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Posts: 6
Location: Treviso, Italy | Hi guys, pike season here in my italian lake has opened last week, i know for sure pikes have finished spawn one months ago and now i have the terrible omen that big mamas have just left shallow water.
what do you think about it?
in 4 days i see only little or medium fish on the shallows and around the tipical structure, the same that years ago, same period, producted 40''+ fishes...however the water temperature is only 12°, usually at that temperature pikes still prefer shallow water not open...also ciscos, chub and perch are next to the shore line....but they seem disappeard!
Now, i have the terrible doubt i fish probably too much bigger for the period (magnum, suick 10'', twitch 9'' or 10'', tube 10'', jerk 8'') tomorrow morning i'd like to try trolling little cranks between 10'-15', in a big shallow and sandy area (there are no edge, grass or other, just some tree in the water that i've just fished on) what do you think of my idea?
Do you prefer jointed or streight version?
Every year this period makes me crazy!!
I appreciate any suggestion, thanks! 
Edited by cristopher pike 5/23/2014 2:20 PM
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Posts: 6
Location: Treviso, Italy | Does anyone can help me?
ps. thanks to woodieb8 for pm me |
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Posts: 51
| I caught a 1.1 m musky this weekend on a jointed Rapala, size 09, trolled at 3.5 kph. This lure is just under 9 cm long. I was trolling for pike/largemouth bass. I hope I got the metric conversion right.
Ciao! |
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Posts: 219
| I think your on the right track. Trolling will help you cover water and search for them, incase the fish moved out and suspended a bit. They are there someplace... they just shifted out a bit... suspended or towards the next avaialble structure, be it a drop off or the like. I think your bait choices a good; downsizing may be a trigger. |
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Posts: 720
| cristopher,
To me the best spring time pike lure is a Mepps number 3 Agilia (sorry spelling is probably wrong) with either a silver or gold blade. I've caught a ton of pike on that little spinner bait. Another lure that has produced a to of fish is a 4.5" Sand Cat by Big Fork Tackle. Its a great lure with a to of versatility. |
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Posts: 1000
| Yeah you're on the right track. I believe the bigger northerns prefer that 13-17 degree range. Check outside the spawning bays. Are any baitfish spawning now?
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Posts: 6
Location: Treviso, Italy | Thanks to all for the answers.
No tolle, i think it's still too soon and water too cold for perch and carp spawn, probably 2 weeks again...for experience i know that when perch are spawning big pikes follow them in the shallows and.... become crazy! that period it's perfect for fast retrieve, bulldawg and jerking are really top lures for the moment.
But there are always these days (1 month more or less) of transition between pike and forage spawn, when to make a big one, meter pike, you have to sweat 7 shirts (italic saying to explain the difficulty of the game).
Other things you should know about the spot is that it is a reservoir about 2.5mi x 2.5mi with 105' highest deep, in the last 3 years has became very pressured and a lot of local people with live bait has killed many of them also 45incher fish and more, so the population is falling....in the spawning areas also water clarity is most of times muddy because of the rains that make dirty the only influent, and the wind action that every afternoon in times like a swiss clock blows strong from south! Howevere it becames better in the open water, at a depth of 20' and more...trolling in dirty...mmm...never makes me great results! i don't know...next week i did a great trolling fishing in this spawning area with all jointed: stalker, pig, believer 8, grandma 8, storm flashstick, but....#*^@...only a baby.....i have to persist a suppose, as always with that fish..
Your answers give me confidance i'm on the right way, hopefully!
Yes Hunter, i know smaller spinner never die, but i can't cast them! it is stronger then me! i need something more gratyfing! Instead, i like much small divers or jerks, i lost a 28'' two days ago on a hawg seeker bassnacher, was the first time i cast it...
Edited by cristopher pike 5/28/2014 4:47 PM
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Posts: 1248
Location: Walker, MN | We often have to sweat seven shirts to catch Muskies as well!
Cheers and hook-sets! |
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