MyFishFinder Forum

MyFishFinder By Species => Northern Pike => Topic started by: Skipper on Apr 03, 2007, 07:38 PM

Title: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Skipper on Apr 03, 2007, 07:38 PM
Has anyone tried using the stuff their grampa used to catch pike? The common attitude is that big pike have become accustomed to the old favorites so most anglers steer away from them. I wonder if the old favorites have been out of the game for so long they have become "new" again. I cant remember the last time I saw someone throwing a Dardevele or a Bass Oreno. Does anyone think this would be a worthwhile venture?
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: ChenBassHead on Apr 03, 2007, 09:58 PM
I throw spoons all the time, and always seem to catch fish on them.  The traditional red and white Daredevil is by far the most productive pattern.  Dr. Spoons are also a consistent producer, in another traditional pattern, half silver/half blue.   ;)
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: fireplug on Apr 03, 2007, 10:01 PM
I love my Eppingers and will continue (hopefully!!) to catch all sorts of fish with them. We caught several nice pike on the 3 1/2" Old Standard (red/white) in Michigan a few years back.

As for the old becoming new again, I don't know.

Be careful, and good luck.
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: scansy on Apr 04, 2007, 01:54 PM
Love to use a Johnson Silver Minnow for pike.  Is that old or new?  Makes them easy to release too - with the single hook.
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Water Wolf on Apr 04, 2007, 07:14 PM
The old favorites have stood the test of time for a reason, they work. ;)

I still have good luck on the good old Len Thompson 5 o' diamonds and the red and white spoon. 

As for rubber jigs, well, they still attack the old Mr. Twister pattens like the sassy shad and curly tail.

The new lures are great but it's also good to go old school on the fish from time to time. ;D

WW
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Skipper on Apr 05, 2007, 04:23 PM
I have a ton, but they seldom see action. I think I may do some trolling runs this summer. ;)

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g37/SkipperT/dardeveles.jpg)

Most of these spoons are 1 and 2 oz. Eppinger Dardeveles. I have always loved spoons because they were my favorites of my Grandpa. He also had an assortment of Flatfish, Cisco Kids, and Creek Chub plugs. I inherited some of his tackle, but it will NEVER see water again. Grampa was a Dutchman, the tradition of pike fishing came with him from the old world.
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: AD on Apr 14, 2007, 09:10 AM
I love casting daredevils.     They have stood the test of time.      I produced most of my pike off of a red and white one, or a daredevil immitation.      There is just something about the way that a pike smacks a spoon that just sneds the heart racing.   
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Rumrunner on May 20, 2007, 08:56 PM
Im partial to larger Mepps my father had used.  They are just silver with a buck tail.  Seem to do OK.  Oh...and I love tossing my little collection of Spooks.  Im not sure how old they are or if they qualify but hey....they work.
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Jimmy on Apr 03, 2008, 10:15 AM
The red & white Daredevils still do the trick...  They've been banging up the Pike since 1908 and still produce...  It's amazing to me, and I can't help but wonder how many dollars I have donated to the Eppinger Family over my decades of fishing...

I remember buying many with paper route money back in the day...

The key (obviously) is to buy ONLY the TRUE "Daredevil" types...  Don't fall for the economy packs of no-namers that come in five different sizes in one package for three bucks...  If you want the REAL DEAL you gotta' pay for it.

I always wondered if the fish liked the real Daredevils more because of the little devil painted on the spoon...  Turns out (according to the Eppinger website) that the unique action of the Daredevil comes from the way the spoon was originally hammered out...  Something about having more mass on the edges of the spoon, with thinner metal in the center.

