have you ever tried dead bait?. Pike are scavengers and will take a dead bait just as soon as take a live bait. Want to catch the biggest meanest fish in the swim,use a large dead sucker (adjust bait size to pike size you want to catch; 5lb. baits good place to start) wired up to a quick strike rig so as the tail points to the surface and let it sit on the bottom(simulates a feeding position) OR let it lay flat on the bottom, open your bail/ freespool and sit back and wait.You wont get a billion strikes but when you do hang on.