When the topic of ice fishing for pike comes up it’s hard not to think of late season fishing with tip-ups and dead bait in shallow water spawning areas. All for good reason, too. It’s a proven tactic for catching big pike. But what about the rest of the winter, before big pike head to the shallows? In my experiences, big pike spend much of the winter hunting in the same areas and depths that walleye do. In fact, every winter some of the biggest pike I see are caught on walleye gear while jigging for ‘eyes.
GEARED UP
My gear is a hybrid cross that’s designed to work for both species. Essentially, I use a walleye platform that’s beefed up to handle big toothies.
No matter if your main line is mono or braid, a fluorocarbon leader is key. Go with 15 to 20 pound fluoro tied to your main line with a small swivel. The fluoro won’t distract the walleye and it gives you a better chance of not breaking off when a pike hits.
Quality reels are a big advantage when you hook into a trophy pike on light gear. I learned the hard way that the small cheap reels often found on ice fishing combos don’t have the line capacity or drag system to handle big fish. I use the same reels during winter that I use on my summertime walleye combos. One adjustment I make is to set my drag a little lighter in the winter so big pike can run without snapping off.
JIGGING FOR PIKE
Jigging takes centre stage when using walleye techniques to catch pike through the ice. The flash and movement of a jigged bait attracts the attention of pike when they move through the area you’re fishing.
My strategy for jigging is largely based around the use of a flasher or other on-ice electronics. Seeing marks on the screen lets you know if you’re on fish, but more importantly, it lets you gauge the fish’s reactions to your bait and jigging technique.
Pike often show up on your electronics as a mark that’s suspended somewhere in the water column, whereas walleye usually appear to rise directly off the bottom. When a mark appears half way up the screen, there’s a good chance it’s a pike.
When it comes to baits, it’s not always necessary to use big baits to catch big pike, especially during the winter. Most of the baits I use are in the 1.5- to- 3 inch range. Any jigging bait that catches walleye through the ice will also catch pike. Over the years I have come up with some favourites that seem to produce very well.
Horizontal jigging baits such as the Rapala Jigging Rap are top producers. They have a minnow like profile that comes to life with a circular swimming motion when jigged. I prefer the largest size Jigging Rap and often tip the centre treble with a small minnow.
Using spoons should go without saying. I like jigging spoons such as Rattlin’ Flyer Spoon with internal rattles for added noise. Larger flutter style spoons work well too. When using these baits I always tip them with a minnow and fish them with a series of sharp jigs, followed by a several second pause.
Another style of bait that I’ve had much success with is the Lindy Darter. These are another type of horizontal jigging bait that have a more erratic action when jigged. I never tip these with livebait, which makes them an excellent option for hole hopping with.
Pike aren’t known to be picky eaters so don’t hesitate to experiment with different baits. I’m a firm believer that fishing in the right place and the right depth is far more important than what bait is on your line.
LOOK FOR WALLEYE, FIND PIKE
Pike can be found in the same areas as walleye for most of the winter season. Pike and walleye share winter habitat as both species are feeding on the same baitfish. It’s almost a certainty that if you find baitfish and walleye, you’ll find pike as well.
Look for structure in and around main lake basins. All of my top spots have one thing in common—quick access to deep water. These are the same spots that produce walleye for me during the summertime. A run-and-gun approach is best suited for finding the big pike that roam amongst schools of walleye and baitfish. If I’m not marking or catching fish within 10 minutes, I’ll move to a different hole. It’s common to start fishing a new hole and get bit right away.
This winter try using your walleye sense to locate pike through the ice. With slight modifications to gear it’s quite possible to land trophy pike with the same baits and tactics used for walleye.
Ben Beattie is a freelance outdoor writer and multi-species guide based out of Sioux Lookout, Ontario. For more information visit benbeattieoutdoors.com