Whatever it is- they are still fooling plenty of big Northerns...  Way more than the 'knockoff' red and white spoons.  Now that I think about it, I should pick up some new ones this week so I am ready to toss a few soon!  Now is the time for big Northerns in Upstate NY!
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: pooley on Apr 03, 2008, 11:17 AM
i have 10-12 daredevils in most of the colors. 5 of diamonds is my favorite. ;D
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: frog11 on Apr 03, 2008, 03:24 PM
All of those old favorites still work. But i'm hooked on inline spinners.I've been constantly using them the last 7 years and have a great feel for them. You dont even need a steel leader with these due to the lenght of the lure.  Not enough people use this lure, and it is an old favorite too. I've also caught lakers, and lm bass and if I throw out a smaller size,  perch,nice size perch too. To me it's more fun than casting a spoon. Matter of fact I reel mine in as slow as I can for the blade type and blade size, i've even caught cat fish on them,  lol
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: mrcrowley138 on Apr 07, 2008, 01:54 PM
I'm definitely a spoon man when it comes to pike fishing.  I love 'em!  I don't necessarily buy into the idea that the true Daredevles are extrordinarily better than some of the generic ones.  I use Apex Game Fish spoons from Wal-Mart mostly in the 7/8 oz. size, and they have produced a ton of quality Northerns (seven over 32 inches in a few hours on one red and white Apex spoon alone).  I also got a one ounce spoon from the dollar store that had the pattern of the Canadian flag on it with the maple leaf right in the middle.  Boy, did this thing look silly, but after losing my last apex spoon I decided to try it and ended up catchin' two Northerns pushin' 40 inches prior to the clasp on my leader breaking and sending the spoon flying into the middle of the bay. :'(  Anycrap, moral of the story, in my experience the Apex spoons work just fine and their price allows you three of them to one Daredevle.  I did shell out $5.05 recently for a 3/4 oz.  Forrage Minnow in the copper, orange, and green holographic color.  That thing was just too pretty to pass up.  Anyone used one of these for pike before?
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Skipper on Apr 08, 2008, 03:58 PM
Anyone use "Williams Wobblers"?

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g37/SkipperT/willywobbler.jpg)
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: mrcrowley138 on Apr 08, 2008, 04:11 PM
Anyone use "Williams Wobblers"?

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g37/SkipperT/willywobbler.jpg)

I have been looking at those for some time now.  They look good, and the reviews on Cabelas' website are favorable, but i would like to hear what anyone has the say about them.  My only concern is that on cabelas.com they only have them listed up to the 3 1/4", 3/4 oz. size.  They also list a 4" size but don't give a weight for it.  Is the 4" 7/8 oz. or 1 oz.?  If it is I am definitely interested.  I generally like spoons around that size.
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: redfin on Apr 16, 2008, 07:08 AM
How about a Flat Fish?  They were hot back in the 50's.  I haven't seen one, save my own, in years.  Does anyone else still have or use them?
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Kully on Apr 16, 2008, 03:18 PM
I tend to think the old spoons, like the good old red and white are still a sight for sore pike eyes.........in our lakes up here anways (Saskatchewan). 

I've found at my camp, that a Ruby eye (scarlet eye) or a fire tiger rappalla work the best. Not sure how old they would be or when they came out. It always seems when nothing seems to excite a good old pike, the good old standbys (usually rusted a little) come out from the bottom of the tackle box and seem to get some action.

Kully
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: troutaddict33 on Apr 16, 2008, 03:28 PM
How about a Flat Fish?  They were hot back in the 50's.  I haven't seen one, save my own, in years.  Does anyone else still have or use them?

for pike, no clue. for lakers, OMG YES!! I rarely fish for pike but one remote resevoir near me is loaded with big pike and pickerel you can catch all day from shore if you're throwing a black 5o' diamonds.
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: slabspanker on Apr 27, 2009, 09:17 AM
Anyone use "Williams Wobblers"?

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g37/SkipperT/willywobbler.jpg)

BIG WILLIAMS WABLERS TROLLED REAL SLOWWW. HELPED ME TAKE 2ND IN A TOURNAMENT...
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: husb0023 on Apr 28, 2009, 09:02 AM
Spoons have caught me most of my biggest pike.  I jig them under the boat, cast them, tip them with a shiner.  They always produce fish.
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: slabspanker on Apr 28, 2009, 09:31 AM
How about a Flat Fish?  They were hot back in the 50's.  I haven't seen one, save my own, in years.  Does anyone else still have or use them?

use them often "KWIKFISH" for lakers on the niagara bar...
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: whale1979 on Jun 08, 2012, 12:14 AM
a #17 lizard spoon is awesome also!
Title: Re: Old favorites revisited.
Post by: Jimmy on Jun 08, 2012, 09:21 AM
Grampa was a Dutchman, the tradition of pike fishing came with him from the old world.

That's awesome, mine too. 

I never got out to chase esox with him, but I know where my pike addiction comes from.  Finding my Grandfather's old metal tackle box in our barn as a kid was like discovering a museum.

I'd give anything to get some of those Creek Chubs and old balsa lures back that I used as a kid.