Favorite baits for P.O. River pike

[Fish-N-Fool]

I wanted to pick our Brains here and see what your favorites baits are for P.O. River Pike. My 2 favs are Basstrix 5 1/2" hallow belly swimbaits and a white willow leaf spinnerbait, Gold blades on clouldy days and silver on sunny days. But I did ok on mid size mepps bucktail inline spinners, Dardevil spoons, and Husky Jerks.
So what's your favorite Pike baits?

[sparky1doug]

I've got a couple favorites my first love is fly fishing so of course the first and second are right off my bench. The third is my favorite bucktail spinner which as much I love that fly rod its hard to compete with one of these. Here are a few pics, with victims from the waters of the Pend Orielle River.

1. Cusick Sunset
2. Medicene Lake Perch
3. Cudaman "Pike Minnow" Bucktail

[YJ Guide Service]

Thanks for the pic doug. I agree those are some good lures along with the bigger spinnerbaits 1ozers. Cant wait to get back up to the river and fish it, it was frozen all the way yesterday when we went snowmobiling up there yesterday. We plan on starting to fish it here in about a month or less depending on weather. Happy New Year to your family Doug...

[dougw]

I've only fished it twice, but both times, small inline spinners, and a Blue Husky jerk were the only lures that produced for me.

[sparky1doug]

I'll bet it was gorgous up there. I'm jealous. Nate and I are really looking forward to the the March tourney, lot of new lures to try FCS. Happy New Year to the Dowdy Gang.

[Anonymous]

Some of my favorite lures on the river are, spinnerbaits by Blade Runner, swimbaits by Basstrix, Rapalas, jerk baits, bucktails and Spoons. All these baits have a time of year when they work better than others. Sometimes the time frame can be from a week to some of them working the whole season. Alot of what you use on the PO is to match the hatch type thinking. Early in the year bigger baits since there havent been a hatch yet, to late june-july going to some smaller baits have seemed to work pretty well. Everyone on here probley has their own lure that they use more than any other and has confidence in. Confidence is the biggest thing when picking the right lures, if you dont have any in the lure your useing then you wont be able to fish it long enough to actually give it a fair shot. I look forward to trying the new group of Fish Creek Spinners that i purchased from John, i know there going to work great up there. Good luck everyone in 2011 may it be the year we all catch that fish of our dreams

[dougw]

Forgot to mention, the inline spinners I used were some that I got from John (Fish Creek Spinners). They caught fish each time I was out.

[sparky1doug]

I agree this might be the year everyone finds out about those FCS lures . Nice find Doug W. you were ahead of the pack on that one. Let's not forget my Blue fox Vibrex with the Red blade and red with black flash bucktail. Remember that first cast, first fish you put me on Craig?

[dougw]

John does a fine job with his lures. Proof is in the catches. I had fish with FCS the first time I tried them. I have a camera now to make sure I get some pictures up of the proof now too!!

[sparky1doug]

Doug its tough to fish and take quality pictures. I'm available as a cheap camera man and the ride in USS Pend Oreille is just a bonus.

[fishcreekspinners]

Those are some classy high quality pictures, Porter.

Hope the FCS spinners catch fish when you get em wet and wish I could be fishing alongside or in the boat with you. For the time being I'll be happy if a few of our spinners are.

I look forward to the new year and supporting your clubs. If you find something you like, tell us or send a picture. If you find something that needs improvement, we'll fix it.

Adapting/ toning down some words of my old mans into a New Years resolution challenge of sorts - "Talks cheap, it'll take fish pictures for me to buy Whiskey"

Happy New Year from FCS to all you Muskie and Pike hunters and WashingtonLakes anglers.

[dougw]

The USS Pend Oreille is getting some work done over the winter. I have installed floor sections, so now you can walk without fear of tripping. I also installed a nice pedestal seat where the steering wheel will go. I got a 35 HP Johnson outboard to go on there as well. It will get a new coat of paint as soon as the weather cooperates. I should find a shop to do it in, so I can take advantage of the time, but I haven't found that yet. Any time you want to fly over and check it out, you're more than welcome. We'll chase some tigers and pike....

[sparky1doug]

Good to hear the old girl's getting a facelift. I will make the journey over once Esox get active again. Newman, POR a box of new FCS lures, fishing camera and my 57 hat. Just let me know Doug we'll get John some great photos and us some fine fish. How about we set a new state record for Northern Pike and Tiger Muskie, good goals for worthy souls.

[dougw]

Afraid I won't be setting the record for Tiger Muskie any time soon. I would have to kill the fish to do that in this state. We can certainly take some good photos of her though!

[sparky1doug]

I think I've got that one figured out. WDFW will accept a photo on the tape measure and a registered scale weigh in, then back in the water it goes. This should suffice for a catch and release protected fish. I do think that record Tiger Musky swims in Mayfield Res. though. Have seen 50"+ there. Have they been in Newman long enough to get that big?

[Mark K]

There is a picture of a fish in Newman that is said to be 50"+ that was released a couple years back. And in the Mountain Muskies tournament in August a 45 and a 46 were caught. I wouldn't doubt the possibility of one being in there!

[Mark K]

Here is the link to the thread of the 54'" fish (You be the judge on actual length) from Newman in 2008.

http://washingtonlakes.com/forum/yaf_po ... pened.aspx

[dougw]

I have seen the picture which Mark speaks of, and would say it is legitimate. They said it was 54". I am sure there are tigers in excess of 50" in Newman. It's unlikely there are very many. I wish I could find stocking records for our Washington lakes. You could estimate the number of fish for a given age/size class if you had that data. I'm sure it's out there some place.

[Fish-N-Fool]

I have seen Pike in the P.O. that were monsters, we got this one last spring,



and saw one that coulda ATE this one. I'd say in was well over 50"s. I plan on catching that one this year, call it a New Years resolution. LOL

Getting back on topic I'd like hear more about Fish Creek Spinners, as well as what that Cudaman "Pike Minnow" Bucktail is. By the way Sparky thats a funny looking pike you got there.
Anyone catching fish on big plugs like the Depth raider, Suick, Cisco, or some of ther other popular Pike Muskie baits in the P.O.?

[dougw]

Dang fine pike there!!! I haven't thrown any of my large muskie lures for the pike, but seeing fish like that make me think about it!