Best fishing bait/tackle/hooks for pike in small weedy lakes?

I go fishing every year in Sage Lake in Hale Michigan, and I've had recent success with walleye rigs and crawler harnesses, but I'd like to know if there is anything else out there that works well, and is relatively cheap. The lake has areas that are 80 feet deep, and some that are a few inches. I've had the most success where the water is about 10 to15 feet, with weeds that reach the surface, right near a 60 foot drop-off. Any tips?

Best fishing bait/tackle/hooks for pike in small weedy lakes?
When I target pike, I prefer Mepps in-line spinners. My experience has shown that pike are not very descriminant in their food choice. They are mean and extremely territorial. This means that they will take pretty much whatever you throw out there.





I like the Mepps spinners mainly because they are durable and can be used on all lakes for pike. When fished properly, they work well in moderate weeds. Just cast to the edge of the weed bed and the pike will follow it out. I also like to use a 6 in. steel leader to keep from having to retie after every fish.
Reply:I currently live in MN and KNOW how tough it is to fish Pike/Bass in super weedy conditions.





What I've been using, (with good results), is an old Firetiger-colored Rapala weedless spoon with a green "Gulp" Minnow Grub as a trailer.





The spoon moves through the weeds well, has an excellent "wobble", and a nice "un-bendable" 1/0-2/0 hook.





Rapala spoons are discontinued, (and hard to find/go to EBay), but , you could get the same results fishing a Johnson spoon with the afore-mentioned trailer.





I have also had good results with "Senko" dead-stik type lures fished weightless on a 3/0 hook in the pockets of the weeds.





If your looking for #'s of fish I would troll the deep outside weedline with deep-diving suspending Rapalas or spoons.





Hope this helps ya? Good luck!
Reply:amother place for questions and answers is www.fishntell.com
Reply:Try using big rapalas. Cast them into the weed beds and let them sit. Every 20 seconds or so, give it a healthy twitch. IDK. It works for me.
Reply:Daredevl, Len Thompson, Strobe spoons. favorite colors are yellow five of diamonds or red/white stripe combo. to help make it more weekless I replace the treble with a single hook. fora 1/2 oz spoon I use a 1/0-0/1siwash hook.


Also Cabelas sells some weekless spoons with calssic patterns at a very reasonable price. These have produced for me as well as the more expensive daredvl or silver minnow spoons.



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