CTFishTalk.com: Choice of live bait for pike - Connecticut Lake Fishing ( CT Lake Fishing ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

BigEd · Joined: 22 Feb 2012 Posts: 103 Location: Monroe

I'd like to try fishing Zoar for some pike this upcoming week. I will have one rod setup for lures but I also want to try some live bait. I know everyone suggests getting large pike shiners or suckers. I can easily harvest a few white perch, crappie or bluegill to use for bait and all are readily available as a natural food source to the pike in Zoar. The white perch have been chasing fry all over the place lately and crappie stacked pretty tight close to the area I plan on fishing making them easy pickings.

So here is the question, which of these fish would you prefer to use as live bait for pike? Should I even bother and just grab some large shiners instead?

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

One of the guys who used to post on CTFishTalk about open water northern pike fishing used to suspend dead or wounded sunnies underneath big bobbers for pike, but I think that he once got a 40+ incher with dead golden shiners, too. I'd think that any dead or almost dead, bleeding fish would work. NWDarkcloud and I once released a severely bleeding 16 inch chain pickerel that was subsequently eaten by a HUGE northern pike that we never saw. We heard the "WHOOOMP!" and saw the splash as the pike took the pickerel. It sounded like a bowling ball hit the water ten feet from the boat. I wouldn't waste the money or effort buying shiners.
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x182dan · Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 329 Location: Seymour, CT

IMO get whatever is easier for you. Pike will go after almost anything. I have had good luck on dead or live shiners, suckers, dice, etc. Some people have their opinions but I really can't tell much of a difference but I dont usually fish for pike unless its ice fishing. Pike shiners from a bait shop should catch you some pike but they usually arent the biggest.
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avidangler · Joined: 08 Jan 2013 Posts: 469 Location: Forestville

If i were to choose between crappie or white perch........
I'd go with the white perch and clip their back dorsal fin or pectoral fins to make them give off a distress signal.
Store bought shiners would be a last resort.Besides being on the smallish side,a dozen will cost you a pretty penny.
Sunfish would be number two...again,clip some fins.
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SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi,

Any cut oily smelly bait will also do.
Mackerel or Pogy .... I've used both and they work quite well !

SeaDog1