 20 lb. plus, duckling eaters, we are playing a different game. Now we are talking about dead bait. I have used smelt, ciscoes, bloater chubs, even frozen suckers. They all work, but it is tough to beat the largest size smelt you can get your hands on. For this I tie my own quick strike rigs using either 27lb, or 40lb, 7-strand wire. It sounds difficult, but really is not. If you loop the wire twice through the eye of the end hook, and then wrap the tag end around the leader 8 or 10 times it will not slip (clippling a forceps on the tag end and then swinging it around the leader works good). For the second treble which is positioned further up the leader (about 4 or 5 inches) your just loop the wire twice through a small plastic bead and leave the hook swinging free beneath this loop. This hook can be adjusted up or down on the leader depending on the size of your bait. I use to think that the smelt should hang horizontal in the water, but have since determined that it really doesn't matter. To get a frozen smelt to sink, you usually have to puncture their air bladder and squeeze the air out of them. It is ok if some of the eggs or guts are hanging out of the smelt....in fact, I like it when that happens....I think it releases more scent into the water to draw in the sharks!!! The end hook is placed in the corner of the smelts jaw, or through the eye socket, and the second treble is placed under the dorsal fin. Hit the fish right away if he is there when you get to the tip up. That wsy you can release most of those big ones to give the rest of us some fun!!! |
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Posts: 168
| excellent, thanks |
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Posts: 3
| Has anyone ever used 'canned' fish like sardines on tip ups? |
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Posts: 171
Location: Norway MI. | For pike i have always used 25 or 30 # braided tip up line tied directly to the hook i use a #2 baitholder type hook it seams small but it works and i find that there are less drops buy the fish. I have caught pike up to 39" useing this method never had a bite off. You will want to periodically check your line near the hook as the line can sustain some damage when hauling in the hogs. Buy the way my personal best pike came while crappie fishing useing a 4' micro rod with 4# line and a #8 aberdine hook took me 15 minutes to get him on the ice what a blast. 17# 39" |
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Posts: 170
Location: Central WI. | Targetting the bigger fish, I stick to 60# coated wire on the business end, with a split ring and 1/0 hook for duty. I run a few beads and a spinner blade above for extra flash. My bait consists of smelt in the 6-9" range, or sardines which run a tad longer.
Edited by Reef Hawg 1/4/2007 4:17 AM
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