Shallow Water Pike

[NickM221]

The1 and I had planned on floating for Pike this past weekend since the river is finally low enough, but we wound up sticking to shore cause we got a late start. We only had a few hours to fish, so we spot hopped and managed to land around a dozen smaller pike and pickerel between the two of us, with more fish missed.

We saw tons of bait in the shallow flooded areas, and everywhere we found bait we found pike. It was pretty cool to see the wake of the fish as they chased down our lures.

After we had enough of the little guys, we hit up a spot on the main river in search of some bigger fish.

https://i.imgur.com/xbfG4Up.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fL6qC1z.jpg

I recently got into making some of my own lures and was testing out the weighting of a 7" swimbait I made, and it got the seal of approval from a few pike, so I guess it's safe to say the lures work lol.

https://i.imgur.com/cEFd6Xq.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CcAnBTP.jpg

Here's a couple other fish from a few weeks back... Got the carp on a ned rig and a few other esox:

https://i.imgur.com/OpmBXop.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/rEdu3Gi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/P5IhQFv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/01esPiR.jpg

[FASTEDDIE29]

There ya go buddy! Those are some awesome looking Pike right there. You must feel awesome making a lure that produces fish. Pretty sick!!! I’ll take 4, 2 white, 2 chartreuse! Hahahahaha!!:D

[thmyorke1]

Yeeeehaw those are some nice fish. A blast fishing those waters with you. :cool:

[Pondhopper8]

Nice fish!!!

[JDTuna]

Great job, Nick! Nice fish all around!

[JimmyL]

awesome action right there. beautiful pikes!

[AndyS]

Healthy looking ESOX, great work guys !!

[Chrisper4694]

that's cool, how'd you make the lure? just winged it or followed some mold or something?

[Hookmanski]

A bunch of quality fish man, way to go!!

[Skunk City]

I only know of 1 stretch that produces pickerel so I think I know where you were! Good to see they are still there :p.

[MudCat08]

Great fish and neat lure, nice job on it! Even unpainted, in white, the lure works.

[NickM221]

There ya go buddy! Those are some awesome looking Pike right there. You must feel awesome making a lure that produces fish. Pretty sick!!! I’ll take 4, 2 white, 2 chartreuse! Hahahahaha!!:D

Thanks! I'm happy the river has finally been low enough to fish. Next time I see you I'll give you a couple to try out :D

[NickM221]

that's cool, how'd you make the lure? just winged it or followed some mold or something?

I pretty much just did a little research and wung it haha.

I watched a couple YouTube videos about bait making to get some ideas, but I just drew up a stencil of the general shape I was going for, cut the lures out of wood, and used a wood chisel, exacto knife, and sanding belt to shape and add details. This is the first batch I made - 2 larger crankbaits and 2 gliders (the reason only one glider is in the pic is because the other is sitting in a tree at the bottom of the lake in the background:mad:).

https://i.imgur.com/GpbaWAX.jpg

After losing a bait that took a few hours to make I figured it'd be easier to try making a mold for the baits. I carved a master out of wood, made a mold of it using silicone, and just pour liquid plastic into the mold. Then I add the hardware and lead to them. Here's a picture of two of the unpainted swim baits from the mold:

https://i.imgur.com/2JHj7w6.jpg

[NickM221]

I only know of 1 stretch that produces pickerel so I think I know where you were! Good to see they are still there :p.

I'm taking good care of your pets :D I sent you a pm

[NickM221]

Great fish and neat lure, nice job on it! Even unpainted, in white, the lure works.

Thanks! I think I may actually leave some white. The white really stands out in the stained water.