How to choose a lure for pike

Pike are one of the most popular predatory fish in Lithuania. They live in almost every lake and river and in the Curonian Lagoon, and the right lure often decides whether the day ends with a bite. Here we briefly explain which lure to choose for the season, the spot and the water.

When and where to fish for pike

Pike are most active in spring after spawning and in autumn, when the water cools and they feed heavily before winter. At these times they often hold in the shallows, near weed and reed edges. In summer pike move deeper, to underwater weed beds and drop-offs, and hunt most actively at dusk.

Before fishing, check the current closed seasons for pike and the minimum size limit.

What size of lure to choose

Lures of 8–20 cm are used most often for pike. Smaller lures of 8–12 cm suit spring, cold water and covering larger areas, because they are easier to cast and faster to retrieve. Big lures of 15–20 cm are more likely to bring out big pike, because a large fish doesn't want to chase small prey.

Lure types for pike

• Glide baits swim a wide S-shaped path and attract big pike. Examples: Gan Craft Jointed Claw 178, the smaller Jointed Claw 148 and deps Slide Swimmer.
• Swimbaits realistically imitate a swimming baitfish and are easy to fish on a steady retrieve: Gamakatsu AviC 7″, and for rivers DUO Realis Dead Drift 100.
• Minnows (jerkbaits) dart to the sides when jerked and work especially well in cool water: Nories Laydown Minnow Mid 110, Blue Blue Blooowin! 140S.
• Crankbaits dive to a set depth and wobble actively: madotachi HANITAS CRANK.
• Vibration lures suit deeper spots and cold water: deps Circuit VIB.
• Topwater lures for summer in the shallows and near weeds: SMITH CATAPY Clicker II.

What colour of lure to choose

In clear water and on sunny days, natural colours that look like roach, rudd or perch usually work better. In murky water, on cloudy days and at dusk, brighter colours are worth choosing: white, chartreuse or orange. A good rule: carry at least one natural and one bright lure.

What tackle you need

Choose tackle by lure weight. For 10–30 g lures, a spinning rod rated for about 10–35 g and 0.12–0.18 mm braided line work well. Big 40–80 g glide baits and swimbaits need a strong casting rod with a baitcasting reel and 0.20–0.35 mm braid.

When fishing for pike, always use a steel or titanium leader: pike teeth easily bite through braid and fluorocarbon.

Common mistakes

• Fishing without a leader. A lure that breaks off stays in the fish's mouth.
• Retrieving too fast in cold water. In spring and late autumn pike are slower, so it pays to retrieve more slowly and pause.
• Fishing the same lure all day. If you get no bites, change the lure's size, depth and colour.

You will find all the lures for pike in the section Lures for pike.