How to Fish for Pike With Dead Bait

Are you tired of coming home empty-handed after a day of fishing for pike? Do you find yourself struggling to lure in even one fish, despite using your best techniques? Fishing for pike can be a challenging and frustrating experience, especially if you’re not equipped with the right knowledge and tools.

One effective method that many anglers swear by is dead bait fishing. Using natural or artificial baits that mimic the scent of a dead fish can entice even the most elusive pike to take a bite. However, it’s important to know the proper techniques and equipment needed for this approach.

In this article, we’ll dive into the world of fishing for pike with dead bait. From selecting the right bait to rigging your line and setting up your gear, we’ll cover everything you need to know to increase your chances of landing that trophy catch. So grab your gear and let’s get started!

Best Season for Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

Pike is a cold-water predator that prefers water temperatures below 65°F. Thus, the best season for pike fishing with dead bait is during the fall, winter, and early spring. During these seasons, the water temperature drops to around 40-50°F levels, making them more active and aggressive.

However, many anglers also have success in summer by targeting deeper waters or shaded areas where the water temperature remains cooler. It’s important to note that during hot summer days, it’s best to fish early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the water is cooler.

Factors Affecting Seasonal Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

Several factors affect seasonal pike fishing with dead bait. Some of them are

• Water Temperature: Pike prefer colder waters; thus, they are more active during cooler seasons.
• Bait Availability: Dead bait such as herring, smelt, and shad are more available during fall through early spring.
• Fishing Pressure: During peak fishing seasons such as summer and spring break when there are many anglers on the water can lead to fewer strikes from pikes.

Most Effective Dead Bait for Catching Pike

Dead bait is an excellent option for catching pike because it imitates their natural food sources. The most effective dead baits for catching pike include:

• Herring: Herring is one of the most popular dead baits used to catch pike because it has a strong scent that attracts them.
• Smelt: Smelt is another great option because of its oily texture and strong scent.
• Shad: Shad is an excellent option during the early spring when they are spawning. Pike are known to follow them and feed on their eggs.

Factors Affecting Dead Bait Effectiveness

Several factors affect dead bait effectiveness when catching pike. Some of them include:

• Scent: Pikes have a keen sense of smell, making scent one of the most important factors in choosing a dead bait.
• Movement: Although dead baits don’t move much, adding some movement can make it more effective.
• Natural Food Sources: Understanding the natural food sources of pike in your fishing location can help you choose the best dead bait options.

Preparing Dead Bait for Pike Fishing

Preparing dead bait for pike fishing involves several steps that will increase its effectiveness and attract more strikes from pikes.

The first step is to thaw your frozen bait if you’re using frozen ones. It’s essential to let them thaw naturally instead of using a microwave or hot water since it can damage the texture and scent.

Next, you need to add some scent to your bait by injecting fish oil or rubbing it with fish oil. The scent will attract more pikes towards your bait.

Lastly, consider adding movement to your bait by attaching a spinner blade or using a float rig with live grass shrimp or worms attached to it. The movement will make the bait seem more natural and attract nearby pikes.

Tips for Preparing Dead Bait for Pike Fishing

Here are some additional tips on how to prepare dead bait for pike fishing:

• Keep it Fresh: Always use fresh dead bait since pikes are unlikely to strike on stale or decomposed bait.
• Use Scissors: Use scissors instead of a knife when cutting your bait. A knife can damage the texture and scent of the bait.
• Cut into Pieces: Cut your bait into smaller pieces to expose more surface area, increasing its scent and effectiveness.

Choosing the Right Hook and Leader for Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

When choosing the right hook and leader for pike fishing with dead bait, you need to consider several factors such as water clarity, line strength, and size of the pike.

The hook should be strong enough to handle large pikes without breaking. A 4/0 or 5/0 hook is an excellent option for most pike species. Additionally, consider using a treble hook instead of a single hook since it increases your chances of catching a pike.

When it comes to choosing the right leader length, consider the water clarity. In clear waters, use longer leaders up to 18 inches long. In murky waters, shorter leaders around 6-8 inches long are ideal since they give more control over your bait’s movement.

Tips for Choosing Hook and Leader for Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

Here are some additional tips on how to choose the right hook and leader for pike fishing with dead bait:

• Line Strength: Use a line that has a high pound test strength ranging from 20-30 pounds.
• Braid Line: Consider using braid lines since they have low stretch levels that increase sensitivity when detecting strikes from pikes.
• Wire Leader: Always use a wire leader to prevent the pike from cutting or damaging the line with their sharp teeth.

Top Locations for Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

Pikes are found in freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, and ponds. They prefer shallow waters of around 10-20 feet deep.

When fishing for pike, look for areas with vegetative cover such as weed beds, lily pads, or submerged logs. These areas provide shade and cover for pikes to ambush their prey.

Additionally, consider fishing near drop-offs or underwater structures since they provide natural ambush points where pikes can wait for their prey.

