Favorite hard bait/lure for northern pike?

[Believer]

Okay, in a prior post we talked about favorite spoons for pike: Why not go further?

What is your favorite hard bait/lure (including size and color) for northern pike applications in shallow water, medium depth, and going deep?

Hey, its still winter.

[zach]

The small soft tailed Phantom jerkbait (6"). Every single pike and tiger (like 16 or 17 tigers) I did last year was on a Phantom Softail. Color- something bright or something white for shallow water. When the water warms up, it's musky time so I have no idea what pike want when they move deep. I used to fish the soft plastic flukes and did well but you have to them slower than a jerkbait. For me, jerkbaits outproduce spinners 2:1 at least.

[Stinky Finger]

Brooks Reefer. White/red head.

[skipper19]

For deep water...the believer plug from drifter tackle.

Mid depth.. the old Heddon river runt spook floater.

Shallow near Lilly pads...a big double blade buzz bait, love the crash that makes ME jump.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[mostlymuskies]

Good Old Rapala S9 Floating in Black & Silver,Twitch A Pike!

Capt. Larry D. Jones

[howboutthosemets]

For Pike and Walleye I like to use Smithwick Rattlin Rogues

[Has Been]

Shallow -mid Spinnerbaits chart or Gold Blk or Blk orange also Rattle rouge. #5 Mepps Buctail Spinners Gold blk or Silver White. Blk 6" Slugo on 1/8 or 1/4 wtd Weedless hook.

Mid - Divers Bagleys or Rapala or Manns, Jigs or plastic

Deep-12' & over heavy Spoons 1 oz red white dardevel ,Mepps chart Cyclops or Perch Buctail jigs or plastic jigs.

[zach]

Has Been, it looks like we have similar styles. I only go out for pike a few times a year but you and I have almost all the same favorites. I used to love twitching that sluggo and watch those white mouths open up on them to crush em. My other old favorite was that Mepps spoon. Do they make Cyclops anymore? They also used to have a lighter weight Cyclops that we actually did even better on than the normal one. It was like 1/2 as thin as a normal one letting you fish it slow and shallower w/ more action. Haven't seen one in years. Fun topic.

[Ronix 51]

shallow: northland tackle bionic bucktail spinnerbait in black/orange or chartreuse

mid depth/deep: trolled believer plug in black sucker or pumpkinseed, or a nice big 10z esox cobra jig with white skirt and 6 inch shad tail

[zach]

10oz cobra jig? Have I been under a rock? I usually see just about everything that is out there and have never seen a 10oz Cobra jig. Where you gonna fish that thing?

[bob 13]

i have done well with white spinner baits/ buzz baits , black spinner baits/ buzz baits and rapalas perch and chartrues colors.

bob 13

[Ronix 51]

^ haha zach my bad I meant 1 oz...10 oz would be like throwing a good sized rock

[Believer]

Remember, this is a hard bait question.

Not throwing anything under 6" (hey, you gotta hope) give me:

Shallow: 6" Bomber Long A; 6" Jake; and 6" Grandma

Medium Depth: 6" Believer

Deep: 6" (Baby) Depthraider, jointed.

[Avid Angler]

i use mostley all rapalas. between the x-raps, husky jerks, and the jointed rapalas i do pretty well. they have all sizes and colors for all different depths and situations. i think the new clackin' series from rapala might be a hit, maybe we'll have to wait and see. also i use the bass pro XPS professional series stickbaits. i found out that the gold colors with some red and white work real well.

[zach]

I can tell you one thing, those clackin' raps absolutely CRUSHED the lakers ice fishing this year. Beat my tubes and spoons at least 4:1.

[scott111]

Rapala Xraps of any color are my favorite plastics. The 4-8 feet divers are my favorite. I remove the barbs as they are a pain to unhook but they work consistently for pike, walleye and bass.

The large husky jerks are also awsome in perch or silver color. Again, i remove the barbs