Pike at Farrington Question

[bowzonly]

Live in E.B. and fish there a lot caught some nice bass and pickerel. Def. had a LARGE pike on the line but lost it at the boat (3 years ago) May have had another slash at a lure but cant be sure if it wasnt a pick. The one I hooked was on a trolled lure. I have a theory. I think that the lake gets so hounded by bass fisherman that the pike don't go for lures that are just cast and retrieved. That pike I hooked was probably following my lure for some time and when I stopped the boat to real in the lure thats when it hit. Or like the one guy said use some large cut bait.

[Andrushkin33]

That's the thing,

All I hear is stories. Not that I don't believe you guys its just that's all that I seem to get.

I used to live in E.B from 93 till 98 and that was my go to spot. I agreed with the bass and pickerel population as well as with the pan fish.

But man I just want to get one or at least to see someone get one.

Andre

[phil]

I have NOOO problem dragging cut bait for pike but how does that work exactly? I feel like i'm being set up, come here on a Monday and everyone is talking about the guy fishing farrington from a kayak with bunker heads on a fishfinder rig and 6oz LOL

[Jigman13]

Hit YouTube and watch how the Europeans use cut bait for Eurasian pike... Hook, leader, swivel, bobber... They either sit and wait or slow retrieve. On the ice is a diff story. Finding stuff fresh can be a challenge. Frozen works. But def peep the tube for tactics using cut bait.

[crustyangler17]

Every spring the russians live line golden shiners off Church st. bridge and iv'e seen several caught in excess of 10 lbs. I once hooked a 24" on live bluegill but lost him at the bank. They are in there, live bait during spring and fish deeper holes near drop offs. You might luck out but its not really worth it, the numbers are dwindling since no one knows how to catch and release these days..

[bigfish1011]

Been fishing here for almost 3 decades... We've all heard the stories of big pike, etc.. I've caught only a handful of bigguns and my theory is that the numbers just aren't there. Biggest I've seen is pushing 20lbs.
Right after Ice out this month is a prime time to target them with big shiners if you can get them.

If you can find the drop off's, that's where most of em get caught-

Oh and a... Try the Inlet next to the camp

[phil]

looks like ill be hitting up the asian supermarket for fluke bait earlier than usual this year!

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by phil

looks like ill be hitting up the asian supermarket for fluke bait earlier than usual this year!

Def a good idea. They tend to carry quite the assortment from frozen herring and sardines, to fresh smelts, shad, and trout!

[phil]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Def a good idea. They tend to carry quite the assortment from frozen herring and sardines, to fresh smelts, shad, and trout!

the bag of smelt or "Asian XL spearing" or whatever they call it these days is one of my go-to fluke baits when im fishing bait. gonna def try and work them into the mix when im at farrington this spring.

[zhitoman]

Originally Posted by phil

the bag of smelt or "Asian XL spearing" or whatever they call it these days is one of my go-to fluke baits when im fishing bait. gonna def try and work them into the mix when im at farrington this spring.

They will work, but you need something even larger, at least 10 inches long and shiny, with oily smell. Please use single circle hook.