Early season Pike fishing

[Tougeslayer]

Im new to pike fishing and I got next week off and was wondering if the fishing now is good or if the fishings better in the summer.  I fish for salmon in the spring but might try pike next week.  how do you catch them with lures, trolling, or swen smelts.  any info much apretiated

[windwalker]

Pre-spawn early spring, in shallow bays. Any fast moving bass baits work great, like buzz, spinner, rattle trap, jerk baits. Experiment with color, speed, location,and technique to become a master. We may need your help later. paul

[Left Handed Model]

The water has been in the 40's so I imagine they are spawning now or are close to done,  they tend to go into spawn just after ice out and we've been that way for a little under a month, and once their done,  their gonna be hungry,  they beat themselves up pretty bad during spawn..  they tend to stay in the shallow areas for recovery after spawn and as the waters get in the upper 50's they start to move back to their deeper structure ambush points....  Lure of choice would be Husky Jerk...  spoons and anything you more or less can run across their nose works too...  Hope this helps...

[HighlandLK]

Make sure any you catch are killed on the spot as well.

[minnesotapiking]

Make sure any you catch are killed on the spot as well.

please give that a rest

[HighlandLK]

Are you saying that the unlawful stocking of these invasive fish should be tolerated?

[saltyfly]

we could prevent this thread from being 6 pages long.  Just refer to the pike threads on IS.  It's all been said before.

[fiddlehead322]

eh,eh,eh, He said the "P" word.

[HighlandLK]

I think the losers are the ones who did the unlawful stocking of these pike! Killing maine's heritage may be okay to some, but I for one dont really enjoy it.

[bluefinforme]

I think the losers are the ones who did the unlawful stocking of these pike!

I can come up with a better word for them than that........  

[HighlandLK]

Enlighten me 

[windwalker]

I think also, then I go fish. 

[jacksmelt]

okay guys. go hit the lake instead of beating this very dead smelling rotten horse. bury the d**n thing then buy your fishing buddies some beer and go have a good time. no one wants this subject dealt with more than the people on here. let it lie! its not worth another fight like weve had in the past. deal with it as you see fit just dont push your opinions on others. everyone here knows whats at stake.

[jared jackson]

uuggghhh please not this again     had to suffer all winter long with this topic of invasive species 

[saltyfly]

okay guys. go hit the lake instead of beating this very dead smelling rotten horse. bury the d**n thing then buy your fishing buddies some beer and go have a good time. no one wants this subject dealt with more than the people on here. let it lie! its not worth another fight like weve had in the past. deal with it as you see fit just dont push your opinions on others. everyone here knows whats at stake.

Jacksmelt, Words to live by.  I wish everyone would read this as many times as it takes to sink in.  We can't change the past, only the future.  Fish resposibly and respect the opinion of others.