Fall Pike

Hello - I'm looking for a few pointers for fall pike fishing. I'll be fishing in mid-to-late October on a few lakes in Central WI that have a good populations of Pike. Any insight on what I should be using? I have zara spooks, spro countdown jointed swimbaits, buzz baits, spinner baits, various crank baits....

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Dutch

Trolling always works good. I've been using #14 black and silver xraps at around 2-3 mph. Of course you'll want natural color baits for clear water and bright colors for dirty water. #14 xraps are kinda hard to find because they're saltwater baits but I found them at Farm and Fleet. #12s work just fine but big baits means big fish right? Also something you can try is using a fish finder to find schools of bait fish in around 30 foot of water. Then pop jigging those areas with a 1/2 to 1 ounce jig head with a giant musky reaper tail and can even add a skirt. The Pike that live in deep water and feed off suspended bait fish will ALWAYS be the biggest fish in your lake. All of the Pike will be in the shores to spawn in the early spring, but once the water temperature hits about 65 degrees and higher, the big pike move out and go after bait fish.

I personally find more success using suckers, chubs, or shiners under slip bobbers. One overtop weeds, another right off the weedline, and then another off the break and down deep as I can cast to. I'll hold on the deep one to cast a diving X--rap, or DT but most of the time it's the live bait that's producing. I rig the bait as if it was under a tip-up with a circle(octopus) hook through the lip and a quick strike treble behind the dorsal. Only thing is I know the lakes I fish and am not searching all over.

little guy

Just caught this yesterday from a Central WI lake on a spinner bait with a large Oklahoma/Turtleback blade. It's a slow-mover that thumps real hard. 38-1/4" and was released. Estimated 16#. My preferred color is white with a chrome blade and work it sloooow. Most of my fall fishing is in 3 FoW or less and tight to emergent cover near deep water, as long as the vegetation lasts. Then I move to 3-8 feet off the edge of food shelves.

Big willow Spinnerbaits is my go to.. white and blues w/ green

on central wi lakes a double bladed bass spinner thats my hot bait...

If I had to pick two baits it would be a spinnerbait with a large colorado blade,it can be fished a little slower and can be slow rolled.Another great bait in the fall is a suspending crank bait like a husky jerk,X rap, or a lucky craft pointer.

Are you looking to cast or use floats? My biggest pike have come with using LARGE live bait. Gills work great.

For Fall pike I like to use big slow moving baits like bulldawgs and muskie-sized glide baits. Look for deep weed edges or very steep breaks and you should find the big pike.