I’m going Pike fishing in the dead stream between Houghton lake, MI and 127. It has murkey waters, with channels about 6-8 ft deep x 20 ft across, running through a flood plain thats nearly always has about 2 ft of fill up in it. What is the best lure or live bait to use? What part of the channel should I fish in? Any tips or tricks? Ive only reeled one pike out of here before, and I took it with a pike minnow. I mostly just wind up with bass or dog fish on my line.
I forgot to question this, should I use a steel leader, Ive had a few pike chomp right through 15lb line.
What is the best pike fishing technique?
March 1st, 2010 
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I would suggest perhaps a nightcrawler harness. Usually they’re excellent for trolling, I would suggest using one, but it sounds like you catch a excellent amount of fish anyways. I would also suggest that you perhaps get a large in-line spinner lure that has one of those large feather tails. I have no thought what their name is, but I know that a lot of people up north (I’m from NE Indiana) use them. Excellent luck!
A large minnow, like a shiner or shad, and yes, use a steel leader if you don’t want to lose a huge one.
You could also throw a daredevil-type spoon.
Excellent Luck.
Hi, I answered a similar question days gone by. Here is the link to it. Sexy knows his stuff, his answer was better than mine, I would place some of his suggestions to use when you are fishing for northerns.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoLOXwhl0DgV8BaNd7Z1AKzsy6IX?qid=20070626132016AACKm3c&show=7#profile-info-AA10973452
Excellent luck fishing, and have FUN!
To Sharon: thanks but your answer was just as excellent.
When you visit the link sharon gave you, read her answer. She says “you will find them in shallow, frail bays (5-10 feet)” Thats where they are at right now. The hot weather lately has pushed them here. These channels you are talking about should have active pike. Since the there is murky fill up, go with lures with a lot of flash.
When you go to pick a lure make sure you get one with a lot of flash and go by the phrase ‘larger is better’. Pike can and will run with huge lure, dont be frightened to through them since they are and you dont reckon youll catch anything with it
Try a large jointed floating rapala, one that is 6-9 inches and is a deep sprinter.. For some reason, pike are generally attracted more to the jointed rapalas than the not jointed ones. I have found this to be right from expierience.
Additional things you can try are:
-1. trolling with a spinnerbait
–2. place a hook through a small bluegill, perch, crappie, or shad on a huge bobber and through it along a weedline.
—3. Try spoons ex. red devils. This is probably the mst well loved way to catch pike.
—-4. Senkos or yum dingers. I have spellbound many northerns on these while going for bass.
—–5. When there are lily pads around or moss on top of fill up, throw a frog. I perfer a yum buzzfrog. It is an incredible lure. I have tried two colors of these so far and they work wonders. (carolina pumpkin/yellow and watermelon red flake.) I bought mine at meijer so you can get them nearly anywhere that sells Yum products. Also buy some Gamagatsu size 4 offset hooks. Make sure the point of the hook is on TOP of the frog not bottom. You can use these any time during the day but at sun up and sun down are the best times due to the low light conditions or when there are lily pads or moss.
now to answer all your questions…
i reckon a large jointed floating rapala (deep sprinter is the best lure) and perch and pike minnows are the best live bait.
I would fish the 6-8 feet deep part of the channel
if you do end up with a dogfish, go on down the channel a small bit. Dog fish are teritorial so they will try to find a spot away from bass and pike.
as for the steel leader, if you are using the large floating rapala, you wont need one. Any of the additional lures, using one would be a excellent thought but NOT nessisary. They do take away action from the lure. You need to choose if you’d rather have more action (which brings in more bites) or less bite but a garentee you wont snap your line. Just a matter of preference. You WILL catch pike either way, though. You’ll more likely to cath them without the leader.
Excellent Luck!