Tips for Finding Top Locations for Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

Here are some additional tips on how to find top locations for pike fishing with dead bait:

• Ask Locals: Ask locals who have fished in the area before; they can provide valuable information on where to find pikes.
• Use Sonar: Use a fishfinder or sonar device to locate underwater structures or drop-offs where pikes might be hiding.
• Fish during Low Light Conditions: Consider fishing during early morning or late evening when the lighting is low since it’s easier to spot pikes moving around.

Casting Techniques for Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

Casting techniques are essential when fishing for pike with dead bait. The technique you use depends on several factors such as the location, water depth, and wind conditions.

The most popular casting technique used by anglers is the “long cast” since it enables them to cover more water surface area and increase their chances of catching a pike.

When casting, consider using a heavier weight to keep the bait at the desired depth and reduce the chances of it drifting away from your target area. Additionally, avoid making too much noise or movement when casting since it can scare away nearby pikes.

Tips for Casting Techniques for Pike Fishing with Dead Bait

Here are some additional tips on how to use effective casting techniques when fishing for pike with dead bait:

• Use Fluorocarbon Lines: Consider using fluorocarbon lines since they are invisible underwater, increasing your chances of catching a pike.
• Vary Your Retrieval Speed: Vary your retrieval speed by slowing down or speeding up to make your bait look more natural and increase its effectiveness.
• Change Your Casting Angle: Change your casting angle frequently to cover more water surface area and increase your chances of catching a pike.

Tips to Attract Pike to Your Dead Bait

Attracting pikes towards your dead bait requires several factors such as scent, movement, and natural food sources.

Adding scent is an excellent way to attract pikes towards your bait. Injecting fish oil or rubbing it with fish oil will increase its effectiveness. Additionally, consider adding some movement by attaching a spinner blade or using a float rig with live grass shrimp or worms attached to it.

Understanding the natural food sources of pikes in your fishing location can also help you choose the best dead bait options. Finally, avoid making too much noise or movement when fishing since it can scare away nearby pikes.

Tips for Attracting Pikes to Your Dead Bait

Here are some additional tips on how to attract more pikes towards your dead bait:

• Use Bright Colors: Consider using bright-colored dead baits since they are more visible underwater and attract pikes towards your bait.
• Fish in Shaded Areas: Look for shaded areas since they provide cover for pikes to ambush their prey.
• Change Your Bait Frequently: Change your bait frequently to expose different scents and textures, increasing your chances of attracting nearby pikes.

Safely Handling and Releasing Caught Pike When Using Dead Bait

When handling caught pikes, ensure you use a pair of pliers or hook remover to remove the hook gently. Pikes have sharp teeth that can cause injury; therefore, avoid touching them with bare hands.

Additionally, support their weight when holding them out of the water since they are heavy fish. If you’re planning to release the caught pike back into the water, make sure it’s fully revived before letting it go.

Tips for Safely Handling and Releasing Caught Pike When Using Dead Bait

Here are some additional tips on how to handle and release caught pike safely:

• Avoid Removing Pike from Water: Avoid removing the caught pike from the water as much as possible since it can cause stress to them.
• Use Barbless Hooks: Consider using barbless hooks since they cause less damage when removing them from the caught fish’s mouth.
• Revive Fish Before Release: Make sure the caught fish is fully revived before releasing it back into the water to increase its survival chances.

In conclusion, using dead bait to fish for pike can be an effective and simple approach for anglers. However, it is important to choose the right bait and use proper techniques to increase your chances of success.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Fish for Pike With Dead Bait

What is the best dead bait rig for pike?
When fishing for pike, the running ledger rig is the most commonly used bait fishing rig. It is specifically designed to fish bait on the bottom of lakes or lochs, and includes a run ring, buffer bead, quick-change link, lead, and wire trace.

Do pike like dead fish?
Pike are known to be predators, but they are also opportunistic eaters and will consume dead fish they come across, even if it is a species they have never seen before. This behavior benefits anglers as they have a variety of dead baits to choose from.

Do pike eat dead bait?
Northern pike are adaptable and will search for food sources such as dead or weakened fish during colder months. Placing dead bait in their path is an effective way to attract these predatory fish, which are often compared to wolves in their hunting behavior.

Do pike like dead bait?
Northern pike can be caught using dead baits throughout the year, but they are particularly effective in late winter and during ice-out when food is scarce and the opportunity for an easy meal is highly appealing to them.

What size hooks for deadbaiting?
To securely attach deadbaits, two treble hooks are used. The appropriate hook size to use will depend on the size of the bait being used, but typically a size 4 or 6 is recommended. There are two primary methods for hooking deadbaits: inserting the barbed hooks of each treble into the bait so that four hooks are exposed.

Why are pike hard to catch?
Northern pike are known for having extremely sharp teeth that can cut through fishing lines easily. To catch them, it’s recommended to bring along a net and long pliers to avoid breaking the fishing rod when trying to lift a larger fish into the boat.