whats better to use? smelt or crnks, spoons, ect.... the ice isnt off of some lakes here but the rivers are wide open. and was wondering. i have talked to some people and they say smelt because the pike are not to active yet. what would you say?

According to the book Pike spawn and are at there least active for about 2 weeks right after ice out. Than the feed bag is on, look for wamer water such as where slow moving WARMER water streams come into the main body. At the edge of warmer flats by a drop off espically if the wind is blowing the flats water towards the drop off os best.

One Shot One Kill Striper Phil

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.

ok thnks. i think i am going to wait another week and let it warm up some more. seadog i use frozen smelt and i do let it sit on the bottom. sometimes i use spoons though. have had real good luck with smelt on the bottom the last 2 yrs but have only goten to try it in summer. just wonderin about early pike.