Northern Pike Fishing Tackle Basics!

SPOONS

Probably the most common type of lure on the face of the planet. When pike fishing spoons work amazingly well in almost any situation. They are very easy to fish, cast, find in stores and are not that expensive. They are the easiest lure to fish effectively in all weather and water conditions.

The Bass Pro Shops Strata Spoon Kit has proven an excelent choice for me on many occasions.

The Eppinger Original Dardevle Spoons are also one of my favorite spoons to keep in my pike fishing tackle box.

The Williams W50 Wabler Assortmentis another lure assortment that I wouldn't leave the house without.

SPINNER BAITS

My all time favorite lure for pike fishing in weeds. I fish them fast over weed beds, Slow through weed beds and over sunken structure such as logs or stumps. They do not snag onto objects like a lure with a trailing or bottom hook.

You have to make sure your spinner bait is running straight when pike fishing, after catching a fish or after a fish strikes your bait. You can buy them in a multitude of different colors, styles and sizes. Pick a variety and go from there. Fluorescent green or pink are lures that have been very great producers when pike fishing.

My favorite spinnerbait is the Buchertail Slopmaster. This lure is tough as nails and get where the big fish are. Produces great flash and viberation and bags me a ton of big northerns

Buchertail Slopmaster Tandem Spinnerbait Slides through heavy cover with ease! High Viz and thump. Penatrates the thick cover big Pike and Muskie love, 1.6 o.z.

The next bait is one I have only had for a short time but has produced amazingly well when both Pike fishing and Walleye fishing. It has worked wonders in moving water and has yet to hit the water without getting at least a strike or two.

Luck ''E'' Strike Rick Clunn's Trickster Spinnerbait The 4-time BASS Masters Classic champ came up with this spinnerbait. No fish has heard felt or seen a bait like this before! The blades are a great design combining flash of a willowleaf and thump of a Colorado to grab attention from afar. Behind the unique head, the weight is centered down the hook shank, allowing long-distance casts and giving the lure an action all its own.

BUCKTAIL SPINNERS

A bucktail spinner is basically a large version of a traditional French inline spinner. Bucktail Spinners are an exceptional lure in just about every situation that I have ever encountered. I find that when I rip a bucktail fast over a thick weed bed I can locate aggressive Northerns quickly and effectively. Over light weed beds you can slow down the bucktails presentation and be just as effective.

I also troll open water with these lures when I am relocating to a new fishing spot; I often catch aggressive Pike on the move.

Musky Mania Maniabou Spinnerbaits are the absolute best producing spinnerbaits that I have used. I have a whole assortment of sizes and colors.

Musky Mania Maniabou Spinnerbait Musky Mania's unique Maniabou iniline spinner offers an effective pulsating action that no musky or pike can resist. The lure features a strong combination of marabou and bucktail tied treble that pulsates as the lure is retrieved. Made with heavy-duty split rings for easy hook replacement, high-quality blades and precision hooks for solid hook-ups, the Maniabou glides through the water producing loads of action. 8"-12" 1.2 oz.

PLUGS

Plugs, crankbaits and jerkbaits are those lures that are made to look like a fish. They are typically made from hard plastic or wood. They will often have a lip sticking off of there nose. The lip determines how far the lure will dive on the retrieve and what kind of side to side action it will have.

Try and pick lures that would resemble the types of fish that live in the body of water that you are fishing. The northern pike are probably eating bait fish that live in the water body, and a lure that looks like them will be recognizable prey. Don’t limit yourself to that, Pike are an aggressive predator and will attack almost anything that is presented to them.

There are many more types of lures out there that I will discuss in other parts of this website. I have listed here what I consider the most important lures to take fishing with you. They will be the most effective lures for the beginner fisherman. Whenever you are comfortable fishing with other lures, by all means, go ahead and get some, fish them all if you can.

You may have to adjust the rod and reel combo that you use in order to fish other types of lures effectively.

Heddon Torpedo Hardbaits Heddon's Torpedo propeller baits are legendary topwater lures that create a tremendous splashing disturbance that's great for pike fishing when feeding on or near the water's surface. Whether you're casting the Teeny, Tiny or Baby Torpedo, this lure's versatile enough to be fished fast or slow, with a steady or sporadic retrieve. However, the key is to vary your retrieve until you've found just the right cadence to trigger strikes. Teeny Torpedo: 1-1/2" long, 1/8 oz, #10 hook size Tiny Torpedo: 1-7/8" long, 1/4 oz, #6 hook size Baby Torpedo: 2-1/2" long, 3/8 oz, #4 hook size

Storm Kickin' Slab Jerkbait These Storm Kickin' Slab jerks are excellent baitfish imitators. Equipped a durable soft plastic body, detailed holographic insert, realistic WildEye stare, strong polycarbonate lip and an incredibly lifelike swimming action, these jerk baits are rigged with ultra-sharp premium VMC treble hooks for precise hook sets. The 8'' Kickin' Slab Jerkbaits are equipped with two ultra-sharp premium VMC treble hooks. The 4" are equipped with one ultra-sharp premium VMC treble hook.