Dead Bait Fishing for Pike

[OldTimer]

(12-18-2013 04:18 PM)tweedwolfscream Wrote:  I wish I could say I'll be fishing northwestern Ontario in the near future but the reality is more like the GTA and Grey County.

So, are there any restrictions on fish as dead bait that are not clearly stated in the regs?

(I got 10 whole frozen mackarel for like $3.50 at Food Basics yesterday, each maybe 6-8 inches long, so that'll probably be my first attempt with the pike.)

Some of OSF's members or our visitors may live at, or fish, those areas....... hence the caution.

Good choice - nice and oily, and scent.....take some thread to tie them on if they get too soft when thawed........but save a few for a quick fried snack.

Cheers,

OldTimer

[mcfly]

Not sure for the exact regs on using dead fish bought from supermarket in zone 16, but have heard of people getting in trouble in the past. Might want to try emailing or talking to an MNR officer about it. But you should definitely find out if what you are doing is legal because ignorance isn't innocence!

[Eli]

Using a large, salty deadbait is a great way to catch a monster pike (or a monster channel cat if fishing the Ottawa or St. Lawrence Rivers) but be prepared to wait and wait and wait..and then go home skunked more often than not. BUT...when you do get a bite it will more than likely be an above average specimen.

[onwind]

how about sardine? this year I want to try the sardines I bought from supermarket.

[oldbronteguy]

try catching some 8 to 12 inch suckers freeze them for later.

[Eli]

Actually what you want is to maximize the salt content. As the bait melts in the water, the salt leaves a nice scent slick for the fish to zero in on. SO..you want to a. obtain a frozen, oily saltwater fish (i.e. mackerel) and b. place it in a ziplock in your freezer with cover of course salt to further increase the salt content.

[onwind]

I remember someone said several species of suckers are also endangered species. so be careful.

(12-28-2013 10:04 AM)oldbronteguy Wrote:  try catching some 8 to 12 inch suckers freeze them for later.

[tweedwolfscream]

(12-20-2013 11:43 PM)Eli Wrote:  Using a large, salty deadbait is a great way to catch a monster pike (or a monster channel cat if fishing the Ottawa or St. Lawrence Rivers) but be prepared to wait and wait and wait..and then go home skunked more often than not. BUT...when you do get a bite it will more than likely be an above average specimen.

Is there a variation on the technique that would be better when just looking for some pike for the table, not the trophy wall?

[Eli]

Smaller baits. Use a 3.5-4" bait and you'll be far less likely to catch a large pike.